Can you believe it is already 2010, ten years after the world was supposed to come to an end with what we labeled Y2K, Year 2000.  It is about half way through January as I am writing this so it is probably safe to say that we have already given up on most of our New Year’s Resolutions and are settling in just like we did about a year ago.  As we start a new year I don’t ever remember a year starting with so many people living in fear.  They are fearful for their jobs, their retirement and savings, for the state of the world, or you pick your favorite fear.  But is fear to characterize our lives as believers?  For the believer this is as bad as it will ever get so what is there really to fear.  However if you are an unbeliever you should live in fear because this life is as good as it will ever get.  Now that is a scary thought. 
For the first half of this year at the Sprague Church we are going to be studying fear in scripture and I invite you to listen along with us.  But if that is not possible then let me give you what in business we used to call the “executive summary”.

I could spend the rest of this article talking about the different fears but there is no need.  Everybody’s fears are different but rest assured we all have them.  But what we like to do is make fun of someone else’s fear (i.e. I’m afraid of being in a car all by myself) because it is different than my fear (ie. I’m afraid they are going to eliminate my job).  But the important point to remember is that fear was not always natural to man.  The first time fear is mentioned is in Gen 3:10, because fear entered along with sin.  Fear is the direct result of self-awareness and is a TOTAL focus on self.  It was not a part of the original creation as we see in Ch 2, where Adam named the creatures as they walked by.  The animals had no fear of man and man had no fear of the animals (and that would include the tigers, lions, etc.). 

Look at II Chronicles 20 where one of the great kings of Judah, Jehoshaphat, tells us how to deal with an impossible situation.  He tells us how to handle that fear that comes over you and seems to cut off your ability to breathe, to even function.  First of all let us establish that is was an impossible situation.  Notice V1, 2 where a vast army is mentioned and then in v12 Jehoshaphat acknowledges the odds are insurmountable.  So what is your impossible situation, that which causes the fear to scream in your ears?  A husband or wife, a child that insists on going their own way, a job that disappeared, finances that are destroying you and your family .  Whatever it is let’s study the example that Ch 20 sets before us:

1.    Take what you are afraid of to the Lord – v3 – notice the first word in v3 tells us that Jehoshaphat was scared

2.    Realize that your help can only come from the Lord – v4

3.    Acknowledge that God is ABLE to resolve the situation IF HE wants to – v5,6

4.    Acknowledge that God has in your past resolved many impossible situations – v7

5.    Admit before your God that you are powerless to bring about the solution, that if victory is to come it must come from the Lord – v12

6.    Understand that the battle is the Lord’s – v15 – Does this sound familiar?  Remember a little shepherd boy name David and what he said to Goliath? (see I Sam 17:47)

7.    Understand that the Lord will fight for you and in front of you and behind you and beside you – He will be at your side – v17

8.    Have faith – v18-20

9.    Praise God for the victory BEFORE THE BATTLE IS EVEN FOUGHT – v21

10.                       Be sure to Praise God when the victory is won – v27,28

 So there you have it.  Go out and make this your best year ever!

                                                                                Pastor Keith

Sunday Worship: 9:00 A.M.

Children's Sunday  
School: 10:30 A.M.

Adult Sunday School
10:45 A.M.

Tuesday
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 or By Appointment