Sermon By:
Pastor Bob Paquet / Sunday, October 14, 2001
FEAR - THE CRIPPLING MOTIVATOR
One of the most debilitating and one of the most motivating of
man’s emotions
is “fear”.
Fear has the negative ability to totally debilitate and incapacitate
individuals,
families, communities and nations.
Fear can also be a positive motivator
Fear can be incentive to move forward, to overcome, to conquer, or to
seek
new goals.
On September 11th terrorists destroyed the Twin Towers of the World
Trade
Center and fear crept into the hearts of millions.
Individuals around the world responded by canceling trips, staying
home,
stocking up on foods and medicines, changing their financial plans,
praying,
etc. Governments began to consider the various impacts of “fear”
on society - emotional, financial, physical and spiritual.
Political,
military, religious, economic, scientific, and industrial leaders were
motivated to consider various “options” available to the terrorists,
(e.g.,
- biological and chemical warfare) while investigating ways to protect
society. The communication media throughout the world became
consumed
with “bringing everyone up to date” concerning the “latest
developments.”
Individuals and companies undoubtedly began to investigate ways to
“save
lives with an emphasis on the bottom line.” Society and the world
responded.
As individuals how we react to fear not only impacts our life on
earth
but our eternal destiny.
The Bible considers fear, “the crippling motivator”, from a different
point
of view.
Jesus said, “Do not be afraid of those
who kill the body but cannot
kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul
and
body in hell.”
(Matt. 10:28)
Psalm 111:10 tells us that, “The fear of
the Lord is the beginning
of
wisdom; ....” It is wise to fear the Lord for He alone can
deliver
us, He alone can protect us, He alone is our shield and mighty
fortress,
He alone loved us so much that He was willing to sacrifice His Son that
we might have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave
his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John
3:16)
In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No
one
comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus came to deliver mankind from the bondage
of fear
in this life and eternally
The Gospel message is one of love, hope and deliverance from all fear.
It is a promise of eternal life from the sovereign creator of the
universe
to those who believe.
Jesus desires to be our protector against those who would destroy us.
He said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have
come
that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)
If you would be free from fear:
Believe that Jesus is the Christ
“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the
Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
(John 20:31)
Confess that Jesus is your Lord
“... if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in
your
heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10
For
it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is
with
your mouth that you confess and are saved.” (Rom. 10:9-10)
Love the Lord and love your neighbor
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because
fear
has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in
love.”
(1John 4:18)
Fear the Lord - “... Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds
great delight in his commands.” (Ps. 112:1) “He will have no fear
of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His
heart
is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on
his foes.” (Ps. 112:7-8) “He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress,
and for his children it will be a refuge.” (Prov. 14:26)
Seek the Lord
“I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my
fears.”
(Ps. 34:4)
Trust in the Lord
“The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear? The Lord is
the stronghold of my life — of whom shall I be afraid?” (Ps. 27:1)
Be confident in the Lord
“So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be
afraid.
What can man do to me?” (Hebr. 13:6)
CONCLUSION
Live your life without fear in such a way as to apprehend all
that
God has for you. Act confidently and boldly to accomplish the
purpose
for which you were created knowing that He will never leave you nor
forsake
you.
As Theodore Roosevelt said in “The
Critic” - “so that his (your)
place
shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory
or defeat.”
The Critic
“It is not the critic who counts,
not the man who points out how the
strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them
better.
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face
is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who errs, and comes short again
and again (but)....who knows the great enthusiasms, the great
devotions,
who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the
triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst if he fails, at least
fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those
cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.”
Theodore Roosevelt - remarks
made in a speech at the Paris
Sorbonne
(1910)
