Fear Not
Fear Not • Sermon • Submitted
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There is a command within the Bible that shows up 365 times from Genesis to Revelation. It is given to dozens of individuals in a variety of circumstances. This command is fear not. It is clear that God does not want his people to fear in the face of adversity. So how do we handle fear when it shows up in our lives?
Fear Not
Fear Not
Fear not is a command that shows up in the Bible very often. So, what is fear and is there a way to over come it?
Lets pray and begin our journey and learn how to Fear Not.
Pray
What is Fear?
What is Fear?
Various degrees of anxious dread or terror, generally experienced in the face of danger or the suspicion thereof. In the most basic sense, fear arises from threats posed by human agentry
The fear of mankind is a snare,
but the one who trusts in the Lord is protected.
Fear is a response to danger. Fear is a response to a threat. However Proverbs describes it as a trap. and Philipians tells us
Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
So this morning lets look at two passages where Jesus’ disciples were in a precarious situation. In two cases in the book of Matthew the apostle records two situations where fear would be an appropriate response. We will look at a passage in Matthew 8 and a passage in Matthew 14 where the disciples very lives were at risk.
As he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. Suddenly, a violent storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves—but Jesus kept sleeping. So the disciples came and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to die!”
He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
Jesus and his disciples got onto the boat together
Water in the ancient world was not anywhere near as accessible so anytime a boat got into a storm they could quickly get into distress. This is exactly the situation in Matthew 8. The boat the disciples and Jesus were on was in trouble and the disciples were afraid.
can you blame them?
the disciples we love to insinuate that they were oafs. blundering everymen who cant get anything right. Well in this situation Jesus himself chided the disciples fir their “little faith.” At least they were partly right they cried out to Jesus for help.
they Jesus and his power manifest on the wind and the water and their faith was increased.
faith is the antidote to fear
There is another situation in Matthew 14 where the disciples life was at risk lets read about it in Matthew 14
Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After dismissing the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Well into the night, he was there alone. Meanwhile, the boat was already some distance from land, battered by the waves, because the wind was against them. Jesus came toward them walking on the sea very early in the morning. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and they cried out in fear.
Immediately Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter answered him, “command me to come to you on the water.”
He said, “Come.”
And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those in the boat worshiped him and said, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
When they had crossed over, they came to shore at Gennesaret.
a similar situation. This time Jesus wasn’t on the boat and he sends the disciples ahead of him. This time they are working diligently in the storm. this time Jesus who they had walked with daily encouraging the disciples. The same guy who calmed the storm last time. This time Peter stepped out onto the water.
Faith is the antidote to fear.
Peter is my favorite disciple. He has such a great story and he also proves the struggle is real. he began to loose sight of Jesus so he cried out to Jesus and Jesus saved him they got on the boat and the storm stopped and the disciples worshipped him as the son of God
There are storms in this life, Amen?
There are storms in this life but God is faithful. This very church is a testament of that.
today as we prepare for a time of reflection let us remember that
faith is the antidote to fear
Call on me in a day of trouble;
I will rescue you, and you will honor me.”