I believe fear is the number one barrier that keeps us from experiencing God’s best for our life.
-Pastor Adrian Mills (January 5, 2020)

Part 1: A look at fear, worry and anxiety in our world and at HFCN - exposing our enemy.

To consider: When you hear how others are experiencing fear, worry or anxiety, how does it impact that way you feel about your own?

What’s one important takeaway for you personally as it relates to the state of fear in our culture/community?

Part 2: Fear from a biblical perspective (Romans 8:14-15 and 1 John 4:16-18)

Key Texts

The Bible fights the idea of fear, the concept of anxiety, with two fear-overpowering concepts:

Fear Fighter #1: If you are in Christ you are a child of God Himself.
You no longer have to return to the prison of fear that once held you - “so that you live in fear again."

Fear Fighter #2: The love found in God obliterates fear. Drives it out.

We mostly think about fear from our own perspective. We consider how WE process anxiety…how it makes US feel.
But what about fear from God’s perspective? The One who loves you. How does God feel when you worry?

How will you respond today?

Supplemental verses:
2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Romans 8:11-17
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Mark 14:32-36
They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Hebrews 2:14-15
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

Lamentations 3:22-23
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.