Life Changes From Fear To Faith

1. [There’s a story about an old man from the country who rarely went to the city. One day he was summoned downtown to city hall, so he, his wife, and their son made their way to city center and into the town hall. The old man and his son went inside to keep the appointment and stopped by the elevators to look for the office where they were to appear. The old man noticed that doors would open to a little room and people would go in. Sometimes when the doors reopened no one was there; and sometimes the people changed. Intrigued, the old man watched as an older, plain woman stepped into the little room. The doors shut only to reopen and a beautiful young woman appeared. The old man looked as his son and said, “Go to the truck and get your mother.”

2. Kevin spoke of transformation a couple of weeks ago, and I want to continue the theme from a different text – 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 (CF., Exodus 34 when Moses spoke with God and his face shone)

12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

a. One of the greatest mysteries in nature occurs when a caterpillar spins a cocoon around itself and, after a time, emerges as a beautiful butterfly. Changing from a caterpillar to a butterfly is a mystery, but not as great as the transformation of a human sinner into the image of Jesus Christ—the goal of our salvation (Romans 8:29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.).

b. Many areas of our lives need transforming – Money; relationships; Thinking; Actions

c. Today I want to transform our fears to faith [Health and Freedom Conference]

I. Fear Can Control Us

[I’ve never been in combat so I can only imagine the horrors. We glamorized war – Volunteers at the beginning of the War Between the States were excited and thought they would come home victorious in a few weeks. The few weeks turned into four years. 600,000+ didn’t come home. There were brave and frightened soldiers in that war. [ My WWII dream of paralyzing fear]

A. Fear Can Paralyze Us – Matthew 25:25 (I was afraid)

1. Many things we can fear – Romans 8:31-36

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

2. Our world of perpetual fears

• Children are innately fearful of falling [Construction worker: “Don’t drop me.”

• Virus

• Losing the Republic [“A republic – IF you can keep it.” Requires effort

• Fraudulent elections – “Outmaneuvered” ~ General Michael Flynn

B. Courage in the Face of Fear

[Congressional Medal of Honor recipients were not unafraid, they just acted any way

1. Joshua in Deuteronomy 31:7-8 (Joshua 1:5-9)

7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. 8 It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”