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Casting Out Fear. The man who has the Lord in control of his heart is blessed. What did Jesus say is the first and greatest commandment? (Mt 22:37-38). The man who has the Lord in control of his heart is blessed.
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The man who has the Lord in control of his heart is blessed • What did Jesus say is the first and greatest commandment? (Mt 22:37-38)
The man who has the Lord in control of his heart is blessed • Matthew 22:37-38- Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 "This is the first and great commandment.
The man who has the Lord in control of his heart is blessed • How do you love God with “all your heart, all your soul and all your mind? • Is this just a point action decision or a lifetime of learning and growing? • The battle for the mind is the ultimate battle for the Christian. (Micah 6:8)
The man who has the Lord in control of his heart is blessed • Micah 6:8- He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?
The man who has the Lord in control of his heart is blessed • When we lose that battle then we can lie and cheat others for our own selfish interests. • When we are out to seek our own interests, we do not care much about what is happening to another. It becomes all about us.
The man who has the Lord in control of his heart is blessed • When we lose that battle then we are miserable hypocrites that want the reputation of serving God but become just like those we hate.
Satan uses fear as a powerful weapon • Satan has used the fear of death to bring many into bondage. (Heb 2:14-15)
Satan uses fear as a powerful weapon • Hebrews 2:14-15 - Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Satan uses fear as a powerful weapon • Why should fear of death bring someone into bondage? • Fear: a state of severe distress, aroused by intense concern for impending pain, danger, evil, etc., or possibly by the illusion of such circumstances - 'fear.' Louw-Nida Lexicon
Satan uses fear as a powerful weapon • The uncertainty of who holds the future can greatly influence the path of men. What if I am unsure about eternal life? Satan will take advantage. • A living faith is the opposite of fear! (2 Tim 1:12)
Satan uses fear as a powerful weapon • 2 Timothy 1:12 - For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
Satan uses fear as a powerful weapon • 1 John 4:17-18 - Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
Satan uses fear as a powerful weapon • Satan uses fear to keep men comfortable in darkness. • “No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear.” - Edmund Burke • It kept men from standing on the truth that Jesus was from God. (Jn 9:20-23; 12:42-43)
Satan uses fear as a powerful weapon • John 9:20-23 - His parents answered them and said, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 "but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself."
Satan uses fear as a powerful weapon • 22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."
Satan uses fear as a powerful weapon • John 12:42-43 - Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
Satan uses fear as a powerful weapon • Men may fear many things! One preacher would not answer a simple question because he would have to agree with those who had hurt him. Even worse he might one day have to receive these into fellowship! (Also fear of race, homosexuality or nationality) (Lk 10:29; 15:30-32)
Satan uses fear as a powerful weapon • Luke 10:29- But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
Satan uses fear as a powerful weapon • Luke 15:30-32 - 'But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.' 31 "And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 'It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.' "
Satan uses fear as a powerful weapon • How many have not obeyed the gospel because they thought they would be “condemning my grandmother?” • Satan uses the loss of relationships as one of his greatest weapons. Are you afraid to share the gospel? (Gal 1:10)
Satan uses fear as a powerful weapon • Galatians 1:10 - For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
Satan uses fear as a powerful weapon • It is very easy to create your own reality where facts and truth are not welcomed. (2 Cor 4:3-4)
Satan uses fear as a powerful weapon • 2 Corinthians 4:3-4- But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
God has often allowed His children to face their worst fears • What was behind the two great failures of Abraham? (Gen 12:11-12; 20:10-11)
God has often allowed His children to face their worst fears • Genesis 12:11-12- And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, "Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance. 12 "Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, 'This is his wife'; and they will kill me, but they will let you live.
God has often allowed His children to face their worst fears • Genesis 20:10-11- Then Abimelech said to Abraham, "What did you have in view, that you have done this thing?" 11 And Abraham said, "Because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will kill me on account of my wife.
God has often allowed His children to face their worst fears • Both of these events leave us scratching our heads. We all have such fears! • I believe that Abraham learned from these failures and later in life was able to handle the sacrifice of his only son Isaac. (Heb 11:17-19)
God has often allowed His children to face their worst fears • Hebrews 11:17-19- By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called," 19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense
God has often allowed His children to face their worst fears • Jacob had to face Esau later in life and dreaded it. (Gen 32:9-11)
God has often allowed His children to face their worst fears • Genesis 32:9-11 - Then Jacob said, "O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the LORD who said to me, 'Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you': 10 "I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies.
God has often allowed His children to face their worst fears • 11 "Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children.
God has often allowed His children to face their worst fears • Jacob over time had many carnal things burned out of him by God allowing him to face his greatest fear. • The greatest pain Jacob would face would be in the loss of his son Joseph. What did these things ultimately do for Jacob? • Peter had to face his fear of men on several occasions.
God has often allowed His children to face their worst fears • He denied the Lord because of a question from a servant girl! (Mt 26:69-75)
God has often allowed His children to face their worst fears • Matthew 26:69-75 - Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, "You also were with Jesus of Galilee." 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are saying." 71 And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth." ……
God has often allowed His children to face their worst fears • 75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." So he went out and wept bitterly.
God has often allowed His children to face their worst fears • Peter became a “pillar” in God’s church!
How to use your fears to build faith • Direct your thoughts to the promises and character of God. (Heb 13:5-6)
How to use your fears to build faith • Hebrews 13:5-6- Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." 6 So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"
How to use your fears to build faith • Use the example of Jesus in fearful times. (Psa 22:3-5)
How to use your fears to build faith • Psalm 22:3-5 - But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel. 4 Our fathers trusted in You; They trusted, and You delivered them. 5 They cried to You, and were delivered; They trusted in You, and were not ashamed
How to use your fears to build faith • You should be willing to take the loss of that you fear knowing God is with you! (Phil 3:7-8; Heb 13:11-13)
How to use your fears to build faith • Philippians 3:7-8 - But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.
How to use your fears to build faith • Hebrews 13:11-13- For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.
How to use your fears to build faith • Forgiveness of others is feared because we might have to “write off” a hurt that our desire for vengeance wants a full payment! • What are you afraid of? Staying single? Rejection of friends? Hidden sin? (Prov 28:1)
How to use your fears to build faith • Proverbs 28:1 - The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion.
How to use your fears to build faith • Commit yourself to the wisdom of God. • When you are lead by fear you often will get the very thing you fear! • Years ago when I received my first audit notice from the IRS my fear said to “RUN!” What would have been the result? • When you put away fear then you will allow your mind to pursue the wisdom of God. (Mt 10:28-33)
How to use your fears to build faith • Matthew 10:28-33- "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 "Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. 30 "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
How to use your fears to build faith • 31 "Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 " Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 "But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
How to use your fears to build faith • What happens when you have a “leadership of fear?” Pilate is a good example of such. He could admit the truth but would not stand for it. • When elders fear the anger of the members because of plain teaching on “unpopular” subjects then the church is headed for the very trouble they fear. (Ex. “Several members may leave!”)