Sunday Morning Podcast February 26, 2020,. Bro. Richard Lehman.
TEXT: 1 JOHN 4:17-18
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
The subject is about fears, although some may discredit that they have any fear. But everyone of us has some fears, of one kind or another. It’s a life long struggle that we have to deal with. We have to deal with it all around us, because of a world full of fears and largely ran too much by it in many ways. Because of that, we have to deal with it. Are we doing it? Our title is, Conquering our Fears? Or are we motivated by fear? Are we motivated by faith? Or are we motivated by fear? What is the real motivation that is in our lives? From the beginning of the bible, all the way through, it is dealing with fear! It’s not a little side subject, but a major fact that we have to deal with. Even in the beginning in the Garden of Eden, the enemy convinced them they might miss out on something, so the fear of that compelled their temptation, to which they listened to. After their disobedience, they had to deal with the fear of God’s voice, whereas before, they had known no real fear, especially with God their Creator’s voice.
So, they hid themselves. Why? Because they were afraid. So here is when fear entered into the world. In Revelations 21: 7-8 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his god, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers. and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. He talks about this very terrible group…. then starts that list with “the fearful” and those with unbelief, but then He groups it with these “others.” It shows that fears working in us can be an early indicator of trouble in our life. Now it is not fear….but self! Because we all have fears! We’re all dealing with fears. You are not exempt from them. You have dealt with them since you were a child, throughout your life, with your difficulties, and today you are dealing with fears, that we all are. This whole world is run by fear. Look at the media that puts out that which makes headlines. Fear! What moves people today? Fear! So we’re dealing with this, it’s our life, our environment. The question though is, ..what is motivating us now? Especially those of us who claim to be Christians? For there’s a lot of people who started out saved, but are no longer, which has a lot to do with the fact that their motivation became fear, and not the faith and love of God working inside them. Paul one of the strongest apostles, was challenged everyday with fears; “For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.” 2 Corinthians 7:5
We all are dealing with fears every day, but the question is, “Are we dealing with it?” or Are we running from it?” Building up to protect ourselves from it, or are we moving forward? “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalms 27:1 So we build walls of protection all around us? Not what this scripture says! Salvation is the power of Almighty God! Whom shall I fear? We have the notion of building the Walls of Salvation all around us, we will then be as in a cave, and it will no longer look like the Jerusalem with open gates for the Salvation of souls! How we are individually, is how the church will be. Are we a “city” of growth and conquering ..or of self protecting? Many that say they are not saved, is because of their fear. Many might claim they just don’t believe, but actually are afraid to “look into it,” because they might then become accountable. They instead look for something that will justify their unbelief. If we’re not saved this morning, it’s because of fear.
Conquering Our Fears? Or, …Are We Motivated By Fears?