4-19-97 What are you afraid of? John 20
by Ronald E. George Jr.
When I was growing up one of my greatest fears was going into the basement to put a couple shovels of coal into the old furnace that heated the house. No matter how much I would whine about my fear Dad would never let me get out of my daily chores. Our basement was only about half of a basement with a dirt floor. The old coal furnace was sitting on a slab on concrete in the middle of the house. My job was to go down there and put coal in the furnace twice a day and occasionally take out the ashes. I was so afraid of that darkness that often I would run to the light there near the furnace and the coal bin. Sometimes I would get in such a hurry that I would crack my head on the floor joists that hung down into the basement ceiling. I was so afraid of that place that I would often dream of evil creatures lurking into the darkness. Finally one night in my dreams I decided to stop running from those creatures and face them. After finally facing them, I was able to win over those fears that would cause me great pain and agony.
One of my worst nightmares is that when I am preaching everyone gets up and walks out right in the middle of the sermon. Hopefully, no one ever will. So, don’t get any ideas. Another of my fears is the fear of singing a solo before the congregation.
What are the fears in this life? What are your fears in your Christian life? Are you ready to face them? The disciples were cowering in the corner after the crucifixion of the Lord.
Scripture text: John 20:19-31
John 20:19 (KJS) Then the same day at evening, being the first [day] of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace [be] unto you. 20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them [his] hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace [be] unto you: as [my] Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on [them], and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; [and] whose soever [sins] ye retain, they are retained. 24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: [then] came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace [be] unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust [it] into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed [are] they that have not seen, and [yet] have believed. 30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
What are we afraid of?
Top 12 Fears
1. Speaking before a group(40%) Topophobia
2. Heights (30%) Acrophobia
3. Insects and bugs (20%) Entomophobia
4. Financial problems (20%) Atephobia
5. Deep Water (20%) Bathophobia
6. Disease (20%) Phathophobia
7. Death (20%) Thanatophobia
8. Flying (20%) Aerophobia
9. Loneliness (15%) Monophobia
10. Dogs (10%) Cynophobia
11. Driving/riding in a car (10%) Ochophobia
12. Dark (10%) Nyctophobia
Charles J. Givens, Super-Self (Simon & Schuster, 1993), p. 288.
What are the effects of Fear?
It will keep you Locked in. It will cause to withdraw from the Lord and others around you.
It will keep you from enjoying real life in Christ.
Have you allowed the fears in your life to stop you?
Have you accepted God’s conclusion? God’s conclusion is God’s clarification concerning the death of his son. He clears his throat and his Son is no longer in the morgue. See the Lord has already won the victory for you. Receive the Lord’s Peace. Miraculously, He appears in the room with them.
A father said that his little girl, who was much afraid of the dark, slept at night in a crib beside his bed. Often he had been wakened during the night by a little voice saying, "Papa, it's dark! It's dark, papa! Take Nellie's hand."
And when, in answer, he had taken hold of the lifted hand, she sank quietly to sleep, all her fears being taken away. The remembrance of the pleading voice had often helped him to remember, in the midst of troubles and distress, that he, too, had a Father to whom he could lift his hand and say, "Father, it is dark! Take my hand."
Psa 27:1 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 I be afraid?
This is God’s Peace to you: As Jesus said: Peace be unto you. God’s peace is not just the absence of war but the presence of the Prince who has risen from the dead. He is our security, safety, and our salvation. His peace is the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Him who is now alive. Fearing nothing from God and contented with our earthly lot we have received his peace. It is a restful quietness of the confidence we have in Christ. Are you resting in the comforter?
I recall a story about a man who had to cross a wide river on the ice. He was afraid it might be too thin, so he began to crawl on his hand and knees in great terror. He thought he might fall through at any moment. Just as he neared the opposite shore, all exhausted, another man glided past him nonchalantly sitting on a sled loaded with pig iron. How like some Christians! Headed for Heaven, they tremble at every step lest the divine promises break under their feet. They need only to look at the context of Isaiah 12:2 to realize that God is their salvation and the Lord is their strength and song.
Isa 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
By resting completely upon Him and taking His promises at face value, we can drive out the paralyzing fear that hinders our effectiveness in serving Christ. The biblical antidote always works: "I will trust, and not be afraid."
Believe and Receive the Lord’s Command
Don’t Doubt as Thomas. These things were written that you may believe, and that you may have life through his name.
If I straighten the pictures on the walls of your home, I am committing no sin, am I? But suppose that your house were afire, and I still went calmly about straightening pictures, what would you say? Would you think me merely stupid or very wicked? The world today is on fire. What are you doing to extinguish the fire?
-- Corrie ten Boom, Amazing Love, 101
A Christless Cynic won’t believe the testimonies of the others. He wants to see for himself. His God/Christ isn’t able to win over death and rise from the dead. His Christ is not Christ at all but someone is not true God. His God is powerless so he becomes powerless in his life.
Leslie B. Flynn told a story that illustrates a great truth. An orphaned boy was living with his grandmother when their house caught fire. The grandmother, trying to get upstairs to rescue the boy, perished in the flames. The boy's cries for help were finally answered by a man who climbed an iron drain pipe and came back down with the boy hanging tightly to his neck. Several weeks later, a public hearing was held to determine who would receive custody of the child. A farmer, a teacher, and the town's wealthiest citizen all gave the reasons they felt they should be chosen to give the boy a home. But as they talked, the lad's eyes remained focused on the floor. Then a stranger walked to the front and slowly took his hand from his pockets, revealing severe scars on them. As the crowd gasped, the boy cried out in recognition. This was the man who had saved his life. His hands had been burned when he climbed the hot pipe. With a leap the boy threw his arms around the man's neck and held on for dear life. The other men silently walked away, leaving the boy and his rescuer alone. Those marred hands had settled the issue. And so it is with Jesus. His nail-pierced hands remind us that he has rescued us from sin and its deadly consequences.
Thomas lost time in his service of the Lord. He missed out on the blessings of believing and the peace that everyone else was experiencing. He was the doubter. Finally he saw the risen Lord and was given the assurance of the risen Lord. But, we haven’t seen him face to face but we have seen him heart to heart. Christ says to us:
Key V. 29…blessed [are] they that have not seen, and [yet] have believed.
V. 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Is God Able? Is He capable and competent? Is God God? Or what? Is God God in your life? Or are you a Christless Cynic who is still cowering in the corner? Step up and step out for the Lord , in your life.? Will you believe the Lord and face up to your fears. Come out of the closet for Jesus. Why is it that Christians are the last to come out of the closet? Will you come out of the closet for the Lord? Today you need to face your fears in the presence of the Prince of Peace. Let Him be the one who holds your hand. Let him be the one to give you what you think you lack to win over your worst fears. Call out on his name and give yourself to him today. Come to be saved or baptized. Let Jesus rescue you today. He is the one with the scars in his hands.