Overcoming Fear

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Overcoming Fear
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Elishas Vision 2 Kings 68-17

• Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel.
  After
• conferring with his officers, he said, I will
  set up my
• camp in such and such a place. The man of God
• sent word to the king of Israel Beware of
  passing
• that place, because the Arameans are going down
• there. So the king of Israel checked on the
  place
• indicated by the man of God. Time and again
• Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his
  guard
• in such places.

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Elishas Vision 2 Kings 68-17

• This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned
• his officers and demanded of them, Will you not
  tell
• me which of us is on the side of the king of
  Israel?"
• None of us, my lord the king, said one of his
  officers,
• but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells
  the king
• of Israel the very words you speak in your
  bedroom.
• Go, find out where he is, the king ordered, so
  I can
• send men and capture him. The report came back
• He is in Dothan. Then he sent horses and
  chariots
• and a strong force there. They went by night and
• surrounded the city.

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Elishas Vision 2 Kings 68-17

• When the servant of the man of God got up and
  went
• out early the next morning, an army with horses
  and
• chariots had surrounded the city. Oh, my lord,
• what shall we do? the servant asked.
• Don't be afraid, the prophet answered. Those
  who
• are with us are more than those who are with
  them.
• And Elisha prayed, O LORD, open his eyes so he
• may see. Then the LORD opened the servant's
• eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of
• horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

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Why was Elishas servant Afraid?

• A strong force came against them. (vs.14)
• They were surrounded. (vs.15)

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The Most Common Command

• DONT BE AFRAID!
• FEAR NOT!
• DO NOT FEAR!
• 366 times

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• Flee
• Fight
• Hide

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GOOD FEAR
HOT! DONT TOUCH!
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BAD FEAR
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What is the high costof living in fear?

• Loss of Self-esteem
• Loss of Destiny
• Loss of Joy
• Loss of Authentic Intimacy
• Loss of Availability to God

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What to do when we are Afraid?

• Pray And Elisha prayed, O Lord,
• open his eyes so he may see. (vs.17)
• Focus Dont be afraid, those who
• are with us are more than those who
• are with them. (vs.16)

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2 Corinthians 416-18

• Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly
• we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being
• renewed day by day. For our light and momentary
• troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory
  that
• far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on
  
• what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is
• seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

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Reflection

• What strong force is coming against you in
• you life right now?
• What circumstances are causing you to
• feel surrounded?
• What are your losses, personally, for living
• in fear instead of faith?
• What next step do you need to take in order
• to keep your mind fixed on Jesus?