fear & worry

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p Killorglin Baptist Church Wednesday Bible Study BREAKING THE BREAKING THE CHAINS OF CHAINS OF Worry & Fear Worry & Fear

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Page 1: Fear & Worry

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Killorglin Baptist Church Wednesday Bible Study

BREAKING THE BREAKING THE CHAINS OFCHAINS OF

Worry & FearWorry & Fear

Page 2: Fear & Worry

A. Defining Worry1. “Worry is an over-anxious concern regarding the

future or things that keeps a person from fulfilling current responsibilities.”1

2. “Worry is a sin of continual dwelling on and preoccupation with some fear, usually associated with the future.”

3. Worry should not be confused with diligent care and concern (2 Cor. 11:28, Phil. 2:20, Gal. 4:19)

4. Worry is not careful planning for the future which considers God’s sovereignty (James 4:13)

5. Concern can “change categories” and become worry

1 - NANC definition

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A. Defining Worry

CONCERN

WORRY

•Thoughts focused on changing the future

•Thoughts are unproductive & unfruitful

•It controls you

•Neglects other responsibilities

•Lose hope or stop functioning

•God not in equation

•God not in focus

•God is not being trusted

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B. Worry is sinful

1. Jesus forbids worry (Matt. 6:19-34)

2. Paul commands believers to not worry (Phil. 4:6)

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C. Dealing with Worry

1. Worry amounts to idolatry – God has been replaceda. Idolatry means worshipping someone or something other than

God (Rom. 1:25)

b. Worry expresses the idolatry of the heart (Matt. 6:19-21)

c. The things we worry about reveal our idols

d. The solution is repentance, since no one can serve two masters (Matt. 6:24, Ex. 20:3-6)

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C. Dealing with Worry2. Worry amounts to unbelief – not trusting God (Matt.

6:25-34)a. Worry is a totally unproductive, useless activity (v. 27)b. Worriers are people of “little faith” (v. 30)c. Worriers don’t see God’s provision, care, knowledge and

faithfulness (vv. 25-32)d. Worriers focus too much on the “might's” of the future, such

that they become irresponsible in the present (v. 34)e. The solution is to trust God, and seek His kingdom by

honoring Him (v. 33)

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C. Dealing with Worry

3. Worry needs to be replaced with righteous activities (Phil. 4:5b-9)

a. Replace worry with prayer and thankfulness (v. 6)

b. Replace worry with thinking on things that are true (v. 8)

c. Replace worry with righteous behavior (v. 9)

d. Note the progression:

Right Praying

Right Thinking

Right Acting

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C. Dealing with Worrye. The focus of it all: Know that God is near (v. 5b)

f. The result: The peace of God will guard you (v. 7)

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Defining Fear

•Fear like any emotion can be constructive and destructive. It has power for good as well as for evil.

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D. Right Fear Vs. Sinful Fear1. Fears that are right:

a. The fear of God (Ecc. 12:13, Prov. 1:7, 9:10)b. Fear of danger (Job 41:33, Gen. 4:14-15, 1 Cor. 6:19-20, Ps

64:1)

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Sinful Fear• When it proceeds out of unbelief, or distrust, in God.

And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God.“Matthew 14:25-33

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Sinful Fear• When that which produced fear is attributed more

power than what the Bible allows.• Make a short list of the things you fear?

Think of your feelings, enemies. Circumstances, future, finances, loosing your cherished possessions.

• What do you believe about God and these fears?

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Sinful Fear• When it ascribes to God characteristics that are

inconsistent with his nature.Is God: a tyrant, a killjoy, unfair, overlooking of sin, uncaring, absent, unaware, not interested.

• And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6

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• When we fear what God forbids us to fear.And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

a. Fear of man instead of God (John 12:42-43, Luke 12:4-5, Gal. 1:10, Matthew 10:28 , Psalm 27:1-3, Psalm 56:4,Proverbs 29:25)

b. Fear of things temporal rather than eternal (Luke 12:4-5, 1 Cor. 4:5, Gen. 26:7,Psalm 46:1-3,Psalm 91:5-6)

c. Fear of bad news and things we cannot change (Psalm 112:4,7-8, Prov. 3:25, Gen. 4:14)

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Sinful Fear• When it is rooted in the loss of some cherished

idolatrous desire.Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. John 12:42-43

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Idolatry is like a coin it has two sidesLust after money fear poverty

Lust after approval fear rejection and conflict

Lust after control fear loosing control

Lust after intimacy fear loneliness

Lust after pleasure fear boredom

Lust after their own life fear losing it

What is it that you are most afraid of losing?

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Sinful Fear• When it is so paralyzing that it keeps us from fulfilling

our biblical responsibilities.• Read Matthew 25: 14-30, Proverbs 22:13,

Good is the opposite of wicked in this parable and faithfulness the opposite of laziness. There is a connection between fear and slothfulness, bad stewardship.

• How does 1 John 4:17-18 help us think about God, our fears, and love?

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• There is nothing else in all the world – nothing in any man made theory of counselling, nothing in any pill you can buy – that has the power to expel fear more effectively than biblical love. – Louis Priolo

• To the extent that you are fearful, your love is incomplete or immature (it is not made perfect).

• Perfect love casts out fear There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 1John 4:18

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• When it IS rooted in selfishness rather than love.

1Corinthians 13:5 … or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

Love … is concerned with what I can give rather than with what can I get.

Selfishness ... is concerned with what I can get

rather than with what can I give.

Fear … is more concerned with what I might lose

than with what I can give.

FEAR = LACK OF LOVE = SELFISHNESS

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Fearful Person Loving Person

I wonder what he will think of me? I wonder what his needs are?

I‘d better not let him get too close to me?

Maybe I can be a good influence on him

If he gets close he’ll realise I’m not perfect and then he will reject me?

What matters is not what he thinks of me but how I can minster to him.

I’ve got to keep him from finding out about my problems

I wonder if he has any problems I can help him solve God’s way

I’ll probably make a fool of myself If I make a fool of myself so be it. I am ore concerned about meeting his needs than I am about what he thinks of me.

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FEAR LOVE

Focus on self Focus on God & others

Self-protecting Self-giving

What will I lose? What can I give?

Avoids problem Solves problem

Secludes self Sacrifices self

Hesitates Starts

Can be cast out Can cast out fear

Highly suspicious Believes all things

I wont’ try Acts obediently

Might fail Reaches out even if fails

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Fear and me• Am I a man pleaser of God pleaser?• Am I concerned about fulfilling Gods commands for my

life?• Am I neglecting my God given responsibilities?• Am I afraid of potential outcomes instead of focussing on

meting the needs of others?• Am I loving god and others the way God loves me?

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E. Conquering crippling fear

1. Replace sinful fear with the fear of the LORD (Ps. 118:4-6, 27:1, Prov. 3:25-26, 14:26, 19:23 Gal. 1:10)

2. Identify the lust or idol behind the fear (James 1:14-15)

3. Replace sinful fear with love (2 Tim. 1:7, 1 John 4:18)

4. Deal with guilt biblically (Prov. 28:1, 1 John 1:9)

5. View fearful situations as opportunities to grow for God’s glory and my good (Rom. 8:28-29, 2 Cor. 5:9)

6. Meditate on helpful Scripture verses

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• Learn to obey the first and second commandment. Mark 12:28-31

• Take a scriptural tranquilizer. Psalm 119:165, Isaiah 26:3, Psalm 563

• Meditate on Gods past faithfulness in times of danger and distress and expect Gods faithfulness in your present situations.Spurgeon said “Faith has a good memory”. Psalm 77:9-12, Lamentations 3:21

• Clear your conscience from all unresolved conflicts with God and others. Guilt is often the root of fear. Proverbs 28:1, Genesis 3:8-11, 1 John 4:17-18, Acts 24:16

• Consider the consequences of persisting to live in a life of fear. Galatians 6:7, Proverbs 14:14, Job 3:25

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• Identify and remove idolatrous lusts from your heart.John Flavel said “The more you are mortified the less you will be terrified”

I want to be healthy I want to be safe I want to be comfortable I want to be happy I want to enjoy myself I want to feel important I want to have a good reputation I want to be successful I want to ne perfect I want to have wealth

I want to avoid conflict I want to have companionship I want her/him to be my friend I don’t want to be rejected I don’t want to be labelled I don’t want to die I want to be thin I want to be alone I want to have control I want to have peace

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• Whatever makes you afraid has no power independent of god and therefore is powerless to do anything without his permission. John 19:10-11, Psalm 76:10. God is the God of providence. From Esther we learn that God is in control of enemies, situations, individuals, authorities, knows our troubles and the danger of physical harm. From Job we learn that God is in control over all of our lives and we should not fear.

• Contrast the faithfulness of God with your dearest and most faithful friend. Proverbs 18:24

• Distinguish between fear of the object (bridge, plane, crowd) and fear of the experience. Proverbs 2:3-5

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• Consider the connection between fear and undisciplined thinking. 2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. KJV2Ti 1:7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. ESV

• Start fulfilling the responsibilities you have neglected because you have been so overwhelmed by the fear. Philippians 4:13, Galatians 6:9, 2 Thessalonians 3:13

• Learn to live in the fear of the Lord.This is the one cure for sinful fear. It is the essential ingredient of which all other remedies of sinful is made. Psalm 34:11, Deuteronomy 31:11-12, Psalm 19:7-11, Luke 12:4-5, Psalm 56:3.

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F. Resources

• John MacArthur, Anxiety Attacked• David Powlison, Worry: Pursuing a Better Path to Peace (P&R)

• Elyse Fitzpatrick, Overcoming Fear, Worry and Anxiety (Harvest House)

• Ed Welch, Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest (New Growth Press)

• Jay Adams, What to Do When You Worry all the Time / What to Do When Fear Overcomes You (P&R)

• Lou Priolo, Fear: Breaking Its Grip (P&R)