How Do I Overcome Fear?

(Joshua 1:9) Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Fear is a Spirit that the enemy uses to keep us from being who God wants us to be.

2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

How Fear Impacts Us

The story of Gideon...

(Judges 6:11) The angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites.

The reflex to fear is anger.

(Judges 6:12-13) When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior." " 

(Statement of faith) 

But sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, 'Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian."

Fear make us feel insecure.

(Judges 6:14-15) The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?"  

Statement of faith)

"But Lord," Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."

Fear Makes us feel out of control.

(Judges 6:16-18) The LORD answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together." 

(Statement of faith)

Gideon replied, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you." And the LORD said, "I will wait until you return."

The fear hierarchy is...

1. Fear of Death

2. Fear of Injury.

3. Fear of Immobilization.

4. Fear of Isolation.

5. Fear of humiliation.

The enemy uses fear to suppress us. 

God uses faith to bless us. 

Fear is...

False

Evidence

Appearing

Real  

Refuse to  Fear

1. Stand your ground.

(Exodus 14:13-14) Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.

2. Pray for peace.

(Philippians 4:6) Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer (tell God what's going on)

and petition (ask God for what you'd like for Him to do), 

with thanksgiving (thank God is advance) , present your requests to God. 

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

3. Reject Satan's lies, and replace them with what God says about it in the Bible.

(2 Corinthians 10:5) We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

4. Trust in God. 

Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV) No weapon formed against you shall prosper,

(Psalm 56:3-4) When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

It is time to fight because  my future 

is on the other side of my greatest fear.

Mark Pettis, Church of the Highlands

Video

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/how-do-i-overcome-fear

Discussion Guide

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/files/groups/guides/10-09-2016.pdf

All scripture is from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.