KEYS TO OVERCOMING FEAR

GETTING STARTED:

A lot of people around the world are PARALYZED with fear. Christians would post Psalm 91 on Facebook as Coronavirus scare looms over the world.  Everywhere you look, you can sense fear, Christians included. Who wouldn’t be? This virus is no respecter of person. Young or old. Rich or poor. Fear immobilizes everyone. People have so many fears: Fear of getting the virus; fear of losing job or business because the economy is down; fear of not being able to pay the bills; fear of being put out of the house since they can’t pay the mortgage; fear of being replaced at work. Fear is gripping us right now. But if you are ever going to become and do what God has assigned your hand to do, you have to learn to overcome fear.

ONE BIG IDEA!

“Anytime fear enters into the domain of your life, you can be sure that it did not come from God.”

STUDY:

2 TIMOTHY 1:7 – “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline (NLT).

LEARN:

KEYS TO OVERCOMING FEAR:

Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 20)

Do you know what’s dangerous about FEAR? Fear can make you do unbiblical, irrational, illogical and ungodly decisions. When you allow fear to govern your life, you’re operating in a realm that God didn’t intend for you to operate. If you operate in the realm of fear, you’ll miss God’s best by allowing Mr. and Mrs. Fear to hang out in your life.

The problem with Mr. and Mrs. Fear is that they have baby fears.  Mr. and Mrs. Fear will start by talking loud but eventually, they will have baby fears.  And baby fears will soon grow up. The devil will keep on talking to you.  The devil will play his tricks on you over and over again – different voices, different circumstances, or different scenarios.  But it’s the same game, it’s the same strategy, it’s the same method, it’s the same modus operandi. One of the strategies of the devil is FEAR. We should be smart enough not to allow fear to grip us and control us to make a decision that is the opposite of what God desires for your life.

There is one person in the Bible who overcame fear. His name is King Jehoshaphat. King Jehoshaphat is a good king.  His dad, King Asa, was also a good king. King Jehoshaphat reigned for 25 years.  He became king at the age of 35 years old. He followed the footsteps of his dad.  But King Jehoshaphat was in a bad situation.

2 Chronicles 20:1-2, “¹ After this, the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites declared war on Jehoshaphat. ² Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army from Edom is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea.They are already at Hazazon-tamar.” (This was another name for En-gedi.) (NLT)” Imagine this group of nations has decided to come together and have a battle with Judah. 2 Chronicles 20:3 – “Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting.” (NLT)

It’s dangerous when you start listening to what people tell you.  Jehoshaphat got afraid because of what people told him. Some of us are like that.  We become paralyzed because of what we fear. Today, I just want to bind the spirit of fear in us.  Jehoshaphat was afraid.  Just like Jehoshaphat, we have this human nature to fear.  We have anxieties about things. We experience human emotions.  But I would like to share with you what King Jehoshaphat did when he became afraid.

2 Chronicles 20:3 – “Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting (NLT).” The first thing Jehoshaphat did is: GO TO THE LORD. Instead of listening to your fear, you have to seek the Lord. You have to live a lifestyle of seeking God. You have to live a life that pursues what God wants you to do.  Tell the person seated beside you while you’re watching this sermon, “We have to seek the Lord.”

Then, Jehoshaphat proclaimed fasting in Judah.  He didn’t only personally seek the Lord, he also asked the entire nation to fast and seek the Lord. Check out 2 Chronicles 20:6 – “He prayed, “O Lord, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you (NLT)!” He sought the Lord, asked the nation to fast, and he prayed.  How many of you know that prayer changes our situation and circumstance? If you want things in your life to change, you have to START PRAYING.

REALIZE THAT THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S (2 CHRONICLES 20:14-15)

There are things in your life that you can’t fix or repair.  There are circumstances and situations in your life right now that are beyond your resources, beyond your capacity, and beyond your ability (just like the covid-19). You have to instill in your heart and soul that what you’re facing right now is not a battle that you have to fight but God.

2 Chronicles 20:17 – “But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you (NLT)!””  God didn’t bring you this far in your life to leave you and forsake you. The God we serve has the capacity and ability to fight the battle for you. Of course, it is our responsibility to do our best in every situation in life.  But it is not our responsibility to worry.  Keeping us protected is God’s role.  Healing us is God’s role.  Providing for us while we’re locked down is God’s role. We don’t need to worry.  We don’t need to stress out anymore. This is what I love:  When God fights the battle, He will defeat every enemy who wants to destroy you. I believe God is working in your situation right now. You may not feel it, but He’s working. You may not see it, but He’s working. Our God is an incredible God who does incredible things.

RECEIVE THE WORD THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED TO YOU (2 CHRONICLES 20:20)

Jehoshaphat knew that apart from God, Judah will not have a chance to win against these nations.  God didn’t only let Jehoshaphat realize that the battle is His.  But God is telling Jehoshaphat that he has to believe the word that was spoken to him and the nation.  Your prosperity, your victory, and your healing are tied to your faith in God. You and I have to believe. Faith is what moves God. Our anxieties won’t move God.  Our worries won’t move God. If we want God to move, we have to BELIEVE (Hebrews 11:6). Shift your focus from your big problem to our big God because He has a good track record in  your life. Our God will be with us through thick and thin. If God has brought us to this point, I know that He will bring us to the next point. If God walked with you in the past, He will be with you in your entire life’s journey. Your disappointment is not your destination. God is just teaching you a lesson that you have to learn in life. No one in his crazy mind would love to have covid-19.  But think about the lessons that God is teaching us in this covid-19 scare. Imagine, the good things happening during this spread of virus. Now, the ladies realized that shopping is not life.  Youth now realized that going out with friends is not what defines life.  Workaholics learned that life is not about work but family. Those who don’t put God first realized that God can just take us at a snap of a finger.

REJOICE IN THE LORD (2 CHRONICLES 18-19, 21-24)

When Israel praised God, the enemies got confused and they killed each other.  We often shout and rejoice when we win battles in life.  But Jehoshaphat and the Israelites shouted and rejoiced even before they won the battle. Can you praise God in the middle of the war? Can you praise God in the midst of coronavirus and lockdown?  Can you praise God even when you don’t have a job?  Can you praise God when you’re sick? We should worship God not just for what He has done for us but also for who He is to us. In the face of sickness, praise Him.  In the face of lack, praise Him.  In the face of uncertainty, praise Him. We can trust our God!  We can depend on Him! If fear is talking to you right now, I want you to silence its voice.  I want you to let faith arise. Deactivate FEAR and activate FAITH.

GROW:

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

1. What do you fear and how does it affect the way you live? Does it lead to anger, worry, anxiety, or attempts to control others?
2. Is there something God has commanded from his Word that you are fearful to do? Why are you fearful? What truth about God gives you courage in the midst of fear?
3. What Scripture verse can you think of whenever you begin to feel fear creeping in? What are the practical ways you can trust God with your future?