2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”

Right now it feels like we are just moving from one pandemic to the next. In the last week we have seen another virus sweep through our country taking lives, one that is even more contagious than Covid-19, that of racism hatred and injustice. Like Covid-19 it’s a virus that creates fear and leaves a trail of destruction in its wake. So, what is the antidote to this anarchy and fear? In 2 timothy 1:7 Paul pens these words, ”For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” As believers in Jesus Christ our lives should reflect God’s Spirit not the worlds. Instead of fear, our lives should be characterized by power, love and self-discipline. But what kind of power are we talking about? Power that is constructive not destructive. God’s power created life out of nothingness, light out of darkness, His power created the planet we inhabit. It was His power that healed the blind and raised the dead and ultimately died for us to conquer sin. God has given us this power to bring good out of evil but only if we do things His way. The truth is we should be outraged when those who have been charged to serve and protect abuse their power and use it for evil instead of good. All life is sacred, and we need to stand up for those who are abuse mistreated and killed. Psalm 89:14 says “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants.” Righteousness, right living and justice the enforcement of God’s Law which centers around relationships not rules so that we live in harmony not hatred should be what rules the day. So, why does the day feel more like darkness because we are living our lives for self and sin. Our tendency when we see injustice is to react in anger instead of responding in action. We look outward when we first need to look inward. Before we can protest, we need to process to make sure we are protesting the right things. Revival always starts with repentance, but you will never repent of sins you don’t see. It’s easy for me to become angry at bad police officers or protestors who bring anarchy and chaos but before I look at them, I have to look at me. The problem is most of us are blind to the racism and hate that lingers in our hearts. That is why we have to look to God and let Him expose our hearts. In Psalm 139:23-24 we read these words, ”Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Is there anything in your life that offends God? Is there racism or hate in your heart, and it’s not just a black white issue. I have lived all over the world and seen people of all races hating each other. What we fail to realize is there is one race, the human race. We fail to see that we have all been created in God’s image it’s about our soul not our skin. Why do we have a race problem because we have a grace problem. We fail to see people the way Jesus does. We are so shallow that we choose to see only the surface, so we focus on their skin instead of the diving deep and seeing their soul. If we are going to see the power of revival, we first have to experience the power of repentance. Before we can protest, we have to pray, its only then that we will be able to answer the question am I part of the solution or part of the sin? If we are not careful, we will protest with revenge instead of righteousness. Along with power we also have God’s love. This is a sacrificial love not a selfish one. A love that brings life not death and destruction. It has been both heart wrenching and encouraging to see people’s hearts on display. While there are those who are choosing to operate out of a heart of hate there are those who are loving and caring for those around them. To see people linking arms and gathering around those who are vulnerable to protect them reminds me that love wins. So, let me ask you are you going to act out of a spirit of fear or one of love? Who have you been loving and caring for during this pandemic? Part of our problem as a nation is that we have shifted from a sacrificial to a selfish mentality, from caring for others to what’s in it for me. Not only do we have a spirit of power and love but also self-disciplined. This is a controlled life not a chaotic one. Driven by a calm assurance because we know Christ is in control. If we are not careful, we will focus on the crisis instead of Christ. The problems instead of His promises. Why does it matter if I am living a self-controlled life? Because when I am out of control it affects and infects those around me. We think this is a cultural problem, but it’s a human problem a heart problem. 2000 years ago the Jews wanted to riot and overthrow the Romans, but Jesus didn’t come to change a political party He came to change the world. What if we stopped focusing on saving America and started focusing on our call to see Americans saved? Some of you will take offence at that and say, what don’t you care about our country? Yes, I love this country but what is America, is it not it’s people and what kind of a country do you think we will have when its people all live for Jesus? What if every church in this land led a protest through praise because they understood that worship is our weapon? Yes, we need to protest but we need to remember we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. We need to put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. It’s time to responding in hope instead of reacting with hatred. What’s in the heart will come out, are you using your power to protect or to plunder? Are you living in love or living to hate, are you living a self-disciplined life that is helping or one that is hurting others? Before we can protest, we have to look inward, is there anything in you that needs to be protested?

Psalm 56:3-4

3 But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. 4 I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?

David admitted his weakness when he said “I am afraid.” And like David all of us have worries of some kind. Maybe you are worried about losing your job, losing your finances, or losing a loved one that you have depended on for affection and acceptance. Maybe you have fears about loneliness, fears about being accepted by others, fears about failure, fears about rejection, fears about your children, fears about your relationship or marriage, or fears of facing tomorrow. Whatever the fears may be, all of us have uttered the words “I am afraid” at one time or another whether privately or publicly. The feeling of fear has a powerful influence on how we think and act. For some it creates a fight or flight impulse, others are paralyzed, and fear prevents them from fulfilling their purpose in life. The reality is that all of us react in the grip of fear. Fear’s desire is to conquer the soul, to isolate us emotionally so that we can’t enjoy the life God has purchased through His Son Christ Jesus. Yet God wants us to live free from the torment of fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 declares, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” God desires for us to live the abundant life while the force of fear wants to prevent us from experiencing the abundant life of joy, the abundant life of peace, the abundant life of freedom, the abundant life of courage, and the abundant life of prosperity. Fear does not act alone but brings with it its twin cousins of discouragement and depression. Together they shout death to our purpose, death to our promises, death to our dreams. Is fear trying to rob you of your dream, to kill and stop you from enjoying the life that God has provided and intended for you to live? David’s life was governed by fear instead of being guided by faith and he knew it, so He made the decision to trust and turn to God and to break the grip of fear through:

• Confession

David confessed his fear, he admitted to being afraid of people, he said in Psalm 56:1 “O God, have mercy on me, for people are hounding me.” This was a very real fear and would have included Saul and his army as well as the Philistines in Gath. David understood that in order to break the grip of fear we have to confess it to God. One of the benefits of confession is identification, as David confessed, he also identified his fear. What is it and who is it that causes you to cower in fear? David did not deny his fear, he identified it and confessed it to God. Ask yourself, “What am I really afraid of?” What is the nature of your fear? Are you afraid of failure that will lead to criticism? Are you afraid of failure that will lead to rejection? Are you afraid that your weakness and inadequacies will be exposed? Are you afraid that others will punish, misuse, or abuse you? What is it? Will you identify it, admit it to yourself and confess it to God? Not only did David confess his worry he also:

• Confronted

We have to face our fears. This is why identifying them is so important; you can’t confront what you do not know. Our natural tendency is to give in to fear, to bow your knee, and give ground but confronting means we will stand firm against it. We must remember that we do not stand alone, in Exodus 14:13 we read, “Fear not; stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.” So even if your knees are shaking, your mouth is dry, and you feel as though you are about to fall down, confront that fear. Fear cannot be wished away or hoped away, it must be confronted and dealt with through God’s Word. People may criticize, reject, and persecute you, but don’t allow them to intimidate you. Face the problem, the terror, and the uncertainty by faith. Its here lastly that David reminds us of the power of:

• Concentration

What we concentrate on, where we place our focus will impact the battle. Will you choose to concentrate on the promises or the problems? The more you focus your eyes on the problem, the more fearful you become. Faith has a lot to do with focus, instead of fixing our eyes on the fear we need to focus on the Father. Your Provider promises to strengthen and sustain, and He is able to handle anything you may face in this life. Fear wants to create doubt because doubt sees the obstacles where Faith sees the way, doubt sees the darkness where Faith sees the day. Fear is really an opportunity to trust even when our greatest fear is trusting God.