May 31-June 1, 2003               GOD’S SECURITY SYSTEM Psalm 112:7

THE FEAR FACTOR!

*** Psalm 112:7 “They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.” [New Living Translation]

1. THE DAMAGE OF THE FEAR FACTOR!

A. FEAR PARALYZES OUR POTENTIAL!

*** Psalm 143:4 (NLT) “I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear.”

*** John 20:19 “Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house.” [The Message]

*** John 20:26 “A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" [New International Version]

$ WERE THE DOORS LOCK FROM

THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE?

B. FEAR RUINS OUR RELATIONSHIPS!

*** Genesis 3:9-10 (NIV) “God called to the man, "Where are you?" He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."

$ YOUR FEAR AFFECTS EVERYBODY AROUND YOU!

C. FEAR HINDERS OUR HAPPINESS!

*** Proverbs 12:25 “Worry can rob you of happiness….” [Today’s English Version]

*** Psalm 13:2 “How long must I worry and feel sad in my heart all day?”

 [New Century Version]

*** Psalm 55:2 (TEV) “I am worn out by my worries.”

D. FEAR SABOTAGES OUR SUCCESS!

*** Job 3:25 (NLT) “What I always feared has happened to me. What I dreaded has come to be.”

$ FEARS CAN BE SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECIES!

*** Proverbs 23:7 (TEV) "What he thinks is what he really is.”

2. THE DEFEAT OF THE FEAR FACTOR!

*** Psalm 16:8 “I will always look to you, O Lord, as you stand beside me and protect me from fear.” [Contemporary English Version]

A. TRUTH DEFEATS THE FEAR FACTOR!

*** John 8:32 (NIV) “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

$ALL OTHER FEARS ARE LEARNED BEHAVIORS!

                   Fear is:   FALSE

                                EVIDENCE

                                APPEARING

                                REAL!

*** Psalm 27:1 (NIV) “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?”

B. LOVE DEFEATS THE FEAR FACTOR!

*** 1 John 4:18 (NCV) “Where God's love is, there is no fear, because God's perfect love drives out fear.”

$ THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF LOVE THAT NEUTRALIZE FEAR?

1. THE LOVE OF GOD!

*** Isaiah 43:5 (NIV) “Do not be afraid, for I am with you….”

$ THE MORE POWERFUL THE PROTECTOR,

THE LESS FEAR I’LL FEEL!

2. THE LOVE FROM GOD!

C. FAITH DEFEATS THE FEAR FACTOR!

*** Ephes. 6:16 (NIV) “In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”

*** Romans 10:17 (NIV) “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”

*** Psalm 56:3 “When I am afraid, I will put my confidence in you. Yes, I will trust the promises of God. And since I am trusting him, what can mere man do to me?” [Living Bible]

*** FEAR IS COMMON – FAITH IS THE CURE!

NO JESUS – NO PEACE!

KNOW JESUS – KNOW PEACE!