Hope Today 021 - How do I overcome Fear?

A weekly program of word and music featuring an eclectic mix of Christian music and teaching by Pastor Tom Cullen and Brian Evans.  

Mac Wigfield starts the program with southern gospel classics.

Produced at Straight Path Studio in Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada.

Christian Artists featured are:

Gold City

Jeff and Sherri Easter

New Journey Trio

North Point Worship

Tenielle Neda

Michael Austin Harris

Westminster Abbey Choir

Hope Darst

Reflections Trio

Keith Green

Lincoln Brewster

Thank you for listening to HOPE TODAY. This is a program developed at Light & Life Programming, a registered charity. We are listener supported. If you would like to help with this ministry, donations can be made through our website at www.lightnlife.ca.

Transcript

Brian 0:07

Welcome to Hope Today, our program of inspiration, joy, and faith. Thank you for joining us over this next hour. The question of our program today is, how do I overcome fear? Listen for answers today through the music and as Pastor Tom Cullen helps us understand in the moments ahead. As always, let's begin with gospel music and encouragement with Mac Wigfield.

Mac 0:34

Well, good morning. This is Mac Wigfield. This is Gold City singing Be not afraid. So a little faith is all that you need, and we hear folks say that's easy for you to say. Faith? Faith is a gift. So then faith means what? That's right, faith means taking God at his word. And faith has the advantage that when it is there, fear is not.

Tom 10:39

I love that song by Gold City. Be not afraid. The Lord will calm the storm if we believe. It brings us to the question of the day. What do I do with my fear? There are so many fears that rob us of our resources, paralyze our thoughts, and disturb our sleep. What are we to do with them? We'll explore the question in the time we have together. May the Holy Spirit minister to each of our hearts as we affirm with North Point worship that there is nothing that God cannot do in giants. Sixty some years ago, a famous Baptist preacher made this comment about the times in which he lived. He said, These are the days when fear is in the very air we breathe. At the time, the superpowers were building their atomic weapons at an alarming rate and were becoming embroiled in the Cold War. I believe that if this creature were alive today, he would again say, These are the days when fear is in the very air we breathe. For everywhere we look in our society, there are people who are fretful, nervous and irritable, and physically ill. So that we may be on alert and on alert. If we had no fear at all, we would probably be for the life of it. One minute it could be one minute. If you do, you will find that he is right there with you. And Neil Need us sings, Jesus, you come. I know, I know it may sound trite, it may sound simplistic to say, when you face fear, call out to Jesus. But consider who Jesus is. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords whose kingdom extends to all spheres of life. This is the point of the Gospel of Mark in chapter 4, verse 35, to the end of chapter 5. All through that passage, we are made to see that Jesus isn't just any man. He is the Lord, the one with authority over the natural world as he calms the storm with a word. He is the one who rules over the spiritual world and causes demons to quiver and fear and obey his command. His kingdom and authority extends to the physical world, as demonstrated by his healing of a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. To every sphere of life known to humanity and even beyond the Prince of Peace rule. And the extent of his kingdom and rule has not diminished with the passing of time. He is a still crowned Prince of Peace. He is a still in command. He is a dill gives a peace to all those who seek him with their whole heart. So to say, turn to Jesus in the midst of your fear. Would be trite and simplistic. If Jesus were a dead martyr rotting in a grave. But because he is the risen Lord who has promised never to leave you or forsake you, you know that you can turn to him and be assured of his help, assured of his strength, assured of his comfort, assured of his peace in the midst of your fears. You will be able to sing of the grace that overcomes, of the grave where Christ rose victorious, and like Michael Austin Harris, for the rest of your days, his love will be your anthem.

Brian 24:03

A hymn that continues to bring much comfort in times of fear is Abide with Me. It is often included as part of the Remembrance Day Cenotaph services. One can only imagine the immense comfort these words must have brought to soldiers during the fear of war. Henry and Anne Light lived in a village close to the shores in Devonshire, England. There, for 23 years, he faithfully ministered to his seafaring congregation. Henry had a lung condition, and it did not help when some of the seasons of the year by the coast were so cold and damp. In his early fifties, his condition had deteriorated into tuberculosis. On September the 4th, 1847, at the age of 54, Henry preached with difficulty what would be his last message to his parishioners. That afternoon, before he left for Italy to hopefully regain strength and health, he walked along the coast in pensive prayer. Retiring to his room, he emerged one hour later with a written copy of Abide With Me. Some said that he had written it within that hour, while others said that he had just discovered the words as he was clearing out his desk drawer. The speculations of both thoughts were probably true. Henry's lines gave out two months later while in Italy. It was during the memorial service held in the fishing village back home and led by his son-in-law, who was also a minister, that Abide with Me was sung for the first time. Here is Westminster Abbey Choir singing Abide With Me.

Tom 28:50

How can we be rescued from our fears? Tony Evans told him how one day his granddaughter came running to him in the backyard, screaming his name and crying. She was visibly afraid. And then Tony Evans discovered why right behind her was the neighbor's dog barking at her heels. And the little girl ran to her grandfather and jumped up into his arms and she cried and cried and cried while the dog and barked and barked and barked and finally both of them. And Tony Evans' granddaughter looked down at the dog. Look at her grandfather. And then look at the dog again. And this time she started. And when you get connected with Jesus Christ, whatever you fear, shrink inside. I'm sure that your fear is real. But Jesus Christ is real too. And he's greater than that which you fear. Trust him today, and he'll lead you out of darkness into his light. Here is hope darst with peace. Be still. That tells us something about the nature of the peace that Christ brings into a life. In the words of Philippians chapter 4, verse 7, it is a peace that passes all understanding. Certainly the disciples did not fully understand what had just happened. It was outside their realm of experience. The peace that Jesus brought was beyond anything the disciples had ever known. It was not of this world. And this is the good news. For peace, as the world commonly understands it, comes when the subring sky is clear, and the sun shines brightly, when the bank account is full, and when the mind and body are free from ache and pain. But this is not true, Peter. The good news is that the peace Jesus brings is a calmness of soul amid the terrors of trouble, a serene quiet in the midst of the howling winds and the thrashing waves. We can understand the peace that comes when everything is going right. But this is a peace which passes all understanding, a tranquility that comes to us in the midst of life of storms and light of ears. This is the type of peace that enabled Paul to sing praise to God while getting into the prison wall. This is the type of peace that the early Christians experienced as they faced the hungry lions and certain death. This peace enabled them to rejoice in these situations. They rejoiced that they had been deemed worthy to suffer for the sake of the gospel. This is the type of peace which comes to us. Yes, to us, in this time, through faith in Jesus Christ, a peace that passes all understanding. So, when sorrow like sea billows roll, though Satan should buff it, though trial should come, we are able to sing with the reflections trio, It is well with my soul. But there are other songs that are beautiful, thoughtful prayers, and the only thing we can do is bow our head and pray in humility. Here is such a song. Keith Green sings Rushing Wind. These are days when fear is in the very air we breathe. They are difficult days. Do you know the one who can help you is within the sound of your voice? When the storm swept up and almost swamped the boat, the disciples called out to Jesus, saying, Teacher, don't you care if we drown? And Jesus awoke and called in the storm. It made all their efforts with the sail and the oar seem so futile when all they needed to do was to call out to the one asleep in the boat. Have you ever prayed about your fears? I know how often prayer seems so familiar and at times so conventional that we overlook its power and its effectiveness. But have you ever prayed about your fears? Spoke to God plainly and honestly regarding your fears and asking him to take them away. I know we sometimes don't receive answers to prayer in ways we expect, but I do not know of any person who prayed honestly and earnestly for peace of mind and has not received a fresh heart and a new hope. The one who can help you is within the sound of your voice. It could be said that these are the days when fear is in the very air we breathe, and rightly so. Life is difficult. Our world has changed, evil and pain are present realities. But hear the good news. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, the Son of God, is traveling through the sea of life with us. He is with us, experiencing and knowing our fears, willing to bring peace to any who call out to him. Good news. Fear may be in the very air we breathe, but peace through faith in the person of Jesus Christ is in our boat. So our souls say Amen as Lincoln Brewster sings, Let the Praises Ring.

Brian 48:44

We hope that you were encouraged today. It's been such a blessing for us to be together with you. We pray that you will know the peace of God in your days ahead. Hope today is produced at Straight Path Studios, and your friends are pleased to bring it to you. We look forward to being with you again next time. In the meantime, remember that God loves you.