Lesson 25: DEFEAT FEAR

MEMORY VERSE-And fear not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28
LESSON TEXT-2 Chronicles 32:9-15

INTRODUCTION

I have come to realize that the success of a man in this our Christian race is tied to his/her ability to deal with fear. Satan’s strategy has not changed, fear is his tool, 2 Chron 32:13. When Satan makes you believe his lies, he throws his net over his captive, cages him and manipulates his mind until desperation makes the man take his alternative. If you say “no” to his gifts, he will have nothing to hold you with. Refuse to play his games by letting your mind stay on Jesus, you will always have the last laugh.

LESSON OUTLINE

1. THE REAL MEANING
2.  FAITH AND FEAR COMPARED
3. FAITH AND FEAR CONTRASTED
4. WHY PEOPLE EXHIBIT FEAR

LESSON CONTENT

1. THE REAL MEANING
   ·Fear according to Merriam Webster, is an unpleasant, often, strong emotions caused by anticipation or awareness of danger.
   ·Fear is a gift from God. In the human anatomy when one sees an oncoming danger, God gave man a normal (adrenalin)reaction which is “fear” that make him to seek ways of getting out of dangers.
   ·There is the fear of God: Profound reverence and awe towards God which make us give HIM the honor that is due to HIM, Prov. 1:7,9:10; Psa.111:10.
   ·But there are fears that manipulate our minds to fear Satan above God. There are fears that create imaginations which usurps the knowledge of the supremacy and sovereignty of God in our circumstances. There are fears that make us doubt the willingness and ability of God in our situations. The fears that blind our knowledge of all the promises of God, Jam. 1:6-8. The fears that kill our faith, Heb. 11: 6. This fear can be translated to panic, anxiety, sweating, unease, state of apprehension, faintheartedness. These are imaginations that create doubts, loss of confidence and faith, 2 Tim. 1:7.
   Fear is a big hindrance to a believer’s Christian walk.
2. FAITH AND FEAR COMPARED
   ·Faith according to Hebrews 11: 1 is, “Substance of things hoped for and evidence of things we do not see”. Fear? Same. Give an example of lump in a woman’s mammary gland. Do you notice the counterfeit now or the trick of the devil?
   ·Faith is acknowledging in the heart and confessed with the mouth, Rom. 10:9. The same with fear.
   ·Faith is built by hearing and seeing testimonies, Rom. 10: 17. Fear is same. Having lived on earth these many years, we have built fear by the bad news and experiences we have heard and had.
3. FAITH AND FEAR CONTRASTED
   ·In faith we are sure that God, the ultimate authority is working and must surely give us victory but
   o Fear tells you God not able. (with statistics)
   o Fear tells you yes God is able, but you will not succeed (with statistics too)
   o Fear tells you, your sin will not let God save you.
   ·Faith reminds you what God has done in the past and convinces you HE will do it again for you, 1 Sam.17:32-37David, Saul and Goliath. But fear reminds you of all your past failures and tells you this won’t be any different.
   ·Faith reminds you of all the encouraging scriptures containing word of Truth for your situation, but Fear reminds of News of the people who have lost this same battle and yours won’t be different.
   ·Faith makes you share your testimonies, but fear makes you hide them because you are not sure if they will last.
   ·Faith gives you boldness in Christ, but fear makes you die even before the problem comes hence leads you to compromise, Dan. 3: 16-18 Shadrack, Mishack and Abednego.
   ·Faith sees good and seeks the will of God in every situation, but fear sees ugly outcome and seeks short cut (compromise)The story of Saul going to consult medium to get Samuel to talk to him.
   ·Faith is based on Truth, but fear is based on some facts with lots of lies.
4. WHY PEOPLE EXHIBIT FEAR
   ·Unbelieve-We do not really trust that God can do this one, Jer.32:27; Gen. 18: 14; LK. 1:37. If you are looking for the fruit of the womb and the Doctors have given facts like they gave to Sarah and Mary. Take up just one of these verses.
   ·The reality of your pains or severity of your sufferings makes you think nothing has been able to change your situation and therefore nothing can change it. Remember the invalid in John 5:7,”said I have no man to put me in the pool”
   ·Ignorance: You didn’t know that God has made that promise to you. So, you ignorantly carry your problem, never searched to find out if that situation too is covered in the manifest of God. Nicodemus went by night and got a good answer from the MASTER.
   ·Lack of the word of God to strengthen you, Rom 10: 17, Col 3:16.
   ·Sin: Sin makes a believer live in guilt and fear. The believer is and feels exposed anytime he sins, Gen. 3: 7, 10; Remember 1 John 1:9.
   ·We believe the threat of the enemy more than we trust the might/strength and willingness of God to save us, 2 Chr. 32:7
   ·We cannot pray, 2 Chr. 32: 20-21

CONCLUSION

Our position in Christ-We have Jesus Christ our redeemer, our defender. He is the head of all principalities and powers, Col. 2: 6-10 He is the righteous judge. We become overcomers once HE be for us, Rom.8:31. We are conquerors: In all these we are more than conquerors. Sin has not power over us anymore. Confess your sins and go fearlessly. We have been purchased by the blood. What can the enemy do to you, Psalm 27 says “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Defeat Fear and you will have a victorious Christian life.

QUESTIONS

1. Give an example each of a positive and negative fear
2. Fear is an opposite of faith. True/False
3. Identify two reasons why believers do fear

ASSIGNMENT

The knowledge of whom we are in the Lord will defeat fear in us if correctly applied. Support this assertion with two scriptural evidence/examples.