THE CONQUEST OF FEAR

MATTHEW 8:2

A. "AND HE SAITH UNTO THEM, WHY ARE YE FEARFUL, O YE OF LITTLE FAITH?"
  1. The occasion:
    1. Journey across the lake
    2. A great tempest set the water raging and filling the ship - Mark 4:37; Luke 8:23
  2. Reason:
    1. The disciples feared for their lives
    2. While their Master was sleeping on a pillow in the hinderpart of the boat
  3. A new discovery for the disciples:
    1. The weakness of their faith
    2. That their Master is Master also of the elements - Mark 4:39; Luke 8:24 B. SOURCE AND POWER OF FEAR
  4. Source of Fear:
    1. Fear is caused by a lack of faith in divine care for His own; Examples: ancient Israel at the Red Sea - Ex. 14:12-15; the ten spies that caused the congregation of Israel to rebel - Num. 13:31-33
    2. Fear is caused by a deep sense of guilt Examples: Belshazzar on that notable night of doom - Dan. 5:5-7; Felix while listening to Paul's sermon - Acts 24:25; a doomed world at the appearing of the Lord in glory - Rev. 6:15-17; the sinner in Zion - Is. 33:14
  5. Power of fear:
    1. It blinds the mind to God's promises - Examples: Ancient Israel at the Red Sea - Ex. 14:11; Peter walking on the water - Matt. 14:30
    2. It causes a person to act contrary to truth; Examples: Peter cursing and lying - Mark 14:71; Pilates' cowardliness at the trial of our Lord - Matt. 27:24,19
    3. Fear paralyzes the powers of reason and saps the physical strength - Examples: Belshazzar - Dan. 5:5-7; The army of Israel - I Sam. 17:24 C. THE CONQUEST OF FEAR
  6. Simple faith in God is basic to the conquest of fear - I John 5:4
    1. David - I Sam. 17:32, 45-46
    2. Joshua and Caleb - Num. 13:30; 14:8-9
    3. Gideon and the 300 - Judges 7:15,18
  7. Loyalty to principle will dispel all fear:
    1. The three Hebrews facing the fiery furnace - Dan. 3:17
    2. Daniel facing the den of the lions - Dan. 6:10
    3. Joseph in the face of immorality - Gen. 39:8-9
  8. Love to God, His world and to mankind, is one of the great dynamics to overcoming fear:
    1. "Perfect love casteth out fear" - I John 4:16-18
    2. Esther 4:16; Acts 21:13; I Sam. 17:43-44
    3. The story of the martyrs of Christ, including John Huss is a graphic illustration of what perfect love will do - Heb. 11:36-40 D. A TIMELY LESSON FOR GOD'S REMNANT PEOPLE
  9. Paralyzing fear will come over mankind in the last days:
    1. Our Lord's forecast in Luke 21:25-26
    2. Daniel's prediction - Dan. 12:1
    3. Isaiah's prophecy - Is. 24:17-19
  10. The sinners in Zion will be paralyzed with fear:
    1. What the prophet Isaiah foresaw - Is. 33:14-15
    2. What John saw - Rev. 1:7; 6:14-15
  11. God's remnant people will become the object of the wrath of Satan:
    1. Compare Revelation 12:17 with verse 12; Matthew 10:21; Daniel 12:1
  12. Faith in the word of God and our love for the truth will enable us to be more than conquerors - Rom. 8:37
  13. God will have a people that will triumph over all enemies - Rev. 14:1-5


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