Overcoming Fear Thru The Power Of God Series

SERMON BRIEF

Date Written: January 10, 2015

Date Preached: January 11, 2015

Church: OPBC (AM) Sunday

FOUNDATIONAL ELEMENTS

Title: Our Power in Christ

Text: 2 Timothy 1:7-9; 2 Cor 4:1-18

ETS: Paul told Timothy had great power through Christ.

ESS: Our service to God is fueled by a power we cannot comprehend.

Introduction:

Today is the 2nd Sunday of the new year…how y’all holdin’ up? Last week we looked at a passage where Paul taught Timothy fear was not an option for believers… He said, [show 2 Tim 1:7-9 here…follow me as I read]

7for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 8Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

He shared that fear was not to be a part of the Christian walk because God equips believers with three very important tools to live a victorious Christian life!

We also took a brief look at these tools last week…we briefly reviewed what those tools are, they are “…power, love and self-control…”

Last week I shared how fear was rearing its ugly head in my life, and I told you that our severely reduced budget had brought fear into my heart.

BUT then I told you that fear was not controlling me because that God had given me a new focus… I’m not exactly sure what words I used or how I said it… but simply put fear drove me to God’s word and when I got in God’s word… my OUTLOOK changed!

FEAR was rising in my heart, but when I focused on God’s Word for my life… that fear was replaced with something else! My brothers and sisters I am NO longer in fear…

I was fearful of my future; I was wondering how I was going to make it…My focus was directed toward ME; I only considered my power over the situation; I only saw what I could do! You see, it was a focus on the wrong thing!

However, now I God’s word has affirmed to me something I already knew … that NO matter what happens… God is in control. He will make a way to keep me here OR He will chooses to make a change… It is up to Him!

I am comforted and at peace in my heart that God is in control because…you know what?? God does NOT make mistakes!

So I say, to the Enemy:

bring on that fear…

bring on your attacks…

So I say, to my situation/circumstances:

bring on this revitalization…

bring on the changes to be made…

bring on the challenges of our budget…

bring on the ALL challenges that we face in our fellowship!

Bring em ALL on…because no longer live in fear! The fear that the enemy wants to paralyze me NO longer has a hold on ME!

Do you remember what I said about fear last week? Fear is a choice! Fear is NOT real…Fear is in our minds…we make something out of nothing and drives us to fear!

I am not naïve and I know there are dangers that we must avoid both personally and a corporate body of believers… BUT I will NOT fear!

Why? Because I know I am equipped with 3 very useful and powerful tools from God! My friends if you have Christ in you…YOU are also equipped with these same powerful tools!

Over my next 3 sermons I am going to dive into these tools and hopefully we will ALL get to know them better and begin to use them in our Christian lives so that we NO longer are ruled by a spirit of fear!

The first tool I know I am equipped with and that I want to speak about is the spiritual tool of POWER! Paul told Timothy that he was NOT called to be given to the spirit of Fear… but of POWER!

People, when we receive Jesus into our hearts & lives, we are EMPOWERED and fueled by the God who created all things!

Do you understand what that means? The very One who spoke the words, Let there be… and then there WAS… That ONE is the ONE who gives you power through His HS which dwells within you! If you have Christ in your life, you have the mighty power of Heaven at your disposal!

Now when you sit back and take that view…

When you sit back & understand that the very power that spoke the world into existence flows through your life - you have to cry out…