Overcoming Fear

Fear can be a bad thing but it can be a good thing to protect us from harm. Fearing crossing the street when cars and flying past is a good fear. But fear of man can paralyze us! Freedom is found through fearing God and not fearing man. What are you most afraid of? There are numerous phobias out there!

• Trichopathophobia - Fear of hair.
• Peladophobia - Fear of bald people.
• Melophobia - Fear of music.
• Lachanophobia - Fear of vegetables.
• Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia - Fear of long words (can you even pronounce that word?)
• Arachibutyrophobia - Fear of peanut butter getting stuck to the roof of your mouth.
• Unatractiphobia - Fear of ugly people.
• Dromophobia - Fear of crossing the road.
• Pogonophobia - Fear of beards.
• Linonophobia - Fear of string.
• Clowns - Coulrophobia

Do you relate to any of these crazy fears? The truth is, many people are held hostage by fear. We fear rejection probably more than any other fear. Sometimes we find our identity on what others say about us instead of our identity being found in Jesus.

The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. Proverbs 29:25

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.  2 Timothy 1:7

What Fear Does?

• It slows potential: Apathy sets in and you never take risks to step out because of fear of what others might say.
• It scars relationships: It leads to unhealthy dependence with others.
• It stops joy in our life: Cynical by finding problems in yourself and others.

How does the fear of God overcome the fear of man?

Our tendency is to usually care more about man’s opinion often times more than God’s opinion. The truth is, God loves us. We are called to be overcomers of the fear of what others think!  Jesus set the ultimate example of loving us through the cross! The fear of God destroys worry about what other people think. No matter what people say, we are accepted through Jesus! No matter if we are rejected by men, we are accepted by our Heavenly father!

I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.  Psalm 34:4

Where God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love drives out fear.  1 John 4:18

Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes 12:13

We need to live for the Audience of One! I will be rejected by people.  You will, too, if you are following Christ.  The fear of man is a trap! You and I have an opportunity to cave into the fear of being accepted by people every day! God loves you so much that he wants to have a personal and meaningful relationship with you. Don’t allow the incredible potential of this journey to be sabotaged by fear. God wants you to be free of fear and filled with boldness.

Are you living your life to be accepted by men or for an Audience of One?

Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10

How to Become the Greatest

What comes to mind when you think of what the word "servant" means? Service is much more than just filling a “position” but a matter of the heart. The bigger issue is that you just may be missing out on something God has in mind for you by choosing to be uninvolved. We are all competitive in some way. What about being “first in line!” or beating others to the car by saying, “shotgun.” We live in a competitive world (sports, school, friendships, parents, image and more). But what about when competition enters the life of a Christian? What does the greatest person look like in the kingdom of God? The disciples had an argument of who would be the greatest. Jesus helps put everything in perspective:

Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35

The word “servant” can be translated as “minister.” There is a direct connection between our faith and our involvement in ministry and service.  Jesus was equal with God, all things were His, and He still humbled himself.

 What comes to mind when you think of what service or servant is mentioned? Service is much more than just filling a “position” but a matter of the heart. The bigger issue is that you just may be missing out on something God has in mind for you by choosing to be uninvolved.

How to become the greatest?

Considers others before yourself. Jesus portrayed the ultimate example of humility and unconditional love by even washing Judas’ feet (John 13:1-11). Feet are nasty! Jesus signified spiritual washing through the cross. A servant asks, “What can I do for others?” instead of “What can they do for me? Servant leadership invites a relationship.  Jesus didn’t come to be ministered too, he came to minister.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24

This week, serve where God is nudging, and trust God to do what only God can do. Serving God is where the most growth occurs! 

Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” Mark 10:43-45.

Refuge During Life's Storms

"Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. ²⁴ Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” Matthew 8:23-27

One principle that I've learned over the past few years is that even during life’s storms, God is in control. If you are like me, you have asked this question a lot in life, "Why God? Why have you let this storm blow into my life?" Have you ever asked these questions?

It reminds me of one of my favorite stories in scripture. The disciples were with Jesus on a boat on the Sea of Galilee. The sea of Galilee is 690 feet below sea level. Mount Hermon rises 9200 feet and many times strong winds would sweep down through the gorges in this valley causing sudden storms. Jesus was asleep! The disciples were out of control! Jesus had finished healing people, preaching the greatest sermon in history and even cast out demons. Jesus was tired so he decided to take a nap during the storm. The disciples were frantic, thinking Jesus quit caring about their situation. The truth of the matter is Jesus always comes through for his followers.

We all face life situations that are out of our own control. Three principles about storms.

1. You are in a storm. 2. You are coming out of a storm. 3. You are about to step into a storm.

Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble” John 16:33.

“He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust" Matthew 5:45

It is not a matter of “if” but “when” storms will come. The truth is that Jesus is in control during the storm; the storm isn’t in control. Regardless of what we see of feel, Jesus has got it! God is bigger than the storm. We always want God to pick us up out of the storm. God doesn't remove us from storms, but always leads us through it! Jesus brought peace in the midst of chaos to His disciples. We all need His hand leading us through the storms of life.

If you are going through a storm, talk to someone about it. Ask for prayer and wisdom. Admit that God is bigger than the storm!