Happy New Fear!
Notes
Transcript
In a few days, we will cross over into ANOTHER YEAR...
I assume - most of us grew up staying up late to watch the ball drop...
As we get older - the less exciting it all becomes...
BUT
If there is one thing that everyone agrees on - it’s this...
That no matter where you are…what state you’re in...
wherever you’re at...
When the ball drops and the clock it’s ZERO...
EVERYONE cries out for something…THE SAME THING!
Year after year - this hasn’t changed...
WHAT IS IT?
SLIDE:
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
And it’s this IDEA of - this day is a — NEW BEGINNING!
…with NEW opportunities...
to make changes in our lives
to pursue NEW adventures
to turn over a NEW LEAF
A time of - - NEWNESS.
but what I want to focus on today - is something WE ALL COULD STAND to IMPROVE UPON...
Something that HOPEFULLY can become the FUEL to our FAITH...
And it’s this...
SLIDE:
Fear of the Lord
??
What?
A NEW YEAR is coming - WHY would i pursue - FEAR?
Here’s why...
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
THIS is WHY!
The FEAR of the LORD - is the beginning of WISDOM!
AND SO IF WE want to be WISE this coming YEAR....
We will need to EMBRACE MORE - fear of the LORD!
ONLY THEN will we be WISE this new year.
This time of year - is when people begin to THINK ABOUT -
MAKING CHANGES in their lives.
Exercise
Diet - Fitness
New Job
New career pursuit
New approach to life
New OUTLOOK on life
New Hobby
Whatever it is...
THIS is the time of year - when people THINK about it...
WHY...
Because this time is viewed as a - STARTING LINE!
SO - let’s take advantage of that!
Let’s PURSUE - WISDOM - in the Lord...
And THEREFORE - let’s PURSUE a NEW FEAR…OF the Lord!
FEAR of the Lord - displays itself in - probably millions of ways...
But let’s look at a FEW today…as we approach the NEW YEAR...
So maybe when the ball drops - and the countdown hits ZERO..
We can say - What our sermon title says today -
SLIDE:
HAPPY NEW FEAR!
SLIDE: The Fear of the Lord: Views Life Through a Biblical Lens
The Fear of the Lord
The Fear of the Lord
So let’s DISSECT this biblical lens for a bit - to start.
Part of this biblical lens has IN IT’S VIEW - - this...
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
CONTENTMENT - contentment is a SYMPTOM - of Fear in the Lord!
But what did Paul say?
v11
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
he says - I HAVE LEARNED - to be content!
This takes - EFFORT - to LEARN!
And so KNOW THIS -
SLIDE:
Contentment needs to be cultivated!
Now, we have to understand WHO is telling us this, that they have learned to be content in any situation...
Paul is writing these words...And we know what kind of STUFF that Paul had to deal with in his spiritual walk...
- the beatings
- the shipwreck(s)
- the stoning
- the hunger, the thirst, DANGER...
- Paul wrote these words from a prison cell...
YET - In all of these things - CONTENT...
LISTEN -
THIS CONTENTMENT - it’s not something that JUST HAPPENED for Paul...That's comforting to know isn't it?
Here you have the apostle Paul...this great warrior for Jesus...and he tells us that he needed to LEARN to be content.
PAUL HAD TO WORK AT THIS!!!
Ok, so think of this - NEW YEAR's day - many people will resolve to begin working out...
Let's say you go to the gym, and you want to get STRONGER BICEPS...
You walk up to the personal trainer and you say - I WANT TO GET STRONGER BICEPS...here's what he'll say -
"Ok, if you want stronger biceps, then go make them VERY weak"Meaning..."If you want stronger biceps, then you need to go USE THEM SO MUCH that you get to a point where you can't lift a pencil."
"You need to stress them to the point of weakness...IF you want them to become STRONG"
Muscles need to be made WEAK, in order for them to become STRONG...*Muscle Fatigue...
muscles need to be made WEAK, in order for them to become STRONG...This is why so many New Year work-out resolutions fail...
It's because we like the idea of - STRONGER - but we hate walking through the weakness...to get there.
We don't like the WORK involved in - GETTING stronger...
The apostle Paul can empathize with us...He needed to LEARN to be content (happy) - regardless of his situation...
He needed to LEARN to view every situation THROUGH a biblical lens...
*HOW many of you have walked through a trial recently?
If not recently...then ever? ALL of us - good!
NOW - when those trials come - how many of us REACT by SINGING...:
GOD IS GOOD - - - ALL THE TIME
It's not always easy...This has to be learned...There are times we want to respond with a big old - "What the heck is goin on?" "REALLY??? NOW???"
Being Spiritually content needs to be LEARNED...
And just like a muscle needs to be FATIGUED in order for it to be STRENGTHENED...We need to 'DO THE WORK' to gain spiritual contentment...
It takes effort to take a TRIAL in our lives, and VIEW IT - through a biblical lens...
*A trial comes...and...at first, we want to RESPOND WITH -
"WHAT??"
We want to get angry at GOD...
but no - we need to start (lifting- curls) - no, no, I shouldn't respond that way...I should VIEW this through a biblical lens...
What is God teaching me in this...How can I GROW spiritually in this?
Yes - this is a blessing and not punishment...
THAT.TAKES.EFFORT
That needs to be learned...
And how do you learn to ride a bike...?
You jump on a bike and you give it a go.
Will you fall...yes.
BUT THAT’S HOW YOU LEARN...
Paul LEARNED to be content - in any situation
But not just content...a CERTAIN kind of contentment!
What kind? Spiritual Contentment...
Listen to what he says in Romans chapter 8
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
As we walk through life, we're going to face trials...tribulation...heartache...
How will we respond?
If we walk in the flesh, we'll respond how the world responds...WITHOUT HOPE
NOW - what did Paul say about CONTENTMENT?
12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
Paul KNOWS HOW to be BROUGHT LOW...
We just talked about that...
The VALLEYS of Life - can we get to a point of VIEWING those dark times as - blessings FROM God?
BUT PAUL says something else here...
He not only POINTS to the VALLEYS of life (being brought low) - but he also says - - I KNOW HOW TO ABOUND!
How do we display FEAR of the LORD - in our moments of ABOUNDING??
How do we DISPLAY CONTENTMENT in GOD - when we ABOUND?
Here’s HOW!
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,
20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
DO NOT STORE UP treasures on EARTH!
OK - mike - that’s just a nice - HIGH - Lofty PRINCIPLE...
It’s nice - but it’s not REAL LIFE!
Ok...
32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.
33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold
35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
OK, MIKE - but those were rich people - People WELL OFF …
Ok...
1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia,
2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,
4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—
back to v2
2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
Their EXTREME poverty - overflowed to a WEALTH of generosity!
What happened here?
These people - displayed a FEAR of the Lord - which brought WISDOM!
NOW - the WORLD would look at these people - these POOR people - and think - Wow - what a bunch of idiots!
Why aren’t they SAVING UP?!
Why aren’t they STICKING to a BUDGET?
WHY???
Here’s why - Because God doesn’t work through Man-made budgets!!
AND WISDOM AGREES!
The world says - STORE UP FOR YOURSELVES!!
But Godly WISDOM says - TRUST GOD with that! - GIVE!!
How ELSE do we LOVE ONE ANOTHER - SO PROFOUNDLY that the world LOOKS AT THAT LOVE - and it causes them to STOP - AND LEARN SOMETHING about GOD???
It takes God’s PEOPLE DOING “RISKY” things for Jesus!!
Giving RADICALLY = for the sake of CHRIST!!
If we were to EVER live out Acts 4 - selling our GOODS AND LANDS so that NONE of our FLOCK was EVER IN NEED - the world would be - Absolutely CONFRONTED with the LOVE of JESUS - and KNOW that we belonged to Jesus!
but that’s - WISDOM.
And it begins with Fear of the Lord...
NOT - fear of bankruptcy
NOT - fear of pain
NOT - fear of LACKING
NOT - fear of the uncomfortable
NOT - fear of man-made constructs
So could this new year bring with it - HAPPY NEW FEAR!
It’s actually how we will live out - probably - the most popular verse in the bible… (?)
And by doing so - walk by the Spirit.
What verse?
12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
SLIDE: The Fear of the Lord: Rests in God and Not Man
The Fear of the Lord
The Fear of the Lord
12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Now, we read verse 13 here, and we recognize it...The most popular verse in the Bible...
We rip it out of it's context here...we slap on coffee mugs...we print it on t-shirts....and we say - SEE - i can win the Olympics...thru Him who strengthens me...
Well...in context....Paul is ACTUALLY using that verse as a support for when he - say - LOSES the olympics
He’s saying - yeah, I know i just LOST the gold medal…the championship game…and it was MY FAULT...
BUT - God is good!!
And i can SAY THAT - because “i can do all things thru HIM who strengthens me!”
He’s discussing the DANGER of abundance, and the pains of suffering...AND he's saying - GOD can help me maneuver thru these landmines...
IIIIFFFF - i can view these things in light of who GOD is...
This is why Spiritual Contentment RESTS in GOD and NOT man...
And THAT contentment - flows from FEAR OF THE LORD!
Think about this:
The apostle Paul is following Jesus...He's proclaiming the Name of Jesus to the world...He's OBEYING Jesus...
And BECAUSE he's obeying Jesus - he is:
beaten
stoned
put in prison
he's persecuted...
BECAUSE - OF - JESUS
And yet - Paul says - I can do ALL things through Him (Jesus) who strengthens me.
So understand this!!
Paul is sitting in prison - writing these words - LITERALLY...And he's CONTENT (Happy)...
He knows he's in prison BECAUSE of Jesus...we know this because of what he says in chapter 1 of this book.
12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,
13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.
14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.
16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.
He's in prison...missing out on all that he could be doing outside of prison...
KNOWING he's there because of Christ.....AND he's relying on Christ to sustain him by helping him be CONTENT about being in prison....
Paul knew that Spiritual Contentment RESTS in God and not in man.
If Spiritual Contentment rested in MAN and NOT God - Paul would have NEVER written this book of Philippians...
He would have been too bitter...too angry...INSTEAD HE's HAPPY....why?
Paul knew that FEAR OF THE LORD / Spiritual Contentment RESTS in God and not in man
Meaning this -
FEAR OF THE LORD - finds its happiness in all that God is!
SLIDE:
Fear of the Lord finds its happiness in:
God's love for others
God's mercy
God's faithfulness
God's longsuffering
God's purposes!!!
And so with THIS being true, we see why Paul could be sitting in a prison cell BECAUSE of Jesus Christ...and yet have his joy rooted in Jesus Christ and His purposes...
Jesus Christ LOVED lost sinners...THEREFORE Paul would sacrifice his life for the eternal sake of lost sinners
Jesus Christ showed MERCY to Paul....THEREFORE Paul wanted others to experience that same mercy
AND SO - FEAR OF THE LORD - anchored Paul ....in a HAPPINESS to be treated like Christ was treated, if it meant that people would be saved!
God's purpose became Paul's purpose...
AND THERE'S an amazing effect that this has in our lives!
A miraculous effect...Point number 3
SLIDE: Fear of the Lord: Gets Victory Over All Circumstances
The Fear of the Lord
The Fear of the Lord
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
The message of this text is completely foreign to the American Dream...The American Dream is:
Go to school
Get a good job
Get married
A nice house
A nice car
long weekends
good vacations
grow old
healthy
have a fun retirement
die easy
no hell
and THAT's the American Dream
But this text here says something different
What does Paul say?
Let's group these sayings together: (the negatives together and the positives together)
12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
I know how to be brought low, how to face hunger, and how to face need.
So, i think we would all say - Yes, I know what it's like to have LIFE collapse around me...
To experience loss of a loved one
loss of a job
loss of a relationship
to NOT get chosen
to GET looked over
for life to OVERWHELM us...
We've all been there...in our own way...we've all felt this.
And PAUL says...
I have learned to be content (happy) in these situations...When these situations come, I look at these situations thru a BIBLICAL LENS...
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Paul viewed the sufferings of life IN LIGHT of the glory of what he knew was coming...Paul KNEW he would spend eternity with Jesus in heaven...
and so when trials came...his focus remained on the glory that was to come...and it allowed him to BE CONTENT in and through those difficult times!
Now - let's look at the positives of Phil 4:12
12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
Paul says - I know how to abound, to face plenty and abundance.
It's one thing for us to FEEL like we need help from God when the GOING GETS TOUGH...
But did you know that we NEED GOD to help us when things go well for us??
Why?
Because it's in those times when we can start to feel like we DON'T NEED GOD...
Maybe we GET the promotion
We GET into that school
We GET that awesome new job!
We GET that guy or girl to say YES
It's in these times when we can FORGET the dangers of SUCCESS...
SLIDE: One of the greatest quotes I’ve ever heard...
Francis Chan:
“Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter.”
why is this true?
Because according to Scripture, success in life is not found in our possessions, or status..
But we’re BENT to think it does!
15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
How many of us TRULY feel that we need to be ON GUARD when things BEGIN to go well for us??
Aren’t those normally the times when we TAKE THAT DEEP SIGH of RELIEF?
Well...this is what Paul says...
This is what God says...We should not only view the trials of life through a biblical lens...
but we also need to view the GOOD in our lives through a biblical lens...
Our hearts are an idol factories, and we should always be on guard against our hearts turning the good things in life into IDOLS...that we would bow down and worship.
We DON'T WANT our hearts to be CONTENT in our possessions...WHY?
BECAUSE those things are temporary!
When was the last time, someone got the call from the doctor that they had STAGE 4 cancer, and in that moment, they found rest (contentment) in the fact that their bank account is full?
We want our hearts to be CONTENT in that which is ETERNAL...CONTENT in a loving God...whose love is everlasting...
Can we get that same call from the doc...and still be Content in Christ...KNOWING, like Paul, that the glory to come FAR outweighs our temporary pain here on this earth?
WHICH now brings us back to the title of this sermon:
SLIDE: Sermon Title
Happy New Fear
Happy New Fear
If you want be truly HAPPY this year...truly content...
CONTENT in and thru the tough times...CONTENT in and thru the good times...CONTENT in any situation....then we MUST be CONTENT in Jesus Christ - AND THAT FLOWS from - FEAR Of the LORD!
THIS FEAR will sustain you...THIS FEAR will make this coming year a HAPPY one...why?
SUMMARY
Fear of the Lord
Views Life Through a Biblical Lens
Rests in The All-Satisfying God and Not Man
Gets The Victory Over All Circumstances
FEARING the LORD - - And the Contentment that COMES...IN GOD....in Christ....needs to be cultivated - - AND WHEN IT IS - -
your joy will be rooted in that which will NEVER FAIL you!
This takes effort
It takes us - Embracing suffering
Lifting up Jesus in and through trials
Making Him look glorious to the world
Seeking Him in His word
And stepping out of our boats and onto the waves of faith
I pray that you will have a truly HAPPY new year.... WITH - Happy New FEAR
Let's pray
