March 30, 2008 Summit AM

Stop Being Controlled By Your Fears

Introduction

A. Rom.8:26-39

B. We are more than conquerors! Not just winners – more than conquerors

            1. A conqueror defeats his enemy

a. We can’t be defeated – as long as we walk with Jesus

                        b. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s love

            2. Yet a battle continuously goes on within our minds

                        a. Satan strives to get us to think as defeated people

                        b. Continuously accuses, reminds us of our weaknesses, failures

                        c. Therefore we must decide to believe God not Satan

C. Discussing living victorious for several weeks

            1. Must decide to be victorious

            2. Never allow our failures to defeat us – be crippled by our successes

            3. Choose to overcome adversity & disabilities

            4. Refuse to live in negativism – I can’t; it’s impossible; I’m too old

            5. Always be persistent & reach for big dreams

            6. Take 100% responsibility for our lives – stop blaming others & circumstances

D. Today – stop being controlled by our fears

E. Pray

 

I. What You Fear Has The Potential To Destroy You

            A. Job 3:25 – what I have feared has come upon me

                        1. Job had a nagging fear concerning his family

                                    a. Regularly prayed for them – 1:4,5

                                    b. Perhaps my children sinned

2. True story of Nick the railroad man

                                    a. Worked in rail yard – on refrigerator cars

                                    b. Had a nagging fear of being locked in a refrigerator car

                                    c. One day crew got off an hour early – supervisor birthday

                                                1) Car working in locked

                                                2) In panic he yelled & beat on door

                                    d. He just knew he was going to freeze to death

                                                1) Found box & curled up in it to keep warm

                                                2) Next day found him dead

                                    e. Autopsy – had all the signs of freezing to death

                                                1) Yet car never under 60 degrees

                                                2) There was plenty of air to breathe

            B. 1 Peter 5:8 – Satan is as a roaring lion

                        1. One lion sent to startle heard into running toward pack

                                    a. Allow self to be seen & heard by herd

                                    b. In a state of fear run – into waiting jaws of other lions

                        2. Satan wants us to live in a constant state of fear too

                                    a. Afraid to try – useless, hopeless

                                    b. Afraid to accept the hardship & challenge – might fail

II. Scripture Is Full Of Admonitions To “Fear Not”

            A. OT

                        1. Gen.21:17 – Hagar because God has heard your prayer

                        2. Ex.20:18-20 – God is testing you so you will respect Him

                        3. Joshua 1:9 – because God is with you (will succeed)

                        4. 2 Chron.32:7,8 – of the enemy because God is with us

                        5. Ps.23 – I will fear no evil because you are with me

                        6. Prov.3:21-26 – wisdom keeps away fear of unknown

            B. NT

                        1. Heb.13:6 – what man can do to you

                                    a. Limited - Only able kill body – Mt.10

                                    b. Mt.6:33 – God take care of all needs – seek Him 1st

                        2. 1 Cor.10:13 – temptations & struggles

                                    a. God will temper them - provide a way of escape

                                    b. James 1:2-4 – for my good – growth

                                    c. 1 Pet.3:13,14 –blessed when suffer for doing good (not retaliate)

                        3. Heb.2:14,15 – freed from the fear of death

                                    a. Jn.14:1-4 – place prepared for us

                                    b. Satan’s power taken from him – bound (toothless lion)

 

III. How Do We Stop Being Controlled By Our Fears?

            A. Truly comprehend where we stand with God – Rom.8

                        1. The Holy Spirit is interceding for us

                        2. God has promised to work all circumstances out for our good

                                    a. God is for us – Jesus died so we might be with God

                                    b. God has justified us in Jesus – none can condemn us

                        3. Jesus is interceding for us

                                    a. Wants us to be with God (forgiven)

b. Nothing can separate us from God’s love

                        4. Stop seeing God as a critical, punitive creator – looking to crush us

                                    a. He is a forgiving God – full of grace & mercy

                                    b. He is slow to anger & abounds with love

            B. View our weaknesses & failures as God does

                        1. He expects them – not surprised by them - realistic

                                    a. Ps.103:14 – knows we are dust (flesh)

                                    b. Heb.4:15 – Jesus has been there – knows temptation’s strength

                        2. He forgives & forgets

                                    a. Not deal with us according to our sins

                                    b. He longs to be gracious to us – forgiving

                        3. He looks beyond our failings

                                    a. Jonah failed big time – still used to preach

                                    b. Look at Peter – renounced Jesus big time

                        4. He sees the value of our failures

                                    a. Drives us to seek Him – teaches us to trust Him

                                    b. Uses it to humble us – rid us or pride & arrogance

                                    c. Have little use for His grace if do it ourselves

            C. Live courageously – keep pressing on

                        1. Be realistic & responsible

                                    a. Stop expecting to be perfect – we will fall short

                                    b. The flesh will always fail us

                                    c. Even great baseball hitters strike out (300 score is great)

                        2. Failure is not the villain – how we react to it is

                                    a. Phil.3:12 – forget past & keep pressing on

                                    b. 2 Cor.12:7-10 – glory in my weakness (so be strengthened)

                        3. Step out in faith

                                    a. All God asks is obedience – the battle is His

                                    b. When we are obedient God makes our paths straight – Prov.3

                        4. Rise above the false security of failure

                                    a. Satan makes you feel inadequate = keep from being productive

                                                1) Never really enjoy your Christianity

                                                2) Never experience real victory

                                    b. Rising above failure takes guts

                                                1) Easier to give up before ever try

                                                2) Staying where we are gives us a sense of false security

                                                3) When afraid to take a risk – easily threatened = enslaved

 

Conclusion

A. Micah 7:7-10 – prophets confidence – is it ours?

B. We are God’s children – think like it – act like it (Don’t allow fear to control you)