Stopping the Perpetual Cycle

ME:

Pledge

Passage: Luke 24:36-49

36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!”

37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.

38 And he said to them, ‶ “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?

39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” ″

40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.

41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, ‶ “Have you anything here to eat?” ″

42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish,

43 and he took it and ate before them.

44 Then he said to them, ‶“These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

46 and said to them, ‶ “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,

47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

48 You are witnesses of these things.

49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Prayer

Title: Stopping the Perpetual Cycle

Fear - give examples of fear!

Experiencing fear is not a sin.

Just like Anger is not a sin.

Fear is flamed by doubts which, if not extinguished, could lead to sin!

Crippling, Debilitating, Paralyzing

Share the story of resigning a church with no where to go!

Transition Statement: What’s your FEAR?

WE:

Is it the economy (your family)?

Is it the Future?

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 1651 Fear without Basis

A Japanese soldier by the name of Shoichi Yokoi lived in a cave on the island of Guam to which he fled in 1944 when the tides of war began to change. Fearing for his life, this man stayed hidden for twenty-eight years in the jungle cave, coming out only at night. During this long period of time, this self-imposed hermit lived on frogs, rats, snails, shrimp, nuts, and mangoes. He had carried a pair of trousers and a jacket from a burlaplike cloth made from tree bark.

Yokoi said that he knew the war was over because of leaflets that were scattered throughout the jungles of Guam. But he was afraid that if he came out of hiding, he would be executed.

Finally, two hunters came upon him and told him that he need not hide any longer. At last he was free, and with new clothes to wear and food to eat, he was taken by plane to his home.

Limbic State - A State of fear where you are in a survivor mode.

Difficult to think logically with the frontal part of your brain.

To some degree it shuts down that part of your brain.

Is it Death?

Illustration: Louis XV, King of France, foolishly ordained and ordered that death was never to be spoken of in his presence. Nothing that could in any way remind him of death was to be mentioned or displayed, and he sought to avoid every place and sign and monument which in any way suggested death.”

Fear doesn’t stop death, it Stops life!

Is it Covid-19

I walk through Wal-Mart and people avoid each other like the plague.

Shirley McClain is quoted as saying, “Fear makes strangers of people who would be friends.”

Transition Statement: Does the Bible say anything about FEAR?

GOD:

The KJV state, “Fear Not” 365 times!

I John 4:16-18 says this ......

16 So we  have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.

18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.

The disciples experienced FEAR.

Let’s look into this passage we read at the beginning of the message today.

Earlier in Chapter 24 we find the that the crucifixion had taken place about 3 days ago.

The disciples are living in FEAR!

The women had come back telling them Jesus was raised from the dead and the tomb was empty. The guys go and find the tomb empty but don’t believe the women.

They do and hide in a house in an upper room.

Starting with VS 36 we read about 2 men (John/Cleopus) walking to meet up with the disciples in Jerusalem.

They had encountered Jesus as they traveled. He reveals truth to them/ They come to believe its Jesus/ And He disappears!

They arrive and share with the others.

What we read in the middle of VS 36 is Jesus appeared in the middle of them.

Scripture tells us they were “Startled and Frightened.”

(Saw a ghost)

Jesus says to them, (Vs 38) “Why are you troubled?”

Means “INWARD TURMOIL” “DEEP FEAR”

Why have you been up in this room for three days Deeply troubled?

Jesus then shows them his hands and feet (40)

He tells them to touch him (39)

He then eats in front of them (43)

He then reminds them of his words (44-47)

(45) tells us “HE OPENED THEIR MINDS TO UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES.”

These are Jesus disciples that had walked with him for 3.5 years and he finds them filled with FEAR.

Transition Statement: If Jesus walked into your house today would he find you TROUBLED?

YOU:

Scripture doesn’t tell us all the specific things they were “fearful of” at that moment.

WE CAN ONLY GUESS

Were they fearful of their livelihood. Is this what you are fearful of this morning?

Were they fearful of their Future. Is this what you are fearful of this morning?

Were they fearful of Dying (being killed). Are you afraid of death?

They believed what they saw (Christ died on the cross)

They believed what the world was telling them … (He was dead.)

They believed what they were feeling .... (They are next)

The reason they believed this was because of the EVIDENCE

FEAR - False Evidence Appearing Real

They are hiding in the dark, locked, and secluded room!

Not looking to the light but hiding in the darkness.

We can only assume they were doubting everything they had lived and experienced over the last 3.5 years.

Here is what was taking place in that room .....

FEAR was producing doubt and doubt was regenerating more FEAR.

It’s a perpetual cycle that can only be stopped by Christ.

Transition Statement: Are we believing all the world is showing us? What we are hearing and sensing from the world?

WE:

If we have started to believe what they world has been telling us ..... let me show you what the scriptures tells us in regard to FEAR ....

In the midst of what is taking place in the world ....

Realize Christ is “IN” room. (No locks are going to keep Christ out)

He enters the room and gets their attention by saying “Peace to you.”

Christ want to bring peace in the midst your fears!

Let Christ hear about your Fears.

He asked them, “Why are you troubled?” He wants to hear it!

Speak out your fears!

Is it death?

Let Christ speak truth “In to” your fears.

Just as he reminded the disciples of what he taught them over the last 3.5 years.

Let Christ remind you of His Faithfulness in your past.

Let the Holy Spirit be your Guide.

He is going to send them the Holy Spirit who will cloth them with power from on high.

Let your FAITH be in Him.

Our Faith in Christ is made up of 2 things: “Our nothingness” and “His everything!”

Understanding this leads us to this thought .....

“Fear Divides; Faith Combines!” (my Nothingness with his Everything).