Conquering Life's Fears & Doubts! Series

"Conquering Life’s Fears & Doubts!"

"More than a SURVIVOR" series part 1 of 4

Text: Rom. 8:35-39 & Selected

"FRIEND DAY"

Cross Creek Community Church

Pastor Dave Martin - April 29, 2001

www.crosscreekcc.org

God’s Word is Powerful, Relevant, and Life Changing!

The American culture has been watching a television series called SURVIVOR. The show is built around various challenges and the inter-relationship of the players. Being a survivor has a nice ring to it, especially in the end winning a million dollars. Colby, one of the contestants, keeps winning many of the challenges, which gives him immunity from being voted out. Oh to survive! Oh to have immunity!

We go through life with fears and doubts. We ask ourselves, what is the meaning of life? Why am I here? Is this all there is to life? Does God exist, and If He does, does He have a purpose for my life? We can be more than a survivor. God says in Rom. 8:37 we are more than a conqueror in Christ. That’s what we are going to look at this morning, being more than a Survivor - to be a conqueror!

As we journey through life, we all end up somewhere. When the final chapter is written about you, what will it say? Where will you "end up?"

There is a relationship which makes life complete, a new life with Jesus Christ. Without that relationship, there is a void, a vacuum in life. Many people, even those who are well-known, can attest to that void.

What is the meaning of Life?

Arthur Clark who wrote 2001 space novel wrote, "I’m afraid I have no concrete ideas of the purpose of life."

Albert Ellis, a psychiatrist said, "As far as I can tell, life has no special meaning or purpose."

Thomas Negle said, "I’m afraid the meaning of life still eludes me."

Joseph Heller, author wrote, "I have no answers to the meaning of life and I no longer want to search for any."

Isaac Asimov wrote, "As far as I can see there is no purpose to life."

H. G. Wells, famous historian and philosopher, said at age 61: "I have no peace. All life is at the end of the tether."

The poet Byron said, "My days are in yellow leaf, the flowers and fruits of life are gone, the worm and the canker, and the grief are mine alone."

The literary genius Thoreau said, "Most men live lives of quiet desperation."

Ralph Barton, one of the top cartoonists of the nations, left this note pinned to his pillow before taking his own life: "I have had few difficulties, many friends, great successes; I have gone from wife to wife, from house to house, visited great countries of the world, but I am fed up with inventing devices to fill up twenty-four hours of the day." Morning Glory, May 29, 1993

In today’s fast paced society many people are searching for the answers to life. Many are living in fears and doubts, a perpetual state of fear of growing old, fear of death, fear of the unknown. We often wrestle secretly with Life’s Fears and doubts for years, many times until death itself overtakes us. We busy ourselves with "things" to help keep our mind occupied, never truly coming to grasp the purpose of life. We feel like our world is spinning out of control, we ask ourselves, is this all there is to life?

Having Life’s fears and doubts is natural, being able to conqueror them is found in the Bible.

There are four main thoughts I want you to grasp this morning.

1. UNDERSTAND who YOU really are.

Who are you? Do you know?

A. You are divinely crafted.

Genesis 1:27 "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

* God created mankind in His own Image, in His likeness, male & female.

* Created in God’s image distinguishes us from the animal world. With a capacity to know God.

"But nothing in nature, except for man, ever tries to think of the meaning of life. Nothing climbs above its natural physical needs. No living creature, except for a man, is able to take a risk, and even the risk of death, for the sake of truth."

* God has made you, you. Absolutely unique, no two of us are alike. He broke the mold.

* DNA, Retina scans, finger prints, heart rhythms, brain waves - you stand alone in a sea of 6 billion people - you are divinely crafted by God from your personality to your looks.

B. You are incredibly complex.

Psalm 139:13-14 "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."