Pastor’s Corner — Face fears

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

A few years ago there was a reality T.V. show that was my favorite show. I would watch it every time I had a chance. On this show, contestants would have to do some stunts that would normally cause fear in many folks - it may be to be in a car submerged in water and you had to get out before you die; be locked in a box with tarantulas or drive a car over a ramp and into a burning building. Those kinds of things, that one might not do on an every day basis.

I was so intrigued with that show that I decided I wanted to be a contestant.

I downloaded an application to complete, but there was one thing that kept me from sending it in - I knew I would lose.

I could handle the tarantulas, being trapped under water and the heights. But in every show there is always a stunt that I knew I would fail. It was eating gross things. The contestants had to consume things like a maggot milkshake or the eyeball from a sheep. I knew I would gag profusely. I can’t even eat a deviled egg without gagging (I discovered the deviled egg thing at a Christmas party).

You may recognize the show by now. Fear Factor.

At the end of the show the winner is announced, with this pronouncement, “Fear is not a factor for John Smith.”

That is sorta what Paul says in 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Fear should not be a factor for a child of God. Why? Because God has not given us a spirit of fear! Then why is it that some of God’s kids seem to be imprisoned by aspirit of fear?

Fear of rejection, fear of abandonment, fear of failure, fear of people, panic attacks, fear of speaking, fear of ridicule, fear of death, fear of germs. As you know there are 100s of phobias, too many to list. Many Christians are in bondage to fear, and we can rest assured that none of it comes from God.

This same verse lists three tools God has given us to overcome fear:

1. Power - Greater is he who is in us then he who is in the world. ’Nuff said.

2. Love - Perfect love casts out fear. When we are aware of God’s love for us, we become more secure in who we are and where we are in life.

3. A sound mind - One who does not have control over their thoughts will be susceptible to fears. Learn to discern the fearful thoughts from the enemy and take them captive. Throw them out and replace them with courage-inducing thoughts from God.

This artice is from a sermon I preached last Sunday. It is from a series called, “The Freedom Trail.” If you are dealing with fear, I would encourage you to listen to the entire message on the sermon page on our web site at www.crossbrand.org.

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Editor’s note: Tim Wallace is pastor of Cross Brand Church. To contact him, e-mail [email protected]. For more of Tim’s articles, go to www.

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Church, Pages 2 on 03/16/2011