You see fear must be fed in order for it to gain power and the way that fear is fed
best is it loves a buffet of what if and worry I mean it just loves it it eats on it constantly
what if they don't like me what if I end up alone
what if my child never comes back to faith what if I relapse again
what if this is as good as it gets if I lose my house what if the cancer comes back
what if I lose my job what if after all this studying I still fail and so now you're in the
wilderness the wilderness of what if I now find that what if is a weapon that the devil uses
to keep me from doing things that I know good and well in my spirit God has called me to do
you know it's amazing to me how people can so clearly hear the devil but can't hear God's voice
I mean isn't that true I mean don't you it just seems like no one ever struggles to hear
the voice of the enemy in their life but you constantly I meet people who struggle to hear
the voice of God in their life I mean it really is astounding it's amazing to me that a God who
has been so faithful can be so doubted and yet an enemy who is completely unfaithful can be so
trusted now here's what we have to remember about this is very important is that the Bible is very
clear that satan is a liar and there's nothing that he can't even tell the truth he doesn't
know how to speak it it's a language that's foreign to him and equally God can never lie
and he is truth and any time that God creates something satan creates a counterfeit to it
anytime that God creates something satan's going to say well I'm going to create a
counterfeit to that and so when God created faith satan created fear faith attracts God
fear attracts the enemy in your life faith gives God access to work in your circumstances
fear gives the enemy access to work in your circumstances see the enemy's central objective
is to get you to doubt God's promises every fear that's ever brought into your life is an attempt
to nullify a promise that God made you in his word for God has not given us a spirit of fear
but of power and love and a sound mind fear wants you to forget that God's powerful to the fact that
let me let's just have a little exercise think of your worst fear because your worst fear is not
more powerful than God's ability to bring his best into your life if the God who hung the universe
the stars the moon the sun if the God who has no equal if the God who scripture tells uses
the Earth as a footstool if he loves you what in the world are you worried about
what are you fearful of I mean if if that's the God who wants to be in relationship with you and
give you attention if that's the love that he is sharing what in the world are you scared of
and then here's I he's already taken care of the worst problem in your life which was your eternal
salvation there's nothing you could do nothing you could work nothing you could earn no person you
could get to that would fix that problem he's already fixed it so if he can fix the biggest
problem in your life why can't we trust that his love will bring about this every problem we've got
on this side of eternity he's going to protect you he's going to provide for you he's already done it
you're loved but Paul says be careful because
fear wants you to forget that God's powerful forget that you're loved you see when fear comes
in your life it may overwhelm you for a moment but there is nothing stopping you from taking a breath
and beginning to believe the promises of God instead of what fear says
see if you focus on the enemy the problems will always seem huge the result is fear when you
focus on God your faith grows as you realize that God is bigger than your problems Romans 8:31 says
if God is for us who can be against us God is on your side come on you're going to come out of this
and we're going to make it focus on God not the enemies it is a choice that's why we worship it's
not just a tradition worship is connecting with God and focusing on him and forgetting about fears
but I have in my years I have just noticed that people are scared about possibilities they can't
see in the dark things that might happen they get scared of Winston Churchill was asked how
he made it through World War II with all of its fears he said I act like I'm unafraid
I choose not to fear I will not dread this I will walk as though I am not I'm going
to trust God when everything seems like it's about to fall what do you have to hold on to
and in our world today so many times we don't know what's to
come but so many times don't you and I face what might come tomorrow with fear
some of you fear the future you aren't sure what God's ultimate plan for your life is
you fear taking a step of obedience with God what what if this doesn't work some of you fear
the unknown no matter how big or strong you are there is something you fear and whether we want
to admit it or not we all face fear but for some of you it's bigger you are consumed with fear
God I I don't know what's next I don't know what to expect or what to do I'm afraid
there's no clear path to the future thank you so many times you stop growing because of fear
change frightens you so rather than move forward and change you stand still
keep moving forward obey God's voice in spite of your fear
when you move forward in faith instead of standing still in fear God provides what could you do what
would you do for God if you realize that you would overcome all opposition with his help
he is your protector and I love what Isaiah 43 says but now this is what the Lord says fear
not for I have redeemed you I have summoned you by name you are mine when you pass through the waters
I will be with you and when you pass through the rivers they will not sweep over you when
you walk through the fire you will not be burned the flames will not set you ablaze for I am the
Lord your God the Holy One of Israel your savior God didn't say you'll never go through hard times
you're never going to suffer you're never going to have a problem know what God said was fear not
even though you encounter hard times I am going to be with you and I'm going to protect you
that financial challenge I'm with you that family situation I'm with you
rejection failure heartache loss the unknown I'll be with you I am your protector
God has said never will I leave you never will I forsake you
so we say with confidence the Lord is my helper I will not be afraid what can man do to me
how do you overcome fear by remembering that God is with you and God will protect you
you are not in this alone you do not have to do this in your own strength
even if you feel all alone you're not I will be with you Jesus is saying I'm here I'm right here
what would happen in your life instead of looking at fear you just called to Jesus
don't be afraid or discouraged listen to me for the Lord my God is with you
and he will not fail you or what forsake you and isn't that incredible let me ask
you this question what could go right what could go right the fear of something bad
happening in your life may very well keep God out of bringing something good in your life
Psalms 91:2 this I declare about the Lord he alone is my refuge he is my
place of safety he is my God and I will trust in him what's the opposite of fear it's trust
I'm gonna trust you
it doesn't mean the fear goes away it means I take the courageous step of trusting God for
who he says he is even if the worst thing happened God would be with me in that too
I'm gonna do everything I can to stop it I'm gonna do everything I can to change it
but see even if it happens I am is still with me