The Power of Fearlessness: Embracing God’s Purpose for Our Lives
Notes
Transcript
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,
THE POWER OF FEARLESSNESS: EMBRACING GOD'S PURPOSE FOR OUR LIVE
MY BROTHERS AND SISTER TODAY WE GATHER IN THE SPIRIT OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH, A TIME WHEN WE HONOR AND CELEBRATE THE PROFOUND CONTRIBUTIONS AND RESILIENCE OF AFRICAN AMERICANS THROUGHOUT HISTORY. THIS MONTH, WE FOCUS ON RECLAIMING AND STRENGTHENING OUR IDENTITY AS GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE.
IN ORDER FOR US TO EXAMINE OUR TEXT, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT IN WHICH IT WAS WRITTEN. THE APOSTLE PAUL'S WROTE THESE WORDS TO TIMOTHY TO ENCOURAGE HIM.
DURING BROTHER PAUL'S TIME, THE ROMAN EMPIRE WANTED TO SILENCE ANY OPPOSITION OR ALTERNATIVE IDEOLOGIES AND PHILOSOPHIES THAT THEY FOLLOWED…..
WHAT WE MUST UNDERSTAND IS DURING……BROTHER PAUL’S MISSIONARY JOURNEYS….. THE SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY BROUGHT ABOUT SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE RELIGIOUS LANDSCAPE OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.
IMAGINE BEING A YOUNG PASTOR, CARRYING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LEADING A CONGREGATION IN THE MIDST OF PERSECUTION AND TRIALS. THIS WAS THE REALITY FOR TIMOTHY, THE RECIPIENT OF PAULS LETTER.
HE WAS A YOUNG PASTOR WHO FACED MANY CHALLENGES AND STRUGGLES IN HIS MINISTRY. AND IT WAS IN THIS CONTEXT THAT PAUL REMINDS TIMOTHY OF GODS PROMISE TO HIM, FOR GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US A SPIRIT OF FEAR, BUT OF POWER AND OF LOVE AND OF A SOUND MIND. (2 TIMOTHY 1:7 NKJV)
THIS PASSAGE NOT ONLY SPEAKS TO TIMOTHY BUT ALSO TO US. WE MAY NOT BE PASTORS FACING PERSECUTION, BUT WE ALL FACE DIFFERENT TRIALS AND STRUGGLES IN OUR LIVES.
AND IN THESE MOMENTS, IT IS EASY TO LET FEAR TAKE OVER. WE FEAR FOR OUR HEALTH, OUR FINANCES, OUR LOVED ONES, AND THE FUTURE. BUT PAULS WORDS TO TIMOTHY ALSO APPLY TO US. GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US A SPIRIT OF FEAR.
THE TEACHINGS OF CHRIST AND THE RISE OF EARLY CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES CHALLENGED AND ULTIMATELY REPLACED MANY OF THE TRADITIONAL BELIEFS AND PRACTICES PREVALENT AT THAT TIME……..SO THE ROMANS WANTED TO SILENCE AND OPPRESS…….WHAT WAS BEING PREACHED ABOUT JESUS CHRIST……AND THIS POSED A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO CHRISTIANS….
WE AS AFRICAN AMERICANS, SIMILARLY, HAVE ENDURED CENTURIES OF SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION, MARGINALIZATION, AND RACIAL INEQUALITY.
*** I RECALL AN EXPERIENCE THAT I WAS TOLD THAT SISTER ROSA JEFFERIES ….WHO HAS GONE ON TO GLORY…BUT WAS A FORMER MEMBER OF FBC….
SHE HAD GONE TO A CAFETERIA OR PLACE TO EAT…AND THE WOMEN BEHIND THE COUNTER, WHO WAS CAUCASIAN, SAID TO SISTER JEFFERIES….WE DON’T SERVE NIGGERS… AND SISTER JEFFERIES WITHOUT DELAY….RESPONDED AND SAID GOOD….BECAUSE I DON’T EAT THEM..
EVEN IN THE MIDST OF THESE OPPOSITIONS…….WE MUST HOLD ON TO OUR FAITH AND TRUST THAT THE LORD WE BRING US THROUGH……
DURING BROTHER PAUL'S TIME, THE ROMAN EMPIRE WANTED TO SILENCE ANY OPPOSITION OR ALTERNATIVE IDEOLOGIES AND PHILOSOPHIES THAT THEY FOLLOWED…..
PAUL ENCOURAGES TIMOTHY TO REMEMBER HIS CALLING AND TO STIR UP THE GIFT THAT GOD HAD GIVEN HIM. HE REMINDS TIMOTHY OF HIS GENUINE FAITH, WHICH WAS PASSED DOWN FROM HIS GRANDMOTHER LOIS AND HIS MOTHER EUNICE. IT WAS A FAITH THAT WAS GROUNDED IN THE WORD OF GOD AND SUSTAINED BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. PAUL REMINDS TIMOTHY AND US…IN VERSE 6 …..THEREFORE I REMIND YOU TO STIR UP THE GIFT OF GOD WHICH IS IN YOU THROUGH THE LAYING ON OF MY HANDS. (2 TIMOTHY 1:6 NKJV)
I BELIEVE OUR TEXT THIS MORNING GIVES US A FEW CONCEPTS THAT CAN SERVE AS A REMINDER OF WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE HAVE IN CHRIST.
I. WE HAVE PERFECT POWER IS IN US
2 TIMOTHY 1:7 –
THE SOURCE OF STRENGTH AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR US AS BELIEVERS…. REMINDING US THAT "GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US A SPIRIT OF FEAR, BUT OF POWER, LOVE, AND SELF-DISCIPLINE." UNDERSTAND THAT FEAR IS A WEAPON USED BY THE ENEMY TO CONTROL AND DIMINISH OUR WORTH. TO MAKE US DOUBT AND DECEIVE US. BUT AS CHILDREN OF GOD, WE POSSESS A BUILT-IN POWER THAT CAN ONLY BE REALIZED THROUGH OUR FAITH IN HIM. THIS POWER GRANTS US THE ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE ENEMY….BUT ALSO THE LIMITATIONS SOCIETY TRIES TO IMPOSE ON US.
WE MUST REMEMBER THAT THIS POWER COMES FROM A DIVINE SOURCE, GROUNDED IN THE LOVE OF GOD. OUR HEAVENLY FATHER'S LOVE FOR US IS A POWERFUL FORCE THAT TRANSCENDS ANY HATE OR DISCRIMINATION DIRECTED TOWARD US. IN EMBRACING THIS LOVE, WE CAN COMBAT THE SELF-DOUBT THAT HOLDS US BACK FROM FULFILLING OUR TRUE POTENTIAL. THE HOLY SPIRIT EQUIPS US WITH THE STRENGTH TO NAVIGATE THE OBSTACLES WE FACE DAILY.
THIS WORD “POWER” IN THE GREEK IS THE WORD “DUNAMIS” WHICH CONVEYS THE IDEA OF INHERENT STRENGTH AND ABILITY.
IT IS UNDERSTOOD AS MANIFESTING INFLUENCE OVER REALITY IN A SUPERNATURAL MANNER….
IN OTHER WORDS……GOD HAS GIVEN US A SUPERNATURAL ABILITY TO OVERCOME FEAR
***EMPHASIZE THE POWER THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US TO OVERCOME FEAR.
ROSA PARKS ONCE SAID……”I HAVE LEARNED OVER THE YEARS THAT WHEN ONE’S MIND IS MADE UP, THIS DIMINISHES FEAR; KNOWING WHAT MUST BE DONE DOES AWAY WITH FEAR.
ISAIAH 41:10 (NIV)
" SO DO NOT FEAR, FOR I AM WITH YOU; DO NOT BE DISMAYED, FOR I AM YOUR GOD. I WILL STRENGTHEN YOU AND HELP YOU; I WILL UPHOLD YOU WITH MY RIGHTEOUS RIGHT HAND
JOSHUA 1:9 - "HAVE I NOT COMMANDED YOU? BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS. DO NOT BE AFRAID; DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED, FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL BE WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO."
IN THE BIBLE, WE SEE NUMEROUS EXAMPLES OF GODS PEOPLE FACING FEARFUL SITUATIONS. WE SEE DAVID FACING GOLIATH, DANIEL IN THE LIONS DEN, THE THREE HEBREW BOYS……WHO DID NOT WAVER IN WHO THEY WOULD SERVE…..EVEN WHEN THREATENED TO BE THROWN INTO A FIERY GRAVE.
PSALM 27:1 - "THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND MY SALVATION—WHOM SHALL I FEAR? THE LORD IS THE STRONGHOLD OF MY LIFE—OF WHOM SHALL I BE AFRAID?"
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.
THE APOSTLES STANDING BEFORE RULERS AND AUTHORITIES. AND IN EACH OF THESE SITUATIONS, GOD WAS WITH THEM, EMPOWERING THEM AND GIVING THEM A SPIRIT OF COURAGE AND A SOUND MIND.
I BELIEVE THIS TEXT GIVES US ANOTHER CONCEPT WE CAN GLEAN FROM…..
II. WE HAVE A PRECIOUS PROMISE
2 TIMOTHY 1:9
IN THIS VERSE, WE SEE THAT OUR SALVATION IS NOT ACCORDING TO OUR WORKS, BUT ACCORDING TO GODS PURPOSE AND GRACE. BEFORE TIME BEGAN, GOD HAD ALREADY PLANNED AND PURPOSED TO SAVE US. HE KNEW THAT WE WOULD ALL FALL SHORT AND BE UNABLE TO SAVE OURSELVES, SO HE SENT HIS SON, JESUS, TO BE THE PERFECT SACRIFICE FOR OUR SINS.
ILLUSTRATION:
JUST AS AN ARCHITECT HAS A BLUEPRINT FOR A BUILDING, GOD HAD A BLUEPRINT FOR OUR SALVATION. EVERY DETAIL WAS PREDESTINED BY GOD, AND NOTHING CAN THWART HIS PURPOSE.
APPLICATION:
AS BELIEVERS, WE CAN FIND ASSURANCE AND HOPE IN KNOWING THAT OUR SALVATION WAS PART OF GODS SOVEREIGN PLAN. WE ARE NOT SAVED BY OUR OWN EFFORTS OR MERITS, BUT BY GODS GRACE AND MERCY. LET US GIVE THANKS AND PRAISE TO GOD FOR HIS AMAZING PLAN OF SALVATION.
AS AFRICAN AMERICANS, WE HAVE NOT ONLY SURVIVED BUT THRIVED IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY AND OPPRESSION.
WE MUST RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE BEEN CHOSEN FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE BY A SOVEREIGN GOD WHO HAS CALLED US OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT.
WITHIN HIS PURPOSE LIES THE HEALING OF GENERATIONAL WOUNDS, THE BREAKING OF CHAINS, AND THE REBIRTH OF HOPE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES.
DESPITE THE ERASURE OF OUR HISTORY, CULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS, AND ACHIEVEMENTS, WE MUST STAND TALL, AFFIRMING OUR HERITAGE AS A PEOPLE UNIQUELY BLESSED BY GOD.
OUR ANCESTORS, WHO BORE THE WEIGHT OF SLAVERY, JIM CROW LAWS, AND COUNTLESS OTHER INJUSTICES, LEFT A LEGACY OF STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE.
IT IS OUR DUTY AS INHERITORS OF THIS LEGACY TO CARRY IT FORWARD, HONORING OUR SHARED HISTORY WHILE CULTIVATING A VIBRANT FUTURE.
JUST AS MOSES LED THE ISRAELITES OUT OF EGYPT, WE ARE CALLED TO LEAD OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS TOWARD FREEDOM FROM THE CHAINS OF OPPRESSION.
OUR ACTIONS, GUIDED BY THE POWER OF GOD WITHIN US, CAN INSPIRE TRANSFORMATION WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE WORLD AT LARGE.
ROMANS 8:31 (NIV)
"WHAT, THEN, SHALL WE SAY IN RESPONSE TO THESE THINGS? IF GOD IS FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?"
I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN GLEAN ANOTHER CONCEPT FROM OUR TEXT….
IN VERSE 9 WE SEE…..
WE HAVE THE POWER IN OUR SUFFERINGS
EXPLANATION:
LASTLY, IN THIS VERSE, WE SEE THAT GOD HAS SAVED US AND CALLED US WITH A HOLY CALLING ACCORDING TO HIS POWER. THIS MEANS THAT NOT ONLY DID GOD PLAN AND PURPOSED OUR SALVATION, BUT HE ALSO EMPOWERS US TO WALK IN IT. THIS POWER IS NOT JUST FOR OUR SALVATION, BUT IT ALSO SUSTAINS US THROUGH OUR SUFFERINGS FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL.
ILLUSTRATION:
JUST LIKE A STRONG FOUNDATION HOLDS UP A BUILDING DURING A STORM, GODS POWER HOLDS US UP AND STRENGTHENS US DURING OUR TRIALS AND SUFFERINGS.
APPLICATION:
AS BELIEVERS, WE WILL FACE TRIALS AND SUFFERINGS FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL, BUT WE CAN TAKE COMFORT IN KNOWING THAT GODS POWER IS AT WORK IN US, ENABLING US TO ENDURE AND OVERCOME.
LET US LEAN ON HIS POWER AND TRUST IN HIS SOVEREIGN PLAN, EVEN IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING.
AS WE HONOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND SACRIFICES OF AFRICAN AMERICANS THROUGHOUT HISTORY, LET US REMEMBER THAT OUR STRUGGLES DO NOT DEFINE US. OUR RESILIENCE, STRENGTH, AND FAITH ARE A TESTAMENT TO THE GREATNESS WITHIN US. BY EMBRACING GOD'S PURPOSE FOR OUR LIVES, WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE HISTORY, TRANSFORMING OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE WORLD.
MAY EACH OF US LEAVE TODAY EMPOWERED, DETERMINED TO WALK IN THE FEARLESSNESS THAT COMES FROM KNOWING WHO WE ARE IN GOD'S EYES. EMBRACE HIS POWER, LOVE, AND SELF-DISCIPLINE, AND LET US CHANGE THE COURSE OF OUR DESTINY.
CONCLUSION:
IN CONCLUSION, WE HAVE SEEN THAT GODS SOVEREIGN PURPOSE IN OUR SALVATION IS TO GLORIFY HIMSELF THROUGH HIS GRACE, CALLING, AND POWER. LET US REMEMBER THAT OUR SALVATION IS NOT OF OUR OWN DOING, BUT SOLELY DEPENDENT ON GODS PURPOSE AND GRACE. LET US ALSO FIND COMFORT AND STRENGTH IN KNOWING THAT HIS POWER SUSTAINS US THROUGH ALL THINGS. MAY WE GO FORTH AND BOLDLY PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL, BEING CONFIDENT IN OUR SALVATION AND IN GODS SOVEREIGN PURPOSE.
CLOSING PRAYER:
DEAR LORD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SOVEREIGN PURPOSE IN OUR SALVATION. WE ARE HUMBLED AND GRATEFUL FOR YOUR GRACE AND MERCY THAT SAVED US AND CALLED US WITH A HOLY CALLING. HELP US TO TRUST IN YOUR PLAN AND RELY ON YOUR POWER, EVEN IN THE MIDST OF TRIALS AND SUFFERINGS. MAY YOUR NAME BE GLORIFIED IN HOW WE LIVE OUT OUR SALVATION. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.