Safe

Series intro

Safe intro

SNAP

The feeling of safety is often not realized until its gone.

Feel the effects of unsafe

It was a feeling Adam and Eve had in the garden

God promises us safety in HIM

Proverbs 18:10 “10 The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.”

David:

Psalm 55:18 “18 He ransoms me and keeps me safe from the battle waged against me, though many still oppose me.”

Psalm 55:22 “22 Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.”

Isaiah 41:10 “10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

We live in a world of fear and anxiety

We all want to feel Safe

1) Physically Secure / Surroundings

Food

Shelter

Enough money to support ourselves

2) Emotionally / Relationally Secure

We can relay on those who say they love us to act lovingly

You can be fully yourself.

Share emotions knowing they will love and support you.

The ones you love will will keep their word and respect you.

Text message timing.

3) Spiritually Secure

Won’t pull the rug out from underneath us.

Doctrine - thinking of God

I fully understand God

No one can every understand anything

God can’t be himself - he has to be who you created him to be.…

He keeps his promises

Numbers 23:19 “19 God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?”

Hebrews 10:23 “23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.”

When you feel Safe

A certain freedom and confidence to explore the world and even take a few risks

Wholly secure

Free to take risks - pursue a dream

Free to be generous

Free to be angry with God and still love him.

Unsafe Household

Did you grow up in a house where your parents/guardians couldn’t be counted on?

Made poor financial decisions

Didn’t protect you from dangerous people

Didn’t provide for your emotional needs

Shut ya down or make you deal on your own.

Heavy emphasis on how money is spent

What unsafe often looks like

I am going to cover 3 that are easier to explain in a group. Another is Internal Control…

1) External Control

Worry - even obsess - about things that are not really that big of a deal

Fixating on the house

The leaves have to be picked and racked immediately

Snow has to be removed perfectly and immediately

Garage has to be perfectly clean

Double or triple-checking the doors at night before bed

Lights off

Perfectionism could be a sign of feeling unsafe

If everything is perfect, then we will feel safe.

Controlling the outside - instead of the inside

Steals your peace

Need to feel in control of something.

2) Misuse of Money

Shows up in 2 ways

Obsess

Daily checking of bank accounts

Making plans and backup plans

If we have money we will feel safe

That amount is always more than we have.

Ignore

“forgetting” to make sure you have enough money

not making a plan just saying “well figure it out.”

Marriage opposites attract and later find that we are made they never changed… neither did we.

Both are unsafe

Unsafe with money is often a mindset

Emotions can’t tell time

Money is a tool and an enhancer

Money & Safety

Hebrews 13:5–6 “5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” 6 So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?””

The gospels record Jesus talking about money more than heaven and hell combined.

The issue is not economic success. but the dangers of finding safety in money instead of God.

Matthew 6:24–34 “24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. 25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? ....

26 Look at the birds.

28 “And why worry about your clothing?

31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

Jesus says

Don’t worry - it doesn’t help.

Do:

have faith - see how God takes care of things

seek his kingdom - ABOVE ALL ELSE

Live righteously

How do we live righteously???

Living in obedience to God

Read

Pray (Ask)

Surrender

God is our source of safety. Our job is to be obedient to him.

India

IT management to an associate pastor - 42% pay cut

Christian counseling $125 hr. each of us

Obedience can be scary - But Safety is in Him

Continued … What unsafe often looks like

3) Relationships

Worry about someone leaving us.

Do you try to control their love for you? - Manipulation

Often sex is used - what lengths will you go even denying your own wants and needs to please someone else so they won’t leave you?

Don't do it.

When you go against God you will feel more unsafe. Fear will grow

People Pleasing - Hiding our emotions and masking our reactions so we don’t end up on the wrong side.

Given approval of something you know is completely wrong

Proverbs 29:25 “25 Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.”

God gave us the desire to feel safe so we would attach to him.

He is our source.

He wants us to trust him. (he will keep his promises)

John 10:27–30 “27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, 29 for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.””

The father is our source of relationship

Conclusion

Psalm 91 “1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. 3 For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. 4 He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. 5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. 6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. 7 Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. 8 Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished. 9 If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, 10 no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. 11 For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. 12 They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. 13 You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! 14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. 15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. 16 I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.””