Mike Stout led camp in a lesson around the idea of how God has gives us a Spirit of Power, Not of Fear! Below is an outline of his Lesson:
II Timothy 1:3-14 – Paul encourages the young Timothy:
- Paul prayed for Timothy every day and night (v. 3)
- Paul remembered Timothy’s struggles, his tears (v. 4)
- Paul remembered Timothy’s sincere faith (v. 5)
- Paul encouraged Timothy to stir up the gift of God, or fan the flame in his work for the Lord
(v. 6) – use your talents, your gifts (Matthew 25) - MSC#27 LIGHT THE FIRE
- God gave us a spirit of POWER, LOVE & SELF-CONTROL, not fear!!!! (v. 7)
- Don’t be ashamed of the Lord or His Gospel, but rather share in suffering for the Gospel (vs.
8-12) - Paul is confident in His faith and trust in the Lord (v. 12)
- Paul urged Timothy to follow God’s Word in faith and love and guard the Gospel entrusted
to him (vs. 13,14)
II Timothy 1:7 – “God gave us a spirit not of FEAR but of POWER and love and self-control.”
• FEAR – timidity; being afraid; being cowardly
o FEAR
▪ False
▪ Expectations
▪ Appearing
▪ Real
o Matthew 25:24-30 – in the Parable of the Talents, the servant who received one talent
was AFRAID and hid the talent in the ground – he was called a “wicked and slothful
servant!” and was cast into outer darkness
• POWER – strength; courage and resolution to encounter difficulties and dangers; confidence
o Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.”
o Matthew 21:21,22 – after Jesus cursed the fig tree, He instructed the disciples to
believe and have confidence in what they pray for and they shall receive it – have faith
that mountains can be thrown into the sea
How Can I Overcome Fear and Have a Spirit of Power, or Strength, in the Lord?
• Encouragement not to fear in the Psalms:
o Psalm 23:4 – fear no evil for God is with us – as our Shepherd, His rod and staff comfort
us– God is our COMFORTER
o Psalm 34:4 – “I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my
fears.” – God is our DELIVERER
o Psalm 46:1-3 – fear not because God is our Refuge and Strength – He helps when we are
in trouble – God is our REFUGE & STRENGTH
o Psalm 27:1-3 – “The LORD is my Light and my Salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is
the Stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?…my heart shall not fear…I will be
confident.” – God is our LIGHT & SALVATION
• Isaiah warns not to fear:
o Isaiah 41:10-14 – “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will
strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” – God is
our STRENGTH & HELP
o Isaiah 43:1 – God says, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you” – God is our REDEEMER
o Isaiah 35:4 – Isaiah warns “Be strong; fear not!…[God] will come and save you.” – God is
our SAVIOR
o MSC#12 – DON’T BE AFRAID
• New Testament warnings about fear:
o Don’t fear physical harm, or man, but rather spiritual harm, or God:
▪ Matthew 10:28 – we shouldn’t fear those that can physically harm us, but rather
fear God who can “destroy both soul and body in hell”
▪ Hebrews 13:6 – “The Lord is my Helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
(same as Psalm 118:6,7)
▪ Psalm 56:3,4 – “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You [God]…in God I trust; I
shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?”
o Don’t be fearful, or anxious, but rather cast your cares on God:
▪ Philippians 4:6,7 – don’t worry about anything, but rather take all your requests,
cares, and needs to God in prayer
▪ I Peter 5:6,7 – we should humble ourselves and cast all our anxieties, fears, and
cares upon God because He cares for us
▪ Romans 8:38,39 – Fears for today and worries about tomorrow can’t “separate us
from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
▪ Proverbs 29:25 – “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is
safe.”
• Moses encouraged Joshua not to fear, but to have power, to be strong and courageous while
leading Israel into the Promised Land:
o Deuteronomy 3:22 – Moses told Joshua not to fear the kingdoms he was about to cross
on the way to the Promised Land, “for the LORD your God He shall fight for you.” – God
is our FIGHTER & PROTECTOR
o Deuteronomy 31:6-8 – Moses told Joshua, “Do not fear or be dismayed,” repeating to
be strong and courageous because God was with him
o MSC#94 – BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS
o Joshua 1:6-9 – God Himself urged Joshua to be strong and courageous and to not turn
from the Law of Moses so that he “may have good success wherever you go.”
o DARE TO STAND LIKE JOSHUA
• This spirit of power and strength causes us to obey God
o Acts 5:28,29 – although the apostles were instructed not to teach Jesus’ Gospel any
longer, Peter and the apostles said, “We must obey God rather than men.”
o Daniel 6:7-10 – although there was a decree for no one to petition any god or man
besides the king for 30 days, Daniel went to the window in his upper chamber and “got
down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before His God, as he
had done previously.”
o MSC#73 – I SHALL NOT BE MOVED
• We should be powerful, strong, and courageous as Christians today
o Ephesians 6:10-20 – the Armor of God
▪ “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.” (v. 10)
▪ “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the
schemes of the devil.” (v. 11)
▪ “Take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil
day, and having done all, to stand firm.” (v. 13)
▪ Armor of God
• Belt of TRUTH (v. 14)
• Breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS (v. 14)
• Feet shod with PREPARATION OF GOSPEL OF PEACE (v. 15)
• Shield of FAITH (v. 16)
• Helmet of SALVATION (v. 17)
• Sword of the Spirit, the WORD OF GOD (v. 17)
• “Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” (v. 18)
▪ MSC#28 – THE BATTLE BELONGS TO THE LORD
