Posts Tagged ‘fear’
Fighting Sinking when We Are Hit by Sorrow upon Sorrow
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Fighting-Sinking-when-We-Are-Hit-by-Sorrow-upon-Sorrow.mp3 by Wayne Fancher Philippians 2:27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. Being Hit By Sorrow Matthew 14:10-12 So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. 11 And his head…
Read MoreIs it wrong to be a Christian and still fear death?
Question: Is it wrong to be a Christian and still fear death? I truly feel like I live my life fully for the Lord, but I think about death often and it scares me. I try to think of how beautiful and wonderful heaven will be, but I still find myself struggling to grasp it…
Read MoreThe Purpose of Fear
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/The-Purpose-of-Fear.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Lamentations 3:39-66 I. It started out as an observation in Bible class: “Temptation comes because fear is removed.” A. How true that is! B. God had warned that death would come if the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was eaten – Genesis 2:16-17 1. But Satan…
Read MoreHow can I overcome the fear of death?
Question: Hi Mr. Hamilton, Is there a way to become unafraid of death? I have been terrified of dying since I was very young and sometimes it consumes my thoughts. I fear the concept of being put in a box in the ground unable to move, think, feel or talk to anyone for who knows…
Read MoreThe Worship of God
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/WorshipOfGod.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Revelation 5:11-14 I. Why are you here? A. Because it is what you do on Sundays? Because your parents make you come? B. I hope most of us will say we are here to worship. After all, we call this the worship service. C. Yet, most of us have only vague notions…
Read MoreCan I treat promises I fear as void and non-binding?
Question: Hello again! I’ve been wondering: since I suffer from OCD, then are all my promises, which I’m struggling to avoid, nullified the very moment I make them? The problem is that I’m having trouble knowing when my OCD mind is playing games with me or when it’s really me making these promises. I’ve read…
Read MoreWhat is Malachi 3:16-18 saying?
Question: Hey Jeffrey, Can you please help me understand what’s going on in Malachi 3:16-18? Is this text saying God is pleased with those who think about Him and meditate about Him? Is it saying He rewards those who do so and fear Him? Answer: “Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another,…
Read MoreFear or Faithfulness?
by Matthew W. Bassford From an earthly perspective, many of the prophets of the Old Testament got a raw deal. On this list, we certainly must include Jeremiah. He was forbidden to marry and have a family, he couldn’t attend parties or funerals, and he prophesied in a time that was utterly hostile to his…
Read MoreAm I following God because of my fear of hell and my selfish desire to be saved?
Question: Hello, I have been a Christian for most of my life. Recently my heart has fallen under heavy conviction (I think), and I feel as if I have not desired God above all else in my walk with Him. With this, I began to fear that I was not actually saved, and a deep…
Read MoreWhose Word I Praise!
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton David was on the run. The king of Israel, Saul, was determined to see him dead. His best friend, Saul’s son, confirmed that Saul would not be deterred. The threat was so severe that David decided to flee into Philistine territory. The Philistines were no friends to Israel, and David had…
Read MoreIf you fear God, how can you trust Him?
Question: I have conflicting thoughts about Cornelius (Acts 10). It says he feared God and was always praying to Him. If he feared God, how could Cornelius trust in God? Answer: I think you may be using the wrong definition of fear. Fearing God has always been a requirement for men to follow God. Abraham…
Read MoreI had a relapse of my schizoaffective disorder and I fear I did something wrong
Question: Hello, I have schizoaffective disorder. I have had a recent relapse. I encountered many disturbing occurrences of racing thoughts and hallucinations from the enemy, and I did not do well. I rebuked and prayed, but I feel broken and lost like I did something wrong. I have been a Christian for many years, but…
Read MoreAm I bad because I wasn’t with my mother when she died?
Question: I am a 22-year-old woman who is having a crisis. I have spoken and confessed to God my transgressions for my sins against Him and others; and yet, fear still takes hold of me. How can I cleanse both my mind, heart, and soul of this taint? I still feel guilt over what happened…
Read MoreThe Fallacy of the “Phobia” Charge
by Doy Moyer Typically, by its very nature, a phobia is an irrational fear. Phobiasource tells us that real phobias are emotional or anxiety disorders causing one to experience intense irrational fear. The person’s reaction is automatic (uncontrollable), and may result in a rapid heartbeat, shaking and trembling, the feeling of need to flee, shortness…
Read MoreThere Is No Fear of God Before Their Eyes
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ThereIsNoFearOfGodBeforeTheirEyes.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 3:10-18 I. Most of us have been burnt one time or another. A. The memory of the sharp pain makes a lasting impression. As a result, we hold a healthy respect for fire and other hot things. The fear of what fire could do generates a respect for fire.…
Read MoreI’ve been having a lot of nightmares this week
Question: I’ve been having nightmares a lot this week. Just last night I had a nightmare about a horrible dark creature behind me and looking at me. I woke up screaming! And I didn’t sleep very well after that because I had another nightmare. I guess that’s why I am kind of tired. It wasn’t…
Read MoreWhy the Jews Did Not Believe
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/WhyTheJewsDidNotBelieve.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 12:27-43 I. It is a curious thing, the Son of God lived among men (John 1:14) yet He was rejected A. John 1:9-11 – Even among those who were expecting Him, those who had claimed to be God’s children, did not accept him. B. How can this be? II. Because they…
Read MoreCan you calm my fears?
Question: To start it off: I am born half Christian, half Jewish, so my parents never really raised me on religion. We celebrate the holidays of both religions, but I never went to church. I personally do not know what I believe, and honestly speaking, maybe I do believe in God, but I am not…
Read MoreI am so afraid of losing my salvation that everything is going wrong
Question: Hello, Thank you for the opportunity to write you. I like your site because some of the information is really good and helped me to find out that I have a little bit of religious OCD. Even if my situation was worse, I found out that I am mentally ill. What a great start.…
Read MoreI fear Judgment, but I’m not sure God exists
Question: I am not a Christian, but I force myself to believe in God because I fear Judgment. I always shiver and cry because I don’t know if I will go to hell or heaven. My fear is so strong that I became depressed and desperate for a few weeks. My grandfather is Buddhist but…
Read MoreWhat can I do for my daughter who fears she might have done something wrong?
Question: My daughter was recently baptized. Since then, she has been sad and crying every day, feeling so guilty and questioning her every decision or thought or word out of her mouth as to whether it is sin. She knows even just one small sin, even a little lie, can keep her from heaven if…
Read MoreDo Not be Afraid
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/DoNotBeAfraid.mp3 by Dean Scarlet
Read MoreI’m afraid I will die too
Question: Life has been great. My anger has been getting to be less of a burden. But something’s been torturing me tonight, I even broke down and cried a few minutes ago. I was taken up with a fear that my life was almost over; that I didn’t have much time left. Then for a…
Read MoreMore Fear than Faith
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2014Spring1MoreFearThanFaith.mp3 by Brian Faulkner On Being a Christian
Read MoreYou’re right. Christians need a healthy fear of hell
Question: During the five years I attended a church in my area, I never heard the preacher once mention Hell or God’s wrath, or the fact that Christians need a holy fear of God. Your “If I Don’t Preach on Hell” summary was excellent. Is a church that doesn’t preach the full counsel of God…
Read MoreI keep getting fearful of thoughts about Islam
Question: I am 17 years old and I have OCD. I have been struggling with thoughts that are really affecting my life. This might sound weird but I have thoughts about the religion of Islam and things that are associated with it, including the way they look and words such as Muslim, Allah, Muhammad, etc.…
Read MoreI’m afraid to be alone at night
Question: I want to ask for your direction and advice, please. At the moment I am 26 years old man. I have my own small business and have this problem. I am afraid to be alone. I can’t stand to be alone in my home. If my family members go somewhere for a couple of…
Read MoreHow can someone in Christ fear death?
Question: How can someone in Christ fear death? Answer: It would depend on the strength and growth of their faith. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalms 23:4). “Inasmuch then as…
Read MoreDealing with Hostility
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/DealingWithHostility.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 16:16-40 I. You know you ought to say something, but you also know it isn’t going to go over well. A. They just won’t understand, so they will turn on you – I Peter 4:4 B. They are going to hate you for standing for righteousness – Psalms 69:4 C. Instead…
Read MoreWhy do I fear I’m going to lose my girlfriend?
Question: Why do I keep getting these bad thoughts and fear that my girlfriend is going to cheat on me or leave me? I want to know why. I pray and they go away, then they come back again. I want to know why. Do I need help or is there something wrong? I’ve asked…
Read MoreI’m afraid of growing old and dying
Question: I’m going through a time right now of fear and turmoil. Fear of growing older and dying. It’s a paralyzing fear that I can’t seem to shake. I know it has to be a lack of faith. I don’t want to fear. I want to trust in what God has promised me. I also…
Read MoreHow can I improve in giving presentations?
Question: I am a trainer. I will be giving a presentation soon, but I am not confident. I am tense and get scared thinking about it. How can I improve? Answer: Fears exist because of unknown things. You aren’t certain about your abilities or the audience’s reception, so you imagine all the possible ways it…
Read MoreHow do I get over being afraid to do things in the church services?
Question: I have a real problem. I am very fearful of doing things at church eg. reading, exalting, etc. Here is the real problem: if I know that I am going to do something at church or called on without knowing, I do not go church. Honestly, I do not want to be like this.…
Read MoreCan fear be a sin?
Question: I am trying to change my ways and live a better Christian lifestyle (a life more pleasing to the Lord). I know temptation will always be hounding me, but I know the Lord will provide me a way out. However, I want to know if fear can be considered a temptation? Like the fear…
Read MoreI’m afraid I’m going to fail
Question: My question is how do you be obedient? It’s like I want to do the right thing and I’m aware of what I’m doing wrong and have done wrong in the past, but I’m scared that I’m going to fail in doing the right thing in the future. I also feel like a failure…
Read MoreI’m scared to make a public presentation. What do I do?
Question: I need an advice: My group is going to present a project in school. She’s going to choose a student randomly so only one of us will present it. The problem is: I’m afraid to speak in public because my hands shake and I forget some things. I get afraid of what people will…
Read MoreHow can I love God when I fear hell?
Question: How does someone learn to love God? I know what the greatest commandment is, but I don’t think I love God. I fear going to hell. If I didn’t believe in hell, I don’t think I would have become a Christian. Could I have truly repented? Was my sorrow only of the world? I…
Read MoreDoes the idea that there is no fear in love applies to all loving relationships?
Question: I want to learn what the verse I John 4:18 is all about. Does this speak of our love for God or for our brothers and sisters? Or can this also apply to a relationship between lovers? My friend quoted this verse to me saying that when you are “in love” and there is…
Read MoreHow do I deal with my insecurities?
Question: How would I go about understanding my insecurities and work on eliminating them or coming to terms with them? I realize that my insecurities negatively affect every relationship that I am currently in and ones that I have lost because of my issues. I don’t want to continue to carry them around with me…
Read MoreMy girlfriend and I fear we will lose each other, even though we aren’t fighting. What are we doing wrong?
Question: I hope you don’t consider me a whiner, but I know you are one person who gives me straight answers. My girlfriend and I are engulfed with this fear of losing one another or breaking up. We are not fighting, but the fear is there. Is this normal? What are we doing wrong? Kindly…
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