Who do you fear?

Who do you fear?

Intro -

We

Do you fear the world?

Do you fear losing your loved one such as your wife or husband?

Do you fear that your talents or abilities are not going to be good enough and you are going to be teased or not get that job you wanted?

Are you afraid of what people are going to think of your appearance?

Do you say things like:

what would happen if I lose my job, I will lose all that I have worked to achieve.

If I don’t complete my goals, my life will be a failure.

If I don’t complete my goals, my life will be a failure.

Biblical Counseling Keys on Fear A. What are Common Causes of Fear?

If I don’t complete my goals, my life will be a failure.

what would happen to my family if I die on the highway, how are they going to survive without me?

Hunt, J. (2008). Biblical Counseling Keys on Fear: No Longer Afraid (p. 11). Dallas, TX: Hope For The Heart.

Does your imagination run wild?

The world is a hard place to live and danger or disaster is lurking around ever corner.

Do you assume that the worst will happen?

No matter what I do I’m going to be teased or rejected

Its better not to love so I don’t have to face rejection

I always seem to fail, its frustrating and Im afraid if I try again I’m only going to fail.

Do you fear the world?

some of these questions have come up in your life at some point if not then you are either lying to yourself

if you do, please turn with me to 1 peter 1:17-21

1 Peter 1:17-21

God

If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during your time living as strangers.

For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold,

but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb.

He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you.

Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Transition - A few weeks back we started building a foundation upon Jesus Christ through the gospel, after that we learned that early in our walk with Jesus we can start to question our faith. But, once our assurance of faith is solid we ready to learn how to walk in obedience to Christ and we start to learn that “The renewed mind fears the Lord, not the world.” by first being aware of the Judge.

Main Point – The Renewed Mind Fears the Lord, not the world.

We must always be aware of the Judge

- If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during your time living as strangers.

The one thing about my household growing up was that we loved our dad

When I was growing up, I had a few neighbourhood friends that would have disagreements from time to time. When one of us would get out of line or pick on a younger brother we would get into a fight and end up in a stalemate. So we would start the age old “my dad is a miner so he can beat up your dad” and I would say “ya, well my dad is a heavy duty mechanic so he can beat up your dad.” this would go on for some time until we would just agree to disagree.

1 Peter 1:17 - If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during your time living as strangers.

no matter what, we had confidence that our fathers. We knew that they would care for us, even though us kids had a gotten into a fight we knew our fathers would settle the argument for us when the fight got to the point where our own strength could not over come the difficulty.

however, the confidence of knowing your dad is going to take care of you means that you fear him. Tell me, how many of you had a fear of your father?

I learned very early that my father was a man to be feared.

He even made sure that I knew, no matter how old I was he could still give me spank should I deserve it. He said “son, even if you are 40 years old and you break the rules I will kick your butt.” the thing is he could really do it even today.

As Christians, all of us who call God Father, be it in a time of need or if we are praising something He has done for us; needs to be aware that our actions and lifestyle is always under constant watch, unlike the world.

All who call God Father needs to be aware that our actions and lifestyle is always under constat watch.

needs to be aware that our actions and lifestyle is always under constat watch.

(you see,) The World will only see what we allow them to see:

our interactions with people on the street, coffee shops, and stores.

our interactions with people who we call friends know a bit more about us.

our interactions with co-workers

our interactions with our loved ones (friends and families)

our online interactions as well.

All of these interactions can be tracked in some form or fashion and the world will judge you based on the works you do and lifestyle you live.

The world only sees the outside, take Saul for example. The Israelites demanded an earthly king so they requested Samuel to find them a king. When Samuel found Saul the Bible says “an impressive young man. There was no one more impressive among the Israelites than he. He stood a head taller than anyone else.” they wanted a king and choose one who based on the outward expression.

Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

recall last week when we learned about the outward expression that is based on the inward reflection.

God on the other hand sees more than just the surface.

Take for example God said “Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.”

Keep in mind that whatever we do that is an outward expression or worldly interactions are visible to God.

Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.”

The renewed mind of us Christians should know that life will end with judgment.

This should spur us to live each moment under the scrutiny of the Judge (our Father)

Just like when we were kids knowing that our dads are going to protect us we feel safe and happy knowing we have a great protector we should also be aware that our father in heaven is also a Judge

As Christians we need to be also aware that our actions here on earth while we live along side strangers in this foreign land are being watched by the unsaved.

our responsibility is to demonstrate a clear, genuine testimony of God and Saviour by the kind of lives we live.

We are to do this in fear, fear that can be broken down in these words:

This type of fear being aware of our conscience at all times

being on guard at all times, so we do not fall into temptation or sinful habits

always being aware of what goes on in our hearts to avoid being proud of selfish accomplishments and be ready to take these thoughts captive and surrender them Christ. In doing so we become obedient to Christ and the world sees Christ in us.

Transition - The fear of the Lord is not just the judgment at the end, we must also be aware of the price Jesus paid for our freedom.

not only that

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 16

Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the LORD sees, for humans see what is visible, but the LORD sees the heart.”

We must always be aware of the price

We must always be aware of the price

- For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb.

Here is a story about a missionary named John who became a good friend of an Indian pearl diver named Patel. The two had spent many hours together discussing salvation, but Patel could not understand anything so precious being free. Instead, in making preparation for the life to come, Patel was going to walk the nine hundred miles to Delhi on his knees. He thought this would buy entrance into heaven for him. John struggled to communicate to his friend that it is impossible to buy entrance into heaven because the price would be too costly. Instead, John said, Jesus had died to buy it for us.

Before he left for his pilgrimage, Patel gave John the largest and most perfect pearl he had ever seen. John offered to buy it, but Patel became upset and said that the pearl was beyond price, that his only son had lost his life in the attempt to get it. The pearl was worth the life blood of his son. As he said this, suddenly Patel understood that God was offering him salvation as a priceless gift. It is so precious that no man could buy it. It had cost God the life’s blood of his Son. The veil was lifted; he understood at last.

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Salvation, Gift Of

The story has been told of a missionary who became a good friend of an Indian pearl diver. The two had spent many hours together discussing salvation, but the Indian could not understand anything so precious being free. Instead, in making preparation for the life to come, the diver was going to walk the nine hundred miles to Delhi on his knees. He thought this would buy entrance into heaven for him. The missionary struggled to communicate to his friend that it is impossible to buy entrance into heaven because the price would be too costly. Instead, he said, Jesus had died to buy it for us.

Before he left for his pilgrimage, the Indian gave the missionary the largest and most perfect pearl he had ever seen. The missionary offered to buy it, but the diver became upset and said that the pearl was beyond price, that his only son had lost his life in the attempt to get it. The pearl was worth the life blood of his son. As he said this, suddenly the diver understood that God was offering him salvation as a priceless gift. It is so precious that no man could buy it. It had cost God the life’s blood of his Son. The veil was lifted; he understood at last.

Patel understood the cost of salvation, however, most Christians today in Canada are not aware of the price paid. We are too wrapped up in the vices of today.

growing up we are taught to stay focused on the school work to get a good job.

Get your grade 12 or you will work for pennies the rest of your life.

Get a collage degree so you can afford to care for your family.

get a car, then a house, then a cell phone to call others, home phone, internet, tv, put money aside to go on dates, buy the best clothing, get the AAA beef steaks, buy some land… the list goes on…

care for your family has lost its meaning in a large number of cases.

the list of things we “need” gets bigger. The job needs to pay more bills we need to get credit cards to pay bills and have some money because of the cost of living is getting higher.

Some are able to get good paying jobs and put in 30 years to get a much deserved retirement package.

Some are able to only scrape by living paycheque to paycheque. I use to be like this.

either way we look at it we have the comfortable lifestyle we got the big home, fancy car, good credit score, a chunk of land, a boat, all the toys and a passport.

How can we value the price Jesus paid if we are living the comfortable lifestyle and our every wants are met instantly?

ah but what about us who can hardly make ends meet? life is so hard at times we get discouraged, worried, we fear what comes next. Can we feed ourselves? are we going to lose the car? are we going to lose the house?

At this point of low we lose sight of the price that Jesus paid.

the interesting thing about fear is that fear makes us aware. it heighten our awareness of the situation, when we fear the Lord we become aware of the blessings and the struggles around us.

When we become aware of the price paid for our salvation, we become aware of the value of our earthly possessions and our roles as Christians. or should I say Ambassadors of Christ.

we start to pass on the blessings to others who are in need. We no longer strive to reach the top… because that top leads to nothing, you don’t gain anything by having the most toys at the end of your life or the biggest bank account. Really… you cant take it with you.

Since we cant work for salvation, God already paid that bill, we already have it. We then need to change our focus from “got to get, got to have.”

To how can we build the kingdom of heaven, how can we reach the lost?

We do this by “knowing that our empty way of life inherited from our fathers” is just that. its empty.

But when we focus on our heavenly Father our way of life becomes full. We work to care for our families. first we make sure we have what we need, then we care for our family members who are in need.

The early Church did that, they do that now all around the world but here in Canada its such a foreign idea. says “ Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need.”

The early church was aware of the price Jesus paid for salvation and the value of their silver and gold was nothing in comparison to the precious blood of Christ. They feared the Lord, not the world.

Transition - Jesus paid a huge price by dying on the cross but if that was the end of the story our fear would not be complete. We must always be aware of the power of God.

We must always be aware of the power

In the U.S. at an Indiana cemetery there is a tombstone that is over a hundred years old that has the following carved on it:

Pause, Stranger, when you pass me by,

As you are now, so once was I.

As I am now, so you will be,

So prepare for death and follow me.

looking back at what we have learned already. Our works that we do, trying to do what is good and right does not have the power to save you. if we recall what peter said about God “who judges impartially according to each one’s work”. We learn that the price paid for your salvation was “not with perishable things like silver or gold” so if we cant do works to gain salvation or pay for it in anyway. when that final moment happens and we pass from life into death all the works and possessions we have are no longer any use to us and we are made fully aware that we are at the mercy of God and we become aware of His power.

, we are made fully aware that we are at the mercy of God and we become aware of His power. when that final moment happens an you pass from life into death

- He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (p. 89). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

Now, I am not saying we need to fear death in this part of the sermon, a sermon designed to scare people into salvation is a terrible way to preach. This sermon should encourage us to be aware of God’s power.

He made Jesus known to us in these last days as the only way to get back to God. In that we realize the kind of power God has. God created the universe and He keeps things ticking right along nicely, and He demonstrates His power by first raising Jesus from the dead and having Him sit at the right hand of God.

that would seem strange, but He demonstrates His power by first raising Jesus from the dead and having Him sit at the right hand of God.

In the book of Job, God speaks to Job after he had demanded to speak with God. In his conversation God’s power is spoken of:

Get ready to answer me like a man; When I question you, you will inform me. 8 Would you really challenge my justice? Would you declare me guilty to justify yourself? 9 Do you have an arm like God’s? Can you thunder with a voice like his?

10 Adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, and clothe yourself with honor and glory. 11 Pour out your raging anger; look on every proud person and humiliate him. 12 Look on every proud person and humble him; trample the wicked where they stand. 13 Hide them together in the dust; imprison them in the grave. 14 Then I will confess to you that your own right hand can deliver you.

15 Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you. He eats grass like cattle. 16 Look at the strength of his back and the power in the muscles of his belly. 17 He stiffens his tail like a cedar tree; the tendons of his thighs are woven firmly together. 18 His bones are bronze tubes; his limbs are like iron rods. 19 He is the foremost of God’s works; only his Maker can draw the sword against him. 20 The hills yield food for him, while all sorts of wild animals play there. 21 He lies under the lotus plants, hiding in the protection of marshy reeds. 22 Lotus plants cover him with their shade; the willows by the brook surround him. 23 Though the river rages, Behemoth is unafraid; he remains confident, even if the Jordan surges up to his mouth. 24 Can anyone capture him while he looks on, or pierce his nose with snares?

Transition - It is knowing this that we can put our faith and hope in God.

It is knowing this that we can put our faith and hope in God.

I ask you again, Who do you fear?

We

I ask you again, Who do you fear?

Do you still fear the world or do you fear the Lord?

We call on the God as our Father, We need to aware that He judges our actions, He paid the price none of us could have ever paid, and He has power that none of us could ever compare with.

My closing challenge to you is simple. A simple tool that you can use every single day.

right now, there are problems in our lives.. all of us. We have something, but I want you to call the problem up in your mind does it cripple you with fear? are you afraid of the outcome? what is it that you are afraid of?

take that fear in your mind, focus on it for a moment now. bring you attention back to me for a moment.

God… Is bigger.. than that fear.

so lets bow in prayer.