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FEAR & ANXIETY
CONTROLLING YOUR LIFE?
by: Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.
HOW
TO OVERCOME DEPRESSION, FEAR & ANXIETY
The
Bible says, "For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of
love, power, and a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)
FEAR
- MANKIND'S GREATEST FOE
"So
first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing to fear is
fear itself - names, unreasoning, unjustified terror." - Franklin D.
Roosevelt
The
deacon, Phillip, broke tradition
by preaching in Samaria, among that city’s Jewish-extracted, mixed-race
population. Cornelius’ household were the first Romans to accept the
gospel - two years later - when ‘Shimon bar Yonah’ (St. Peter)
preached to them.
A
number of recent news stories highlighted the growing fear by many
people, due to the increase of terrorism, world disasters, wars,
tsunamis, terrorist attack, earthquakes, world viruses and diseases.
 FEAR
IS A UNIVERSAL ENEMY
Fear
and anxiety are universal enemies and certainly not a new enemy.
Fear had its beginning with Adam's rebellion and fall, in the Garden of
Eden. After Adam and Eve had disobeyed God's directive to them,
fear entered their hearts.
"And
Adam said, I heard Thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I
am naked, and I hid myself." (Genesis 3:10)
IN
THE LAST DAYS "MEN'S HEARTS WILL FAIL THEM FOR FEAR"
That
the slavish tentacles of fear are spreading and increasing in intensity
is also prophetical. Jesus declared that in the last days
"men's hearts" will fail them for fear...." (Luke 21:26)
THE
LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IS HEART DISEASE
The
leading cause of death is heart disease. People are suffering from
strain, anxiety and stress is adversely affecting a large number of men
and woman. Alcohol consumption, drug abuse and anxiety attacks are
increasing, all contributing to heart disease.
CANCER
IS #2 LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH. FEAR IS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR
Cancer
is the #2 killer and medical science believes "fear" is a
contributor - because it constructs the vessels carrying blood to affect
areas.
Cigarette
smoking is a major cause of heart disease and sickness, why why do people
smoke? Often, because they are uptight, nervous, anxious and
afraid!
FEAR
& DEPRESSION ARE THE GREATEST "ENEMIES" AMONG US
Fear
is "the enemy" among us and is taking a tremendous toll,
psychologically, economically, domestically and physically. As well
as politically, both nationally and world wide.
FEAR
DESTROYS RELATIONSHIPS
Fear
is our "greatest enemy" and it hinders growth in business,
impedes academic progress, breaks up families and keeps people out of
church.
Fear
is often the cause of strife, worry, bitterness, resentment, jealousy and
hatred. But fear can be conquered and driven out of our lives!
Many
years ago, USA President Herbert Hoover stated: The dominant emotion
everywhere in the world s FEAR.
Many
years ago, USA President Herbert Hoover stated: "The dominant
emotion everywhere in the world is FEAR. This applies to every part
of human activities - finance, industry, farmers, workers, thinkers and
government officials."
THE
ATLANTIC CHARTER - USA President Roosevelt
The
Atlanta Charter, drawn up by US President Theodore Roosevelt and
Britain's Sir Winston Churchill is still heralded as one of history's
greatest documents, championing the common liberties of mankind.
Freedom
from fear
Freedom of speech
Freedom from want
Freedom of religion
It
contained four essential freedoms: freedom from want, freedom from
fear, freedom of speech and freedom of religion
New
York City's Dr. David Mitchell declared, humans are born with only 2
fears, sound of a sudden noise, and unexpected removal of support or
falling!
There
are however many unreal, imagined and unreasonable fears which plague
mankind. These we must reject in order to enjoy good mental health
and peace of mind.
Neurologists
believe that the lower central part of the brain called the thalamus is
the center of all emotions; this is where fearful thoughts issue from.
The nerve center is also where affection and love are born.
It
is therefore important that we sort out our thoughts and allow only those
that are sane, sensible, wholesome and truthful stay in our minds.
The
Bible says: "As he thinketh in his heart, so is he".
And
St. Paul admonished: "Whatsoever things are true, honest, just,
pure, lovely and of good report...think on these things."
(Philippians 4:8)
PHOBIAS
- THERE ARE MORE THAN 40 DOCUMENTS PHOBIAS
There
are more than 40 phobias that harass humanity today - from ailurophobes
(the fear of cats) to zoophobia (the fear of animals in general).
And there is healing for everyone - through faith in Jesus Christ - and
some old fashioned common sense.
JESUS
CHRIST CAN HEAL YOUR FEARS & PHOBIAS - IF YOU TRUST IN HIM
The
Bible says, "For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of
love, power and a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)
President
Roosevelt stated: "The only thing we have to fear, is fear
itself", and the Bible says, "....perfect love casts out all
fears." (1 John 4:18)
WHAT
IS THE OPPOSITE EMOTION OF FEAR
What
is the opposite of fear. It is FAITH. Faith brings us peace
and tranquility!
Jesus
said, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the
world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)
The
Bible says, "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom also we have
access by faith in to this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope
of the glory of God.: (Romans 5:1-2)
Since
perfect love removes all fears, it is good to know that God is love and
His love has reached out to us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on
the cross for us!
And
because He rose from the dead and is not only the testator but the
executor of His own will - through the Holy Spirit - we are assured of
His total peace and healing for spirit, soul (mind) and body.
BIBLE
SCRIPTURES
ON FEAR
(King
James Version)
 Isaiah
41:10 - (kjv)
- Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am]
thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I
will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah
35:4 - (kjv)
- Say to them [that are] of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not:
behold, your God will come [with] vengeance, [even] God [with] a
recompence: he will come and save you.
Romans
8:31 - (kjv)
- What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for
us, who [can] be against us?
Psalms
34:4 - (kjv)
- I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my
fears.
Psalms
23:4 - (kjv)
- Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1
Peter 5:7 -
(kjv) - Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and
thy staff they comfort me.
Psalms
56:3 - (kjv)
- What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
Proverbs
14:27
- (kjv) - The fear of the LORD [is] a fountain of life, to depart
from the snares of death.
1
John 1:9
- (kjv) - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to
forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Isaiah
43:1
- (kjv) - But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob,
and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed
thee, I have called [thee] by thy name; thou [art] mine.
2
Timothy 1:7
- (kjv) - For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but
of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
John
14:7
- (kjv) - Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as
the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be
troubled, neither let it be afraid.
1
John 4:18
- (kjv) - There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out
fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made
perfect in love.
Proverbs
16:6
- (kjv) - By
mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD
[men] depart from evil.
Psalms
111:10
- (kjv) - The
fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: a good
understanding have all they that do [his commandments]: his praise
endureth for ever.
1
Peter 2:17
- (kjv) - Honou
all [men]. Love the brotherhood. Fear God.
Honour the king.
Job
3:25 -
(kjv) - For
the thin which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I
was afraid of is come unto me.
Romans
15:13 -
(kjv) - Now
the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that
ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Psalms
27:1 -
(kjv) - ([A
Psalm} of David.) The LORD [is] my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear? The LORD [is] the strength of my life; of
whom shall be be afraid?
Deuteronomy
31:6 -
(kjv) - Be
strong and of a good courage, fear not; nor be afraid of
them: for the LORD thy God, he [it is] that doth go with thee; he
will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
1
John 5:14-15
- (kjv)
- And
this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any
thing according to his will, he heareth us: .. And if we know that
he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions
that we desired of him.
Joshua
1:9 -
(kjv) - Have
I not commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be
not afraid; neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God [is]
with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Romans
8:32 -
(kjv) -
He that spared not his
own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with
him also freely give us all things?
JESUS
CHRIST
DIED FOR YOU
#1
- JESUS CHRIST LOVES YOU
No
more beautiful words were ever spoken by men or angels than these,
"I know God loves me!" Praise God. Say these precious
words and believe them and you will see what a change will be affected
within your life.
#2
- JESUS CHRIST KNOWS ALL ABOUT YOU
"For
the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show
himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward
him." (2 Chronicles 16:9)
"Tis
so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word, Just to rest
upon His promise, Just to know, Thus saith the Lord."
In
every situation of life God knows about you! During every trial,
heartbreak and discouragement in the temptations and struggles of life
Jesus knows about us and makes a way of escape. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
God knows and He is ready to help - Say it to yourself, "God knows
about my existence and He loves me - His eyes are upon me and I know
everything will be alright."
#3
- JESUS CHRIST CARES ABOUT YOU
"Casting
all your cares upon Him, for He careth for you." (1 Peter 5:7)
Life
often seems like a rat race with dog eat dog and whoever gets in first
get what he needs and whoever gets in last misses everything.
People can often be hardhearted and cruel - circumstances and situations
can make life almost unbearable. Many times Satan has filled
peoples' hearts and minds with such tremendous disillusionment and
depression that they have in utter hopelessness taken their own lives.
The
hymn writer penned the words, "What a Friend we have in Jesus, All
our sins and grief's to bear! What a privilege to carry -
Everything to God in prayer."
I
am thrilled with the great news of God's love every time I hear it.
I am thrilled that God loves me, He knows all about me and that He cares
about me - my difficulties and my needs. Praise God! Say it
to yourself - "I know God cares about me and will help me!"
#4
- JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR YOU
"But
God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
You
can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving. No
wonder the Apostle John wrote, "We love Him because He first loved
us."
There is a word that is seldom used in today's world but
one which is probably one of the most powerful in our vocabulary.
It is the word "Apodictic" and it means "Evident beyond
contradictions". It is one of my foremost words because it
relates to the gospel and to Christ our wonderful Lord. When you
speak about God, His power, His words, His promises, His grace, His
goodness and His mercy and love, the word Apodictic covers them all!
Evident
beyond Contradiction! His existence is so real that only a foolish
person could try to contradict the fact! No wonder the Bible says,
"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God". (Psalm
14:1)
NO.
5 ~ JESUS CHRIST AROSE FROM THE DEAD AND WILL HELP YOU TODAY
A
dead man has no power to help anyone - He cannot even help himself! That
is why so many traditional churches and nominal Christians receive no
answers to their prayers and have no victory in their lives. They believe
in and worship a dead Christ. They wear crucifixes that have a
resemblance of Christ, dead on the cross. Beloved friends, the cross is
empty - Jesus Christ is alive for evermore with all power at His
disposal.
He
has the power to set His children free from every bondage and situation
in which we find ourselves that is embarrassing, improper, humiliating
and painful.
“Lo
behold the man of sorrow, lo behold Him in plain view. There He stands
that mighty conqueror, since He rent the veil in two."
“I
serve a risen Saviour, He’s in the world today; I know that He is
living, whatever men may say; I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice
of cheer and just the time I need Him, He’s always near. He lives, He
lives, Christ Jesus lives today. He walks with me and talks with me,
along life’s narrow way. You ask me how I know He lives, He lives
within my heart.” Hallelujah.
The
very essence of Christianity, the heart of the gospel and the foundation
truth of the church is that Jesus Christ, God’s Son died upon a cross
for our sins and that He was raised from the dead on the third day for
our Justification! (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
Of
all religions only Christianity can boast a resurrection and only Christ
is a Saviour, for He only is Alive Forevermore. Praise His Name.
JESUS
IS THE ONLY WAY
No
wonder Peter said, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there
is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be
saved”. (Acts 4:12)
Why?
Because the name of a dead man can save no one but Jesus is not dead HE
IS ALIVE FOREVERMORE! Hallelujah. His entire ministry while upon this
earth revolved around preaching the gospel, healing the sick, forgiving
the sinful, restoring the diseased back to health, feeding the hungry and
raising the dead.
When
He was crucified His ministry came to an end abruptly - until 50 days
later - after He had risen from the dead and spent 40 days with His
disciples He ascended into heaven and poured out upon His followers the
“Baptism of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4) Then His ministry
continued greater than ever through those who believed upon Him - The
blind saw, the deaf heard, the lame walked, the dead were raised and the
gospel was preached to multitudes.
“Now
Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer,
being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was
carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called
Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing
Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
And
Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he
gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter
said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the
name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the
right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones
received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with
them into the temple, walking, and leaping and praising God.” (Acts
3:1-9)
“And
by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among
the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. And of
the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified
them. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of
men and women.)
“Insomuch
that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds
and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might
overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities
round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were
vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.” (Acts
5:12-16)
THE
GREAT COMMISSION
It
is evident the Book of Acts is a continuation of the ministry of Jesus
Christ through His followers by the power of the Holy Spirit, and that it
is God’s will for His power to continue to bring blessing and healing
to His people in every generation until the church age is over and Christ
sets up His kingdom and ushers in the millennium -
Notice
His words to all who believe, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all
the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and
is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
And these signs shall follow them that believe, In my name shall they
cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up
serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them;
they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover”. (Mark
16:15-18)
The
Holy Bible says, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto
you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as
the Lord our God shall call.” (Acts 2:38-39)
If
you are called, you are saved and if you are saved, the baptism of the
Holy Ghost and power is for you! Again see what St. James writes to the
church, “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the
church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of
the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall
raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven
him”. (James 5:14,15)
THE
SCRIPTURE CANNOT BE BROKEN
Now
in closing let us see what Jesus Himself said concerning praying and
receiving an answer....
“Ask,
and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall
be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that
seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew
7:7,8)
“Believe
me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe Me for
the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth
on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these
shall he do; because I go unto My Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in
My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If
ye shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it.” (John 14:11-14)
“Jesus
said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that
believeth.” (Mark 9:23)
“Again
I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any
thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which
is in heaven.” (Matthew 18:19)
“If
ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and
it shall be done unto you.” (John 15:7)
My
beloved friend, Jesus Christ is indeed alive and waiting to hear from
you. If you will accept Him as your personal Saviour and trust in Him you
will definitely receive answers to your prayers and the assurance that
all is well with your soul, for He has promised and guaranteed you that
His word is true and the scripture cannot be broken. (John 10:35)
Amen.
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