Sermon - Fearless Faith
Posted: Thursday, June 04, 2009
by Mark Parsec
Wordcasters
What is your deepest fear?
Of the thousands of individuals whom I have counseled through years of ministry I have discovered that…
More than those who sought help for alcoholism…
More than those who sought help for addiction…
More than those who sought help for abuse…
Those who were seeking Christian counseling sought help for their FEARS.
People fear poverty.
People fear people, places and things.
People fear disease and death.
People are AFRAID.
WHAT is your deepest fear?
There is a story about a dog owner who had a pit bull that was afraid to go on walks. The dog kept sitting down and bracing his feet so that his owner would have to drag him by his leash. But, the owner finally gave up when he realized that he was creating a… bottomless pit!
Many of us, like the pit bull, are afraid to go where God is leading us. And it would seem that some of us are being dragged along, kicking and shouting and screaming.
Some time ago, my wife and I were caring for a friend's beautiful little dog. Teko was a PekaLeo… Strange name for a dog… he looked like a little lion with a full golden maign. But, although he looked like a little lion, he did not act like one. One night I took Teko for a walk and as we turned the corner down the street Teko suddenly began barking and running back the full extension of the leash. He was filled with the greatest fear!
Startled, at first, I looked to see what he was so afraid of and there before us were two GIANT BLACK shadows… Our shadows, cast by the streetlight as we passed beneath it.
FEAR… that is our greatest problem. People are afraid and their behaviors are driven by a thousand forms of fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of the dark, fear of change. Fear of the undefined giants in our lives.
What is YOUR deepest fear?
In the 17th Chapter of Samuel we read the story of how the army of Israel under King Saul faced off against an army of Philistines. Both armies were perched on opposing mountains with the Valley of Elah below. And every day, twice a day, for forty days the giant Goliath, standing over 9 feet tall, would strut forth and challenge the Army of Israel to send out someone to fight him. But, King Saul and the entire army of Israel were frightened and dismayed and would run in fear at the sight of the giant. Until, little David, a shepherd boy, with ruddy red cheeks, went out and fearlessly faced the giant Goliath.
And do you remember what David said to the giant?
"You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted."
And David slew the giant Goliath, and later went on to become the greatest King of Israel.
How did David do it?
David had a heart condition… He loved the Lord, and that is where he found his courage. He tells us in Psalm 23:4, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.
David was courageous.
The Bible is filled with many stories of courageous men and women…
Moses against Pharoh
Joshua the Soldier of the Lord
Gideon the Mighty Man of Valor
Queen Esther
Daniel in the Lion's Den
Peter the Rock
The Apostle Paul
But… what is courage?
Courage is defined as the state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger, fear, or difficulties with confidence and resolution; bravery. Interestingly, the word courage is derived from the Latin word cor which means heart!
In the Gospel of John 14:1 Jesus told us, "Let not your heart be troubled, neither be afraid, you believe in God, believe also in me."
A troubled heart is fear. Believing in God is faith. Faith is the diametrical opposite of fear! Fear is what we experience when we resist faith. So, faith must be what we experience when we resist fear!
We are told in 2 Timothy 1:7 that we have not been given the spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind. And again in 1 John 4:18 we are told that, perfect love casts out all fear.
But, still, we fear… people, places and things.
What is your DEEPEST fear?
The Prophet Isaiah understood a little about fear. He understood that people get worn down, defeated, discouraged and afraid. Yet, in Isaiah 40:28-31 the Lord tells us through the prophet…
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get weary, they will walk and not faint.
And again, in Isaiah 41:10 the prophet says,
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
In my opinion, one of the most courageous people in the New Testament is mentioned only briefly in the Gospel of Mark 12:41-44…
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on."
The story of the Widow's Mite illustrates fundamental spiritual principles…
Imagine if you will, this poor little old lady… no husband, no means of support, no one to protect her, no one to look after her. She is poor… DESTITUTE! Yet, somehow, she manages to scrape together a couple of coins, worth less than a penny. It is all the money she has!
The King James Version calls this money the widows mite… spelled M.I.T.E, from the Latin minutum, meaning minute, small, tiny. But, the story may just as easily have been called the widows might… M.I.G.H.T.! For this was a mighty act of faith, a courageous gesture, giving all that she had could only mean one thing, she had complete faith that God would provide for all of her needs.
What would she eat? God would feed her!
What would she wear? God would clothe her!
Where would she live? God would shelter her!
How would she manage? God would provide!
The widow was unafraid. She may not have had much, but she gave all that she had because she had faith that God would provide for her every need.
In Matthew 17 the disciples came to jesus wanting to know why they could not drive a demon out of a young boy. Jesus replied, "Because of the littlness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you."
Are YOU having problems with shadows or giants or demons in your life? Are you afraid of changes?
What is your deepest FEAR?
The deepest fear of most men… is themselves.
They do not fear demons so much as they fear that they themselves are demons.
They are not so much afraid of giants as they are afraid of becoming giants.
Their deepest fears of many people are not of the darkness, but of the light... That the light of God might somehow shine through them. Really shine through them! They might have to change, give something up. This is the deepest fear and… "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil."
In Matthew 5:14-16 the Lord tells us, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket; but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
Are you afraid to let the light of God truly shine through your life? Are you afraid that you will not have what it takes? Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ taught us that we do have what it takes… when we have Him! When we truly love Him. When our heart belongs to Him!
In closing I want you to hold on to this verse from John 16:33 when Jesus said…
"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."
God bless you.
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