6/10/2020
Desk of Dennis Piller
Social Phobias – FEAR – Idols!
How many kinds of fear are there? The American Psychiatric Association identifies three different categories of phobias: social phobias, agoraphobia, and specific phobias.
- Fears are tasked with the function of keeping us alive. …
- Social Phobia. …
- Fear of heights. …
- Fear of bugs, snakes or spiders. …
- Fear of closed spaces. …
- Fear of flying. …
- Fear of the dark. …
- Fear of getting a disease.
- The fear of POVERTY.
- The fear of CRITICISM.
- The fear of ILL HEALTH.
- The fear of LOSS OF LOVE OF SOMEONE.
- The fear of OLD AGE.
- The fear of DEATH.
The Fear of FAILURE
Fear of Failure is undoubtedly the Greatest Fear of Man. The fear of losing out; the fear of not keeping up with life. Look closely and you will see them all devolve into a single fear: the Fear of Failure. All fears are but branches of the fear of failure.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
There are a lot of ways to combat these negative feelings. One of them is to attend church services and read the Bible regularly. If you can’t control the things that stress you out, let go and let God. Let me be very direct. Going to church is great, listening to podcast are great but there is no substitute for reading the word of God personally. It comes alive and each of us must discover that truth and intimacy with God. He is a person.
We have the opportunity of bowing our knee to one of two altars of worship. One knee bows to Worship Almighty God OR one is bowing a knee to worship fear, anger and anxiety. Wait a minute, I may have those issues, but I don’t worship them! If those fears reign in our lives, then they sit on the throne of our lives and in essence we worship one or the other. We cannot bow our knees to both. They don’t straddle.
Dear Lord as we read your word, it is clear there is none before you and none above you. One day soon “every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord” Phil: 2: 10-11
Lord, let your spirit break through the idols and ways of the world. The ways that design remedies to heal ourselves, to be self-sufficient, to be self-contained, and self-inspired. Lord help us see that SELF is an idol – a monument to ourselves. It is nothing but a “noisy gong or a clanging bell” 1 cor: 13: 1 that offers up nothing that will outlive us. “it will burn up like hay and stubble”. 1 Cor: 3:12 Why is it that man just doesn’t get it? We cannot bow to God AND bow to ourselves. We cannot bow both to God AND to our anxieties and our fears. God is on the throne of your life or not. God sits on the throne or someone else does. Who is that for you? Fear-anxiety – despair anger? These are all strongholds that have raised themselves up by convincing us that they rule. We bow to peace or calamity, anxiety versus the assurances of God, fear versus the love an admonition of God. Who are you listening to? Who are you bowing to? Is peace or fear ruling over you?
You must choose one! If you won’t… then you already have.
“A kingdom divided against itself will fall”. Mark 3:25 So, who will you believe? The voice of demons or the encouraging words of truth and life from the love of God that protects all that is His?
I saw a video this week of a Navy Seal who struggles with intense Social Phobia even walking out of his home. He shared 6 things that helped him cope. But none of them spoke about the deliverance of God himself. The remedy to social anxiety-fear-depression is God’s word. God‘s promises. Whom will you serve and bow a knee to? The answer is being saturated in God’s word. Saturated in his truth. Saturated so heavy with the water of His word, that everything else, every voice, every action, EVERYTHING is drowned out by the joy, peace, faith, AND fullness of God himself.
So, let God’s word speak and when the attack returns-read the Scriptures below and believe in God – trust in God – ONLY!
I have printed out these scriptures to save you the time of searching. Keep reading until you come out “more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus”. Rom 8:37
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
– Psalm 23:4
“The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”
– Psalm 27:1
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:6-7
“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”
– Psalm 94:19
“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
– Romans 8:26-28“Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do no fear their threats; do not be frightened.”
– 1 Peter 3:13-14
They say that courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the belief that something is more important than it. God says that, whether this is true or not, He will always be there, watching, to catch you if you fall.“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.”
– Proverbs 29:25
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
– 1 John 4:18
“You who fear him, trust in the Lord – he is their help and shield.” – Psalm 115:11
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
– Matthew 11:28-30
“I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.”
– Psalm 40:1-3
The Future
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11
“But Jesus looked at them and said to them, ‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” – Matthew 19:26
“The Lord will vindicate me; your love, Lord, endures forever – do not abandon the works of your hands.” – Psalms 138:8
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” – 1 Corinthians 16:13
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all our ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6
“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” – Proverbs 16:9
Overcoming Fear and Anxiety
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
– Joshua 1:9
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
– Deuteronomy 31:6
“Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you.”
– Deuteronomy 3:22
“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.”
– Romans 8:38-39
“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of thing not seen.” – Hebrews 11:1
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
– 1 Corinthians 10:13
“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”
– Hebrews 13:5
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
– John 14:27
“I lift my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
Psalm 121:1
CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY… WHO YOU WILL SERVE!
Joshua 24:15
Rescue Story Zach William
https://awesomechristianmusic.com/zach-williams/rescue-story
