Video: A child who was so afraid of the water

FEAR OF FAILURE
Atychiphobia is the abnormal, unwarranted, and persistent fear of failure, a type of specific phobia. As with many
phobias, atychiphobia often leads to a constricted lifestyle, and is particularly devastating for its effects on a person's
willingness to attempt certain activities.

Joshua 1:6-9, 18

6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their
fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which
Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever
you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you
may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will
have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed,
for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

17 Just as we heeded Moses in all things, so we will heed you. Only the Lord your God be with you, as He was with
Moses. 18 Whoever rebels against your command and does not heed your words, in all that you command him, shall be
put to death. Only be strong and of good courage.”

I believe that a lot of us our going through with something in life. And most of the people didn’t get the opportunity to
experience success and breakthrough because of fears and most often that fear is THE FEAR OF FAILURE.

In every transition, it calls out for faith but the spirit of fear will try to dominate our hearts and our minds.
This is what 2 Timothy 1:7 about that God has given us the spirit of fear, and when we entertain and linger to it, it will
bind you, cripple you and stop you from fulfilling the purpose of why you are here on earth.

Same is true for Joshua. He was in the process of transition. Moses is dead and God has installed him to be the new
leader.
How many of us here desire to be a leader and when you were installed, fear begin to get into your heart and mind
telling you that you are not gonna make it? That you are gonna fail?

God could have told other things to Joshua. He could have told him this is how you preach or here’s 12 steps on how to
be a good leader or 7 tips to teach to the people on how to be a great people.

Instead, He told Joshua 4 times in the same chapter that if you need to fulfil my purpose in your life, it’s all contingent
upon you getting free from fear. He said it 4 times, Be strong and of good courage, be strong and of good courage, do
not be afraid, only be strong and of good courage.

He knew that if can keep himself out of the spirit of fear and be bold to do what God has called him to do, that he would
continue to win over and over and over again.

Fear seeks to paralyze your faith. Fear seeks to stop your destiny.

“The key to your conquering in a bold and courageous spirit and say, I can do what God has called me to do”

“That no man, no demon, no circumstance can stop me from conquering the ground God has called me to take.”
God said to Joshua the same words for 4 different reasons:
Keypoints:

1. FOR THE PEOPLE’S SAKE – v6 says, “Be strong and of good courage, for to this people”

There are so many people that is dependent on you.

In other words, a lot of people will benefit on it when you do what you are supposed to do.

Who are these people? Families, friends, ordained people.

It’s not just gonna be you who will enter the Promised Land but if you can be bold and overcome your fears and
insecurities, if you go in, there are a lot of people who will go with you and enter in because of you.

For the people sake, do not fear. For your family, for your children, for the people around you, do no fear.

…Because if you are dominated with fear, your children and your people will be dominated with fear and they won’t
come.

I realized that my fear is connected to the people around me. In the same manner, my faith is also connected to the
people connected to me.
So, if I allow fear, the people won’t be able to enter in.

2. FOR YOUR OWN SAKE – v8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day
and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous,
and then you will have good success.

It says YOU!
God doesn’t just wanna use you to bless other people, but He wants to bless YOU!

You gotta believe that God will bless you and if you believe, you are not afraid to step in your promotion, you are not
afraid to go to school to get good grades, you are not afraid to open new business because God will bless you!

What does Jeremiah 29:11 says,

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you
hope and a future.”

God has invested so much in you. He didn’t bring you this far just to stall out. God didn’t get you through everything and
do all the miracles in your life so you’ll just fail now. OUR GOD IS A FINISHER!

Did you remember the last 3 words of our Saviour at the Cross? He said it aloud, “IT IS FINISHED”

Paul said, I fought a good fight of faith. I’ve finished my course.

Philippians 1:6 NIV

…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ
Jesus.

He started something in you and He didn’t bring you this far just to fail. So, LOOSE THAT FEAR OF FAILURE!

“SOMEBODY TELL THIS, LORD, I CAN DO ANYTHING YOU TELL ME I CAN DO AND I’M NOT GONNA DRAW BACK IN
TIMIDITY, IN FEAR, IN WORRY BECAUSE I AM A WARRIOR, NOT A WORRIER!”
You can’t lose if you won’t QUIT!
I WISH I COULD GET THIS IN A SYRINGE AND SHOT IT TO YOU VEINS!

Some of you has been shot with different spirit but this is the kind of spirit that you should have. The spirit that says I
AM BOLD AND OF GOOD COURAGE AND WILL NOT BE AFRAID!

The day you lose is the shrink back.

The day you lose is the day you draw back.
The day you lose is the day you quit and say I can’t do this.
But as long as the spirit of courage is there, you will move forward!

For your sake, God has invested a lot in you Joshua. He puts you under Moses. You walk through the wilderness for 40
years. He trained you, mentored you, let you experience things in life.
God has invested a lot in you. IT IS YOUR TIME!

In every transition in life, there must be a fresh baptism of the spirit of courage.

I remember the first time I spoke in front of my people, you don’t even know what to do but I prayed for one thing, Lord,
filled me with courage, fill me with boldness and I find myself just moving forward.

Does anybody here believe that God loves you enough to bless and prosper you and wanted to give you good
success?

Now I got you thinking about people, not I got you thinking and know that I am for you and I love you and love to see
you prosper and I love to see you success and God says it again, BE STRONG AND DON’T BE AFRAID. ONLY BE
COURAGEOUS FOR…

3. FOR THE LORD’S SAKE -

The commander in chief has put you where you are and let you face challenges.
His reputation, His name is at stake.

verse8 says, “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you
wherever you go.”

It’s not just your name, my name is on the line. My reputation goes out with you when you do what you do.
That’s why as Christians, we have to be careful in how we conduct ourselves because we carry out the name of Jesus.

David has mighty men. They were classified as mighty men because they did extraordinary things.

1. ADINO
2 Samuel 23:8, “One was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.”
He fought against INSURMOUNTABLE ODDS, he stood and defeated 800 Philistines.
If you are going to ask him why he fought, he will tell you one thing,
“I FOUGHT BECAUSE MY KING TOLD ME TO. MY KING PUT ME THERE. I WASN’T JUST FIGHTING FOR MYSELF BUT
FOR MY KING”

2. ELEAZAR – fought with UNDEFINABLE FATIGUE

2 Samuel 23:9-10
9 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied
the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:
10 He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the Lord
wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.

They had to pry his fingers off of the sword.

3. SHAMMAH – fought with INSIGNIFICANT REWARD

2 Samuel 23:11-12
And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop,
where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.
12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the Lord wrought a great
victory.

HE FOUGHT FOR BEAN PODS.

People are asking why are you fighting for bean pods? Why are you doing that?
He will tell you BECAUSE OF THE KING’S HONOR. THE KING PLACED ME HERE THAT’S WHY I AM FIGHTING. I
DOESN’T SEEM MUCH TO YOU BUT THE KING TOLD ME TO DEFEND THIS PLACE.

4. LASTLY, FEAR NOT FOR YOUR ENEMY’S SAKE.

God said that there would be rebels, there would be enemies and He is saying FEAR NOT FOR YOUR ENEMIES
SAKE!

God will not let you fail simply because there are so many people who hate you.
Because you have many haters, I WILL BLESS YOU, GOD SAID!

That’s why David said, thou shalt prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies!

One time David, in one of his difficult moments in his life, there was this person from the family of the house of Saul,
Shimei, following him and throwing stones at him and one of his military leader told him that he wanted to go to this
guy and cut his head off. (2 Samuel 16)

This is what David said,

“Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. 12 It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery
and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today.”

Sometime, God will bless you because there are so many people who are against you. He will bless you because
there are so many people who believe that you amount to nothing.

“GOD WILL SHOW YOUR ENEMIES THAT HE CAN RAISE YOU UP FROM A NOBODY TO BE SOMEBODY”

If you wanna fulfil the plans of God for your life, you need to set yourself free from the paralyzing spirit of fear.

CHALLENGE: (Matthew 14) – The disciples in the boat

The ship was designed not to sink but to float. The only time the boat sinks is when the water from the outside gets
in.
The same with us. The fear is just around us. But the only time we start to sink is when we allow fear to get into
our lives. But look at Peter, he was able to walk on water and started to sink when he let fear enter in.
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v27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said.