Dealing with phobias and fears
1 Peter 3:13 - 16
Fear is a very real and powerful emotion, as anyone who has ever felt its cold grip on their life can testify to.
Some fear is healthy and needed. Fear can have a purpose. Fear can keep us out of trouble and safe from danger.
Other fear is simply the world, our flesh or our enemy trying to gain control of our life.
1 Peter 3:13-16 “Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don't be afraid and don't worry. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.” NLT
Our fears can define
us – trap us – destroy us
Fear is a feeling of anxiety and agitation caused by the presence or nearness of danger, evil or pain.
Phobias are irrational, excessive and persistent fears of some particular thing or situation.
But, whether or not the general public considers your fear
or phobia rational or irrational; if it
is real to you it is a real problem.
People have allowed their fears and phobias to:
You are not alone in your fear.
The world my try to help you deal with your fears through
hypnosis, awareness treatment or medication but these are only SHORT TERM PATCHES to a deeper spiritual
issue of fear and phobias:
We must deal with our
fear spiritually!
Our battles are
spiritual – not physical.
Ephesians 6:12 “For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood , but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.”
The battle against fear and phobias is a spiritual battle and it must be fought on a spiritual plane.
>pp slide>> As with all other spiritual issues the root always comes back to your faith in God.
Spend time with God
in:
Get to know Him –
Draw closer and closer to Him
1 Peter 3:13-16 “Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don't be afraid and don't worry. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.” NLT
The marks of a faith-filled mature believer in God are:
There is much to fear
in prison yet that is where we find Paul worshipping and witnessing.
The flesh response to fear is to either “FIGHT or FLEE”
The spiritual
response to fear should be to “WORSHIP
and WITNESS”
Once your relationship with God is back on course, ask Him for help dealing with your fears and He will help you.
He may help you by:
1. Simply replacing your fear with faith
a. Ask God to do a powerful work in your heart
b. Ask Him for more wisdom and faith
2. Building your faith through by assuring you of who He is and what He has given you::
a. 2 Timothy 1:6 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. So you must never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord.” NLT
3. Sending you other people to help you with your fear by
a. standing with you as you face your fear
b. model a faithful response to the area your fear is in
c. Ecclesiastes 4 “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” NLT
d. We need each other!
4. Providing you with professional Christian counseling help
a. Sometimes we need more help than our brothers and sisters can provide
The only thing that can eternally relieve these fears and abolish these phobias is faith. Faith built from a real and growing relationship with God based in our faith in His Son Jesus Christ.
Psalm 3:5-6 “I lay down and slept. I woke up in safety, for the LORD was watching over me. I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side.” NLT
The presence and touch of Jesus Christ should remove all our fear.
Revelation 1:17-19 “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, "Don't be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one who died. Look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.”
Faith in God that drives away fear.
Faith in His Son who shed His blood and died for our sins so that neither death, hell or satan can have any power or authority over us.
Faith can conquer
fear.
Trust that defeats
terror
Worship that brings
your focus back to God
Witnessing that
points others to Him
What do you fear today? Will you give that fear to God and allow Him to replace that fear with faith, hope and love?