The Haunted House Part 3

But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance.

You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it.

Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.

But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.

You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.

INTRODUCTION

Good morning Southpointe!! We are in this series that we had called The Haunted House. This is the last part, and then in November we are going into a series on Parenting. I believe that this is new series will be beneficial to all each group.

Because it doesn’t matter what period of life you are in, if it be in teen-college age, to the grandparents, or if you say I can’t or don’t want to have children. Or if you think that you are the best parent or the worst parents. God going to show us something that we as parents of children or parent to be. So don’t check out on me.

Come and be part of this!!

Now let’s get to the sermon this morning!

In a haunted house that present the atmosphere of fear.

talk about the beginning scene of silent terror: pict dark, heart beat, wall moving, little girl swing in a swing, demons coming out of walls etc.

What is fear?

Fear--: an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger.

We find that we live in a world that try it best to create an atmosphere of fear for Christians today.

You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times.

You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times.

For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.

They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good.

They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.

They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

Paul is warning Timothy his spiritual son and Apostle Paul said, You should know this: Basically Apostle is saying, this is very important.

IN the last days there will be very difficult times.

Then Apostle Paul begins to name them off: people who are lovers of themselves and their money, they are boastful and proud. They scoff at God, They will not listen to their parents, and they are ungrateful.

Nothing is sacred to them, they are unloving, unforgiving, slanders, no self-control. They are cruel people who hate what is good.

Friends that you can’t trust, careless, high on themselves, love the things of the earth and Not God. But they are religious, just be good attitude everybody going to heaven.

Stay away from them, don’t get caught up in their non-sense.

We live in that times that people are all about themselves.

The atmosphere is filled with no trust, mean, slanders people.

Show some pictures of mean people

We live in that time, we don’t trust letting our children out of our sight. We have security system and camera on our home. We carry guns on our person and in our vehicles and we have them in our homes and our church services.

Then as a Christian, we are afraid if we stand on our faith, that we could be persecuted for it, hate crime and isolate over looked.

In this letter to Apostle Paul spiritual son, Timothy, Apostle Paul reminds him that pain and persecution are a normal part of the Christian life.

He recalls his own suffering because of the message of Christ as well as the Lord’s hand in rescuing him through every situation.

You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it.

Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

Apostle Paul warned Timothy that persecution is a guarantee for everyone who lives a godly life in Christ Jesus.

This is what I believe that the anticipation of pain is just as bad (or worst) than actually feeling the pain itself. The fear factor.

I am a big sissy, when it comes to needles, I want them to rub that numbing lotion before that put a needle in me. ( tell about Leslie and the flu shot)

I worry about going to the doctor, because I know a needle coming.

Isn’t it crazy how our anticipation of what the pain might be like is worse than the actual pain itself.

In the same way, we can be anxious about how difficult suffering for Christ might turn out to be, or we can trust God to give us the strength to remain faithful in the hour we need it.

That brings me to another definition of fear.

Fear: : profound reverence and awe especially toward God.

Fear the LORD, you His godly people, for those who fear Him will have all they need.

Fear: : profound reverence and awe especially toward God.

Let look at this for a few moments:

King Jehoshaphat was traveling thru out Jerusalem telling the people to return to God. And he appointed some judges and told them.

Fear the LORD and judge with integrity, for the LORD our God does not tolerate perverted justice, partiality, or the taking of bribes."

The word Fear here in this verse in Hebrew is pachad which is a root word which means to be afraid, to actually shake in fear. But the word itself mean to have a sudden alarm, to have a feeling of terror.

The word fear here is reverence and awe toward God.

This fear is dealing with the fear that we talked about early, The king was telling these jugdes that he appointed to judge in fear of the Lord.

Look and understand those who reverence and stand in awe of Him will have all they need.

The fear that the world project to us can’t outcome the fear that we have in God. Godly fear, that reverence and awe of God out trump and overcome the fear that the world project into the scene.

But then we see the other fear:

But this is one thing that I know for sure that the world’s atmosphere of fear is real today. And it was real in Apostle Paul’s day.

Apostle Paul tells Timothy to remain faithful despite the persecution.

But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.

You see, to be able to step out of the atmosphere of fear in this world then you must step into the atmosphere of God’s holy fear (reverence and awe of Him.)

So we can say with confidence, "The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?"

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

But this is what I want you to notice, Apostle Paul was not telling Timothy that if you get into worship and lift your hands, if you just do a little dance around in the altar area, or if you just give a little in the offering, or if you speak in tongues a little longer.

Even though there’s nothing wrong with those things, and I do encourage you to get involved in them.

But Apostle Paul tells Timothy to draw his strength from the Word of God, let the Word of God be his source for wisdom.

You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.

Apostle Paul goes on and explains that God’s Word is the primary tool that equips us for every good work.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.

Did you know that firemen have to wear special gear to protect them from dangerous flames when they are fighting fires.

Their equipment enables them to run right into the fire in order to save others’ lives.

We as Christians are also equipped to enter into the a broken world in order to rescue others with the saving news of the gospel.

Watch this video (cut it off at 1:40, JJ Watts fire department)

As believers, one of the most important pieces of our gear is the Word of God. It equips us with the truth and encouragement as we enter into the atmosphere of this world that filled with fear.

We are going into this world to rescue the lost.

So to be able to reverence and stand in awe of God, we must read the Word of God for ourselves regularly to know what the Word says.

Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness.

For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.

In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.

Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

As believers, we live at ground zero in a broken world. We are surrounded by people who are living a very hard word, hurting people, and many don’t know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

( look at a bible reading plan)

As believers, we live at ground zero in a broken world. We are surrounded by people who are living a very hard word, hurting people, and many don’t know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

We are called to be like first responders in an emergency: We must engage and rescue in spite of our personal risk or discomfort.