March 26, 2011

"So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Then the man got up and went home." Matthew 9:7-8

Not only is this a great story from the life and ministry of Jesus, it is very insightful as how to He wants you to deal with the fear of disappointing God.

I have shown you how He has blessed you with friends. Hopefully you have friends like this fellow's friends who carried him to Jesus. Not only did they bring him to the proximity of Jesus, they tore the roof open to get him into the PRESENCE of Jesus! Wow! Friends like that can help relieve your fears!

But, in addition to these fantastic friends, this man benefited from the grace of Jesus, Who forgave him of his sins! Forgiveness is a strong weapon against fear! It is especially powerful again this fear that you have sinned beyond God's willingness to forgive. I shared a number of verses assuring you of His promises to extend grace to cover your sins. His grace is greater than your sins!

So, friends and forgiveness are antidotes to your fears. BUT, that is not all!

This encounter in His home town of Nazareth also shows a third resource for overcoming fear - faith! Faith is the anti-fear! Jesus called faith out of this man! Having already forgiven him of his sins, which certainly should have boosted his faith, Jesus commanded the paralytic to get up and go! "Jump to your feet, take your bed, and go home!" At that moment, this guy have a decision to make. Would he obey Jesus in faith or would he hesitate for fear of looking foolish? Faith or fear, which would it be for this man?

We know he chose faith. When Jesus commanded, "Get up and go!" the man jumped to his feet! His faith allowed Jesus to heal him and he carried his mat home! For the first time in years - he was walking! No doubt he hurried home to show his family that he was a new man! Imagine that glad reunion!

Doubt and fear can paralyze you! Fear from past foul-ups can paralyze you with guilt and erode your faith so you feel you can't be as good as you should be, or as good as you want to be, OR as good as God expects you to be. Fear of future foul ups can also paralyze you from venturing too far into the realm of faith.

Friends, forgiveness and faith! What a powerful combo for conquering fears that may be plaguing you with guilt or paralyzing you from doing the good a gracious God is calling you to go!

Have you disappointed God recently? Did you do something you really regret? Are you agonizing over a past moral failure that you fear has pushed you beyond the boundaries of forgiveness?

“Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven!"

Enjoy your godly friends! Embrace His forgiveness! Escape your fear by exercising your faith!

March 25, 2011

"Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”  Matthew 9:2

When Jesus says you are forgiven, you are forgiven! The fear of disappointing God resides in the fear that God hasn't or won't forgive you. Perhaps you have played fast and loose with sin and abused grace. That is not good. It is unwise. It will give the devil a field day for condemning you and accusing you.

Don't confuse your own guilt and feelings of condemnation with God's failure to forgive. Listen to Jesus' words to this fellow who apparently was so consumed with guilt that he was literally paralyzed. The Master looked at him and said with authority, "Take heart, son, your sins are forgiven." And then to demonstrate His power to forgive AND to prove that He had forgiven He then healed the man!

If you fear that you have disappointed God and He won't forgive you, consider this sampling of His promises throughout the Word of God:

“Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.” Matthew 9:2


“He who believes in Him is not condemned.” John 3:18

“We are delivered from the power of darkness and conveyed into the kingdom of the Son He loves.” Colossians 1:13

“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.” Colossians 2:13-14

“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life” I John 5:13

“If our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.” I John 3:20

“If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” I John 1:9

"as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." Psalm 103:12
 
“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more."  Isaiah 43:12
 
"For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Hebrews 8:12
 
"Then he adds:  “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” Hebrews 10:17

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:1-2

Never sell God's grace short nor the power of His forgiveness! He has given you faithful, fearless friends to help you deal with your fear of disappointing God. AND, He has assured you of His amazing grace that forgives you of your sins and lifts the weight of guilt from your conscience!

 

Could this be what John meant when he wrote, "Perfect love casts out fear"?

March 24, 2011

"Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”  Matthew 9:1-2

As with most things involving Jesus, they are amazing at several levels. So it is with this story. Not only does Matthew record it here, Luke also was inspired to write it down in chapter 5 of his gospel.

This morning I want to focus on a powerful weapon God has given us to overcome fear. It is on display in this story. What is it? Faithful, faith-filled, fearless friends!

Here is a man who badly needed an encounter with Jesus but because of his physical limitation was unable to get to the Master. We find out in the story that not only was he sick, he was a sinner. In fact, as you read this account it seems to imply that his sickness and his sin were related.

This poor man was blessed to have some friends who believed in him and believed in Jesus and made sure that their friend would get to Jesus. They had faith but they were also faithful and put feet to their faith.

We don't know how far they carried him but it really doesn't matter! The fact that they carried him to the place where Jesus was is impressive. Even more impressive is how they climbed up to the roof, tore a hole in the roof and lowered him down to where Jesus was! Wow! They were fearless!

Matthew and Luke both mention that it was THEIR faith that impressed Jesus, not necessarily the man's faith! He may have been faithless. He could have been fearful. We don't know - but it really didn't matter! He had friends who did!

Jesus forgave this man and then healed him, because of how faith-filled his friends were! Do you have friends like this? Are there people in your life who will make sure you get to Jesus when you can't get to Jesus? Do you have friends who are faithful to you when you have lost faith in yourself? Do you have friends who are faith-filled when you have lost faith in Him? Do you have fearless friends who encourage you when you are overcome with fear?

This man did! I hope you do, too. I hope your church is populated with people like that. I hope you have friends in your fellowship who are so committed to you and so committed to Jesus that they will carry you to Him and rip off a roof if they have to! I would like to think there are some people at FredWes who are like that.

Let me ask you a more important question, "Are you a friend like that?"

One of the inspiring truths that emerges from this amazing account is the power of friendship and what a strong weapon faithful friends can be for helping overcome fear!

March 23, 2011

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."   Psalm51:1-10

How many times can I disappoint God by my sins, especially the besetting sins or those who just keep commiting the same sin over and over? Will there be point and time when God will say, "That's it! You're done! No more mercy or grace for you!"?

Face it, with every other relationship there is a point where one more disappointment is the deal-breaker and that person will bail out on you. They either end the relationship or withdraw emotionally from you. That hurts so much that it can cause you to be guarded and cautious in all relationships. The fear of losing a relationship and being rejected should we disappoint them one more time can be almost paralyzing. It can put tremendous pressure on all of your relationships and create insecurity.

Perhaps David feared he had disappointed God so much that there would be no redemption for him. He obviously was plagued by guilt and remorse. In out to God, David asks for 3 things to happen?

Transgressions blotted out – "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions." THIS IS THE ACT ITSELF – “Please Lord, forget I ever did what I did, blot it out so it can never be seen again!”

Iniquity washed – "Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place."  THIS IS THE GUILT IT BRINGS – Guilt is the leftover stuff, the anger we have at our self, what we cannot forgive about what we did, the punishment that I am putting on myself, I cannot forgive me.

Sin cleansed – "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." THE ONE WHO DID IT – The stuff in me that causes me to do these things, I want this cleansed, I don’t want to be that person.

David sinned terribly and disappointed His God and himself. This prayer of three-fold contrition restored him to fellowship with God and helped him work through his guilt and disappointment with himself.

If you fear you have disappointed God and wonder if you can be forgiven and restored, read Psalm 51 several times humbly and prayerfully. Then pray that Psalm sincerely to God. See if God's grace will meet you as it did King David.

March 22, 2011

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge." Psalm 51:4

If you asked one hundred Christians to name the greatest King of Israel, all one hundred would probably answer King David. They would be right.

God chose Him when he was still a child in the home of his father, Jesse. He was from the same lineage that would later produce Jesus. David's zeal for God and for God's people and His nation was unmatched by any other king. That zeal inspired great courage and that courage made him a giant-killer. His character caused him to honor King Saul at the very time that Saul was seeking to destroy him. His charismatic leadership drew mighty men to follow him and to become giant-killers themselves.

David was known as a mighty warrior. He was hailed as a conqueror. Millions have been blessed and inspired by his poetry celebrated in the Psalms. Few men have demonstrated such passion for worshipping God. God's people enjoyed peace and His nation prospered under King David's leadership. He was honored by God's reference to him as possessing a heart like His own!

Few kings of any era or any nation has been more honored or revered than King David. And few, if any, have disappointed God more than David disappointed God.

I doubt if anyone ever wants to disappoint God. Least of all, David. And yet, this godly man committed adultery and then had a loyal man killed to cover up his transgression. He suffered significant sorrows as a consequence of these sins.

The fear of disapponting God is real. David is an example why.

Perhaps you have disappointed God. You understand the deep sense of grief that he experienced and you struggle under the resulting consequences from your sin. While your heart longs for God you are afraid you would disappoint Him again if you try to follow Him again. What do you do?

I suggest you do like David, cry out to Him in repentence. Confess your sin and turn from it. Seek His forgiveness and then chase God harder than you ever have before!

King David did. And he never disappointed God again. History remembers him for his greatness not his great failure. So did God.

March 21, 2011

"But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him? You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor and put everything under their feet.” In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them."  Hebrews 2:6-8

The fear of insignifcance is very real. It drives some people and causes others to live constantly frustrated and unfulfilled lives. Everyone wants to matter. No one wants to think that his life has been wasted. Why is that so important? Why do you have that need?

Why does a former superstar athlete or actor always crave the spotlight? Why do they die dreaming of a comeback?

Once you have tasted of significance anything less seems insignificant.

According to Scripture, you were created for significance. Adam was handmade by God Who breathed the breath of life into Him and placed Him in paradise. That's significance!

God gave Adam authority over all the earth and blessed Him with a woman to be his helpmate. Every day the three of them walked and talked together through the perfect splendor of Eden. That's significance!

You and I were shaped for significance - greatness just short of angelic! We had it until Adam lost it! But we still desire it. The loss of it leads to a loss of significance.

Had we never had significance you or I would never would have missed it. But to have known perfection and lost it leaves a longing. To have known paradise and to have been banished from it leaves an awful void.

Significance was lost in disobedience and rebellion. It can only be regained through repentance and maintained through obedience. It was lost at the feet of  God and can only be regained by returning there with a broken and contrite heart.

The washed up actor will never win another leading role. And the athlete past His prime will never make another team. But you - you can recapture your lost significance when you allow yourself to be captured by the grace and goodness of God!

You were made a little lower than the angels, don't live like the devil........

March 20, 2011

"Aren't two sparrows sold for only a penny? But not one of them falls to the ground without your Father knowing it. He even counts every hair on your head! So don't be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows."  Matthew 10:29-31

"Aren't five sparrows sold for two pennies? But God does not forget even one of them. In fact, he even counts every hair on your head! So don't be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows." Luke 12:6-7

Unless you are out for an early morning walk, you probably don't notice the birds very much. When you get engrossed in your daily routine you are preoccupied with far more important issues. Though you drive by scores of robins, cardinals, blue jays, and sparrows without a second thought. In the priorities of your daily agenda birds just don't matter much. Perhaps if you see an eagle soaring high above or a turkey vulture along the side of the roadway it might merit some momentary attention. But face it, birds are not a significant part of your day.

But, Someone DOES notice and Someone cares. Even the small and most insignificant of the birds, the sparrow, warrants the fill attention of God. When the wind blows a sparrows nest from the swaying tree branches carrying the hatchlings to their death, God notices and He cares. Hundreds of sparrows die every day unbeknownst  to you or me, but not to Him. Not a single bird perishes without the Father knowing and caring.

How do you know that? Because Jesus says so! Why should you care what God thinks about sparrows? They are not worth much to us. Way back in Jesus' time two sparrows could be purchased for a penny. So worthless are sparrows that if you laid down two pennies the merchant would throw in a free one - five sparrows for two cents.

If a sparrow had feelings imagine how insignificant it might feel knowing it is valued at half of a cent. Or, think about how that fifth sparrow would feel knowing he was thrown in for free! How insignificant is that?

But that's the point! God cares intimately about the welfare of a worthless little sparrow. Everyone matters to Him! During the course of a busy day when you don't notice He does! As you forget all of them, He notices everyone! They are significant to Him!

Again, why should that matter to you? Here's why - if God cares that much about a sparrow that was thrown into to sweeten the deal, now much more does He care about you? If a freebie sparrow matters to God, how significant are you?

Perhaps you have struggled with feelings of insignificance. Maybe you have been haunted with fears that you don't really matter and your life is a waste. Perhaps you have felt like that  fifth sparrow most of your life. Jesus wants you to know how much you matter to God. That is why He told the story! That is why He said you should not fear!

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,

Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home,

When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,

And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;

Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

 

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,

When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,

I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain: I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,

For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.