Fear Factor 2
II Timothy 1:7 NKJV
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
https://bible.com/bible/114/2ti.1.7.nkjv
The most common command in Scripture is FEAR NOT!
Matthew 14:22-33 NIV
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.14.22-33.NIV
I. Defies His Sovereignty
Matthew 14:22-24 NIV
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.14.22-24.NIV
Mark 4:36-38 NIV
36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
https://bible.com/bible/111/mrk.4.36-38.NIV
Fear is managed when you remember that God is in control and sovereign in your life.
II. Distorts our Perspective
Matthew 14:25-26 NIV
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.14.25-26.NIV
Fear and faith cannot live in the same heart, for fear always blinds the eyes to the presence of the Lord.
III. Derails our Progress
Matthew 14:28-30 NIV
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.14.28-30.NIV
IV. Decreases our Faith
Matthew 14:29-31 NIV
29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.14.29-31.NIV
Fear is nothing more than confidence in the devil. It is the opposite of Faith – confidence in God.
1. Take Risks
2. Move Closer and Cry Out
3. Clarify Christ!
Matthew 14:33 NIV
33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.14.33.NIV
Romans 8:31 NIV
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
https://bible.com/bible/111/rom.8.31.NIV
My Beginning. My Forever. 