Fearless Faith

Intro: The Journey of life is not an easy it can be joyful or full of disappointments, dark, and painful. How quickly we become fearful and disheartened and find ourselves living in fear, wondering what’s next. As Christians, we don’t have to live that way. We can either live on the "Solid Rock" or the shifting sands of the world. We need fearless faith knowing our hope, our faith, and our confidence is found in Jesus. It’s time to live a fearless faith. It’s time to be…BRAVE! (Excerpt from Sermon Central, Free Bridge Media) (Sermon Starter Video: BraveOne(720p)

With all that has happened in the world in recent history and today. I am reminded of Job in the Old Testament. Although the Bible describes Job as a righteous man Job faith was tested! Job lost his family, his wealth and possessions, and his health. Yet Job stayed strong in his faith in God. Our world is in such a term oil because we live in a fallen world but as followers of Jesus, we are pilgrims and strangers living in this land.

Heb 11:13-14 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. NKJV

Aside from the struggles of everyday living, we have lived through one of the most tragic times in world history. The pandemic has taken millions of lives and impacted the entire world. It has changed the way we live, work and even the way we worship. Now the world is faceting another challenge with the unrest in Europe. Some have suggested this is the beginning of the end. I am here today to tell you today that regardless of what the future holds Christians are secure in eternity. Jesus told us there is a place prepared for us and that someday He would return to take us there.

The future of this world seems bleak, but our future is bright because of our faith in Jesus. God sent this message to His people through the prophet Jermiah in Jer 29:11-14.

Sermon Text: Jer 29:11-14 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive. NKJV

ILLUS: A 1st grader stood in front of his classroom to make a speech about "What I want to be when I grow up." He said, "I'm going to be a lion tamer and have lots of fierce lions. I'll walk into the cage, and they will roar."

He paused for a moment, thinking through what he had just said and then added, "But of course, I'll have my mommy with me." (From a sermon by Ray Ellis, Victory in Times of Crisis, 6/14/2010) As we live and walk through this world, we have Jesus with us. Jesus promised to never leave or forsake us (Heb 13:5).

1st God Has a Plan- Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope

God’s plan for us began before the foundation of this world, Eph 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, NKJV. God has a Plan is to have us with Him, we were reconciled to God in and through the blood of Jesus. The world is standing on the edge of eternity no matter what is happing in the world. There are those who are fearing what is happing in the world, but God has it in control. Matthew 24:6 describes the last days. There will be wars, rumors of wars, famine, and pestilence, and earthquakes’ but that is just the start of what is to come. Let me make it clear I don’t know if what is happing in the world is what Matthew 14:6 refers to but one thing I do know is that my Redeemer lives and has us in His hand, and He will soon return to take His people home.