Are You Paralyzed By Fear? Alastair Crawford

Since September 11, 2001 the western world has existed in a greater climate of fear than ever before. As a society we are obsessed with fear: health scares, financial scares, climate scares and terrorist scares. Looking at fear from a Biblical perspective, Alastair Crawford asks the question: Are we, as Christians, paralyzed by our fears? Not all fear is harmful. Instinctive fear is a gift from God, to protect us. For example, when crossing a road, fear causes us to go cautiously so that we avoid harm. There is also the 'fear of God', spoken of in the Bible. It is a good thing to fear God, not in the sense that we are afraid of Him, but that we respect the power and position that He has in our lives. However, a lot of our fear can have a negative affect on our lives. In 2 Timothy 1:7, we read that 'God hath not given us the spirit of fear'. God does not want us to have this 'spirit of fear', but wants us to be free to serve Him. FEAR WILL MAKE YOU FORGETFUL In 2 Timothy 1:6 Paul needed to remind Timothy about his gifts, and to make sure He used them. Fear can make us forget what God wants us to do as believers, and to forget what He has done for us already. In verse 12, Paul says I know, I am reminded, 'whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.' FEAR LEADS TO FAILURE In verse 8 Paul warned Timothy not to be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord. Fear can lead us to be ashamed of our Lord, and ashamed to stand up for His name. The thing which most holds us back from sharing Christ with our friends and colleagues is fear. In Matthew 25 we read of the unfaithful servant who, when given a talent from his master, went and hid it in the ground because he was afraid. Fear will cause us to waste our talents for the Lord. FEAR LEADS TO FRAILTY In 1 Timothy 5:23 Paul advised Timothy to take a little wine to aid in his frailty. Fear can affect the mind and the body. It can damage our health, destroying our effectiveness for God. So how can our fears be conquered? We are reminded in 2 Timothy 1:7 that 'God hath NOT given us the spirit of fear, but of POWER, and of LOVE and of a SOUND MIND.' POWER - We must remember how powerful our God is. 'Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world' - 1 John 4:4. 'The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?' - Psalm 27:1 LOVE - We have no need to be afraid because God loves us with an everlasting love. 'There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear' - 1 John 4:18. 'All things work together for God to them that love God' - Romans 8:28 SOUND MIND - God has give us a discerning mind to evaluate our fears, and to bring them under control. 'For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ' - 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 So often, our adversary the devil brings fear into our lives to cripple our walk with God. We need to look beyond our immediate circumstances, like the Apostle Paul, writing this letter to Timothy from a prison cell, and remember that God is in control, working everything out for our benefit. Christ has already won the victory over the devil. The war is over. Sin and Satan have been defeated forever. As Christians, the children of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, what reason have we to fear?