Sermons
February 9th, 2025 by Pastor Solley020925AM Overcoming Doubts and Fears
Sub: Doubts and Fears
Theme: Overcoming doubts and fears.
Text: Deut 28:66
“Overcoming Doubts and Fears” Deut 28:66
Introduction
I want to speak to you this morning about overcoming doubts and fears, something we all have to deal with to one degree or another from time to time. The word fear is a common one in the Bible found from Genesis through Revelation, the word doubt not so much. But both words are found together in the same verse one time. – Deut 28:66 – That is not a very pleasant verse at all but it does describe the way many people feel some of the time and some people all of the time. – Deut 28:66 – A terrible place to be.
I. In Deut 28 God is giving Israel instructions that would lead to blessings in the Promised Land: Deut 28:1-10 This continues through verse fourteen and there seems little that would cause Israel to doubt and fear. But there is a change that takes pace. Starting in verse fifteen God begins to give warning to Israel. – Deut 28:15 – This continues then through the rest of the chapter. God’s gives conditions for blessings in fourteen verses and then conditions for cursing in fifty four verses. Why?
A. Because God knew what Israel would do, God knew Israel would not obey: It must have broken the heart of God to have to devote so few words to blessings and so many words to cursing but God knew Israel would not obey.
1. Their disobedience would take them farther and farther away from God and lead them to this point: Deut 28:66 To a place where they would be afraid everyday, to be afraid every night, to have no assurance of what would happen with their lives, to live in fear and doubt all of the time. – Deut 28:66 – That is what the Bible says and that would be a terrible place to be.
2. Israel is still in that very same place today: I would hate to have to live in the constant fear that must be felt in Israel.
B. It is a terrible place for God’s people to find themselves: Deut 28:66 Especially when you consider what God wanted to do for them, what God wanted to give to them, perfect peace. Isa 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. That is what God wanted for them, wanted to give them. Instead they were in constant doubt and fear. That is a terrible place for the child of God to be found.
II. But how many people feel that very same way today? Deut 28:66 All people some of the time and some people all of the time, living in doubt and fear. That must be a terrible place to be and hospitals and doctors cannot answer the problem no matter how long the stay or the medications prescribed. Support groups and better self esteem cannot solve the problem. Alcohol and drugs will not solve the problem. Many people find themselves living in this terrible place day after day. – Deut 28:66
A. But God doesn’t want that for any of His children: Remember the promise of Jesus, John 14:27 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.” God wants us to have, through Jesus Christ, the same peace promised to Israel. Isa 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Do you have that peace today?
B. If you at times lack that peace, if you feel at times overwhelmed with doubts and fears then you are in good company: The Apostle Paul had those same doubts and fears. 2 Cor 7:5 For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. The Apostle Paul had doubts and fears but he did not stay there.
1. We are not to be overcome by those doubts and fears: We are not to stay in that terrible place.
2. I want to speak to you this morning about overcoming doubts and fears:
PROP: Every child of God needs to know how to overcome doubts and fears. TS: Because we all have them from time to time.
Body
I. What might cause doubts and fears in the life of the born again believer in Christ? This message is for the Christian. Lost people should be living in constant doubt and fear. If I didn’t have Jesus Christ in my life, if I didn’t know Jesus as my savior this morning, if I were without His presence in my life today, if I didn’t know my Lord loves me, I would be in the very same place Israel was going to find themselves as a nation. – Deut 28:66 – Only Jesus Christ can keep you from that terrible place. – Deut 28:66
A. Why then do believers in Christ fall back into that place? Paul stated that he had fears within. 2 Cor 7:5 Paul at that moment felt himself to be cast down. – 2 Cor 7:6 – That word cast was a shepherd’s word for a mature sheep that had fallen, turned over on its back and could not right itself. Left alone that cast sheep would die. Unless the shepherd found that cast sheep and righted it, placed it on its feet again, it would exhaust itself, suffocate, and die. Paul felt cast by fears within. – 2 Cor 7:5-6 – What brings about those doubts and fears in the life of the believer in Christ from time to time? Four things to consider this morning that may cause doubts and fears.
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1. Our past sins can cause doubts and fears to arise in our lives: None of us were perfect before we were saved, before we asked Jesus to forgive and be our personal savior. None of us were perfect before salvation. – Eph 2:1-3 – There is a little word in verse three that puts each and everyone of us in these verses. – Eph 2:3 – All does mean all. Even those precious babies in the nursery this morning fit into these verses. This is their heart and they need to be saved one day. None of us were perfect before we were saved.
a. And none of us have been perfect since we were saved. Sin, especially sins after salvation, can cause doubts and fears.
b. Why would Jesus continue to love me with some if the things I have done after I was saved? Why would Jesus continue to love me with some of the thoughts I have had, some of the things I have said, some of the places I have gone since I was saved?
c. Considering some of the things I have done since I was saved why doesn’t God judge me and toss me aside?
d. Our past sins can cause doubts and fears to arise in our lives.
2. Our past failures can cause doubts and fears to arise in our lives: We separate sins and failures here although it is a thin line. But when we have tried and failed it does cause doubts and fears in our lives. – Matt 14:30-31 – What caused Peter to doubt here? He failed to walk on the water and one might conclude everyone would fail to do that. But Peter did walk on the water. – Matt 14:29 – After Peter failed he doubted.
a. We will experience failures in our walk with the Lord, failures in our service for the Lord that cause us to doubt and fear.
b. Peter experienced failure and it caused him to doubt.
3. Our natural tendency to fear will case doubts and fear to arise in our lives: 63 times in the Bible we are directly commanded to “Fear not”. Coupled with other commands of the same nature the number rises to 360 times. Why would God find it necessary to repeat a command to “Fear not” so many times. Because we don’t know what tomorrow my bring.
a. God gave that assuring command to Joshua because Joshua did not know what was waiting for him on the other side of Jordan.
Josh 1:9 And God did not show Joshua all that was on the other side, God commanded “Be not afraid,”
b. We are often afraid of the unknown and none of us know what tomorrow will hold.
c. Our natural tendency to fear will cause us to doubts and fears to arise in our lives.
4. Our ability to forget will cause doubts and fears to arise in our lives: Why the tears at the tomb of Jesus on that third and glorious day? They forgot. – Luke 24:5-8 – They forgot what Jesus had told them. We have a unique ability to forget what we need to remember.
a. We remember our sins, our failures and then forget the things that we need to remember.
b. They trusted what Jesus said and then forgot what Jesus said. – Luke 24:21-26 – They forgot what they should have remembered.
c. Our ability to forget will cause doubts and fears to arise in our lives.
B. How many Christians can allow one or more or all four of those things just named and many more to cause doubts and fears to arise in our lives? It may not be right to say all for there are many Christians stronger in faith, stronger in the Lord than I am, but I know I have had to battle one or more of those things many times and will have to do so many times more I am sure.
C. What might cause doubts and fears to arise in our lives today? (1) Our sins of the past. (2) Our many failures. (3) Our natural tendency to fear. (4) Our unique ability to forget what we need to remember. All of those things and more can cause doubts and fears.
II. But the Bible has the answer for all of those things: The Bible has the answer and we do not need to spend time in the condition we see in Deut 28:66 And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life: The Bible has all the answers we will ever need.
A. How about those sins committed as a child of God? We know we have been forgive for sins committed before salvation, forgiven and those sins washed away by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
1. But what of sins committed as a son, as a child of God? Luke 15:11-24 The certain man in this parable is Jesus Christ and both the boys were sons and always remained sons.
2. How much was the father going to hold against the son that sinned by wasting all that he had? Luke 15:20-24 Not only was all forgiven all was forgotten as well.
3. What sin can I bring to Jesus, ask Him for forgive and cleanse me of, and Jesus say no? 1 John 1:9 I like the word all in this verse.
4. What Jesus forgives Jesus chooses to remember no more: Heb 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
5. Brother, sister, dear friend, if you have settled it with Jesus it is settled: If you have settled with the Lord it is settled and to be remembered no more because that is what Jesus said. Heb 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
6. Don’t allow Satan to bring those things up anymore, Jesus loves you, forgave you, leave it there: And when you settle it with Jesus it is settled and that should be good enough for anyone because it is good enough for Jesus.
7. Don’t allow then those sins of the past to bring about doubts and fears in your life today:
B. How about the many times we have failed Him in the work? Luke 5:1-5 Peter was saved, had been with Jesus saw miracles preformed by Jesus and was willing to be used by Jesus in the work.
1. Out working all night and taking nothing: Jesus knew they had caught nothing, that they had failed.
2. But when Peter listened to Jesus there was great success after failure: Luke 5:5-8
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3. The same when the demon would not be cast out: Matt 17:15-21 They failed but Jesus was the answer. They by my research never failed in that endeavor again. When Jesus is in the work there is success.
4. When we fail we need to get closer to Jesus, closer to Jesus, closer to Jesus: We can do all things through Christ. Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. If you want to know the full impact of that verse study the book of Philippians and all that the Apostle was dealing with in his life.
5. Don’t allow past failures to cause doubts and fears to arise in your life:
C. What about our natural tendency to fear, to be afraid? If you have never been afraid you are unique. If you are not afraid at this time, concerned about something, fearful about something, you are unique. If you will never be afraid again you are unique.
1. The strongest Christians of the New Testament experienced times of fear: 2 Cor 7:4-6 That is plural, fears. More than one time Paul experienced fear.
a. On the ship on a stormy sea God sent an angel to tell Paul “Fear not”. Why? Because Paul feared.
b. Why did Peter deny knowing Jesus? Peter was afraid.
c. Why did Jesus tell His disciples in that upper room “Let not your heart be troubled”. They were afraid.
d. Why did Nicodemus go to see Jesus under cover of darkness? He was afraid.
2. We all are afraid of something at one time or another and many of us afraid many things: But my Bible tells me there is a way to set fear aside. – 2 Tim 1:6-7 – We need, I need, to stir up the gift that is in me in order to cast out fear. What gift? This goes beyond the call of Timothy to be a pastor and the way God gifted Timothy for that work. What gift within, what needs to be stirred up?
a. The Holy Spirit that is within each and every born again child of God. We have the Holy Spirit within who is able to lift us above every fear and doubt we may ever have or have had. – 2 Tim 1:7 Never diminish the presence and power of the Holy Sprit.
(1) We say the third person of the Godhead when speaking of the Holy Spirit but never diminish His power. The power that created the heavens and the earth, the power that calmed troubled seas, the power that cast out demons, healed the sick, shook the mountains, is within each and every born again child of God. What need we be afraid of?
(2) Never diminish the power of the Holy Spirit to conquer our fears, to lift us above what we might afraid of.
b. We have the gift of love within. – 1 John 4:18 – Allow the love of Christ to fill you, to overfill you. – 1 John 4:18
(1) No one loves you like Jesus, no one every has and no one ever will.
(2) Let His love overcome and cast out your fear. – 1 John 4:18-19 – When someone loves me like Jesus what should I fear?
c. And we have the sword of the Spirit that can conquer all of our fears. Light defeats darkness and fear is found in darkness.
3. Don’t allow your natural tendency to be afraid to allow doubts and fears to arise in your life:
D. Our unique ability to forget can lead to doubts and fears arising in our lives: We have the ability to forget what we should remember and remember what we should forget. We should forget past sins, past failures and past fears. Those we should forget. And we need to remember how good God has been to us, the many times God has protected us and the many times God has provided for us.
1. When Joshua was about to lead Israel into the Promised Land God told him, among other things, to remember: Josh 1:13 Remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, The Lord your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land. Joshua was to remember so he would not doubt and fear.
2. Upon bringing the Ark to Jerusalem David was reminded: 1 Chron 16:12 Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
3. We need to remember the victories God has already given: Both in the lives of others and in our lives as well.
a. Remember those delivered from all fear and doubt in the Bible. It is good to remember.
b. But remember the great things done in your life as well, what God has done for us in the past.
4. It is good for me to remember that I am held and protected in everlasting arms: Deut 33:27
III. What then should I do when Satan is trying to me take to a place I have no desire to go or remain in? Deut 28:66 I don’t want to be there although at times I am and I certainly don’t want to stay there. I would rather be here. – Deut 28:11-12 – I’d rather be there. So what do I need to do when Satan tries to drag me to a place I do not want to go and one I certainly don’t want to stay in?
A. I need to constantly give Jesus thanks for saving a sinner like me and washing away my sins completely and entirely: I thank Jesus today that He chooses to remember my sins no more. Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. What a tremendous truth, I am forgiven, my sins to be remembered no more.
1. I have yet to get over salvation and I never want to: Jesus took a worthless sinner, washed his sins away, and made a new creature in Christ. Jesus took nothing and made something out of me.
2. When doubts and fear arise I need to remember what Jesus has done with my sin: Ps 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Those two never touch.
3. Why should I have doubts and fears when Jesus has done that for me?
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B. I need to thank Jesus for lifting me time and time again above my many failures in the past: I can’t count the number of times I have failed Him and will fail Him again. But Jesus Christ, despite my failures, has never failed me.
1. His faithfulness to me does not depend upon my successes for Him: 1 Cor 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. My God is faithful no matter if I fail or succeed, my God is faithful.
2. The faithfulness of God rests in Him and does not depend upon me: Praise God.
3. Why should I have doubts and fears when my God is faithful? Deut 7:9 Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
C. I need to ask Jesus to give me constant victory over the flesh and my mind when they move me to fear: I need to ask for that peace of mind, for that sound mind daily. 2 Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Why not pray for that mind?
1. When my mind becomes cluttered with the world, with trials, with problems, I need to ask for that sound mind: What is promised in the Bible I can ask to be made real in my life today.
2. I will not have doubts and fears when I have that sound mind:
D. I need to remember what God has already done in my life as well as the lives of others: When I remember what I should doubts and fears will disappear.
1. We tend to remember what we should forget and forget what we should remember:
2. Remember what God has already done in you life and know that God is still able:
3. No need for doubts and fears when I stop and remember what God has already done for me:
Conclusion
There is a way for the child of God to overcome doubts and fears.
I. What might cause doubts and fears in the life of the born again believer in Christ?
A. Our sins of the past might cause doubts and fears:
B. Our past failures might cause doubts and fears:
C. Our natural tendency to be afraid may cause doubts and fears:
D. Our forgetfulness may cause doubts and fears:
II. But the Bible has the answer for all of those things:
A. Our sins Jesus chooses to remember no more:
B. Jesus is faithful no matter how many times we may have failed Him in the past:
C. We are promised a sound mind and not a spirit of fear:
D. We need to remember what we should remember and how God has blessed and given victory to us before:
III. What then should I do when Satan is trying to take to a place I have no desire to go or remain in?
A. Thank Him for forgiving me:
B. Thank Him that His faithfulness does not depend upon my success:
C. Ask Him for that sound mind:
D. Remember what I need to remember: