Faith over Fear

Faith “even if”, over Fear, “What if”

“Our Perseverance in Faith”

Our fears typically have us asking “what if''? We worry, have anxiety, always on the lookout for, and constantly have a mind racing with “what if.” What if I don’t make it to work on time, run this red light, get angry at the person who cut me off in traffic. Ok it is ABQNM… lol

Fear “What If” defined in Hebrew language: Isaiah 54:14

יָרֵא Yârê'yaw-ray' A primitive root; to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten: - affright, be (make) afraid, dread (-ful), (put in) fear (-ful, -fully, -ing). (be had in) reverence (-end), X see, terrible (act, -ness, thing).

“Natural feeling of alarm caused by expectation of imminent danger, pain, or disaster; awe and reverence toward a supreme power.” “The fear of God is not the dread that comes out of fear of punishment; rather, it is the reverential regard and awe that comes out of recognition and submission to the divine.” Holman Bible Dictionary

My fears, snakes and spiders. Crowded places, elevators, earthquakes, etc. Failing to grow or learn daily in Christ, no matter how big or small.

Common fears, Losing a father, mother, son, daughter. Losing and even changing jobs or careers. Journey to unknown places, even though God gets us through this too.

We should be fearful, in awe of God, and the writings of His found in the Word of God, John 1:1- “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Fear in the Bible, Just a couple popular examples

Jonah- What do we say about this guy? Jonah 1:1-12, he was commanded by God to go to Nineveh to speak to them about their evil ways. What does this guy do? Rose up to flee to Tarshish, “from the presence of the Lord”, V:3. God is omnipresent, so no matter how far or where Jonah went he wasn’t getting away from God.

Ok, so to God’s point these two cities are not spelled the same, even in the Hebrew!! Along with this, they are just over 2,800 miles apart in opposite directions. Nineveh was in the northern area of Modern Iraq, now commonly known as Mosul. Tarshish is on the southern coast of Spain, or modern Gibraltar area.

So, God brings a great storm, the captain and crew throw cargo off to lighten up the ship so they don’t sink. Where was Jonah? So comfortable in his fear he is hiding and sleeping below deck!!! Seriously Dude !!! Not sure about y’all, but I dont think I’d be sleeping if im running from God.

The crew cast lots to see who to point fingers at, and as God would have it, it came out as Jonah!! Hmm can’t imagine why?

The crew asks Jonah what his occupation is, where he is from, what people/tribe are you from, and on whose account this evil has come upon them?

Even Jonah at this point knew what to do in V:12-15, then the crew tosses Jonah off the ship, he is swallowed by a “great fish” V:17. The rest of the story we know. Jonah goes to Nineveh and does as God commanded to start with.

In the Book of Daniel Chapter 2, we see King Nebuchaezzar having dreams where his V:1, “spirit was troubled” and “his sleep left him.” He calls the magicians and enchanters, etc to interpret the dream, getting him nowhere.

The king, in fearful anger, makes an order to kill the wise men. Daniel tells him the dream he had, Daniel 2. There were coming kingdoms that would take out Nebudchanezzars kingdom.

The “great image” (Daniel 2:31) of the V:32-33-”The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.” This is the image that the king saw getting destroyed, why he was fearful of losing his kingdom.

V:47 King Nebuchadnezzar, “The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings. Seems as though Daniel, through God, had turned the king's heart.

Faith “Even If” defined. Turn with me please to Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” God Bless the authors of The Canon of Scripture and Church Fathers, through God for defining this for us here.

“Faith is the acceptance of Christ's lordship (His God-given, absolute authority). It is one's removal from sin and from all other religious allegiances (1 Thess. 1:9). Faith includes a certain amount of "belief" and may denote the content of what is believed. In this sense faith is the conviction that God acted in the history of Israel and "that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself" (2 Cor. 5:19).” Holman Bible Dictionary

“Faith is a personal relationship with God that determines the priorities of one's life. (Uh-oh) This relationship is one of love built on trust and dependence. We receive it by trusting the saving work of Jesus.” Holman Dictionary More on this later.

In the book of Hebrews, Chapter 11, the word faith is used 24-28 times depending on the Bible version. KJV 28/244 in NT is 11.5% of the use of the word “Faith” is in one Chapter. 11.5% in just 40 verses, seems important.

Repetitive words, one word used over and over. One way for us to look at the important meaning of the words the author of Hebrews is writing to and an interpretive tool for us to determine how it applies to us today.

(GK: “Pistis”, pis'-tis). Moral conviction, especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; by extension the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself: - assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity. Hebrews 11:1;

Romans 8:24- “For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?”

1 Peter 1:8-”Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,”

Genesis 1:1- “In the  R1 beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

John 1:1-  ”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

“Even If” Faith

Christians believe or”by faith” believe in Ephesians 2:8.

What is not covered by “heavens and earth”?Genesis 1:1 What we all believe in is that God created the universe which we read in Genesis 1.

Let’s now take a look at faith in the Bible.

Abel- Hebrews 11:4; Genesis 4:4-8 through his faith was found to be a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain. “Even If” he is gone his story still speaks to us today. His faithfulness brought him to God.

Enoch- Hebrews 11:5; Genesis 5:22-24. Enoch was simply taken by God due to his own faith. God knew in His own timing and reasons that He did not want Enoch to see death. Back to me with snakes and spiders for a minute. I don’t know what God would want me to see by seeing either of these, but I'm sure I'd disappear like Enoch. Handwriting on the wall in Daniel.

Noah- Hebrews 11:7; Genesis 6:9-7:24. Noah’s faith had him at 500-600 y/o Genesis 7:6, build an ark. Not that I would disobey God, but I'm having trouble doing CrossFit and playing soccer at 47, let alone building an arc in another 500 years from now. So think of the faith which Noah had, “Even if” God sends a flood I am going to do what He commanded me to do and build an ark. By doing so Naoh condemned the worldly ways and became the righteous heir.

Abraham- Hebrews 11:8; Genesis 12:1-4 Abraham left his home, as commanded by God, to go to an unknown place where he would receive his inheritance. Abrahams “even if” faith took him where he didn’t know, uncomfortable for sure. Although he went and waited for God to design and build the city. Hebrews 11:10 “The vitality of Abraham’s faith is represented as evidenced by its surviving and triumphing over a succession of trials, over apparent impossibilities.”

Sarah- Hebrews 11:11; Genesis 18:11-15 Sarah laughed and said she was too old to have kids. Her faith, and God’s answer, V:14 “is anything too hard for the Lord.” In Chapter 21 Sarah has Isaac. She doubted to the point of laughing and then denying it. But God... !!

Abraham- Hebrews 11:17; Genesis 22:1-13 Was tested by God to offer up Issac, his only son, as a sacrifice. Through all the doubt of Issac, and work that was done, Abraham’s “even if” faith showed proof that God delivered a Ram to be sacrificed. Just imagine the sigh of relief from Isaac at that moment. Genesis 22:17, “I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore.”

Application for us today-Take away for today!!

How is our faith? Are we like Jonah running from God’s commandments? Maybe a Nebuchadnezzar building up idols for yourself? Where do you run when trials happen?

Heart check of our faithfulness? When you look in the mirror, is your faith like Abraham, ready to take up the land God has given you to reign over, or to give up your child in God’s obedience? Or maybe build an ark like Naoh, not knowing what for or why?

Is being obedient to God and His Word #1, or is something in the way?

Take heart, church friends and family. God allows us to feel as though our faith is slacking, but He offers a way out also.

James 1:2-6 tells us that “testing of our faith produces steadfastness.” Romans 5:3; Hebrews 10:36; 2 Peter 1:6 also talks to the point of testing our faith and producing steadfastness in us, which continuously grows us in Christ.

James 1:12- “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life,  which God has promised to those who love him.”

Do we remain steadfast in Him when trials hit, or do we run to a fleshly comfort? What’s our #1?

Be reminded today church family and friends, that God is not only always with us, but is also our stronghold!!

Deuteronomy 31:6-  ”Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Psalm 27:1- Of David. The LORD is my light and my  R9 salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Isaiah 41:10- “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

John 14:27-Jesus speaking ”Peace I leave with you;  R6 my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.  R7 Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

2 Timothy 1:7- “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

Hebrews 13:6- “​​So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

So, where do we turn when things are rough, or our current season is not going as we may have expected?

Paul tells the Philippian church in 4:6- “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Allow God to be your Solid rock, and put to rest our “what if” and rest in the knowledge of God, knowing “even if” we can trust on Him!!

Psalm of David- Psalm 18:2 “The LORD is my rock and my  fortress and my deliverer, my God, my  rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and  the horn of my salvation, my  stronghold.”

Romans 5:8 “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Jesus paid it all:for you and I to live an “Even If” lifestyle.

The Bible tells us:

John 3:16- God loves us he gave his Son to die a terrible death of a cross for our sins.

Romans 3:23 all sinned, 6:23 wages are death, 5:8 Christ died for us and our sins past, present and future.

John 14:6 Christ is the only way: Believe (have faith) and Invite him into our hearts,

Revelation 3:20. He stands knocking, what shall you do?

Does our “even if” faith or our “what if” faith show up when we face trials? Where do we go? Do we run to God in prayer, other christians and church family for wise counsel when things get tough? Do we ask “what if” out of fear or do we say “even if” such and such happens to me. We lay our (fearfulness) at the foot of the cross and at the feet of Jesus in Prayer and supplication. Philippians 4:6.

If there is something you need prayer for or to lay at the foot of the Cross and let Jesus take, please fill out one of the First Connection Cards mentioned before, see the deacons with the name badges on, other pastors and myself in the back and here in the front. If you wish to accept Christ as your savior, and live the “even if” life, as Isaiah 41:10 “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with  R3 my righteous right hand.”

Pray out..

Faith over Fear

“Our Perseverance in Faith”

Define

(FEAR) “What if” Frighten, being afraid or in fear. Isaiah 54:14

Bible: Jonah 1:1-12; King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2

(FAITH) “Even if” Acceptance of Christ’s Lordship over our lives. Hebrews 11:1

Related Verses: Romans 8:24; 1 Peter 1:8; Genesis 1:1; John 1:1

Abel: Hebrews 11:4; Genesis 4:4-8

Enoch: Hebrews 11:5; Genesis 5:22-24

Noah: Hebrews 11:7; Genesis 6:9-7:24

Abraham: Hebrews 11:17; Genesis 22:1-13

Application: How do we persevere in our faith?

Heart Check: James 1:2-6; James 1:12

Remain Strong in the Lord: Deuteronomy 31:6; Psalm 27:1; Isaiah 41:10; Hebrews 13:6

Philippians 4:6- “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Psalm 18:2- “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”