Psalm 3:1-8

Fear

And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.  1 Samuel 17:4

He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. 1 Samuel 17:5,6

The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And his shield-bearer went before him. 1 Samuel 17:7

He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.  1 Samuel 17:8

If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” And the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together.” 1 Samuel 17:9,10

When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. 1 Samuel 17:11

For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening. 1 Samuel 17:16

We are all fighting a fight in our lives.

This is the fight of your life.

The giant you are fighting is relentless.

The giant you are facing is not bigger than Jesus.

Our victory comes in view when we shift our hope from us to him.

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. Hebrews 2:14,15

Our victory is more about trusting and less about trying.

“Fear not” is written 366 times in the Bible.

What are the causes of fear?

Conditioning

Concealing

Controlling

Who are you looking at?

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. Matthew 14:22-24

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.  Matthew 14:25,26

But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I 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.” Matthew 14:27,28

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.”  Matthew 14:29,30

Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”  Matthew 14:31

And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased 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 14:32,33

The antidote to fear is faith.

How do we build a faith foundation?

We remind ourselves that God is able.

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Matthew 6:25

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? Matthew 6:26,27

And why are you anxious about clothing And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Matthew 6:28,29

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ Matthew 6:30,31

For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:32,33

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34

We set the Lord always before us.

I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. Psalm 16:8,9

We must name our giant.

God, this is what is making me afraid.

O Lord, how many are my foes O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.”  Psalm 3:1,2

But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the Lord,     and he answered me from his holy hill.   Psalm 3:3,4

I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. Psalm 3:5

I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. Psalm 3:6

You can win the fight against fear.