Mind The Creep | Creep of Fear

 

The CREEP:

The subtle shift of actions and ideas away from Biblical standards

 

Creeps so far:

Worldly Philosophies/Ideas

Complacency

  • Distraction
  • Pride
  • Shame

Bitterness (Develops through…)

  • Hurts
  • Unforgiveness

 

Today is the Final creep

Last, because it is often found with the other creeps…

 

CREEP OF FEAR

 

Fear:

Fear includes anxiety, dread, and loss of courage in the face of an unpleasant or dangerous situation.

>>A word on ANXIETY

  • Cannot escape anxiety permanently
  • Learn management techniques
  • Medication/Medical help
  • Depression

 

Today is about the Fear that:

  • Cripples your purpose
  • Steals your joy
  • Blinds your eyes
  • Destroys your faith

Fear has REAL CONSEQUENCES…
Fear often results in depression

Proverbs 12:25

25 Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down, but a good word cheers it up.

 

Fear or anxiety often leads to sin

Abraham lied about his wife to Pharaoh

 

Fear can immobilize your spiritual life

Proverbs 29:25

25 The fear of mankind is a snare, but the one who trusts in the Lord is protected.

  • Afraid of what people may think/say about you

 

Fear makes God’s word unproductive in our life

Matthew 13:22

22 Now the one sown among the thorns—this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

 

Finally…

Fear ultimately leads to doubting that God…

  • That he is with us
  • For us
  • Loves us
  • Sees us

 

We can see why our enemy works so hard to bring fear in believers’ lives

  • Severely handicap them from doing God’s will.
  • Doubts God
  • It is through fear that Satan rules in many men’s hearts.

 

Genesis 15

1 After these events, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:

Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward will be very great.

2 But Abram said, “Lord God, what can you give me, since I am childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Abram continued, “Look, you have given me no offspring, so a slave born in my house will be my heir.”

4 Now the word of the Lord came to him: “This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “Your offspring will be that numerous.”

6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

 

Lord had promised Abraham a son

  • Time had passed and still no son
  • Abraham is at a crisis point in his faith
  • Why is God taking so long?

 

Abraham fears that God won’t fulfill his promise

  • He is DOUBTING GOD
  • Fear always leads to DOUBTING

 

Fear’s greatest weapon is Doubt

3 things we DOUBT when living in FEAR…

 

1: Doubting God’s Presence

 

1 …Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward will be very great.
God’s answers Abraham’s fear by reminding him how CLOSE He is

  • God is Abraham’s shield
  • His protector

It’s so easy to this that God is distant

  • Far away
  • To busy for our problems

Don’t let God’s timing lead you to doubt His presence

  • Fear is grown in panic waiting
  • God is never late

Isaiah 41:10

10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.

2: Doubting God’s Power

 

2 But Abram said, “Lord God, what can you give me, since I am childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Abram continued, “Look, you have given me no offspring

 

Fear leads us to doubt God’s power in our life

 

Abraham allowed his FEAR to dictate what he thought God could do

 

When something fails in our life, we don’t want to trust it

  • Car battery dies
  • Something breaks in your house

 

you don’t trust it anymore

  • Don’t trust its power to come through

 

BUT GOD IS ABLE

  • Just because he does not, doesn’t mean He can’t

 

Matthew 19:26

26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

 

Don’t let fear steal your trust in God’s power and Goodness

  • God is going before you (Duet. 31:8)
  • God is working it out for your good (Romans 8:28)
  • You can Do what is necessary because he gives you strength (Phil. 4:13)

 

3: Doubting God’s Goodness

 

4 Now the word of the Lord came to him: “This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “Your offspring will be that numerous.”

6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

 

The most dangerous thing fear can do it convince you that God is NOT GOOD

 

Fear makes you feel isolated and alone

 

We live in a world full of PROMISE BREAKERS

  • people say one thing and do another

 

But that is not OUR GOD

  • He ALWAYS COMES THROUGH

God assures Abraham of the Promise and His Fulfillment of His promise

  • He would come through
  • He will be true to his word

 

Psalm 31:19

19 How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you. In the presence of everyone you have acted for those who take refuge in you.

Romans 12:2

2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

 

Do not be conformed to:

  • Fear
  • Doubt
  • Complacency
  • Bitterness
  • Worldly Ideas

Isaiah 53

3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; he was despised, and we didn’t value him.

 

4 Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds.

 

On the Cross, ALL THESE THINGS ARE PUT TO REST

  • Fear
  • Bitterness
  • Complacency
  • Worldly ideas

 

There is nothing more wonderful than what HE HAS DONE

 

Fear is a Signal:

Fear is a signal that this is bigger than me

Fear is a signal that it’s time to Pray

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