The Foundation of Our Confidence

Marco E. Ballesteros

Confident • Sermon • Submitted 7 years ago

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LIfee without fear

Imagine a life where fear is not the determining factor of your life. Imagine waking up in the morning with the confidence that today will be a good day, no matter what the struggle, what the unexpected situation is, or what the temporary crisis will be.

Is this even possible? Does it mean that we should live in ignorance of the problems around us? Should we stamp a smile on our face?

Perhaps the greater question is not how should we live? But for whom are we living? What would our spiritual, emotional, and physical focus say about the deity we worship? We spend too much time wondering how to live a better life, and how to have a happier future. But the what is holding us back from living a life of freedom is not what we do, but who we live for. The greatest issue in our hearts is not how we live but who we live for.

Think about how many of our behaviors, dreams, relationships, and conversations are fed by our fears not by confidence, love, or hope. The Scriptures speak about hope and faith as assurance of supported by more than strong conviction. Hope and faith are founded on the act of love demonstrated by the power fo God over his creation. The word faith and hope are now used as wishful thoughts.

A life marked by fear is a life that centers in the worship of… fear. Fear is a false god, and like any other god fear will claim every ounce of your being. Fear will demand your life, time, energy, mind, and strength. Life is too short to be lived with the uncertainty of a frightful future.

An idol is:

Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters How to Make a God

It is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give.

Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters How to Make a God

An idol has such a controlling position in your heart that you can spend most of your passion and energy, your emotional and financial resources, on it without a second thought.

Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters Grace and Deep Idols

Each deep idol—power, approval, comfort, or control—generates a different set of fears and a different set of hopes.

Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters Grace and Deep Idols

Each deep idol—power, approval, comfort, or control—generates a different set of fears and a different set of hopes.

Do we believe God wants us to live enslaved by fears? How can we defeat the idol of fear? 1 John

How do we defeat fear? How can we overcome the gripping uncertainty of a broken future? How do we position our heart in such way that prepares us for the hardest of days? The only way to overcome an idol is by replacing that idol, but destroying it and putting on a new god.

When idolatry is mapped onto the future—when our idols are threatened—it leads to paralyzing fear and anxiety. When it is mapped onto the past—when we fail our idols—it leads to irremediable guilt. When idolatry is mapped onto the present life—when our idols are blocked or removed by circumstances—it roils us with anger and despair. - Timothy Keller

What is the

In his book Following Jesus, N.T. Wright asked the questions:

Following Jesus: Biblical Reflections on Discipleship Chapter Seven: The God Who Raises the Dead

What does the resurrection of Jesus tell us about the true God? What I want to say divides broadly into three: the surprising command, the sudden crisis, and the surpassing God.

First: The surprising commandment

NIVWe have the benefit of knowing that God has won the day! That Jesus is alive!People live with a constant fear of Murphy’s Law.

Following Jesus: Biblical Reflections on Discipleship Chapter Seven: The God Who Raises the Dead

So you see why this command, ‘Don’t be afraid,’ is one of the hardest of all to keep. Even chastity is reasonably straightforward by comparison. Can you imagine living without fear? I don’t mean the sort of secular ‘fearlessness’ one associates with the heroes of thriller stories or war exploits

The resurrection points at the sovereignty and character of the God who was behind the resurrection.The love of God expressed in the cross is able. Love is more than fluff or good wishes. It is God's power to overcome all obstacles to see your life be a demonstration his glory and authority. When we are afraid of what others may do or say to us

The New International Version Chapter 51Isaiah 51:7 7 “Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have taken my instruction to heart: Do not fear the reproach of mere mortals or be terrified by their insults.

The New International Version Chapter 35Isaiah 35:4 4 say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”

The New International Version Chapter 31 Peter 3:14 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” z

The New International Version Chapter 10Matthew 10:28 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

When we let fear hold us back from obeying God:

The New International Version Chapter 57Isaiah 57:11 11 “Whom have you so dreaded and feared that you have not been true to me, and have neither remembered me nor taken this to heart? Is it not because I have long been silent that you do not fear me?

The New International Version Chapter 357 You came near when I called you, and you said, “Do not fear.”

NASB95‘But now take courage, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord, ‘take courage also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land take courage,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ declares the Lord of hosts. ‘As for the promise which I made you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit is abiding in your midst; do not fear!’

Persecution:When we need a reminder that we belong to him:

The New International Version Chapter 43Isaiah 43:1 Israel’s Only Savior 43 But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

Living with a resurrection mind set means:

The men were seized by a great fear and—after he admitted that he was fleeing from the face of the Lord—they said to him: “How could you have done this!” Then they said to him, “What must we do to you, that the sea may become quiet for us, for the sea is more and more tempestuous?”

Living with a resurrection mind set means:

1. Certainty that God can redeem every broken story, every challenging situation, even the things that seem to be unchangeable for his glory. Every single situation in life is a reminder that God’s heart breaks over this broken world

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2. Only God’s word over your life is final.

(NIV)

The New International Version Chapter 833 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” g 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The New International Version Chapter 25 And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6 And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people. 7 You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious.