A lady died in
1916 named Hetty Green. She was called America's greatest miser. When she died,
she left an estate valued at $100 million. But she was so miserly that she ate cold
oatmeal in order to save the expense of heating the water. When her son had a
severe leg injury, she took so long trying to find a free clinic to treat him
that his leg had to be amputated because of advanced infection. I am sure she
was worried about losing her wealth, so she didn't even enjoy her life!
1- All of our enemies, Satan included, want us to be controlled by fear. (miserable and ineffective)
The
Collins Dictionary defines fear as a
feeling of distress, apprehension, or alarm caused by impending danger, pain,
etc. - or to be afraid (to do something) or of (a person or thing).
2-
God
desires for you to experience an “abundant life”. (Jn. 10:10)
3-
Three
types of fear: 1- Rational. 2-
Irrational. 3- Imaginative.
4- Believers must learn how to act in faith in spite of whatever fear we might have.
This fantastic story illustrates several actions we
must take in order to exercise courage and attack our fear.
1- Get to Know God
Personally.
1-
Real challenge to spend quality time getting to know
God. (Even for Christians)
2-
Faith comes directly from the Word. (Rom. 10:14)
1. We
know Daniel read the Word. (Dan. 9:2)
2. Do
whatever you have to do to get the “Word of God” in your life.
3-
Become a man or woman of prayer. (Not stated, but see
Daniels witness to them)
2- Get Experienced at
Faith Building.
1-
Do it before you have to have to!!!
2-
Illus. Aesops fable: Boar sharpening tusks
3-
They developed courage and faith regarding the
“kings meat”. (Dan. 1:8-20)
4-
Work on positive self-talk.
3- Fellowship with the
Right People.
1-
Encourage one another, limit the input of fear in your
life.
2-
What the text doesn’t say but likely happened!
(Discussions, situations, etc.)
3-
You had better find somebody to grow your faith with!!!
(Spouse = wonderful)
4-
You had better stay away from somebody else!!!
4- Learn to be Faithful
Where God has You.
1-
These three Hebrew were prospering where they were,
though they might not have wanted to be there.
2-
Get solid now if you don’t want to be shaky in
the future!
5- Act Courageous and Do
What You Know is Right in the Face of Your Fear.
1-
Every time!!!
If you can’t do it now, you wont be able to do it in the future. (Heb.
11:6)
2-
Were they afraid?? I think so!!!
3-
Courage is the conquest of fear, not the absence of it.
(10 seconds between being a hero or a zero)
4-
What you are doing right now is determining your
future!!!
·
Imaginative fear should never stop you.
·
Irrational fear should never stop you.
· Rational fear should never control you. It should only make you be sure that you are taking the right action.
VIZUALIZE: Your life is controlled by either faith or fear, you choose!
2 Tim. 1:7 God has not given us the spirit of fear, but
of power, love and of a sound mind.”
ACTION: Do what you know God wants you to do regardless of your fear!!! (Rom. 8:28)
Focus on doing not feeling!
1- Salvation? 2- Deliverance?
3-Ministry?
Copyright © 2006 Dr. C. David White
1851 River Bluff Rd. N. Jacksonville, FL 32211
I encourage the use of this material to profit the Kingdom of God, but not to be used in for-profit resale in any form.
Please obtain the permission of the author before use of any other kind.