The story has been told of a 5-year old boy named Johnny who was in the kitchen as his mother made supper. She asked him to go into the pantry and get her a can of tomato soup, but he didn’t want to go in alone. He said, “It’s dark in there and I’m afraid.” She asked again, but the boy continued to resist because of his fear of what might be lurking in the dark. Finally Johnny’s mother said, “It’s OK—Jesus will be in there with you.” Johnny walked hesitantly to the door of the dark pantry and slowly opened it. He peered into the darkness of the pantry, but his fear began to overcome him and he started to close the door. But suddenly an idea came to him. He said, “Jesus, if you’re in there, would you hand me that can of tomato soup?”

We chuckle at Johnny and his way of dealing with his fear of entering the dark. But we might be very much like that five year old boy when it comes to fear of other things in our life. We may wish that Jesus would suddenly appear from the darkness and put an end to what we fear. We should know that in a real sense Jesus is available to us and wants to appear from the darkness to shine the light of His Word upon the solution to our fears. The Lord certainly does not want us to be plagued by fears that disable us.

Nearly everyone (if not everyone) has experienced disabling fears to some degree or another. Disabling fears are those fears that keep us from doing what we would really like to do. For believers in Christ Jesus who want to please and honor Him, the most frustrating of all disabling fears are those fears that keep them from doing what they know Jesus wants them to do.

The Lord wants to give you the grace by His Spirit to overcome any disabling fears with which you may struggle.

Dealing with Disabling Fears God’s Way

There are a lot of ways people have overcome their fears through counsel and psychological maneuverings. But, as the title above indicates, what we are concerned about in this study is dealing with disabling fears God’s way. What are God’s solutions to our disabling fears?

Hebrews 2:14-15

Christ Jesus has Provided Freedom from the Fear of Death

Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, [Jesus] Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

One of the greatest fears is the fear of death. God’s solution to this fear is found in Jesus Christ.

Christ Jesus came to set us free from the fear of death and bondage to it by His death in our place and His resurrection which proved His teachings to be true.

Romans 8:1-2, 15

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me/you free from the law of sin and death.

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear [of sin and death], but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.'"

Believers who appreciate their position in Christ Jesus should not be slaves to fear of sin and death (cp. Isaiah 43:1).

2 Timothy 1:7 Disabling Fears Are Not from God

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

In the passages from Hebrews and Romans cited above, the Greek word translated “fear” is phobos, from which we have the English word phobia. But in 2 Timothy 1:7 a different word is used (deilia) that is translated “fear” in the King James versions. It is sometimes rendered “timidity” in this verse in other translations (NIV, NASB). But the translation “fear” is appropriate for in Matthew 8:26, a closely related word (deilos) is used by the Lord Jesus when the disciples were facing a storm on the sea of Galilee.
Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!'' But He said to them, "Why are you fearful (deilos), O you of little faith?'' Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea. And there was a great calm.

The context of deilos in this passage indicates that “fear” is certainly an appropriate translation.

It is very possible that Timothy was overly concerned about what people thought of him. His fears may have been disabling him and keeping him from carrying out the ministry he had been gifted to carry out. We should not live in fear of others and what they might think of us or do to us (cf. Hebrews 13:5-6). We should not allow such fears to keep us from ministering to others. We have God’s power available to us through the work of His Spirit who indwells us and wants to fill us and influence our behavior. As we shall see from the next passage that we will consider, when God’s love has been brought to maturity in us fear is cast out and as a result we certainly have a “sound mind.”

Dwight Edwards points out how the Apostle Paul addressed Timothy regarding fear,

. . . it is crucial to note how Paul tells Timothy to deal with his natural fearfulness. He doesn't tell him to "guts it up" or "to stop being afraid." Rather he reminds Timothy that God has given him a resource which will supernaturally overcome these fears. As he plugs into the resurrections power which indwells his body, then he can become a God-intoxicated (Eph. 5:18) individual through whom spiritual life can be diffused to those around him (http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=2111).

Philippians 1:12-14

Encouragement from Observing Others Helps Us Overcome Disabling Fears

The Apostle Paul was “in chains.” He indicates that his response to his circumstances encouraged other believers to overcome their fear. They were now sharing their faith more aggressively because of his example and his encouragement.
When other believers observe that we have overcome our fear of others it may encourage them to be more fearless and bold in communicating the truth of Christ Jesus.

1 John 4:18 The Mature Love of God Casts Out Fear

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."

“Perfect” may be translated complete or mature. When love that is from God has reached a level of completion or maturity, it casts out fear. How does God’s love reach a level of maturity in us so that it casts out fear? By being occupied with the love God has shown us in the person and work of Jesus Christ. (Study and ponder 1 John 3:16-18 and 4:7-17 to appreciate the context leading up to 4:18.)
When our greatest concern is there you are as we look to meet the needs of others (a main result of being occupied with Jesus Christ), and not here I am (no longer being occupied with self or being occupied with self less and less), fears are “cast out” of our life because God has given us His mature love by His Word and His Spirit.

A true but tragic story:
A woman was once walking along a riverbank with her child. Suddenly the child slipped into the river. The mother screamed in terror. She couldn’t swim, and besides, she was in the latter stages of pregnancy. Finally, somebody heard her screaming and rushed down to the riverbank. The utter tragedy was, when they stepped into those murky waters to retrieve that now dead child, they found that the water was only waist deep! That mother could have easily saved her child but didn’t because of a lack of knowledge. (Hell’s Best Kept Secret, by Ray Comfort (Bellflower, CA: Ray Comfort, 1989), pp. 160-161).

Occupation with Christ Jesus and His love and grace demonstrated by His person and work provides the knowledge base required so that the Spirit of God can bring you to the place where your fears do not disable you as they once did.

When an individual loves God and loves his neighbor like he loves himself with faith in the Lord and His Word, fears are cast out of his life. Fear is not a factor with an outward look that examines and seeks to meet the needs of others. This is the result when the expression of love that is from God is exercised.

A Humbling Observation: Even though they knew better, at times the apostles still struggled with fear.

> Peter’s fear of the Jews disabled him from doing what he knew was right. Galatians 2:12

> Paul’s request for boldness implies his concern about disabling fears. Ephesians 6:19-20

It should be humbling for us to realize that even those who had seen the resurrected Lord Jesus still struggled with fear from time to time on certain occasions and in certain circumstances. This should increase our awareness of our need for the ongoing work of the grace of God in order to keep on dealing with our disabling fears.

Dealing with Fear of the Future God’s Way

How can we deal with fear of what the future might hold for us or for our children?

Fears the come from . . .

. . . the threat of a total economic collapse. Just watch the news for about 5 minutes.
. . . the threat of nuclear attacks.

. . . the threat of tribulation before the “great tribulation.” Consider Jesus’ teachings from Matthew 24:

"For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matthew 24:21)

When is the “then” that Jesus was talking about in this verse? This is explained in Matthew 24:14-15 where Jesus refers to the prophecy of Daniel about the seven year great tribulation and the “abomination of desolation” at the mid-way point of those seven years (Daniel 9:27). The “abomination of desolation” takes place when the antichrist will make a sacrifice in the holy of holies in the temple in Jerusalem (cf. Revelation ). This seven year tribulation is still future as indicated by Jesus statement that the destruction and devastation that comes with it will be like the world has never seen before or will see in the future. It will be worse than anything man has ever experienced by way of war and catastrophe or ever shall experience. This tribulation will begin after the rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 3:10) when the antichrist signs a peace treaty with the nation of Israel (Daniel 9:27).

But tribulations may come; devastating experiences may come into our life before the great tribulation and before our rapture when we go to be with Jesus. God forbid, but there may be another “great depression.”

Do you fear the future? Do you fear for yourself or for your children to the extent that your fears consume you? Here are three basic principles that should calm your fears about what the future may bring.

1. Always remember that the Lord Jesus will be with you.
Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5-8; cp. Isaiah 41:10; 43:5

The Lord said in Isaiah 41:10:
"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

2. You need not be enslaved to the fear of what the future may bring. Romans 8:15-25

Paul addresses attention to how the creation continues to groan in this passage in Romans 8. Will this groaning ever come to an end? Yes! The creation will stop reeling and groaning from the effects of the curse upon it at the second coming of Christ Jesus when all who have believed in Him will be with Him and will be revealed to His creation (Romans 8:19).

When a believer in Christ welcomes the suffering that may result from expressing love to others, by the grace of God, he or she has moved beyond disabling fears (Romans 8:15-19; cf. Philippians 1:29-30). This certainly includes receiving the grace to overcome fears of what the future may bring.

Romans 8:22-28 (NASB):

22. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.
23. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
24. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees?
25. But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
26. And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;
27. and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
28. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

3. The Word of God and the power and prayers of the Spirit can provide for a hopeful future—no matter what happens.

If you fear that tribulation may come into your life before the great tribulation, if terrible troubles do come before the great tribulation, will you trust God and confidently keep looking to Him and His Word for the grace to calm your fears?

May we keep on looking to the Lord Jesus and His grace for the insight, strength and courage to counter our fears that disable us.