Freedom from Fear: How To Overcome Fear: Sermon
Topic: Freedom From Fear
Text: Psalm 34:4
Introduction
There is this four letter words that is causing issues in the life of people today. Whenever this word surfaces, many end up trembling and in lost of what is the next thing to do .
The word is affecting Kings, Chiefs, Leaders in the society, likewise father’s and mothers and you will perceive it in all facets of life. This word is called fear.
Let’s not forget our broad theme for the month which is titled freedom from the power of the mighty and today’s topic is extracted from the monthly theme.
As said earlier, many Kings are find it difficult to advance their kingdom or territory because of the word called fear, Presidents or Governors worry on what to do in many cases and don’t know what is next, families are not left out too likewise we that are seated here today have fear in our hearts over one issue or the other.
Fear of how to pay school fees, how my child will be successful, what will happen in the future or how will the future look like, businesses or what we have lay our hands upon to do but the big question here is that, is it God that put fear in our hearts, please note that fear is not from God.
In 2 Timothy 1:7, state it clearly that fear is not from God and if is not from God meaning is from the devil.
Any home that fear enters into, it is coming to destroy that home, is it business or the life of a person, it will come to make a mess of it. Fear will never allow one to have focus.
Churches too are not left out because if fear attacks the church, to move forward will be a problem. The fear of how do we do this project, how do we buy this instruments or how do we progress as a church but thank God that Jesus Himself said the gate of hell will not prevail against His church, if not fear would have dominated to stop them from doing great things.
Satan has used this four letter words called Fear to destroy the lives of many.
King David was the one who made this statement. There was battle everywhere around his life. Battles with the philistines, battles among his kinsmen and battles among those he thought he could trust. From the verse in our bible text, David ran to God seeking Him to deliver him from all his fears.
David knew that he cannot get help from anywhere but God. He sought God because he believes with God there is deliverance, salvation, protection, guidance etc.
1. What is fear
2. What you will find where there is fear.
3. Signs that we will see to know fear is around.
4. How to overcome fear
Exposition
1. What is fear:
It is anything that causes worry or thinking over something that we think is not good or perceive what the end result will be. It could be future focus that we think about on or how the outcome will be or look like.
Presently, fear is affecting the rich and the poor. The man that is rich will sleep yet the two eyes is open. The fear is who will attack even with all the security guards on duty, CCTV camera and security dogs. The poor mans fear is how will I pay school fees, house rent, what to eat and even take care of the family is a problem.
If you don’t overcome this fear you will not be able to attain anything in life and won’t be able to fulfill the purpose of God for your life.
2. What you will find where there is fear.
A. There will be limitations:
Where ever there is fear, you will find limitations. We all have potentials that God has bestowed upon us for success and moving forward.
Limitations will hinder one from moving forward. One will struggle and wonder what is next. Our life is a life of progression. Example, the next thing for a bachelor or spinster is to get married and have children. Life is progressive but limitations will halt the journey of that person. If in the last 10 years you are in a position and you are not progressing, if they look around you very well there is a battle you are facing that has to do with fear and don’t forget that fear is never from God. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, God has not given us the spirit of fear but of Power, boldness, bravery etc to do exploits. As a child of God we must do exploits in this world but need to be free from fear.
B. Wherever there is fear, there is doubt:
This two words are brothers and walk together.
They create uncertainty in the life of anyone that wants to embark on anything great. “If I do this business, will I make profit”. “Someone did this business and the outcome was not good at all, so if I do it, i won’t make it”. The moment you start interacting with this thought, just know is not God that is interacting with you.
Doubt will start reminding you of all those that failed, those who took step but didn’t make it.
So, what is it that you want to do that you are doubting it, please go and start it. Do you want to build a house and you are doubting if you will complete it, or you want to buy a car but doubt is hindering you if is achieveable or that business, may the grace to start it and achieve it rest on you in Jesus name, Amen.
C. Where there is fear, there is no trust:
I don’t know if you have been disappointed in a relationship or marriage but the truth is we need to try again.
This yoruba adage “ if we close our eyes that wicked people should pass by, when a good person pass by, you will not know”. Where there is fear, you won’t trust anyone. That you were disappointed doesn’t mean you shouldn’t move forward. The duty of fear is to ensure we don’t trust anyone. That that business l, marriage, relationship failed doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try again.
D. Where there is fear, there is defeat:
Whenever fear comes up, you will agree or give up with fate (gba kamu). Many today have accepted fate with life. Life is defeating many and they agree to be defeated. Stand up because there are opportunities out there. There is this saying that “opportunity comes but once but for a child of God, opportunity comes all the time”. I pray that the opportunity that will take you to the next level, may God open that door of opportunity for you in Jesus name, Amen.
Do you feel defeated, take the step David took by seeking God who delivered him from all his fears. No wonder even his enemies became his friends. He went to the land of the philistines when Saul was seeking to kill him because David seeks God and God doesn’t want him to be defeated, He rose up his enemies to protect him.
Please don’t allow fear to make you give up. We know there is a lot of problems out there, but don’t give up because we are children of God.
3. Signs that we will see to know fear is around.
A. Believing in everything people are saying:
When you start seeking advice from everybody. You meet 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, – 10 people for advice on a particular issue, just know that there is fear in you and you will end up not doing anything. King David seek the lord who delivered him from all his fears. Those you are seeking advice from will advice based on their experiences and understanding. They will share their failures and negativity with you and before you know it confusion will set in. If you find yourself in this situation, then know that fear resides in you.
B. When you are afraid to confront your problems:
The bible says we will encounter problems in this world but we should be cheerful that he has overcome the world. Yes, that word “be cheerful” means we will see problems but lets move forward.., there will be disappointment and failures but move forward. There will be attacks from darkness, but move forward. There will be challenges from friends, family and love ones but move forward. No matter what you encounter make sure you move forward.
We cannot hide from our problems because they will definitely come. If you fail to confront those battles then fear has taken the glory. Yes, you have made all the effort but is the result people want to see. This is another sign that fear is around us.
C. When you abandon your focus:
If you have envision to be in a position in life in the next 5, 10 to 15 years and challenges suddenly spring up, and you abandon what you focus to achieve then know that fear has taken glory.
We are here to do great things in life for God and to affect other people positively. We are not in this world by ourselves Romans 14:7, but to fulfill purpose for God through affecting others positively. Those who are suppose to eat from you or earn salary from you through the company or business you have establish will no longer benefit from this when you abandon that focus.
God has programmed you that many will rise through you but because of this four letter word called fear, you have put aside that focus. The truth is that fear is surppressing a lot of us today and we must not allow it to continue .
4. How to overcome this fear:
A. Look unto God:
From that bible text in Psalm 34:5, David looked unto God but not men. Men will only fail you or disappoint you. The day you decide to look unto God, He will now shed His light upon you and that fear will not be able to remain in your life.
B. Seek the right counsel:
There are lots of counsel and truth out there but the real truth you know will set you free according to the bible. Is high time you start examing those you receive counsel from. Those counselling you for more than a year and nothing has changed, I advise you change where you receive counsel from in other for you to be able to make progress.
C. Be strong and be courageous, Deut 31:6:
It says we should be strong and courageous in all we do. Truly they will attack you but be strong and courageous, battles from the family and from friends will rise just be strong and be courageous.
So, what do we intend to do that fear has shut us out, I encourage you to start doing it from this moment. That business you want to establish, be strong and be courageous and start it, that house or car or project you want to do, be strong and courageous to embark on it and you will see the glory of God.
Make God set us free from every spirit or bondage of fear in Jesus name, Amen.
