Fear

Posted on Feb 14, 2019

Dan Johnston

📷

What do you get when you have constant sunshine and no rain? A desert.

Funny what we’re scared of...

Spiders? Evil clowns? Airplanes? The Four Seasons Mall?

I would love to take you to my old stomping grounds

You ever come home to a SWAT van on your front lawn and snipers on your roof?

Twice in the same week?

I’ve been scared of a lot of things

One, was becoming a Senior Pastor someday

Still haven’t fully faced that one yet...

But I did KINDA face it once...

Tell story of Glenn’s brain bleed

Comparing Yourself to Others

He said "It was going to be a good one too, now you're going to jack it up."

Kanye West once said, “When I think of competition it’s like I try to create against the past… I think about Michelangelo and Picasso, you know, the pyramids.” While I’m sure Kanye  is very talented, I’m not sure I would ever put his rap music up against the works of Michelangelo or Picasso. I definitely wouldn’t put them up against the pyramids… The Great Pyramid in Giza was once 479 feet tall and was made from 2.3 million blocks. The base is less than 2 cm deep and it is almost perfectly square. It’s aligned facing north to within 3/60th of one degree and compasses didn’t even exist yet! The core of granite was chipped out using hammer stones that cut about 3cm per day. Meanwhile, giant blocks were quarried using about 1,500 workers to cut out an olympic pool-sized amount of yellow limestone every week! Then, huge boats were used to transport beautiful white limestone down the nile for the face. Eventually, these enormous blocks were moved by wetting the sand in front of the blocks and pulling them with hundreds of workers or animals. Then comes the hard part… stacking all these bricks up! Many scientists believe that some sort of ramp system was constructed, but that is tough to figure out; even for modern engineers. No matter what, it was a very challenging and precise job, as the seams between the out stones are so tight you can’t even get a credit card between them 4,500 years later! It was constant, grueling work for tens of thousands of Egyptians for more than 20 years on each pyramid. I don’t want to be unfair, but I don’t think making a rap album over a couple of months in an air conditioned studio is the same thing as building the pyramids. In any case, we often compare ourselves to others. Sometimes we build up our opinions of ourselves like Kanye, but often we beat ourselves up. We see other people with $300 shoes, a lot of popularity, or a new car and wish we could be like them. On the other hand, sometimes we think we’re better than others because we have a cuter boyfriend/girlfriend, better grades or go to a better school. It’s easy to believe we are something based on what the world tells us, but what does the Bible tell us? Romans 3:22-24 says: “…For there is no distinction:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…” The truth is, we have ALL fallen short and are no better than anyone else. However, we ALL have the option to find redemption in Christ. Romans 8:38-39 says: “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Did you get that? God loves YOU so much that there is literally NOTHING in the world that can separate you from His love? Isn’t that crazy? A perfect, wonderful, powerful and intelligent God loves you enough to give up everything for you, and NOTHING can stop Him! I don’t know about you, but a love like that makes me really that I have something that nothing can compare to. Even a new pair of Yeezys.

He was back in the pulpit 5 weeks later

Questions

Yesterday I was scared to death Story of yesterday

I imagine other people's feelings about this

1.) How do you feel about Kanye’s view of himself? 2.) What are some tasks that are as hard as building the pyramids? 3.) Do you struggle when comparing yourself to others? 4.) What do others have that you wish you had? 5.) What do others lack that you often criticize? 6.) What does it mean to find our identity in Christ? 7.) Do you believe that God loves you, or is that hard to accept? 8.) What are some things that try to pull you away from God’s love? 9.) Is there anything you would like to pray for?

Reba, enemies, children

Mine is fear

At one moment I remember begging God not to give me a church

Explain the love of a pastor for his flock

I said "God, I am not ready"

In the Bible there are many valleys that are viewed as problems.

Joshua = Valley of Calamity. (Baca) = of Weeping. Hosea = of Trouble Today we are going to talk about a valley. verse 4.

Psalm 23:4 ESV

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

In Israel there is a real Valley of the Shadow of Death

Very deep and steep, only lit at noon

David likely led his sheep through here

5 facts on valleys 1. Dark valleys are UNAVOIDABLE. They are going to happen in life – you can count on it. You may be coming out of one right now or you may be in the middle of one right now or you’re heading into one right now. No matter what - dark valleys are unavoidable. Job five seven says this:

Job 5:7 ESV

7 but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.

If you are human - there will be dark valleys in your life. 2. Dark valleys are UNPREDICTABLE. You can’t plan them or time them. Dark valleys are unscheduled. They usually come at the worst time – when you don’t have time for them and are unprepared for them. Thankful for a flat tire? In a moment - at an unpredicatable time - dark valleys show up. 3. Dark valleys are IMPARTIAL. No one is immune. No one escapes the problems of life

Problems don’t care how good or bad you are.

“Why me?” The real question we should be asking is, “Why not me?”

Do you think you or Glenn should be exempt from problems?

Problems happen to everyone

Matthew 5:45 ESV

45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

- He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Why do we think we should be exempt from problems? The good news is: 4. Dark valleys are TEMPORARY. They have an end. First Peter five eleven says: - 10 But may[a] the God of all grace, who called us[b] to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. Even if you live 80 or 90 years and have problems all your life – that is so insignificant

Why do we think we should be exempt from problems? The good news is: 4. Dark valleys are TEMPORARY. They have an end. First Peter five eleven says:

1 Peter 5:10 ESV

10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Even if you live 80 or 90 years and have problems all your life – that is so insignificant

Remember how long high school was? And how fast it went by?

Someday, we will all pass on! Point five: 5. Dark valleys have a PURPOSE.

Car accident and lunch

God has a reason for taking you through dark valleys.

We think valleys are unnatural, they're not, they're a natural part of the landscape.

There are financial valleys, relationship valleys, emotional valleys, all kinds of valleys in our lives. You will get through them in time. Look at what first Peter chapter one says:

1 Peter 1:6–7 ESV

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

This verse tells me two things. A. Every problem has a purpose.

As metal is put into the fire to make it pliable – so we go through problems is life. The fire heats the metal so it can be shaped and made useful. B. Faith is built in the valleys of life.

How do you know if you will be faithful unless you are faced with unfaithfulness?

Video games nowadays...

What if all video games had no villain? Who would want to play that game?

What if all video games had no villain? Who would want to play that game?

God’s goal in life is not to make you comfortable. It's to make you more like Christ.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU GO THROUGH DARK VALLEYS 1. Refuse to be DISCOURAGED.

Let’s look at again.

Psalm 23:4 ESV

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

psa 23:4 Let’s look at again. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” (NKJV) I want to observe two very important things about this verse. The first is: God doesn’t panic when you go through a problem. But neither do His sheep.

I want to observe two very important things about this verse. The first is: God doesn’t panic when you go through a problem. But neither do His sheep.

You walk. The second thing I want you to look at are the words, “I will.”

“I will” is a matter of choice. "I will" fear no evil.

John 16:33 ESV

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

- If God is for us, who can be against us? Refuse to be discouraged. You can’t go around the valley.

Romans 8:31 ESV

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

- If God is for us, who can be against us? Refuse to be discouraged. You can’t go around the valley.

Refuse to be discouraged. You can’t go around the valley. But there is a reason why you should refuse to be discouraged. Look at the next phrase

We as a church will face the ailment of our leader. Don't be discouraged. But there is a reason why you should refuse to be discouraged. Look at the next phrase

Psalm 23:4 ESV

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

“For You are with me;” (NKJV) God is with you every step of the way. God promises His presence. 2. Rely on God’s PRESENCE. At verse four in the Psalm there is a change in the language.

Third person. “He leads me.” “He guides me.” “He restores my soul.”

Second person. “You are with me. Your rod and your staff.”

When you are scared you don’t want to talk about God – you want to talk to God.

Religion becomes relationship. God says “I am with you. I will take you by the hand. I will lead you through this.”

Green Mist - darkness

I knew I had control of the headlights, but my passengers didn't

I know we have Jesus.

Matthew 28:20 ESV

20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

3. Rely on God’s PROTECTION. David reminds us that God has a rod and a staff to protect us.

The rod is a weapon to protect the sheep The staff has a crock at the end of it.

The staff is used to draw sheep out of a ditch or to pull them to the shepherd.

Nice, but the truth is the shepherd is there to protect His sheep. God is our shepherd.

John chapter ten says:

John 10:29 ESV

29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

CLOSING: Bruce Keith and Mexico

If you let fear control you, imagine what blessings you’ll miss

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." (NKJV)

Psalm 23:1–4 ESV

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.