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Sermon #5649

The Nature of Fear

A Sermon on 2 Timothy 1:12

Originally preached June 7, 1964

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Scripture

2 Timothy 1:12 ESV KJV
which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. (ESV)

Sermon Description

What is the real cause of all failure and unhappiness in life? How can a person live in this world when the world, the flesh, and the devil are against them? Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones answers clearly: “when one is defeated in life, it is always ultimately due from the fact that he has the spirit of fear.” In this sermon on fear, Dr. Lloyd-Jones explores what the causes, consequences, and cure of this fear are? Is it actually possible to walk without fear, confident that all is truly well with one’s soul? Dr. Lloyd-Jones boldly answers, “Yes!” In this faith-building sermon from 2 Timothy 1, he explains that it is the gift of the Holy Spirit – what He does to the Christian, in the Christian, and what He enables the Christian to do---that makes it possible. God has given to every Christian the Spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind, empowering them to no longer fear. God’s children can walk confidently, knowing whom they have believed until that final day. The one who is not afraid of the final day never needs to be afraid of the things that can happen in this world.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The sermon examines 2 Timothy 1:7 which states "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
  2. The sermon first examines the causes of fear which include:
  3. Man's finitude and smallness in the vast universe
  4. The meaninglessness and purposelessness of life without God
  5. The insecurity and uncertainty of the future
  6. Man's separation from God and desire to be independent
  7. The consequences of fear are then examined which include:
  8. Weakness and paralysis
  9. Selfishness
  10. Unhappiness and misery
  11. Irrationality and irresponsibility
  12. Escapism through pleasure, drugs, hysteria, etc.
  13. Ultimately despair and even suicide
  14. The antidote to fear is the Holy Spirit which God has given to believers
  15. The Holy Spirit gives power - God's power working in and through us
  16. The Holy Spirit gives love - enabling us to love our enemies and have compassion
  17. The Holy Spirit gives a sound mind - discipline, self-control, understanding
  18. To receive the Holy Spirit, we must believe in Jesus Christ, confess our sins, and commit our lives to Him
  19. With the Holy Spirit, we can face life without fear like Paul who said "Nevertheless, I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."

Sermon Q&A

What Does the Bible Say About Overcoming Fear According to Lloyd-Jones?

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones delivers a powerful sermon on 2 Timothy 1:7, addressing how Christians can overcome the "spirit of fear" that dominates our world. His insights remain remarkably relevant for those struggling with anxiety and fear today.

What causes the spirit of fear in humans according to Lloyd-Jones?

According to Lloyd-Jones, several factors contribute to human fear:

  1. Finitude - Our awareness of how small we are in a vast universe makes us feel insignificant and vulnerable
  2. The unseen forces and powers - Scientific discoveries about atomic power and forces beyond our control create anxiety
  3. The meaninglessness of life - Modern views that life has no ultimate purpose lead to emptiness and fear
  4. Insecurity - The constant fear of the unknown, illness, loss, war, and ultimately death
  5. The root cause - Man's separation from God: "The real reason why man is fearful is that he was made to be dependent upon God" but has rejected this relationship

As Lloyd-Jones states: "Man has taken on the universe and he's not big enough to take it on. He's too big for his shoes."

What are the consequences of fear according to the sermon?

Lloyd-Jones outlines several destructive consequences of fear:

  1. Weakness - "Fear is paralyzing... it knocks you on the head as it were, it paralyzes your brain and you feel limp and weak"
  2. Selfishness - "The fearful person is always a selfish person" concerned primarily with self-preservation
  3. Unhappiness and misery - "You can't be at one at the same time fearful and happy"
  4. Irrationality - "Fear paralyzes the brain above everything else... it leads to acting in an utterly irrational manner"
  5. Escapism - Modern manifestations include pleasure-seeking, drinking, drugs, and mass hysteria
  6. Despair - Ultimately leading some to suicide

What is God's solution to the spirit of fear according to 2 Timothy 1:7?

The apostle Paul writes: "God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

Lloyd-Jones explains that the solution is not: - Telling people to "pull yourself together" - Positive thinking or psychological techniques - Religious cults that deny reality

Rather, God provides the Holy Spirit who brings:

  1. Power - "God's power working in us and enabling us... We're not left alone to battle with the world and the flesh and the devil"
  2. Love - Which counters the selfishness of fear and enables us to love even our enemies
  3. Sound mind/discipline - Providing self-control and rational understanding of world events

How does a Christian activate the Holy Spirit's work against fear?

Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that "the Holy Spirit is not something that operates in us automatically." He points to the apostle's instruction to Timothy to "stir up the gift that is in thee."

The Christian must: 1. Realize they have been given the gift of the Spirit 2. Actively obey the leading of the Spirit 3. Continue in the strength and power of the Spirit

As Lloyd-Jones quotes from a hymn: "Make me a captive, Lord, and then I shall be free... Imprison me within thine arms and strong shall be my hand."

How does Lloyd-Jones relate this message to contemporary issues?

Lloyd-Jones applies this biblical teaching to the social problems of his day, mentioning:

  1. Mass hysteria and youth rebellion (referring to Beatlemania)
  2. Pleasure-seeking and escapism
  3. Substance abuse
  4. Violence and social unrest

He says: "I believe that this generation to which you and I belong... are giving us the most perfect demonstration of the truth of the biblical teaching that perhaps the world has ever known."

His prescription remains: only through the power, love, and sound mind that comes from God's Spirit can we overcome the debilitating spirit of fear that dominates human society.

Other Sermons

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.