Handling Fear 1

If I could sum up in one word why most of us have problems, why we depend on mood altering drugs more than any other generation in history. 23 million Americans battle with Addictions every day and lose, 2 Million people will begin abusing prescription drugs this year alone, 10 % of America’s youth abuse drugs on a Regular basis, 30% of youth under 21 have used alcohol in the last year, 31% of Fundamental Pastors admit to viewing internet pornography in the last year, 69% of Christian school students forsake their faith after graduation. That one word would be “FEAR!” So why are we so afraid?  Could it be we are afraid of catching the swine flu? Is it the fear of being sued? The fear of going Broke? Is it the fear of that mole on your neck being cancerous? The sound of the clock as it ticks telling you your last day on earth is nearing?  Fear robs us of our happiness for you can’t be happy and afraid at the same time. You can’t think clear and be afraid and you can’t be confident and be afraid. What had His Disciples just heard & seen? They had just been taught ASK you say what in the world is ASK?

Matthew 7:7 Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:  They had just seen a Leper made clean;

Matthew 8:2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

Matthew 8:3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. They had just seen the centurion put great faith in the Lord Jesus;

Matthew 8:5-13   they had just seen Peter’s mother-n-law healed of a fever by the touch of His Hand; 

Matthew 8:14 And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.

Matthew 8:15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them. Now that these disciples had heard and seen all of these things did it do them any good? Let’s see!

Mathew 8:23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.

Matthew 8:24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. I am interested in that word “TEMPEST” Strong says the Greek word used is seismos sice-mos' From G4579; (seiō si'-o Apparently a primary verb; to rock (vibrate, properly sideways or to and fro), that is, (generally) to agitate (in any direction; cause to tremble); figuratively to throw into a tremor (of fear or concern): - move, quake, shake.) a commotion, that is, (of the air) a gale, (of the ground) an earthquake: - earthquake, tempest. 14 X that word sice-mos' is used in the N.T. In every other time the word is used the word Earthquake is used. So out of 14 X’s it is only used as tempest once. I think Matthew was trying to get the message across to us that the storm was in earthquake proportions. What fear are you dealing with that is at earthquake proportions? Are you dealing with it yourself or are you allowing the Lord to handle it and putting it into His hands? I’ll show you tomorrow how His disciples handled it.