Fear of the Future
A Sermon on 2 Timothy 1:7
Scripture
7For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Sermon Description
It is possible to be so gripped by fears of the future that the Christian becomes ineffective in the present. In this sermon on 2 Timothy 1:7, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses fear of the future as a contributor to depression. Satan’s primary goal is to discredit Christ, and therefore, he attacks Christians. To do so, he tempts us to dwell on the future and then fear of the unknown becomes paralyzing and the result is depression in the present time. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that one’s natural temperament, characteristics, and make up can contribute to depression as inclinations do not disappear once a person becomes a Christian. Therefore, the Christian must recognize personal fears and tendencies, and strive to deal with them. For all who are gripped by this fear of the future, they must fight as a new creature, filled with new life. God has not given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. The future may indeed be filled with sorrow, challenges, and suffering, yet the Christian should trust the Lord and boldly step into the unknown with confidence placed in Christ.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon examines spiritual depression caused by fear of the future. This is a common condition.
- The causes of fear of the future include temperament, high view of the Christian life, fear of failure, and general anxiety.
- It is important to distinguish between legitimate forethought and paralyzing worry. Thinking about the future is good but being controlled by the future is wrong.
- Live in the present and don't let the future paralyze you. This is a biblical and common-sense principle.
- Paul reprimands Timothy for having a spirit of fear. God has given us a spirit of power, love, and sound mind, not fear.
- Our failure to realize what God has given us in the Holy Spirit leads to this fear. We must stir up the gift of God within us.
- We must think of ourselves as Christians with the Holy Spirit, not as ordinary people. The Holy Spirit changes our outlook.
- The Holy Spirit gives us power for any situation, even dying for Christ. Look at the martyrs for examples.
- The Holy Spirit also gives us love - for God, for Christ, for others. This delivers us from self-concern.
- The Holy Spirit gives us sound mind - self-control, discipline, wisdom. Christ promised to give us words to speak in difficult times.
- An anecdote of a girl who was given wisdom in a difficult situation illustrates this.
- We have the Holy Spirit, so we should not think like ordinary people or be paralyzed by fear of the future. Stir up the Spirit within.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Spiritual Depression and Fear of the Future
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the primary topic of this sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones focuses on spiritual depression caused by fear of the future. He states: "We are going to consider the case of those who are suffering from spiritual depression because they're afraid of the future, their fear of the future." This sermon examines how Satan attacks believers by making them excessively concerned about what lies ahead, paralyzing them in the present.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the devil's strategy in causing spiritual depression?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the devil is relentless and inconsistent in his tactics: "He doesn't hesitate to vary his procedure, his approach. He doesn't hesitate to contradict what he had said to us previously." The devil's primary goal is to "bring to disrepute and discredit the name and the work of God." If he can't depress believers by focusing on their past, he'll switch to making them fearful about the future, leaving them "always depressed in the present."
What scripture does Dr. Lloyd-Jones base this sermon on?
The sermon is based on 2 Timothy 1:7: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love, and of a sound mind." Lloyd-Jones uses this verse to show that believers have been given divine resources to overcome fear of the future.
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, what role does temperament play in spiritual depression?
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that temperament remains even after conversion: "The fact that you become a Christian does not mean that you cease to have to live with yourself." Some people are naturally more timid and nervous (like Timothy), while others are naturally confident. He clarifies: "Regeneration, the work of God in the soul... does not change a man's temperament." However, while temperament remains, Christians shouldn't be controlled by it but rather by the Holy Spirit.
What is the difference between legitimate thinking about the future and harmful worry?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones makes an important distinction: "It is very right to think about the future. It is very wrong to be controlled by the future." He explains that proper forethought is necessary (like a farmer planting seeds), but harmful worry paralyzes us in the present. He describes those with spiritual depression as being "controlled by the future... dominated by the future... mastered by the unknown future."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the "spirit of power" mentioned in 2 Timothy 1:7?
Lloyd-Jones describes this as power in "the most comprehensive manner conceivable." It includes: - Power to live the Christian life - Power to endure difficult circumstances - Power to hold on and hold out - Power even to die for Christ if necessary
He points to examples like Peter, who denied Christ out of fear but later faced authorities boldly after receiving the Spirit's power.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones think "love" is an important antidote to fear?
Lloyd-Jones explains that fear often stems from self-love and self-concern. He states: "There's only one way to get rid of yourself, and that is to be so absorbed in somebody else that you got no time left to think about yourself." The spirit of love redirects our focus to: - Love for God who redeemed us - Love for Christ who died for us - Love for fellow believers - Love for lost souls who need the gospel
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones mean by a "sound mind" in relation to fear?
Lloyd-Jones defines this as "self-control, discipline, a balanced mind." He explains that the Holy Spirit gives believers mental clarity, wisdom, and discretion even in the most trying circumstances. He references Jesus' promise that when believers are brought before authorities, they will be given the words to speak in that hour.
What practical advice does Dr. Lloyd-Jones give to those struggling with fear of the future?
His primary advice is: "Stir up the gift. Talk to yourself. Remind yourself, instead of allowing the future and its thoughts to grip you." Believers should remind themselves who they are in Christ, what resources they have in the Holy Spirit, and then "go steadily forward, fearing nothing, living in the present, ready for the future, with one desire only, to glorify him who gave his all."
How does Lloyd-Jones illustrate the Spirit's provision of a "sound mind"?
Lloyd-Jones shares the story of a young Scottish girl who was going to an illegal communion service during the time of the Covenanters. When stopped by soldiers, she was given wisdom to say: "My elder brother has died. And they're going to read his will this afternoon. And he's done something for me and has left something." This was both truthful (referring to Christ) and cleverly worded to allow her to continue to the service.
Spiritual Depression
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.