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Fear

Fear. A Fertile Field for Failure. Fear: a Fertile Field for Failure. Quote: “Fear is a fertile field that yields a huge harvest of excuses.” Fear produces “excuses”, “reasons”, and “rationale”, for not obeying God (situation ethics). Fear: a Fertile Field for Failure.

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Fear

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  1. Fear A Fertile Field for Failure

  2. Fear: a Fertile Field for Failure • Quote: “Fear is a fertile field that yields a huge harvest of excuses.” • Fear produces “excuses”, “reasons”, and “rationale”, for not obeying God (situation ethics)

  3. Fear: a Fertile Field for Failure • Fear and intimidation by the ungodly toward the godly are becoming more prevalent today • The godly are accused of _____ism, bigotry, intolerance, hate-speech, hate-crimes, _____phobia, etc.

  4. Fear: a Fertile Field for Failure • The ungodly engage in name-calling, character assassination, false accusations, harassment, fear-mongering, bullying, etc. • This is no different than how the ungodly treated Jeremiah (20:10)

  5. Fear Produces Excuses • “It’s ok to bow down because this is a government sanctioned act” (Dan. 3:1-3) • “It’s ok to bow down because we just want to enjoy the music” (Dan. 3:4-6)

  6. Fear Produces Excuses • “It’s ok to bow down because everyone is doing it” (Dan. 3:7) • “It’s ok to bow down because we don’t want to be offensive, intolerant, or make a scene” (Dan. 3:8-12)

  7. Fear Produces Excuses • “It’s ok to bow down because people will get mad and there will be negative consequences” (Dan. 3:13-15, 19-23) • “It’s ok to bow down because we don’t know what God will do either way in the future” (3:16-18)

  8. Fear Produces Excuses • “Let’s pretend by bowing, but don’t actually worship.” • “Let’s go ahead and worship this time, then ask God to forgive us later – God understands this kind of pressure.”

  9. Fear Produces Excuses • “If bowing is wrong, why would God put us in this situation to begin with?” • “The king has been good to us, so let’s cooperate just this once.”

  10. Fear Produces Excuses • “If we show the people a little goodwill, then maybe they will listen later when we tell them about the true God.” • “Bowing down may not be the best choice, but think of all the worst things our ancestors did in Jerusalem.”

  11. Fear Produces Excuses • “If we refuse to bow and lose our positions, the king will appoint pagans in our place and we won’t be able to help our people anymore.”

  12. What Fear Will Do? • Keep us from evangelizing the lost (Mt. 10:28, 31) • Keep us from doing the Lord’s work (Mt. 25:25)

  13. What Fear Will Do? • Keep us from open identification with Jesus (Jn. 19:38; 20:19; Gal. 2:12) • Keep us from believing the truth (Acts 9:26)

  14. What Fear Will Do? • Keep us from standing for what is right in God’s eyes (Heb. 11:23) • Keep us out of heaven (Rev. 21:8)

  15. No Fear! • God does not give us “a spirit of fearfulness” (2 Tim. 1:7) • “Fear not their fear” (1 Pet. 3:14) • Daniel’s friends did not bend, did not bow, did not burn!

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