Fearious
Pastor Erickson teaches from 2 Timothy 1:7 and Psalm 56 that feeling fear is not the same as choosing fear, using the stories of Benaiah in the lion's pit and the four lepers at the gate of Samaria. He calls the church to stop letting fear make their decisions, to step out trusting that God goes before them, and to hold on to hope.
The message in 6 points
Fear does not get the final word
He reads that God has not given us the spirit of fear, and David's words, What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. He shares stories he heard this week of people who faced persecution and danger yet refused to let fear have the final word.
31:54Feeling fear is not choosing fear
Fear wants your lifestyle and your future, and it wants every decision organized around what might go wrong. Feeling fear is not the same as choosing fear; fear may be the first reaction, but trust is the choice. His made-up title means being furious at unwanted fear.
44:55Benaiah went down into the pit
Benaiah went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. Fear often controls us through avoidance and delay, and the fear of man brings a snare. He tells of being scared to preach in a prison and seeing lives changed, and says courage is confidence in the presence of God.
49:22God takes you through it
God promises to be with us through the waters and the fire, not that there will be none. Benaiah later led the whole host, because private courage develops the character needed for public responsibility. Sometimes we ask God to remove the very thing he is using to develop us.
1:00:36Why sit we here until we die
Four lepers starving at the gate of Samaria decided to go to the enemy camp and found that God had gone before them. If you wait for perfect conditions you will never act, but God gives enough light for the next step. The lepers shared what they found, and our children watch how we face trials.
1:04:22Hope defeats fear
He names real fears about marriage, health, money, finding a spouse and unsaved children. A man held captive for 498 days said you must never lose hope. From Lamentations 3 he says we must remind ourselves of God's mercies, because hope is what defeats fear, and he calls the church to rise up and refuse to let fear rule.
1:14:29
In his words
“You can feel fear without following fear. You can hear fear without obeying fear.”
“Courage is not confidence in the absence of danger. It's confidence in the presence of God. Courage is not saying, "I don't fear." Courage is saying, "I know who's with me when I face fear."”
“Hope is what defeats fear. I said hope is what defeats fear in our life.”
Taken word for word from the video, with punctuation added.
Scripture
He reads
2 Timothy 1:7
7For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
King James Version.
Psalms 56:3-4
3What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. 4In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
King James Version.
2 Samuel 23:20
20And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:
King James Version.
Proverbs 29:25
25The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
King James Version.
Joshua 1:9
9Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
King James Version.
Isaiah 43:1-2
1But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
King James Version.
1 Kings 4:4
4And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:
King James Version.
James 1:3-4
3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
King James Version.
Ecclesiastes 11:4
4He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
King James Version.
Proverbs 3:5-6
5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
King James Version.
Psalms 119:105
105Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
King James Version.
Lamentations 3:21-24
21This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 24The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
King James Version.
He also points to
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