We were made to have fear.
Proverbs 22:3Fear is useful and keeps us alive.Healthy fear can be a good thing.Fear is real.
Man and beast have fear.God made us and them that way.Protected and fed by animals’ fear of us – Genesis 9:2Fear can help us – Proverbs 1:7Fear can hinder us – Matthew 25:24-28Fear of acting in this case was called wicked and lazy.What causes fear?
DangerThe unknown or unfamiliarOverwhelming opposing forcePersonal experience – II Corinthians 12:20-21Other people’s experiences – Acts 9:26Disapproval of others – John 9:17-22Immediate consequences for actions – Jonah 3:4-9Kinds of fear
Reverence and respectCornelius – Acts 10:1-2Jonah – Jonah 1:1-3Mortal fearBelshazzar – Daniel 5:1-6Saul and the Israelites – I Samuel 17:8-11, 21-24Peter – Matthew 14:27-31PhobiasSpiders, snakes, etc.Heights, people, situationsMemory fear“I remember what happened last time I did that.”Fear of consequencesJonah – Jonah 3:10-4:3Ecclesiastes 8:11It can be controlled
If we couldn’t control our fears, God wouldn’t have told us not to fear.Some general guidelinesObjectively examine what makes you afraid and why (awareness)Known what you can use to mitigate it (knowledge)Learn to use those items of mitigation (confidence)Example – fear of flyingSubjecting fear
KnowledgeProverbs 1:7Matthew 10:24-33FamiliarityDoing activities that make you fearfulUnderstanding better through instructionConfidence through repeated exposureFaithMatthew 10:29-30 – Truly believing you will be all rightFaith that God is with youJeremiah – Jeremiah 1:4-8Apostles – Matthew 28:19-20Other times and other waysLove
I John 4:16-19Motivation to put the fear behind you.Helping others gain courage
“Encouragement”Isaiah 35:3-4Acts 11:22-24 (Acts 4:36)Colossians 4:7-8Hebrews 3:13Mentorship and examplesMissionary activities rarely done alone.Titus 2:1-8Why is courage so important?
Why work so hard for itWhy strive to encourage others?God instructs usIt has eternal consequences – Revelation 21:8Take courage
Encourage others
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