Faith Over Fear

We are living in a time of anxiety and fear, unlike any other time in our lives. In my 90 years I have never seen a situation like the present. The only exception might be World War II when some people feared we might we might not win the war. Hoarding in 1942-45 was a result of the fear of not having enough food, gasoline, tires, clothing, etc.for themselves or their families.  

God does not want his people to live in fear, anxiety, or worry. He wants us to live in peace of mind, whatever the circumstances. Listen to God speaking.

• Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious (worry) about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your request to God, and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
• Philippians 4:13 “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”
I John 4:28 “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear. Because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
• Galatians 5:22-24 “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
• Romans 8:13 “If by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.”
• Romans 8:26 “The Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses.”
• Ephesians 3:16 “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strength you with power through his spirit in your inner being.”
• Ephesians 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all you can ask or imagine according to his power, that is at work within us.” (Read all of passage Ephesians 3:16-21.)

So, what have we learned from these passages? First and foremost, He wants us to live without fear, anxiety, and worry. He wants us to turn our fears over to Him and let Him handle it, whatever it is. In other words, “Let go and Let God handle it. Not easy, but it can be done. How?

It can be done with God’s help through the Holy Spirit, which He gives us when we are born again (Acts 2:38) Paraphrasing that passage “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and you will receive two gifts: one, the forgiveness of sin (which makes it possible for you to be reconciled to God) and the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

If you read the passages above you will note that one of the component parts of the fruit of the Spirit is peace. The opposite of peace is fear. Note the passages you read that emphasized the help that the Spirit given to us to Do Things in which we often fail in our battle with Satan’s temptations. But with God’s help through the power which God gives through His Spirit, we can and will prevail. The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness (Romans 8:27). The Holy Spirit within us helps us to win the battle with Satan, wants us to live with fear and anxiety.

Okay, if the Holy Spirit lives within us, how do I harvest that power?

There are 4 steps to obtain that power. Note closely the 4 steps.

1. We yearn to live without fear or anxiety. This is a real and heartfelt desire. If I have not had food for several weeks, I feel starved. Paul calls it a mindset. Romans 8:5. Paul says “Have your mind set on what the Spirit desires.”
2. A realization that I need help to achieve peace, which I presently do not have. Think of Alcoholics Anonymous. They quote the following in their meetings: “My name is ———– and I have an addiction which I cannot overcome without help from a Being higher and greater than I am.” Our addiction is sin. We cannot win the battle with sin, without help. Think of the words of Jesus (John 14:1) These are His words: “trust in God, trust also in me” Not trusting in God makes no sense if we are Christians.
3. An eager willingness to yield to the Holy Spirit’s power is meekness, which means having a spirit of humility. Recognizing the need and eagerly claim that help. In other words, “Don’t quench the spirit (I Thessalonians 5:19). Remember to Let Go and Let God.
4. PRAY. Remember again, Pray. (Philippians 4:6) You do more than talking to God. Think of a man in quicksand, screaming for help. No one is around and he’s screaming for help. Pray with that intensity, Reread Ephesians 3:20, There is a power from God who dwells in us through the Holy Spirit, beyond man’s ability to explain. The Holy Spirit’s Power is seldom used by those of us who call ourselves Christian. May God forgive us.

Before closing I want to return to I John 4:18, where John writes “Perfect love casts out all fear.”What is he saying? What is perfect love? It is when we totally put others before self. “Think of Jesus leaving heaven and coming to earth on our behalf.

When we change our focus from self to others, then fear goes away. Think of the following story: A family’s house is burning down in the middle of the night. The family is on the lawn watching their house burn down. Five firemen are trying to put the fire out with water, when suddenly a 6-year old boy yells from a bedroom on the second floor, “Mommy, Daddy, help help! The mother heads for the front door. A fireman grabs her and yells maam, you can’t can’t go in there. You would be dead in ten feet. Question? Why is she not afraid? Answer: Her love for her son.” “Love overcomes fear. In other words, change your focus in life and it will change your life forever. Your life with the help of the Holy Spirit will succeed.  

If these words were of help to you, then share them with your voice and also social media. You may go to my website for additional information: it is GarthBlack.com.
Your brother in Christ,
 Garth Black

Garth Black preached a sermon called "Living Without Fear" in August 2019. It was the last time sermon he gave after decades of ministry and service to the Westside Church of Christ family. We hope you'll take some time to watch it again.