Bible Text: Acts 18 | Speaker: Blake Nichols | Series: Acts | Fear…less
Acts 18
Acts 18:9-10: 9)And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10) for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”

Even Paul struggled with fear. Often Satan brings fear into our lives even when we are doing what God wants us to do. So if Paul battled fear, we should not be surprised that we too will battle it.

A heavy dose of fear throws us out of alignment and affects the plans God has for us. Focus feeds our fear. We question, “What if?”

How do we overcome fear?

1. Focus on the foundation (our salvation) and future. Who is Lord of our life? Philippians 1:21: For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
2. Focus on the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit indwells in us and is our Helper. In Acts 1, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit. Repeat to yourself:“I can do anything God wants me to do.” Romans 8:26: Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness…
3. Focus on the Father’s hand. God promised Paul that He would be with Him. Likewise, we have the same promise. God allows us to go through fearful situations that we may know Him and His power to see us through it. Psalm 23:4-5: 4) Even 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. 5)You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies…

Acts 4:13: Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

Boldness comes as we spend more time with Jesus and allow His indwelling Spirit to chase away fear.