“Fear: Are You Kidding Me?”
Chris McRae
Sermon February 1, 2009
When FDR made his famous inauguration speech about the only thing that we have to fear is fear itself, I'm not sure I can completely wrap myself around the meaning of it. After all, when I am standing in a place that's very high up, I get a very queasy feeling. Fear has been ingrained in our Psyche since our first recollections. I remember when I was a child, my bed was right next to a double window on the second floor. I just knew that Godzilla, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, was going to come up and pluck me out.
I could not hide under the bed either, because if you ever read The Far Side, you know that all sorts of ghoulish monsters live there. Getting out of town and changing the venue didn't help either. Our family often traveled to Prescott, AR to visit my grandmother. She was the perfect grandmother, just like Aunt Bee on the Andy Griffith show. She always greeted us at the back door with a smile and one of those great big juicy kisses. Out of respect for her, we always waited for until she turned her head to wipe off the extra saliva. When we would go to bed at night, Muv, as we affectionately called her, would always make us say our prayers. I'm sure many of you here today can identify with this one: Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. Are you kidding me! If I should die before I wake,
I wasn't even ten years old and I'm already delving into the theological concept of dying before I wake! I spent many sleepless hours listening to the old wind up clock on the wall ticking endlessly into the night. Fortunately, fatigue set in and I fell asleep along with my soul to keep.
What are some of your greatest fears? Allow me to throw a few out on the table: Financial set back, security, being in harms way, embarrassment, worry about your children's future, health, uncertainty about the future, not being accepted among certain peer groups, failure at work or play and my favorite, speaking in front of a large group. Past studies have shown that most humans would rather have a root canal then to speak in front of a group of people. You may find this hard to believe, but I belong to that group.
My fear goes all the way back to a Junior High English class. Remember, when the teacher assigned a poem that had to be memorized, and recited to the class at a later date? Well, when it was my time to perform, unbeknown to me, my fly was open. The class was hysterical with laughter. I stumbled through the poem and quickly sat down. When I found out all the levity was not about my comedic ability, I wanted to crawl into a hole and die. I eventually overcame this fear, but I'm not going to tell you how, not just yet!
Many of these fears are ego induced. We are more worried about appearances and how we come across to others that we fail to perform. The net result is total and complete inaction. One fear that is often overlooked is the fear of winning. Some people feel that they don't deserve to win. Others don't expect to win. Still others fear that winning will add greater responsibilities in life that they are not willing to take on. Often we find ourselves putting out a half hearted effort so that we will finish somewhere in the middle of the pack.
In Lloyd Ogilvie's book “The Other Jesus” he states that winning is fulfilling the purpose for which we were born. He goes on to say that we are running a race that we have already won! I really believe all of this, but why do I still get butterflies when I speak, and that queasy feeling is still there when I stand on the edge of a cliff?
I'm going to tell how to overcome these fears, but not just yet!
What does the Bible say about fear? Today's text states that “Blessed is the Man who fears the Lord.” Psalm 34 says that the angel of Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and for those who fear Him lack nothing. You can't talk about fear without mentioning Psalm 23: Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death; I will fear no evil for thou art with me. In the New Testament Luke 12:4-5 states “I tell you my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more, but I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who after killing the body, has the power to through you into hell.” 1 John 4:18 says that there is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear. When we stand before men, we can present whatever facade that we want to project. When we stand before God, we are completely laid bare to His penetrating eyes. We can hide nothing from Him and our hearts are laid open for His judgement.
As Christians, we know that God's judgement is forgiveness and our hearts are repaired with His indwelling love. Fear, Awe of the Lord can only result in a liberating freedom from sin and death into a winning spirit that cannot be defeated! If God is for us, who can stand against us? (Rom: 8:31) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Cor: 5:17).
Okay, I understand that I'm a new creation in Christ, but what about my butterflies?
Not yet, I need just a little more time.
Don't you think that King David had just a little fear, butterflies in his gut when he went out to face Goliath? Everybody in Saul's army were in fear of this giant. Not even the promise of Saul's daughter in marriage or great wealth could conjure up any volunteers to face Goliath. Even the promise of not having to pay any more taxes could overcome the fear of everyone in the Israelite army. Now that's real fear. Young David came before Goliath in the name of the Lord Almighty whom Goliath have defiled and slew him with only a sling and a smooth stone. Suddenly, Fear came into the hearts of the Phillistines, and they fled before the now brave Israelite army. How fickle this illusion called fear can be.
The apostle Stephen surely must have felt some angst when he wastaken before the Sanhedrin in order to discredit his faith in Jesus. The Jewish scholars feared Stephen for he had converted many people, including some Rabbis to Christianity, and they wanted to dishonor him. Stephen was too wise for the scholars, and his face glowed with the Holy Spirit. He had the Sanhedrin mesmerized with his knowledge. “Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool” Stephen stated “What kind of house will you build for me,” says the Lord. Then he said the words that he surely must have known would be his death sentence: “You stiff necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears!” “You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit.” That was enough; with gnashing teeth and furious hearts, they stoned Stephen until he fell asleep in his Father's
arms.
It was January 15th 2009 and U.S. Airways Flight 1549 had just taken off from LaGuardia. It was three minutes into the flight when both engines failed. Captain Sully Sullenberger must have felt a moments fear until all his years of training took over. He then proceeded to glide his plane into the Hudson River where all 155 passengers deplaned safely, and not a single soul was lost.
What is it that allows us to overcome our fears in life? How can we turn inaction into running the good race that Jesus Christ intended for us to run? I believe that this is all summed up in one word, and that word is passion! Passion trumps fear. David's fear was overcome with his passion to serve the Lord and to not have his God blasphemed by an uncircumcised giant. Stephen's fear of dying was surely overcome by his passion to witness for Jesus Christ. Chesley Sullenberger's fear was overcome by his passion for training. He was an airline pilot's association safety instructor and this passion was most likely the reason 155 people are alive today. My fear of speaking in front of people has been overcome by a passion to preach and to serve. The butterflies are still there, but I have them arranged in a flight pattern and they are all headed in the same direction.
I would like to leave you all today with lyrics that were taken for the script of the play Man of La Mancha. I want you to listen closely for the Passion of Christ in these lyrics:
To dream the impossible dream.
To fight the unbeatable foe.
To bear the unbearable sorrow.
To run where the brave dare not go.
To right the unrightable wrong.
To love pure and chaste from afar.
To try when your arms are to weary.
To reach the unreachable star.
This is my quest,
To follow that star,
No matter how hopeless,
No matter how far.
To fight for the right
Without question or pause,
To be willing to march into Hell
For a heavenly cause.
And I know if I'll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest.
And the world will be better for this,
That one man, scorned and covered with scars,
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star.
We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. (Phil. 4:13). Find your passion; pursue it, and all the stars of the universe will be at your fingertips. Remember, Passion trumps fear. Amen
* Lloyd Ogilvie “The Other Jesus“