Fear is a Liar Or

Don’t Let Fear Use YOU as a PuppetPastor Mark Schwarzbauer PhDFamily Worship Center 4/8/18Text: II Timothy 1:7

Part One: The Malformation of Fear ( Images by Life Science Databases, Creative Commons license.)I. Your brain’s fear center in the amygdala and it operates faster than conscious thought.

A. https://nba.uth.tmc.edu/neuroscience/m/s4/chapter06.html B. The amygdala is where memory and emotion combine.C. Rewards associated here can last a lifetime if not reprogrammed.D. Fears associated here can also last a lifetime if not reprogrammed.

1. Psychological generalization- blanket statements- Scared by one dog so all are bad.2. Confirmation bias (part of our fallen nature) … we prove our false fears to be real.3. Blanket statement 1 ~ Perception – my marriage or perhaps all commitment is

doomed. Preconditioning – Your parents divorced. Performance – Sabotage your own relationships to create confirmation bias or just avoid getting close. Faith Position- Fear is a liar. I can make my marriage work with God’s help. I will be the spouse God wants me to be. He is blessing me every day.

4. Blanket Statement 2 ~ Perception – Social situations are dangerous and lead to emotional pain. Preconditioning – You were deeply embarrassed in social situation. Performance – avoids groups, social interactions or places. Panic attacks creates confirmation bias – fear where there is no danger. Faith Position- Fear is a liar. God created me to enjoy his family. I have so much to contribute as a person. I can have healthy boundaries and open up to healthy relationships.

5. Blanket Statement 3 ~ Perception – everyone is just out to use you. Preconditioning – You had a negative work experience with a bad boss or layoff. Performance – Negative about work and feels unfulfilling. Poor performance leading to bad reviews and potential layoff – confirmation bias… self-fulfilling prophecy. Faith Position- Fear is a liar. I will do all I do for God and give it all my best. He will reward me for my faithfulness and diligence.

6. Blanket Statement 4 ~ Perception – I’m not lovable. Preconditioning – You had people close to you abandon you. Performance – Sabotage relationships to make people leave you in order to support your confirmation bias. Faith Position- Fear is a liar. Even if I was abandoned, God has made me part of His family. I am lovable.

7. Blanket Statement 5 ~ Perception – I am destined to be an addict. Preconditioning – You used drugs or alcohol to escape, perhaps had example from home life or friends. Performance – You fall back into drinking or drugs or another addiction. Faith Position- Fear is a liar. The Lord is my shepherd. I have everything I need. I am free by the power of Christ. I will not be the puppet of drugs or alcohol. My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

8. King David’s Blanket Statement ~ Perception – “No one cares from my soul” Psalm 142:5 (even though there were hundreds risking their lives for him). True recording of an untrue emotional statement. The Bible doesn’t gloss reality. It is authentic as it is authoritative. Preconditioning – Chased by Saul. Performance – Self-pity BUT he prayed to break out of it! David broke out of it… YOU CAN TOO!

E. You can change the amygdala and its responses.1. Prefrontal lobotomy or certain SSRI drugs can numb the amygdala.2. You can intentionally reprogram associations, what you believe to defeat your fears.

a. Stanford neuroscientist Philippe Goldin “all the research points to the fact that exposure is the best way to deal with fear and anxiety.”1

b. You need to confront your fears, not hide from them.II. God designed your brain for logical rational thought.

A. Sin has damaged our thinking, Romans 1:21-32.B. Immature psychological generalization.C. Your psyche- essence of you, is damaged by sin.D. The brain needs logical, intelligent discrimination.E. Danger may or may not be real… but fear is a liar.

1. The lyrics of “Fear is a liar” by Zach Williams.2. Fear will rob you of so much in life. Are you ready to fight back?

Part Two: The REFORMATION by FaithI. In salvation, God wants to restore you to the divine image, II Peter 1:3-4. I Cor. 13:11II. You need God’s psychotherapy (two words God uses in His Word). Through the renewing of

the Holy Spirit within you to guide you, and the Word of God to stand as the authority for your life, God gives you the powerful tools for your REFORMATION.

III. Power tools won’t build a house. YOU need to use the tools yourself.IV. James 2:18-26 taught us Faith without Works is Dead. Get to work!V. Your fallen brain resists holding to the positive. The sinful nature holds tightly to negative

things. You need to CHOOSE to be positive and fight the negative beliefs. Romans 12:9.VI. Faith Statements to reprogram - Challenging fears with truth and power of God’s Word. VII. Take small steps of faith… one at a time… and rejoice in each victory.VIII. Worship to set new emotion.Closing – Hell vs. Heaven is real. The answer is JesusOnce you seal the deal with Jesus… the rest is NOT danger… it is adventure.

Discussion Items and Questions for Home and Small Group1. In your own words, explain how II Timothy 1:7 relates to you.2. Share a Psychological generalization- blanket statements which has affected you.3. What preconditioned this in your life?4. How does it make you perform? 5. What would an appropriate faith statement be to overcome your fear?6. Read these scriptures and share which one you need to work on: II Peter 1:3-4, I Cor. 13:11, James 2:18-26, Romans 12:9.7. Read aloud “THE TRUTH I NEED TO TELL MYSELF”. When will you read this daily to better reprogram your thinking from fear to faith?

1 Retrieved 4-6-18 https://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-rodale/fear-is-a-liar-heres-how_b_2716896.html

THE TRUTH I NEED TO TELL MYSELFPastor Mark Schwarzbauer PhD Family Worship Center

1. God didn’t bring me this far to leave me. Hebrews 13:52. I am incredibly blessed. Ephesians 1:33. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians

4:134. I have everything I need to do all that God is calling me to do.

Philippians 4:135. I am well able. Philippians 4:136. I am surrounded by the favor of God! Psalm 5:127. I am NEVER a loser... I’m a super victorious overcomer.

Romans 8:378. I don’t have to fear the storm… I am the storm, Romans 8:379. Fear is a liar and I am a winner. I John 4:1810. God has great plans for me, a great future and hope. Jeremiah

29:1111. Angels have been sent by God to protect me. Hebrews 1:1412. God is working this for my GOOD! Romans 8:2813. Goodness and mercy are stomping on my heels! Psalm 23:614. Even if everything’s dark, The Lord is my Light Psalm 2715. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear

NO evil. Psalm 2316. Lord you bless the righteous so I am totally surrounded with favor,

like a powerful shield around me. Psalm 5:1217. God is pouring favor and honor on me. He is not going to hold

back anything good when I walk His way. Psalm 84:1118. God’s favor on me is for my entire lifetime! Incredible joy is

already on the way. Psalm 30:5