Bill Basansky - How to live above fear and anxiety

Contents

Preface

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment : because as he is, so are we in this world.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

We love him, because he first loved us.

If a man say , I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

1 John 4:17-21

In this scripture we clearly see that Christ is the complete answer to all problems: fears and anxiety that can't be dealt with by a formula, but the Person, Jesus Christ.

Fear is the symptom that stems from a deep root of disobedience by Adam in the Garden; but we must understand the difference between (wrong kind) sinful fear and the (right kind) danger fear that requires protection for your own life or the life of others.

Sinful Fear

Sinful fear or unreal fear appeared first in the Bible in Genesis 3:10 when Adam sinned and hid behind a bush. Sinful fears can be easily recognized for what they are when we look through the eyes of Christ:

1. Fear of God who is waiting for us to make a mistake so that He can punish us, make us sick, etc.

2. Fear of death, disease, germs, old age, fear of water, fear of failure, fear of airplanes, fear of what other people think of us, fear of authority.

The Bible says, He that feareth is not made perfect in love (1 John 4:18). But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected... (1 John 2:5).

Doctors say that 80 percent of people in hospitals today cannot be cured with medicine. They are being destroyed by sinful fear, hatred, anger, unforgiveness, bitterness, etc. All of these are from the same source because they have the same father, the devil.

In 1 John 4:18 the Bible says: Perfect love casteth out fear.

In reading that scripture our logical mind would suggest to us that the opposite of fear is peace. Therefore, we might conclude, it should be peace that casts out all fear. But the Bible says perfect love casts out fear. Fear causes a person to hide and withdraw inwardly.

Love is open even if the enemy is there. Love stretches its arms openly and is ready to give. You might say, what if you get hurt? Love is not afraid of hurt; love removes hurt. Study the first Adam and you will see that his sin invited fear in, and he ran and hid from God. Study the second Adam Jesus Christ who had no sin, but perfect love with the Father. He became angry at sin but never fearful. Even on the cross, with a deep sense of love and compassion, He said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing."

The difference between the fear of death and apprehension of death:

1. Fear of death is because we know that there is a judgment for our sins, and it's a reminder that we (unlike God) cannot control time or death.

2. Apprehension of death is wondering what it will be like. Why is it that some people are afraid of flying? Is it not because they fear placing themselves in another person's hands?

And it is also true that when we are challenged to place ourselves in God's hands, we often fail to trust even Him (let alone the pilot of an airplane!). We have difficulty trusting anyone with any power except ourselves. When I am in control, then I have no fear.

Why are we afraid of failure? We think of ourselves as a great somebody, and we don't want people to see our faults. Therefore, we would rather not make any decisions or do anything than to make a mistake and show people that we're not perfect. We would rather hide behind our mask or a bush (as Adam did) than to repent and admit our faults.

In the Garden of Eden we find God coming into the garden and discovering Adam and Even hiding away. He calls to them, and Adam says: "Lord we are hiding behind the bush, we are naked."

And God began to deal with them about their nakedness. God said, "Why are you hiding; what's the trouble?"

Adam says, "I was afraid and I hid myself." The first nervous breakdown began right back there in the Garden of Eden, and it began through fear as a result of sin.

And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.

And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

Genesis 3:8-10

All sickness and disease of any kind has its roots in the first cause of sin, going back to Adam. Adam said, "I was afraid and I hid myself." That is what fear does. Sin and sickness, disease and death are the result of sin which makes us want to hide and shut ourselves away. The nature of fear is hate. Behind hate is murder, and murder is the nature of Satan. The Bible says he (the devil) was a murderer from the be gin ning and the father of lies (John 8:44).

Fear Hath Torment

In 1 John 4:18 the Bible says: Fear hath torment. I want you to think about that. Fear hath torment. Fear opens the door to suicide, murder, hate, etc. Fear is the opposite of love, and love, of course, is the very nature of God (1 John 4:7 ,8 ).

Fear causes us to hide from the presence of God, behind bushes, doors and garments of leaves like Adam and Eve. Adam said, "I am afraid, I am scared, because I have sinned against God. I know I am not right with you, the sense of your presence is gone; as a result, I am fearful; I am afraid, I have to hide." We discover that fear actually makes people introverts who hide and live their lives shut within themselves. It produces what we find in the Bible to be a "closed-door" experience.

In John 20:19 we read about the disciples of the Lord, and what they were doing. They were hiding behind closed doors; the doors were shut, and they didn't want to be discovered. They didn't want to come out. The Bible says the wicked flee when no man pursueth (Prov. 28:1). You may not be wicked, but you may have fear from the wicked one. Fear drives us into ourselves and we hide behind bushes, garments, and closed doors.

In Matthew 14:30 we read the story of Peter walking on the water. The Bible tells us that he was afraid, and then he began to sink. This is what fear does to you.

Many people don't know themselves and have forgotten what they are really like because of fear. Oh, friends, I want to tell you that fear is of the devil and it produces torment.

In 1 John 3:8 the Bible says Jesus came into the world to destroy the works of the devil. And if there is one thing that Jesus wants to do after He has forgiven your sins, it is to bring you out of yourself; from behind closed doors, bushes out of your own shell.

The reason we are not doing more for God today is because fear is gripping the minds and hearts of God's people. This is not right. God is not pleased. Thank God, we have an answer, and the answer is found in Jesus Christ. In Matthew 14:30 we read that Peter began to sink because of fear. But as he called on Jesus Christ and looked to Him, Jesus came and saved him, and set him free (John 8:32 ,36 ).

Fear hides away in personality and can be clearly detected in a person's eyes. When you become free you will be as a butterfly. It will be the beginning of a new day and the starting of a new life for you.

Fear Destroys

In John 10:10 Jesus said,

The thief cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.