Why am I so afraid?
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
Ordination (running from God)
Recap Series
Why am I so afraid?
35 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.”
36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed).
37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.
38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”
39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.
40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”
What does Jesus teach us about fear?
What does Jesus teach us about fear?
1) We fear what we can’t control
1) We fear what we can’t control
Fear of heights begins when you can’t control how high you are going
Fear of flying, you are not in control
Fear of election, fear of losing control
Fear of pandemic or death, can’t control your time on earth
The disciples did not fear piloting the boat
When you try to control everything, you can’t really enjoy anything
When you try to control everything, you can’t really enjoy anything
Freedom from fear begins when you realize that don’t really control all that you think you do.
Most cautious driver (still can’t control others driving)
Seek self-control instead of circumstantial control
Seek self-control instead of circumstantial control
1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
God is an ever present help
Jesus was on the boat, during the storm
2) Faith brings peace and calmness in the worst storms
2) Faith brings peace and calmness in the worst storms
When I am afraid or worried, I can’t shut my mind off
I lose sleep
Jesus was so at peace that he was asleep on the boat during the storm
Head on a cushion while waves are pouring in
It was probably loud
No melatonin
Jesus was perfectly at peace
Do you still have no faith?
1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Jesus is asking, “Do you have confidence that what you hope for will actually happen?
We like to say that we are people of faith
When you pray for someones healing are you confident that it will actually happen?
When you pray for lost people, are you confident that they will actually find hope in Jesus?
There are no miracles for those that have no faith in them
There are no miracles for those that have no faith in them
3) There is no storm that Jesus is not able to stop
3) There is no storm that Jesus is not able to stop
Even the winds and waves obey him
Everything is created by and through him
15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.
He is supreme over all creation
No storm is too big
4) Our fear does not cause Jesus to love us any less
4) Our fear does not cause Jesus to love us any less
He could have chose to keep on sleeping
Nothing can separate us from his love for us
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.
39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Summary
Summary
We fear what we can’t control
What are you trying to control that you need to let go of?
What would it look like if you practiced self-control over circumstantial control?
Faith brings peace and calmness in the worst storms
Do you have confidence that what you hope for will actually happen?
Where is your faith?
There is no storm that Jesus is not able to stop
Do you think that the storm you are facing is unbeatable?
Our fear does not cause Jesus to love us any less
Have you been worried that your fear and anxiety has separated you from His love?