How To Fight Your Fears

By Cliff Myers
Bible Book: 1 Samuel  17 : 4-52
Subject: Fear; Peace; Trusting God

HOW TO FIGHT YOUR FEARS

Cliff Myers

Scripture:  I Samuel 17:4-52

Subject:  Fear

INTRODUCTION

There are all kinds of things that rob the joy in our lives at any given moment. Our world has dramatically changed since Covid 19 and George Floyd’s death. Things are returning to normal, but the definition of normal has changed. The airlines are flying again, even if the planes aren’t very full. The stock market is operating again, even though it shows some instability. Football and baseball are back on television but without fans in the stands. Riots, looting, and violence are filling our land in major cities across our country. Children are back in school, but many are attending virtually and those who attend in person look like masked bandits. But despite the resumption of our daily routines, we know that things will never really be the same again – either for our country, or for us. Since February, 2020, there has been the constant threat against America. Whether real or perceived that threat is robbing Americans and Christians of their joy.  Fear is a powerful, paralyzing force. It robs us of our joy.

Fear is very much a part of all of our lives. Life can be risky and it is therefore filled with opportunities or reasons to fear or have anxiety. When I use the word fear tonight, I mean all levels of fear from general apprehension and worry to dread and terror. Fear starts out when we are very young with fears of things like darkness, monsters, etc. and it continues into our teenage years with fears of things like rejection, humiliation and failure. Adulthood is also filled with possible fears such as fear of disease, death, financial problems, broken relationships, loved ones being hurt, storms, failure, aging, crime, etc. I personally know what it is like to be filled with anxiety.

ILLUSTRATION

One summer night during a severe thunderstorm a mother was tucking her small son into bed. She was about to turn the light off when he asked in a trembling voice, "Mommy, will you stay with me all night?" Smiling, the mother gave him a warm, reassuring hug and said tenderly, "I can’t dear. I have to sleep in Daddy’s room." A long silence followed. At last it was broken by a shaky voice saying, "The big sissy!"

ILLUSTRATION

There are a lot of things you and I are afraid of. I found a list of phobias that I thought would be neat to share.

  • Cyberphobia: fear of computers
  • Ecclesiophobia: fear of church
  • Lunaphobia: fear of the moon
  • Astraphobia: fear of lightning
  • Chrometophobia: fear of money
  • Europhobia: fear of the color red
  • Homilphobia: fear of sermons
  • Triskaidekaphobia: fear of the #13
  • Peladophobia: fear of baldness
  • Phobophobia: fear of fear

You and I both know that there are things we fear that we shouldn’t be fearing

1. Things that are beyond our control. God’s Word tells us that God is “In Control”

2. Things that aren’t even a reality. For instance, you might be afraid to face death, loosing job, financial ruin.

3. Afraid of commitment or rejection

4. Afraid of disease or that your kids are going to get hurt and that’s all you think about

5. The fear that you’ll never measure up to anyone

6. The fear that you might wake up and have cancer one day

7. Many fear what might happen but give little thought about what will happen

8. Many fear physical death but give little thought to spiritual death

The list could go on and on – we all have those things which produce in us the emotion of “Fear”

Fear causes us to do many things. Buy insurance, lock our doors, purchase alarm systems for our vehicles.  We try to protect ourselves.

I want us to look at a story in the Old Testament found in 1 Samuel 17 to help show us not only what fear does but how we are to fight it.

All of us have our Goliath’s. All of us have those things that intimidate us day after day. Those fears that haunt us and accuse us and make us feel miserable. What does this constant fear do to us? If we are not careful this is what happens when we live in a constant state of fear:

  • Experience lack of enthusiasm. (Life just isn’t exciting and purposeful anymore)
  • We have unfocused thoughts (All we can think about is what we fear.)
  • Keeps us from interacting with others. (All we want to do is be alone and deal with it by ourselves.)Keeps us from getting anything done. (All we are consumed with is the fear.)
  • Eventually turns into ungodly behavior. (Because we don’t know how to deal with it in a healthy way we turn to unhealthy ways of coping.)
  • Causes health problems. (This fear & anxiety puts a tremendous strain on our bodies. Causes abdominal trouble, tension of the muscles, pressure in the head.)
  • Can cause premature death. (Wears the body down. Fear can keep you from getting medical help. If you have a disease that can only be corrected by surgery and you are afraid of surgery what is going to happen?)
  • Chips away at our intimacy with God. (We see God as having caused this. We see him as being mean to us.)

We need to remember that God is not the author of fear! 2Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline” (NLT) The only kind of fear that God promotes is the fear of Himself. This is not a “scaredy cat” kind of fear but a healthy reverential fear that says I stand in awe of you Oh Lord.

So, how do we fight fear? Let’s go back to our David and Goliath story. Let’s use David as our model in knowing how to fight fear.

SUMMARIZE STORY OF DAVID AND GOLIATH.

Let’s pull some steps from this story that will enable us to adequately fight our fears.

I. First of all we need to face it

No one was willing to but David. We need to have the guts to do that.

ILLUSTRATION:

I remember watching a show called “Fear Factor.” Six contestants face their worse fears for a chance to win 50,000 dollars. I admire them for facing their fears. But in reality there is no 50,000 dollars for us. The incentive I hope we will remember is that it pleases the Lord. Fear is not pleasing to the Lord. So, it makes since that we face it and get on with our lives.

Did you know that sometimes fear is a result of sin.

ILLUSTRATION

One of the most beautiful scenes in the Bible is found in the first chapter of the book of Genesis where it tells us about God walking & talking with Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden. It was a time of complete innocence. There was nothing hidden, nothing phony. But when we turn the page & read about Adam & Eve eating of the forbidden fruit then everything changes. God comes to the Garden & He looks for Adam & Eve & they’re not where they usually are. So He calls out, "Adam, where are you? Where are you?"  Finally, there is this weak little voice from behind a bush, "I’m over here, God." "What are you doing over there, Adam?" "I’m hiding, God." "Why are you hiding, Adam?" "Because I’m naked." "Who told you that you were naked, Adam?" And finally, Adam says, "I’m hiding because I’m afraid."

APPLICATION

Now let me tell you something. The more we try to hide or cover up our sins, the more we try to hide from God. The more we refuse to face them the deeper we go.  An important truth to remember when facing your fears is that you are not alone.

II. Recall how God has helped you in the past

(Read vs. 34-37)

The same God that helped you in the past is the same God who will help you today. He’ll come through for you again.

A. God is aware of our pressures and trials.
B. God is aware of that which is taking place in our world.

Knowing God is with us we need to eliminate our fears.  Eliminate those fears. In I John 4 there is a really great verse of Scripture. You’ve heard it before. It says, "Perfect love casts out fear."  Listen to that. "Perfect love casts out fear." That verse tells us that fear and love cannot coexist. The closer you get to love the further you get from fear.  The other side is true also. The closer you get to fear the further you get from love. They are like the north pole & the south pole. The closer you get to one the further you get from the other.  So the more you learn to love and the more perfectly you love, the further you drift from fear.  Now Jesus said, "You will know the truth, & the truth will set you free." "What is truth?" we ask. Jesus said, "I am the truth. I am the way & the truth & the life."

III. Realize you can’t fight fear the world’s way

(Read 38-40, 45)

How does God get the glory and credit when he does things like men? Where is the wow? God does things unlike man because he wants to remind us that he is God and we are not. So, don’t suppress your fears or justify your fears. But deal with them with God’s resources. His name. What is so special about his name? A name defines who that person is. It is a declaration of personality. It is authoritative. We have his name as our way of taping into the resources of God. We have prayer. In His Name we come to him in prayer. We have power. We have confidence.

IV. Rise and get on with your life

(Read vs. 52 - “Surge forward with a shout!”

After David triumphed over the giant the army was able to attack the Philistine army & win. But before that for 40 days they were at a standstill. You see fear paralyzes us. But when we fight it with God’s resources, we are able to not only triumph but move forward in our lives. God wants you to move on in your life.

What is the giant you are dealing with in your life? Isn’t it time you dealt with it God’s way?

INVITATION

I am going to invite you to face your fears this morning. I want you to bring your fears to Jesus this morning.  Bring your fears to the foot of the cross.