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What frightens you? What sends shivers down your spine or sends you into a panic? Do you have such fears that you might call them phobias?
A phobia is defined as: “Intense, persistent fear of a specific object, situation, or activity.” Psychologists tell us that there are basically three types of phobia: Simple phobias are fears of specific objects or situations – like heights or spiders. The second type, agoraphobia, is fear of open, public places and situations from which escape is difficult. The third type is the fear of appearing stupid or shameful in social situations. Perhaps I should be concerned about that phobia right now ?. Four things send shivers down my spine – small places, high places, spiders, and snakes. While not rising to the level of a phobia, any of those situations gives me that creepy feeling in my gut. They have names: Arachnophobia- Fear of spiders. Basophobia - Fear of walking or falling. Ophidiophobia- Fear of snakes. (Snakephobia) Cremnophobia- Fear of precipices. Mine are pretty common. Then there ones that would be classified among the more unusual phobias: Ablutophobia- Fear of washing or bathing. Alliumphobia- Fear of garlic. Arachibutyrophobia- Fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth. Didaskaleinophobia- Fear of going to school. Ecclesiophobia- Fear of church. Homilophobia- Fear of sermons. Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia- Fear of long words. Lachanophobia- Fear of vegetables. Macrophobia- Fear of long waits. Rupophobia- Fear of dirt. (those with ablutophobia should have this one) Zemmiphobia- Fear of the great mole rat. Then there’s always: Panophobia - Fear of everything. We laugh, but psychologists tell us that 5 to 10 people out of a hundred are afflicted with some kind of serious phobia. But really – fear is something we all deal with – because the enemy, Satan, feeds on fear – and uses it to make us ineffective to God. A fear from the enemy doesn’t have to wear a scary mask. Sometimes we fear confronting others who say things that are contrary to the gospel – and we fear stepping out for God, afraid that we will be embarrassed or ridiculed by the world. John addresses fears in the 4th chapter. Some of the material in Chapter 4 is a repeat of material earlier in the book. I want to zero in on some specific things we find here – and in some way they all involve overcoming our fears. 1. Dispel fear by Discerning Spiritual Truth (1-3) 2. Dispel fear by Overcoming The Enemy (4-6) 3. Dispel fear by complete (or perfect) love - love that comes by knowing God and loving others (7-17) 4. Dispel fear by Escaping it (18-21) 1. Dispel Fear by Discerning Spiritual Truth Verse 1 • Problem: We are too gullible. We believe too much of what others say, on the radio, in print, in person. Everything we hear should go through the filter – so like in a swimming pool, all the dirt gets out, and all that’s left is water. • Satan is very good at Halloween – pretending to be one thing when he is really another. We can be fooled into thinking that something or someone is speaking truth when they are lying. • That’s why in verse 1 John says: “Test the spirits” – how? Verse 2 & 3 Verse 2 - 3 • We test “spirits” or the spirit behind the words by hearing what they say about the man Jesus Christ. • We need to look for three things: 1. The man Jesus of Nazareth is the divine Word of God (not some other person) 2. Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, was born as a man – and will forever stay a man, even though He is God. 3. Jesus Christ is the sole source of eternal life, He alone reveals the Father to humanity, and is the only one who atones for our sins. • The antichrist’s motive always is to deny who Jesus is (all 5 uses in this epistle) • What do we learn? 1 – Don’t be fooled by “spiritual” people 2 – Don’t sidetracked by rabbit trails 3 – Be wary as a rule 4 – Don’t fear questioning 2. Dispel Fear by Overcoming The Enemy (4-6) Verse 4 • The word overcome comes from the Greek word: nike. It’s pronounced differently than we know it: nee’-kay – but it means: “conquest, means of success” and is where Nike the shoe manufacturer got its name and logo. • In Greek mythology Nike was the “winged god of victory”. In reality our victory comes not from a myth, but from a man – a very real man. • We don’t overcome by being greater, but by having someone greater in us. • It means – don’t worry or fear. Don’t worry about problems, don’t fear about what you say, don’t worry about persecution – the appearance of success and actual victory are often two different things. The enemy likes to pretend he’s won it all – but he’s a liar. You don’t even have to feel like a winner – you are one in Jesus. Verse 5 – 6 • We can know whose on our side simply by seeing who responds to the life we live in Christ. • Bottom line – don’t rely on your persuasive powers, don’t rely on your grand words, don’t rely on your degrees or your personality to win people over to Jesus Christ – just live your life as Christ lives His character out of you – and explain Him simply and straight forwardly – because God’s Word will accomplish that for which it was sent. (Isaiah 55:11) 3. Dispel Fear by Knowing Complete Love Verse 7 – 8 • The world misunderstands love • The world greatly misinterprets this verse • Does it mean that if you love you know God? No. • It means that only God’s love is really love – everything else is just a counterfeit because it is selfish to some degree. • We learn what this love really is in the next few verses. Verse 9 – 12 Love Isn’t Love is not a good emotional feeling Love is not good physical feeling Love is not committing to someone else (though that’s part of it) Love isn’t being a nice person Love isn’t being tolerant of all others Love Is Giving up your wants for someone else Telling about God’s way even if it hurts Returning good for evil Becoming like God The word “perfect, or complete” occurs 4 x’s in this chapter (same Gk word) Do you want to be complete or partial? To be complete you need to understand and practice this kind of agape love. This allows us to: 4. Dispel Fear by Escaping It (13-21) • What are the causes of fear? Harm The Unknown Emotional Turmoil Embarrassment Failure Death Fear is really the anticipation of encountering a specific situation or object that we dread – according to Dr. Cyro Masci. In reality God has an answer to all our fears. Harm – we cannot be harmed outside of His will because God protects us The unknown – God knows all things The Unknown - Psalms 18:28 “You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.” Turmoil – He is our peace Embarrassment – He is not ashamed to call us His children Failure – in Him we cannot fail Death – we will live forever Why is all this possible? Because God’s love lead to His Son’s death which leads to our salvation – so “perfect love drives out fear”. God’s love is the answer to fear. To “drive out” comes from a Greek word that means to deliberately hurl – as opposed to just a sudden flinging. God doesn’t just kind of tap away fear – He hurls it away. How does this work practically? • Recognize the true source of your fear (the enemy – unwarranted) • Realize how God has dealt with that fear on the cross • Rely on God’s Spirit within you: 2 Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Power – to overcome attack Love – to overcome condemnation A Sound Mind (self control, discipline) – to overcome temptation • Rest in His love and assurance of forgiveness and salvation Conclusions 1. All real love originates with God 2. God expressed His love through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ 3. When we come to God through that sacrifice we come to know the character of real love 4. The more we know that love from God, the more assurance we have that we are accepted by God and the less fear we experience. 5. That in turn allows us to express His love outward to others. 6. The more we experience and express God’s love the more perfect or complete we become in Him. • It is a process • It is lifelong • It is inevitable • It is good |
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