Fear Traps – (message 12-27-09)

There are a lot of things that drive us. The future things of life, having a nice car, continuing and building relationships with family and friends, our job, our feelings, our personalities, and our lifestyles. These things all work together to drive us forward. They culminate to create this tapestry and fluidity that is part of the excitement of life.

But I think there is something deeper & darker that drives many of us. It’s something we don’t talk a lot about because it is uncomfortable. It’s murky and it’s hard to understand. Some people have it and show it, others have it and play their hand close to them. Some people are consumed with it and need rescuing. “It” is fear.

The truth is we hate not knowing what is coming next. If you are “type A,” like myself (you want to be in control of things and make sure things work out the best way), you know what I mean when I talk about hating not knowing or not being able to control the future. I fear the things that are possibly coming our way.

Scripture is quite clear about the concept and the murkiness of fear. 2 Timothy 1 says clearly that God “did not give us a spirit of fear and timidity.” Instead, He gave us a spirit of “power, love, and self discipline.” If we understand that teaching would it allow us to live in freedom from the fear that consumes us and has us captured in a vice? I really think that our imprisonment is a result of our view of God. You see, if we view God as a distant God unless we need something or are in trouble, we will most certainly be fearful of the future. Paul writes to Timothy with the understanding that Timothy is indwelled by the Holy Spirit, that God’s Spirit is literally within him and that he now has that “power” to do unbelievable things in Christ’s name, not to mention handle the daily activity that might come his way in the future. And God is not distant. He is so close, so personal, and yet so “different and amazing.” It’s the amazing mystery of God we are called to seek to understand, to “come and see” as Jesus said, who He is and what He is about.

There is a depth of fear that some people realize and some people have yet to discover, but that fear is that folks might find out who you and I are, really. As a Christian, it can be so easy to put on a mask and decide that it is best to play the smiley face game instead of being honest and real with those that are supposed to offer encouragement and support because we fear the consequence of rejection from the body of Christ. The reality is that Christ didn’t reject those people that were exposed in front of him. Jesus Christ actually pulled them into the group that followed him and he captured their hearts after they were completely open and authentic in front of him, the God of the universe.

This Sunday, we are going to be talking about what fear is and what it is not and how to deal with it in our personal lives as well as in the corporate body of Christ. Looking forward to seeing you there!

-Pastor Chris

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~ by Chris Rollman on December 20, 2009.