Our name | Mission | Vision | Leaders Ministries | Schedule | Directions | Contact Home   Gateway Church gathers for worship Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Location: 6425 Jefferson Rd. (Hwy. 129) in Athens, Georgia. For directions, click here. Ministry of the Word: Recent sermons Our quarterly e-magazine Gateway Today For the Gateway family Pastor Jerry's Weekly E-Mail A GATEWAY SERMON SUMMARY AUDIO Overcoming our fear (Fourth in the series, Overcoming the Enemies of Joy) Jerry Varnado, pastor Gateway Church, Athens GA March 12, 2006 Main Scripture text: 1 John 4:15-18 Fear is an emotion given to us by God to warn us of danger and prepare us to respond to a threatening situation. I'm not talking about overcoming fear of that sort. Instead, I am talking about overcoming the kind fear has come to control our lives. Sometimes we call it worry, or anxiety, or insecurity, or distress. We generally think of fear as the opposite of courage, but the Bible says it really the opposite of faith. Fear results from the lack of trust -- or faith -- in God. Most religions, other than Christianity, are based on fear. People serve and worship their gods because they fear if they don't the gods may harm them in some way. Sermons in this series 1-The Promise of Joy 2-Overcoming Unbelief 3-Overcoming Self-Centeredness 4-Overcoming Our Fear 5-Overcoming Anger 6-Overcoming Negative Thinking 7-Rejoice Always! Rejoice! Christianity, on the other hand, is the negation of fear. By acknowledging that Jesus is the Son of God, one can enter into a loving relationship with God. Once we understand that we are free from the fear of God's judgment, because we are "in Christ," we can be liberated from all kinds of fear. If God is for us who can be against us? By the power of the Holy Spirit, we can have "joy unspeakable and full of glory" in spite of difficult circumstances. Paul wrote in Romans 8 that in all things -- good or bad -- God works for the good of those who love Him. In all of the uncertainties of life -- persecution, famine, nakedness, danger or sword -- we are "more than conquerors" through Him who loved us. The key to that victory is faith. Faith in the living God, who loves us and gave Himself of us, is the cure for fear. Here are six practical things that will help you apply this truth to your life: 1) Be honest about your fears. You cannot simply cover up or run from your fears. You must admit, confront and defeat them; it's the only way. 2) Learn to relax. Your body needs rest to meet each day's demands. Living in fear keeps your "motor running" all the time. Fear robs you of needed rest. 3) Live one day at a time. Dragging tomorrow's troubles into today through worry spoils today -- and make it more difficult to deal with today's troubles. Meet each day's troubles as they come and you will have the strength to conquer them. 4) Fear is the enemy's Trojan Horse. If you allow fear to come inside, it will release enemies within that will sap your strength and take you out before you even engage the outward enemies. 5) Will to be free from fear. Fear says there is no God -- or that if there is a God, I can't trust Him. You must reject fear as the enemy it is and will to be free from it. 6) Faith is the cure for fear. Seek to build faith into your life. There is no substitute for public and private prayer, Bible study and worship. These disciplines must be a regular part of your life if you want to have fear-conquering faith. If we know God's love, if we trust His sovereign power, it is the end of all unhealthy fear. It is through faith in God, trusting in His love for us, and believing that His power is available to us, that we find the resources to be more than conquerors over all our fears. Supporting texts: 2 Timothy 1:5-7 | Mark 4:37-40 | 1 John 4:15-18 | 1 Peter 1:8-9 | Romans 8:28 | Romans 8:34-39 | Matthew 6:34 A mp3 audio file of this sermon is here (33 min.). (Download to a PC by right clicking on the link and choosing "Save Target As." Mac users: click, hold, and choose "Download Link to Disk." Depending on your connection speed, the file may take several minutes to download.) An audio tape of the sermon summarized above is available free of charge (U.S. requests only). Request a tape by calling or writing the Gateway Church office. Please specify tape number 060312a: Overcoming Our Fear. © 2006 Gerald R. Varnado To the Gateway Church home page How to contact us