OVERCOMING PROBLEMS OP6

OVERCOMING THE PROBLEM OF FEAR

Psalm 34
Fear is a basic emotion, a God-given instinct which serves as an alarm-system, (e.g. It keeps me from stepping
in front of cars, or jumping from high buildings, etc.) It is a valuable servant, but a terrible master. Fear is a
powerful creative force. Great sums of money are spent on:
Medical research, because of fear of sickness;
Accident-saving devices, because of fear of harm;
Education, because of fear of ignorance;
Armaments, because of fear of being attacked; etc.
On a personal level fear has physical consequences. This is called psychosomatic illness. People who are
afraid 10 face up to life become sick as a result. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SICKNESSES THAT CAN
RESULT FROM FEAR?
In Psalm 34:4 David said: "I sought the Lord and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears."
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FEARS GOD WANTS TO DELIVER US FROM, LISTED IN THE FOLLOWING
REFERENCES?
i. Psa. 118:66; Prov. 29:25; Heb. 13:6.
ii. Matt. 25:25.
iii. Job 3:25; Psa. 23:4; Prov. 1:33.
iv. Heb. 2:15
v. 2 Tim. 1:7
vi. Psa. 53:5
NAME SOME OTHER FEARS COMMON TO MAN.
We need to recognise the source of our fears. THEY ARE NOT FROM GOD! Often God appeared to people
with the words "fear not". The Gospel was introduced by the angels with those words Lk. 2:10. Jesus came to
liberate people from their fears. He foresaw the problem of fearfulness in the world and urged His followers to
be on their guard against it. (Lk. 21:26+34). He used the birds of the air and the flowers of the field to illustrate
the ease with which He would have us to live a life free from anxiety (Mat. 6:25+34).
How can this ideal be possible?
Fear channelled in the right direction turns to faith. See Psa. 34:7, 9, 11. Fear and faith are opposites. When we
worry we don't trust; when we trust we don't worry. (Isa. 26:3+4). Just as faith yields those things we desire so
fear delivers to us those things we dread (Job 3:25).
Fear concentrates upon the problems.
Faith concentrates upon the promises.
Fear concentrates upon the circumstances.
Faith concentrates upon the Word of God.
WHY DID THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL FAIL TO ENTER THE PROMISED LAND?
WHY DID JOSHUA AND CALEB GO IN?
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FAITH AND PRESUMPTION?
Faith is not presumption. It does not refuse to consider the circumstances but it trusts in the promises and the
goodness of God. It has a choice to believe the obstacles or the Word of God, and chooses to believe the Word
of God.
Faith changes the circumstances.
Faith brings into being what does not exist. Rom. 4:17; Heb. 11:3.
Faith gives substance to your hopes. Heb. 11:1.
Possibilities and desires become realities.
Faith sees the unseen. 2 Cor. 4:18; Heb. 11:27.
Faith sees God's will and desire for a situation.
Faith has to do with answers, not problems.
Faith sees God's answer, and calls it into being.
Faith pleases God. Heb. 11:6.
READ Psalm 34 together. HOW MANY REFERENCES ARE THERE TO LOOKING TO GOD AND TRUSTING
HIM?
LOOK AGAIN AT SOME OF THE FEARS LISTED ON THIS PAPER. HOW CAN WE BE SET FREE FROM
THESE? (DISCUSS SPECIFIC CASES).
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