God: The One Who Casts Out Fear
Notes
Transcript
In Light of the Corona-virus
In Light of the Corona-virus
I am taking a step back from Esther this morning because of the growing concern about Corona-virus.
I am sure you are aware that it has caused many sport events to be canceled because of its threat. NHL, NCAA basketball, Baseball, schools have moved completely online.
Not to mention the shortage on toilet paper and i know all the funny pictures going around on Facebook about toilet paper.
I am not going to try and be a scientist and explain how the virus is working it might surprise you but i am not a doctor so I will remain silent on the medical aspect of what is happening.
I want you to know that we as a church are wanting to be careful about the spread of this virus here are a few ways we are seeking to do that.
statistics show that older people have a harder time with the sickness as well as those with compromised immunities. That said if you choose to not attend for a season. I understand again I want stress for a season.
If you are sick at all please love your fellow Christians and coworkers and stay home
We are going to try and minimize physical contact so if you can remember hold off with shaking hands. This makes it difficult for me in the back but i will just say hi and i am still more than willing to talk with you.
If the state recommends that churches do not meet for a time we will honor the state. There is a good chance that i can still put together a lesson and send it out through Facebook if it comes to that.
We have hand sanitizer throughout the church and they should all be functioning as well as washing hands regularly.
We want to be wise but now i want to address a heart attitude that seems to be sweeping throughout the nation.
Please here me when I say these things it does not mean we do not take the precautions necessary.
This virus seems to be exposing what is in the hearts of many in our world if not specifically America. A heart of fear.
I want to address the heart of fear this morning.
Why do we fear?
we are afraid of losing something.
therefore when you fear ask yourself a diagnostic question- what am I afraid to lose?
for example- fear of man- what am I afraid to lose? Respect? Affirmation? I say or dont say something to someone because i am afraid that I will lose respect or a friendship, they may even think I am stupid so i might lose my social status whatever it might be.
Now think about corona virus what is driving a nation wide fear? What is driving their hearts? Fear and what are so many afraid of losing? life.....we are afraid of death possibly and because we do not know what to do about it we are driven by fear. We recognize though some would not articulate it this way we are not in control.
The good thing about fear is that God’s word addresses it regularly.
Turn in your Bible’s to Psalm 23:4 and now to Acts 18:9-10.
From each of these passages when someone is afraid how does God bring them comfort?
God assures them that He is with them.
Now I want to explore for the remainder of our time character qualities of God.
How does God Himself in other words how does God’s character impact our fear?
What do you believe about Him, comes out in how you live everyday.
Who is in control in the midst of perceived chaos?
God is in Control
God is in Control
18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
We need to realize that though it seems like chaos God is in control.
This has not surprised God. He is not scrambling to figure out what to do next.
Though we might not see what He is doing just like in Esther He is at work.
Yet this teaching of God may not bring encouragement if it was left by itself.
What if God was an evil being and was in control that would not be a good thing.
What if God was in control but unconcerned.
This moves us to our second point..........
God Cares and Loves His People
God Cares and Loves His People
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
What we have to realize is that God loves and cares for us.
He does not care for us like some would teach that He wants us to be healthy and financially prosperous.
He wants something far greater for us and He displayed by dying for our sins.
Our greatest need is not rescuing from physical death it is a rescuing from spiritual death.
God has sent His Son to die on our behalf so that we can be forgiven of all of our sins and enter into relationship with Him.
He loves us and it is demonstrated by the cross.
We have no reason to fear death, as long as Christ is our advocate we are secure not because we are faithful but because He is.
We are secure because of Him.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child And have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.
This virus exposes unbelief does it not? Do you actually believe Jesus? Have you come to Him in desperation that He is your only hope of salvation? Maybe this virus is what He will use to show you just how desperate you need Him.
Turn to Him in childlike faith for the salvation of your soul.
Not only is God in control not only does He love you and it is demonstrated through the cross of Christ but He is near us
God is Near Us
God is Near Us
A Psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
The reality of the scriptures is that God is near His people. He knows us and he also aids us in times of trouble and difficulty.
He walks us through life as a good Shepherd. He guards us and feeds us, He disciplines us.
No matter what we go through He is right here.
Think back to Acts 18:9-10
This has a more robust meaning does it not? Think about it
for i am with you.....
I the sovereign one, the one working out my plans for my purposes
I the one who loves you Paul that i would send my Son to take my wrath so that you could be forgiven. I the one who has given you eternal life and I have adopted you into my family and you call me Father. I love and care for you as a son.
If there was something that would benefit you I would give it to you
Do you believe in His goodness?
I the one who knows you Paul and i am ever near you. I will comfort you when you are discouraged. I will lead you to rest when you need it. I will guard you and keep and you will never be lost.
This is the God found in the scriptures that says fear not for I am with you.
For you Christian we serve this same God. He is with us. No matter what we go through as a church or individually He is near us.
For those who have never trusted in Jesus Christ for their salvation these truths are not yours. I want to be clear those who this is true did not earn this relationship. Instead God offers it to you today.
He sent His Son to die for sinners like you and me. He commands us to repent from our sins and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. I beg you to do this today.
Prayer