March 30, 2011

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

A couple of days ago I talked about the two reasons for fearing death, the certainty of death - you know it will happen - and the uncertainty of death - you don't know when or how it will happen. Either of those OR both of those can be cause for fear if you don't know how to confront them.

To remove the uncertainty of death make sure that you are prepared to die today. Make sure you have received Jesus Christ as your Savior for the forgiveness of your sins. Having your sins forgiven and knowing that your name is written in the Book of Life and His Spirit dwelling in you will give you the certainty that you are ready to be in the presence of God whenever that time comes.

Having established that, to be completely free from the fear of death, understood that death you should fear. Does that sound like a contradiction? Not if you understand God's perspective of death.

God looks at death from the vantage point of life. He IS life! There is no death in Him. Death is His enemy. Death cannot exist in His presence. Therefore, death happens because you are separated from life - aka - God. That death, of course, is spiritual death because it is "in Him we live, and move and have our being". And what is it that separates us from life (God) is sin. A holy God cannot dwell with or have fellowship with a sinner and when you willfully sin you break the fellowship and your soul dies. If your body dies while your spirit is separated from God, you will die the most fearful death - separated from God - FOREVER. Fear that!

Physical death, however, is an entirely different matter. As Jesus said to His dear friends Mary and Martha, Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26

Jesus was making it clear to His Dear friends that they did not need to fear physical death. And, for a very good reason, you DON'T die. The moment your body flatlines and your physical life ceases you will immediately open your eyes in Heaven! The essential you NEVER dies! It never skips a beat or a breath and you leave one realm of living to eternally enjoy the new and eternal life. In the words of Jesus, if you are in Him, the essential you will never die! Can you get excited about that prospect? Can you feel your fear level begin to dec

rease? Can you feel you faith level rising?

If you want to fear death, fear spiritual death! Fear the prospect of dying without knowing the Lord as your Savior! You should fear being spiritually disconnected from God!

"The wages (what you have earned) of sin is death, but the GIFT (available lavish love and grace of God) is ETERNAL life!"  Romans 6:23

Get "FEARLESS" about death!

Do you know Jesus Christ as your Savior? Have you received His gift of eternal life?

March 29, 2011

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles," I Corinthians 15:3-7

Death is a big enemy that creates some gigantic fear in us mortals. I think I was about 30 years of age when I first came to grips with my mortality. Before that time the idea of dying really didn't stick with me. Dying was something that happened to other people - older people. I had three young children that I wanted to see grow to adulthood and I couldn't bear the thought of my life ending before they were grown. As I recall, the idea of death and dying haunted me for several weeks until I worked my way through that fear.

Are you familiar with that fear?

One of the truths that helped me deal with this horrendous fear of dying was the knowledge that even though death is bigger than life, God is bigger than death!

How did God conquer death? Through a death! Yes, a death! The death of His Son, Jesus Christ. And even more, God defeated death by a resurrection from the dead! The Jewish religious leaders arrested Him on trumped up charges, made those stand, beat Him savagely, and then killed Him on a cruel cross. Jesus did die. But three days later he was back to life! Through His resurrection from the dead, Jesus proved that God is bigger than death! He died to take away the sin and shame so you can be free from from the fear of death! BUT THEN He rose on the third day - came back from the dead! When Jesus walked out of that garden tomb on that first Easter Sunday, He conquered death! Forever! Death could not hold Him and neither can it hold those of us who follow Him and are called by His name.

Is a death a big fear in your life? And if that fear is robbing you of your peace about dying, remember the resurrection! Remember the love that motivated Jesus' life, His brutal death, and His marvelous resurrection! In other words, remember that God is bigger than death or any of your fears about dying!

Knowing Who Jesus Is and what He did to conquer death should be enough to help you conquer your fears about death. That is the power of faith! Are you going to choose to believe your fears or will you believe in a God Who has proven He is bigger than death.

So, God destroyed the power of death by allowing His Son to be unfairly mobbed and murdered. He affirmed that He is the source of the life that dwells within you by raising His Son from the dead! And the Bible tells you that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to you through His Spirit!

His life in you through faith, is stronger than death that is working in you! And His life through you will raise you up to eternal life!

Do you have that life? Don't die with out it!

March 28, 2011

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die"  Ecclesiastes 3:1-2a

When you think about death and dying there are two things that cause you to fear - the certainty of dying and the uncertainty of dying.

Even in a death-denying culture like ours, everyone knows that no one gets out alive. Every person has a date with death. You have been to enough funerals, driven past enough cemeteries, heard enough news reports and read enough obituaries to know death is inescapable.

You spend considerable time and thought preparing for the eventuality of your death while at the same time, doing everything in your power to preserve your life.

God hard-wired us to life forever. Dying was not a part of His perfect plan for your life. So, death frightens you and the certainty of death can haunt you.

And then there is the uncertainty about death that is a bit scary. You know you will die someday but have no idea how or when.

When you board a plane it may flash through your mind, "This could be the time." You get the cancer diagnosis and you wonder, "is this it? Will I survive this or is it my time?"

There is a website on the net that claims it can determine your date of death. That should remove some uncertainty and remove some fear. According to http://www.deathclock.com/ my date to die is: Wednesday, December 17, 2036. So, if you are planning to buy me a Christmas gift that year you can save your money.

Based on this prediction I have some 811, 733,020 seconds left to live. You are on the clock, too!

It is natural to fear death because, death was not meant to be natural. God created us and designed us to live forever but because of sin, death became a reality. BUT, to be terrorized by the thought of dying or obsessed with that fear is not a healthy or helpful thing.

Knowing you are going to die but not knowing how or when can be a fearful thing for you. Don't let the fear of death steal away your zest for living. There is a way to be free from the fear of death. That is what we will be studying this week as we continue our "FEARLESS" series.

In the meantime, let the certainty of death inspire your to prepare for life - now and or eternity. Today is the first day of the rest of your life! Make it count! Live until you die - and then live forever!

March 27, 2011

What do you think of when I mention the name, “King David?”

  

How about the Apostle Peter?

These two men, highly honored by God and revered by believers through the centuries, were both guilty of being major disappointments to God!

Have you ever disappointed God?

Have you ever feared that you have gone too far or crossed the line of forgiveness?

"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.” At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Then the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man."  Matthew 9:1-8

FRIENDS, Vv. 1-2a

What is the best thing a friend ever did for you?

What is the best thing you ever did for a friend?

Here is a guy who had some GREAT friends! (READ VERSES 1-2)

Do you have friends like that?

Will you be a friend like that?

Jesus IS a Friend like that!

Having friends like these will certainly help you move beyond your fear of disappointing God……….

We need to be a church like that……

FORGIVENESS, V. 2b

A story tells that two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand: "TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE."

They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him. After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone: "TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE."

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, "After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?"

The other friend replied: "When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it."


LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND AND TO CARVE YOUR BLESSINGS IN STONE.

God has written His forgiveness in stone!

“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

Let me ask you this, “Did God give up on Peter when Peter denied Him?”

So, how many would say that Peter found forgiveness?

How many of you think that David found forgiveness for his despicable sins?

How Forgiveness Works – Psalm 51

1) FORGIVE THE TRANSGRESSSION

2) REMOVE THE GUILT – THE STAIN

3) CLEANSE THE SOURCE

Booker T Washington once told a story about his young life. Every morning, he and other slaves in a plantation were awakened by the crow of a rooster...this noise always reminded Washington and the others to get out of bed and leave for the cotton fields. Soon enough, the rooster became a symbol of their back-breaking labour in slavery.

Soon after, Abraham Lincoln pronounced freedom for slaves. The first morning after the Emancipation Proclamation, the rooster crowed as usual but this time, Booker T and his mother chased it around the yard with an axe and this loud alarm clock was ate for lunch. Their first act of freedom was to silence what reminded them of slavery.

IS THERE A ROOSTER IN YOUR LIFE THAT NEEDS TO GO? SHARPEN YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF GOD’S GRACE AND THE FREEDOM OF THE GOSPEL!

FAITH, Vv. 7-8

After Jesus forgave his sins, He then told the man to get up and go. Why didn’t He just heal him in the first place?

1) To mess up the Jew’s theology?

2) To increase his faith?

3) Was the sin the cause of the sickness?

4) Which is most important – salvation or healing?

A pastor friend recently told the true story of one of his church members, an attorney, who after meditating on several scriptures, decided to cancel the debts of all his clients that had owed him money for more than 6 months. He drafted a letter explaining his decision and its biblical basis and sent 17 debt canceling letters via certified mail.

One by one, the letters began to return, unsigned and undelivered. Perhaps a couple people had moved away though not likely. 16 of the 17 letters came back to him because the clients refused to sign for and open the envelopes fearing that this attorney was suing them for their debts.

How profound! We owe a debt for our sin and God is willing to cancel it but too many people will not even open the letter that explains that.

David Yarborough tells the story from one of Max Lucado’s books of a lady who had a small house on the seashore of Ireland at the turn of the century was quite wealthy but also quite frugal. The people were surprised, then, when she decided to be among the first to have electricity in her home.

Several weeks after the installation, a meter reader appeared at her door. He asked if her electricity was working well, and she assured him it was. "I’m wondering if you can explain something to me," he said. "Your meter shows scarcely any usage. Are you using your power?"


"Certainly," she answered. "Each evening when the sun sets, I turn on my lights just long enough to light my candles; then I turn them off."

God’s forgiveness and grace is available for you – BUT YOU MUST USE IT! YOU MUST GET UP AND GO!

DAVID THOUGHT HE HAD DISAPPOINTED GOD – BUT HE DIDN’T………

PETER THOUGHT HE HAD DISAPPOINTED GOD – BUT HE DIDN’T……….

God has given you unlimited and unfailing grace to make sure you can always find forgiveness when you feel you have disappointed God.

If you have lost faith, He has given you have faithful friends!

If you are fearful, He has given you have fearless friends!

If you are faithless and friendless and fearful, you still have a forgiving God!

You are surrounded by friends and a forgiving God is here. Will you tear through your fear and come before Jesus this morning?

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!