Faith Over Fear 4

Today we’re wrapping our series called, “Faith Over Fear” In this series we’ve been talking about overcoming fear’s, or how grace can help us overcome fear in our lives.

October as we know is filled with images of fear—ghosts, skeletons, witches and darkness, but for US believer’s, fear should have no power.

Let’s again remember this acronym

FEAR:

F: False,

E: Evidence,

A: Appearing,

R: Real

Remember, ”Fear sees the obstacle. Faith sees the way through. Fear looks at the giant. Faith looks at God.”

Let’s look at our foundation scripture for this series.

Romans 5:17 (NKJV) 17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

Each week we looked at this verse in a different translation. NLT, Amp, TPT.

Let’s look at it from a paraphrase reading.

Romans 5:17 (MSG) 17 If death got the upper hand through one man’s wrongdoing, can you imagine the breathtaking recovery life makes, sovereign life, in those who grasp with both hands this wildly extravagant life-gift, this grand setting-everything-right, that the one man Jesus Christ provides?

Today we’re going to look at: Fearless Living Through Righteousness

Proverbs 28:1 (NKJV) “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.”

Many people live this life in timidly, running from shadows, worried about mistakes, or trapped in shame.

But the Bible says the righteous don’t have to live in fear, they can live as bold as lions.

Through Jesus, we’ve been given the gift of righteousness, which produces fearless living.

1 Corinthians 1:30 (NKJV) 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Righteousness is not something were going to get when we get to heaven, we have it now because of Jesus.

Too often we live life like were always running. But righteousness gives us confidence to stand.

Ephesians 3:12 (NLT) 12 Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.

Let’s look at some Points to ponder.

1. Fear Makes People Run When No One Is Chasing.

The first part of our main scripture shows us this so clearly.

Proverbs 28:1 (NKJV) 1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion.

Fear makes people imagine threats that aren’t even there.

Job 3:25 (NKJV) 25 For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, And what I dreaded has happened to me.

Fear is often a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Like hearing a noise at night and imagining ten times worse than reality, fear exaggerates. Grace calms.

2. But: Righteousness Brings Boldness.

Proverbs 28:1 (NKJV) 1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion.

Again and this is so important: Righteousness doesn’t mean perfection, it means right standing with God.

Galatians 2:16 (NLT) 16 Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.”

Righteousness makes believers spiritually BOLD.

Proverbs 28:1 (NLT) 1 The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions.

3. Righteousness Produces Peace, Not Fear

Isaiah 32:17 (NLT) 17 And this righteousness will bring peace. Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever.

When we know we’re right with God, we’re not anxious about tomorrow.

Romans 5:1 (NKJV) 1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Romans 5:1–2 (NLT) 1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

Think of a bank account, totally cleared of debt, you walk with peace instead of fear of creditors.

Righteousness clears our spiritual debt. WE ARE RIGHT WITH GOD NOW!

4. Righteousness Removes Condemnation

Romans 8:33–34 (NLT) 33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

Fear shrinks under accusation; righteousness silences condemnation.

Hebrews 10:22 (NLT) 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

In a Courtroom, if the Judge has already declared you innocent, no accuser can condemn you.

Double Jeopardy, is when you cannot be charged for the same crime, if you have been found innocent.

5. Righteousness Gives Us Bold Access to God

Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:16 (AMP) 16 Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].

The wicked hide from God (Gen. 3:10), but the righteous run to Him.

Psalm 34:4 (NKJV) 4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.

A child who knows their father’s love runs into his arms even after messing up. That’s what righteousness produces in us, confidence to approach God.

6. Righteousness Equips Us for Spiritual Battle.

Ephesians 6:14 (NKJV) 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

Righteousness protects our heart from fear and attack.

Revelation 12:11 (NKJV) 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

Roman soldiers wore breastplates to protect vital organs. Spiritually, righteousness protects us from deadly blows of guilt and fear.

Application

Fearless living isn’t about our personality, it’s about our position in Christ.

We need to Declare daily:

“I am the righteousness of God in Christ.”

“I am bold as a lion.”

“I walk in peace, not fear.”

Closing Scripture for series:

Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV) 10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Dwight L. Moody once said: “A man can no more lose his righteousness in Christ than a fish can drown in water.” That security is what makes us bold.

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