Fear is something that is often irrational and unfounded and at times can be rational and founded. Fear leaves us feeling unsure of what is right and what is true and what is real. You can be the strongest/confident and yet fear can make a coward of everyone. Fear takes up so much of our lives.
Fear has this wonderful way of just taking over everything, how we think, feel, act, taking over our money, our diets, relationships with other people.
We begin this series with the very basics of fear, that is why we do it, where it comes from, how do we allow ourselves to get it this stat that Jesus even calls sin? Because Jesus reminds us that we are not to fear not to worry.
Fear is everything in front of us, it’s not about what going on right now, it’s what’s going on an hour from now, a day from now, a week from now, it is always ahead of us and keeps us from living here and Jesus says you are not built for that. He did not make us to live in tomorrow and if you try to live in tomorrow you will be a basket case.
Mark 4:35-41
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.
Have you ever been on a boat like that? Jesus knew what was out there in the future and he didn’t fear it. Jesus takes them out then a huge storm builds up and Jesus is asleep, when your life goes bad and you feel Jesus abandons you and you are on your own. Why do we feel that way? When fear comes into our life we feel like we have to do something? We feel if we don’t do something we are in big trouble. It is a natural reaction, why is that? Because of Sin.
the reaction of fear was never in us when God created us. When Adam and Eve was in the garden they didn’t fear a thing they had it made, because they walked in the very presence of God in a very nobel way and yet when sinned what was the first thing they experienced? Shame, fear, when God came calling, they had covered themselves up. When God asked what was going on they began to cover it up and blame shift. Adam blamed Eve then blamed God for giving him Eve. Separated them from God, and from one another, Fear causes separation from God, ourselves and others, and what causes it? Sin. What adds to it? Shame/Guilt, and now we are on our own like we have to control everything. What does it do to us? It makes us afraid of everything, makes us cowards.
38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don't you care if we drown?”
How many of you asked that of God? Are you paying attention? Hello? Do you see what is going on here? I’m in a boat and it is getting swamped now is a good time. Fear makes us doubt God.
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
Jesus stands up and tells the waves to knock it off like a parent to a child. Like submissive children all the waves just stopped.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid?
You would think it was obvious to Jesus.
Do you still have no faith?”
Faith or fear? We have made friends with fear. I trust living in fear more than I trust God. We know that is ridiculous. The first test they get they fall apart because their faith was still weak.
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
An Emotional Reaction To A Spiritual Distortion
They reacted emotionally, because they look at what is going on around them, and what goes on emotionally distorts spiritual.
When you fear bells and whistles should be going off in your head saying wait this isn’t real because you are acting as if there is no God, your believing as if there is no promise and no future.
Jesus said “Let us go over to the other side.” So they got into the boat. Why did they get into the boat? because Jesus told them to and they trusted him. but as soon as the storm came trust went right out the window, and Jesus said look why are you so afraid? Your with me... and if your with me you are good, you don’t need to be afraid of a thing and if you are something is wrong. Things have gotten distorted spiritually for you.
Fear is like an alarm that goes off and tells us what is going on inside of us spiritually.
There is fear, worry and anxiety and they are not all the same thing. Worry and anxiety they both have an element of fear. Anxiety can be a physical condition still based on fear but it is not a fear we create in our minds mentally it is something that goes on physically when circuits aren’t connecting correctly. People who worry is different they choose to worry. Worry is when we consciously make a decision that we have to take control because otherwise it will fall apart.
Will you fear the storm more than the person who created it? That is not rational.
Let It Signal You - Not Scare You:
That you have gotten off track and it is time to remember that God is in control. God is sovereign over everything I don’t have to fear anything
Let It Go And Peace Come:
When you feel fearful just step back and say you know what God is in control and it is all going to be ok, I don’t know how it is going to be ok, or when it will be ok, but it’s ok... and peace if for now. because fear can’t live in the present. If you want to get rid of your fears let the peace of Christ rule over your hearts and minds because fear can’t go there. Fear has no place in the moment.
Let Faith Rule The Future:
Fears about the future.
Let peace come over you now and faith take over your future.
Notes taken by: lorelllawrence@comcast.net
The notes is for you to have for review in the series, also to reflect on during the week.
God Bless,