Merritt Song: 508 Anywhere With Jesus
Scripture: Isaiah 41:13, For I hold you by your right hand—I the Lord your God. And I say to you, “Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.”
A lady went to a psychiatrist about her phobia. “Every time I lay down on my bed I get this terrible fear that there is something underneath the bed.”
The psychiatrist replied, “That is terrible, but all phobias can be treated. It will likely take 20 sessions.”
“OK,” said the lady, “how much is each session?”
“That’s $100 a session, but trust me that it’s well worth it.”
She didn’t come back to the psychiatrist, so he gave her a call, “How come I didn’t hear from you?”
“Well,” replied the woman, “when I came home and told my husband the cost, he decided to save some money, and he just cut the legs off the bed!”
The Bible describes two types of fear. First is good called fear or reverence for God. Fear of the Lord is beginning of wisdom. Second is the “spirit of fear.” 2Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear.” What is a major problem of our day? Luke 21:26, “Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking toward those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.”
We fear crime, bad economy, death, sickness, global warming, earthquakes. Our society is designed to make you afraid. I'm afraid of bears and cougars. Fear is a chain reaction in the brain. It starts with stress that releases chemicals causing a racing heart and fight-or-flight response. It could be a spider- I’m thankful spiders don’t fly- crowds, a sudden thud at the door. Fear response is automatic. We don't consciously start it or even know what's going on.
There are two paths in fear response: The low road is quick and messy, while the high road takes more time to interpret events. Both happen at same time. The low road says, “Take no chances!” If the front door suddenly bangs, it could be wind. It could also be a burglar. It's less dangerous to assume it's a burglar and have it turn out to be wind, than assume it's wind and have it turn out to be a burglar! The low road shoots first and asks questions later. High road thinks, considers all options. The high road takes longer than the low road. That's why you have a minute of terror before you calm down. Adrenaline gives you goose bumps. Tiny muscles attached to hair on your skin tense up, hairs are forced upright, pulling skin with them. We have trouble focusing on small tasks because the brain is figuring out where the threat is.
If we couldn't fear, we'd walk into traffic, step off cliffs and touch poisonous snakes. Not taking a shortcut through the alley at midnight is fear that keeps you safe. Human beings have anticipation, and we anticipate terrible things that might happen, things we see in news. Most of us have never been in a plane crash, but we’re scared on a plane. Anticipating in fear is the same, even if you don’t experience something bad. To our minds, fear is as bad as going through it; that’s why worry can make you sick.
Conditioning is why some people fear dogs as if they were dragons while others consider dogs part of the family. Perhaps a dog bit him when he was 3. 20 years later, his brain still ties a dog with painful bite. When something scary happens, we learn to treat things connected to it as if they were danger signals. Next time something reminds us of what happened, our body reacts as if we are in danger, even if we’re safe. A trauma reminder can be anything – a sight, sound, or even a smell, something you hardly notice, until scared feelings come flooding back. Each time we’re triggered by trauma reminder and call on God, fears get weaker.
So healthy fear of danger keeps us safe. Irrational phobia is rooted in the past but the Holy Spirit can reveal it. Fear when you stretch your comfort zone, take a risk or step into the unknown, is a natural response that can be dealt with prayer.
FEARS OF TEENS IN U.S.A. 1. Terrorist attacks 2. Spiders 3. Death 4. Failure 5. War 6. Heights 7. Crime or Violence 8. Being alone 9. The future 10. Nuclear disaster. Lesser fears: public speaking, going to the dentist, pain, cancer, snakes. Fear of snakes has even been found in people who were never around a snake. Someone who grew up in the city has more fear of being mugged than someone on a farm. People in Florida have stronger fear of hurricanes than in Kansas, and people in Kansas have more fear of tornadoes than in Vermont. What we fear says much about our life experience. There is "culturally distinctive phobia in Japan" called “fear of offending others by too much bowing.” Social rituals in Japan led to a Japanese-specific fear. Living in fear is physically, emotionally debilitating, affecting immune response and high blood pressure.
Therapy for fear of snakes is visiting a snake farm and taking small steps towards touching one. Fear still exists, but we learn to face it. First, admit our fear. Worst thing with fear is pretending it’s not there. Find out what you’re really afraid of. Most fears are thoughts. You interpret a thought in your mind that you’re afraid, and you feel fear. Greatest mistake we can make in life is to continually fear we will make a mistake.
It isn't today that drives men mad. It’s guilt for something that happened yesterday, or dread of what tomorrow may bring. You may think you’re afraid your business will fail, but really you’re afraid of poverty, failure, of never finding happiness. I pray Psalm 139: 23-24, Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
SONG: WE DO NOT LOSE HEART
I used to be constantly afraid, suffered anxiety and was easily startled. Everything I did was motivated by fear. Fear of being rejected, fear of abandonment, fear of betrayal, fear of gaining weight, fear of loss, fear of sickness, fear of the dark. It’s gotten better. I’m afraid if I stay in the country, I will be isolated. I’m afraid that if I’m unhappy there, that means I’m shallow. I’m afraid that if we move to the city, I will be happy and my husband will not. I’m afraid I won’t enjoy it then.
If there is no thought, there is no fear. When you are asleep, a snake glides past you, but you’re not afraid of that snake because you’re not thinking about it. When you’re awake, even a coiled rope can fill you with fear, thinking the rope is a snake. When we’re afraid of the future, what we really fear is uncertainty of events. By living in the present, we reduce fear of unknown. Worry won’t help us if a tornado comes. The past is history, the future a mystery but this moment is a gift. That’s why this moment is called "the present." Life is lived today; tomorrow never comes. Jesus said, "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof," Matthew 6:34. God gives us only today. Be here now!
At times, even when we are thinking positively, negative thoughts and images intrude. Say you switch on your computer. Windows 98 comes on. You don't want Windows 98. You get angry, turn off the computer, turn it on again. Turning the computer off and on will not change Windows 98. You have to change the program. Programming in our mind must change. Our mind has mental traces created in life that act like computer programs. Mind will function dictated by that program. There are two basic motives: fear and love. Fear reduces, fear is darkness. When we’re afraid, we pull back from life. When we’re in love, we open to what life has to offer.
Fear says you cannot, that God will not and God is not. Fear tells us we’re on our own in a room of lengthening shadows, abandoned to circumstances, subject to will of others, that we’re helpless. Bible says fear is torment which is not a fun way to live. We need to understand how we got to where we are, which is different for each one but may stem from childhood abuse, an absent parent, trauma, or even car accident. We need to forgive those responsible for these hurts, regardless if they are sorry or not. Give God the bitterness that these hurts have caused.
We need to forgive ourselves. We need to cleanse ourselves of any generational curses in our families by praying to forgive our families. Ask God to heal our hurts; ask God to show us His love in ways we can understand. Read Bible verses on Love first thing in the morning, last thing at night; those are best times to override the brain's conditioning. Allow God to work on us from inside out, invite Him into our life to live out His love.
SONG: I KNOW
Day by day we begin to walk out of negativity, depression, fear, resentment. It takes prayer and honesty to give God our fears. God is faithful; I know. He is good in showing us love, in midst of complete brokenness. I have gone from a life of hopelessness, despair, rage, defilement, shame, hatred, and fear to a life of love because of Jesus. This is God’s free gift to anyone who wants it. Apostle John said, "As we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on day of judgment, but we can face Him with confidence because we live through Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced God’s perfect love," 1John 4:17-18.
God loves us perfectly. He doesn't love us if we're perfect because He knows we’re not. We had people withhold love and shame us for our faults and failures. People’s love is conditional; it only makes sense that admitting our faults causes fear of losing love that we all need, but Jesus loves in spite of our faults.
Love covers a multitude of sins, 1 Peter 4:8, and God is Love. Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life, Psalm 23:6. Love is a very powerful tool, which conquers fear and dark lurking in human hearts. Love changes our motives, emotions, decisions, and we can’t have too much love in our lives. “I know that love is opposite of fear,” he said, “but it’s so difficult to have love in your life when you have so many fears.”
God wants you to be full of hope, and the devil wants you to be fearful. God wants you to expect good things. Satan wants you to expect doom. Proverbs 15:15, “All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil by anxious thoughts and forebodings, but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast regardless of circumstances.” Evil forebodings are expecting bad things to happen, a feeling that bad is coming. Scripture says it is through evil forebodings that our days end up filled with affliction.
Psalm 27:13, What would have become of me had I not believed that I would see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living! Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord. Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, it empties today of its strength.
SONG: HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW
Either Jesus is or He isn’t able! Either He does or He does not speak peace to deadly waves. Jesus told His disciples to go by boat ahead of Him while He dismissed the crowd. He went up on a mountainside to pray. When evening came, the boat was in middle of the lake, and He was alone on land. He saw disciples straining at the oars, because wind was against them. About fourth watch of the night, He went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw Him walking on the lake, they thought He was a ghost. They cried out because they were terrified! Immediately He spoke, “Take courage! It is I. Be not afraid.” Then He climbed into the boat, and wind died down. They were completely amazed! Jesus says today, “I am with you. Be not afraid.”
IS WHAT GOD SAYS THE TRUTH OR IS IT ALL MAKE BELIEVE? Here is what God says: He loves you, yesterday, today and forever, Jeremiah 31:3. God is on your side, Romans 8: 31. God works everything -that is everything- together in your life for your ultimate good, Romans 8:28. Jesus gave His life to save yours, John 15:13. And He gave His life even though He knew all the ways you have failed, Romans 5:8. Nothing can separate you from the love of God, Romans 8: 39. Only you can choose to separate from Him. God does not change like shifting shadows, James 1:15. He has not given you a spirit of fear, but of Love, of power and a sound mind.
God’s perfect love casts out fear. Tell Jesus your fears and let Him take them. Jesus believes in you. Will you believe in Him? No one is fearless. That is why God sprinkled encouragement against fear from Genesis to Revelation. “Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I uphold you with My righteous right hand.” We either let God lead or our fear lead. We fear the future and what will become of us. But Jesus reminds us God cares for birds of the air. You are worth more than many sparrows!
God tells us not to be afraid of being alone, of being too weak, of not being heard, of lacking necessities. “In God I trust; I will not fear what man can do.” Only when we realize how much God loves us, then fears fade. God does not want people wracked with fear, immobilized from becoming what He designed you to be. No matter how you feel or what you think others feel about you, God’s love sets us free from fear.
SONG: THE PRAYER
Closing Prayer: May Jesus’ love manifest in your life and shine His light on things hidden in darkness that keep you bound. May God’s word dwell richly in you, guide and teach you. May God’s Spirit give you understanding to walk in truth and free you from fear.