Four Season of Life - Insecurity

Opening

Opening

Last Week we learned that Seasons of Life are:

Beyond our control

Often Confusing

God has a purpose

Includes both good & bad times

You will reap in season, what you sow in another

We learned how to biblically deal with our Loneliness

Today let us altogether investigate the Bible how we can deal with our Insecurities

Personal story about my own insecurities in the past.

As a People-pleaser I had so much insecurities during my old life.

As a People-pleaser I had so much insecurities during my old life. During my school days and worst was during my stint as a politician We cannot just simply ignore the season of insecurity because they are real We cannot just shrug it off under the carpet and pretend its not there Everyone experiences insecurity at times We can not go on pretending and not address it biblically (properly) Many people have identity crisis because they base their worth and value on all the wrong things The good news is, we don't have to live insecure lives because God's will for us is to be secure and not to live in fear The key to living secure life in Christ is knowing who you really are in Christ By truly receiving God's love for you And basing your value on who God says you are, not what others says who you are. You are not what you do, you are how God has created you God's love for us is not because of what we do, but because of who we are to Him (God loved us first ) If it is because of what we do, we will never be truly secure and stable in our relationship with Him We have to take it by faith, which means we believe it before we see it

During my school days and worst was during my stint as a politician

We cannot just simply ignore the Season of Insecurity because they are “real”

We cannot just shrug it off under the carpet and pretend its not there

Everyone experiences insecurity at times

We can not go on pretending and not addressing it biblically (properly)

Many people have identity crisis because they base their worth and value on all the wrong things

The good news is, we don't have to live insecure lives because God's will for us is to be secure and not to live in fear

The key to living secure life in Christ is knowing who you really are in Christ

By truly receiving God's love for you

And basing your value on who God says you are, not what others says who you are.

You are not what you do, you are how God has created you

God's love for us is not because of what we do, but because of who we are to Him

If it is because of what we do, we will never be truly secure and stable in our relationship with Him

We have to take it by faith, which means we believe it before we see it

Is it a sin to be insecure?

Insecure per se is not a sin, but it can lead you to commit a lot of sin

Paul described insecurity as our confidence in the flesh

We know that our struggles is always our flesh against the Spirit ()

Dissatisfaction with God can lead us to sin

Justification from others and not from God (it’s an insult to our creator)

Justification by works and not by God (makes the holy sacrifice of Jesus useless)

Text

Isaiah 54:17 NCV

So no weapon that is used against you will defeat you. You will show that those who speak against you are wrong. These are the good things my servants receive. Their victory comes from me,” says the Lord.

Saul's Growing Fear of David

In we can find the accounts of Saul’s growing insecurities against David

But before we go to its details, let us first check out

What led Saul to his insecurities?

His disobedience ()

The Spirit of the Lord departed Saul ()

Evil spirit came upon Saul ()

What are the causes of King Saul's Insecurity?

Loss of Popularity (v.5) Jonathan his son, loved David so much like a brother that he made a covenant with him. Saul's officers loved David

Loss of Cheers from the Crowd (v.7) The women were singing cheering for David more than they did for Saul

His Anger against David (v.8)

His Fear towards David(v. 15)

What are the outcome of Saul's Insecurities?

He started thinking bad agains David, his once trusted and loved officer (v.25)

He was even willing to sacrifice her own daughters because of his ill plans brought about by his insecurities

Many others in the Bible had their share of "insecurities"

9 Common Causes of Insecurity

Feeling Unloved or Unwanted

Leah, a wife of David felt unloved, so she decided to have a baby

Root cause of all Insecurities

Most people think they have to do something to deserve God's love.

Ironically, that was how they were taught in some other religions.

That they need to do these and that to qualify for God's love & salvation

Contrary to & .

Comparing yourself to others

In Jesus predicts his death for the 2nd time, His disciples started to compare themselves with each other and argued about it

A 2016 study out of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine surveyed 1,787 U.S. millennials and found that subjects who reported the most frequent use of social media had 2.7 times more likelihood of depression than those who used it less frequently.

A 2016 study out of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine surveyed 1,787 U.S. millennials

Millennials and found that subjects who reported the most frequent use of social media had 2.7 times more likelihood of depression than those who used it less frequently.

And found that subjects who reported the most frequent use of social media had 2.7 times more likelihood of depression than those who used it less frequently.

Appearance and Imperfections (external & internal)

In God called Moses at the burning bush but he was insecure because he was not eloquent and he was slow to speak

Acceptance by Others (fitting in based on other's opinion)

In Paul encouraged Timothy out of his insecurity being young)

Not Measuring up to Standards of Others (culture, society, media, etc.)

In Gideon didn't feel that he measured up to the standard of a high and mighty hero

Fear

In Ten of the twelve spies feared to enter the Land God has promised

Failures (fear of previous failures, bad decisions, wrong living)

In David's sins of failure haunted him

Tragic Incident or Circumstances (death, abuse, infidelity)

In Tamar was raped by her half-brother Amnon, and she felt insecure and lived in desolation thereafter

Getting significance in wrong things (job, gifts, talents, spouse, children, materials possessions)

In Saul got his significance from his power, accomplishments and praises of others, and when he lost these things, he became very jealous of David

How Do We Overcome our Insecurities?

Saul wasn't able to recover from his Insecurity but Moses did.

When God told Moses to throw his staff on the ground, he complied

His staff symbolizes 3 very important things

Identity (as a shepherd)

Income

Influence

Though after surrendering his identity, income and influence to the Lord

And after witnessing miracles right before his eyes, Moses remained insecure ()

But, obedience made a huge difference between Saul and Moses

The ABC… of Defeating Our Insecurities

Align your expectations on how the Bible describes you to be

Ephesians 2:10 NCV

God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.

Ephesians 2:10 NCV

God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.

We are God’s masterpieces

Greek word poiēma (pi-ma) ποίημα

Believe in your heart that God truly loves you

Romans 5:8 NCV

But God shows his great love for us in this way: Christ died for us while we were still sinners.

God loved us first ()

Compare yourself to no one

2 Corinthians 10:12 NCV

We do not dare to compare ourselves with those who think they are very important. They use themselves to measure themselves, and they judge themselves by what they themselves are. This shows that they know nothing.

We must only compare ourselves to what the Bible says who we are

Because the Bible is our manual

If there’s something not working right in our system, we should check our manual

Do not let your past hold you back

Philippians 3:13 NCV

Brothers and sisters, I know that I have not yet reached that goal, but there is one thing I always do. Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead,

If you steadily look to your past, you’re like driving with your eyes stuck on your rear view mirror

While it is true that we may understand lives backwards, but it can only be lived forwards

In other words, we look at our past, learn from them and move forward

Engage yourself with supportive people

1 Corinthians 15:33 NCV

Do not be fooled: “Bad friends will ruin good habits.”

The saying goes.. “Tell me who your friends are, and I will tell you who you are” makes sense right?

We must be careful in choosing the people we hang out with

Don’t take me wrong, we are not condemning them, we are just protecting ourselves

It’s true, Jesus dined with the sinners, but hey! this is Jesus and we are not

What I mean is, we must have enough spiritual strength before we expose ourselves to such people

Enough firmness to win them over for Jesus, and not the other way around

Prayer

Church shall we pray together today?…Let’s all stand up. Reach for each other’s hand to form a chain of prayerful christians, praying as a family.

Matthew 18:19 NCV

“Also, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about something and pray for it, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.

With our hands held together, shows that we are in agreement with this prayer

Oh most dearly beloved Father in heaven

You are the creator of heaven & earth

We are your masterpieces

You carefully crafted us after Your very own image

Lord Jesus, You are the beginning and the end

You are the source of all grace

From everlasting to everlasting

Holy Spirit, You are the Paraclete

You are our advocate

The source of all truth and wisdom

Help us to overcome our insecurities

Guide us to align ourselves to Your design

Assure us of Your undying love

Remind us not to compare ourselves to anyone

Lead us not to remain stuck in our past

Bring us to the right group of people that we can grow with

Heavenly Father hear our prayers

Lord Jesus hear our prayers

Holy Spirit hear our prayers

And all the secure people of God shall say… AMEN!