The Paralysis of Analysis: How we can overcome the fear that keeps us from reaching the lost.
The church became casual in comfort, neglecting its primary task of reaching sinners. Now, will we become paralyzed by fear?
Review: Acts 1-9
• Because of Stephen, the Church goes from inward to outward.
• Saul had to be blinded to see, he had to be knocked down to get up.
• God is calling your name: Ananias was paralyzed by his analysis of the situation, but was able to overcome his paralysis and bring Saul to Christ.
2 Tim 1:6-14 The text is not just speaking of tranquility and peace of mind for our comfort, but for power to preach the Gospel.
Sometimes we think to much. The enemy is using fear, anxiety, and intimidation to keep us from our primary task of sharing the Gospel and love of Jesus Christ. We need to have the mind of Christ (not self concern). Phil. 2:5
Like Ananias, we can overcome paralysis for the following reasons:
I. Passion trumps Perfection: My limitations not an excuse:
2 Tim 1:9 Not my qualifications but His.
• We cannot allow past mistakes and fears of failure paralyze us.
• There is no personal fear or mistake that is beyond God’s desire or ability to redeem a lost sinner.
Caution: This is not an excuse to be casual about sin, but to not let mistakes and failures keep us from acting.
II. Our disagreements: The Message Trumps The Method
• Internal problems are as much a threat as external attacks.
• This is His church, His service, His ministry, not mine.
• The salvation of sinners trumps my preferences.
“The method isn’t sacred, the message is sacred.” Tommy Barnett
III. Our Fears: Love Trumps Fear
• Ananias was afraid of Saul, but he obeyed God
• What if God uses conflict and crisis to move us from laziness to passion?
• This is not going to be easy (no quick fix manual to evangelism)
They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony and they did not love their lives unto death. Rev 12:11
Hiding in fear will not defeat the enemy – proclaiming Jesus will!
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4
Count the Cost: “There is a generation that is not afraid to lose their lives for the lost.” Jason Upton (“Nothing’s going to hold us back”)
IV. Our Vision: Compassion Trumps Conflict
• This is Personal!
• If these are the last days, we should not be storing up food and water in a cave; we should be proclaiming the Gospel.
• The Scales come off: If we are truly filled with the Holy Spirit, we will see the harvest of lost people and their pain. John 4:35
Have you experienced the overwhelming joy of seeing a sinner saved?
Don’t wait for people to come to you: Start asking questions:
• How is your life going?
• Can I pray for you?
• Would you go to church with me?
• Do you know Jesus personally?
• Do you know how to be saved?
Be Bold, Be Prophetic: We have a spiritual language: The Holy Spirit will give us what to say.
Is our boat full? Look around you…
Wouldn’t it be sad if Jesus came back and the pews were not full of sinners who had been saved? What are we waiting for?
Pray for Laborers – not to mow the lawn, but to save the lost.
“Fire”: The enemy will attack the church with fire, but God will use that fire to purify the church and make it a light to the nations.
He is coming back! The activities of the last days should not bring fear, but hope.
THIS IS GOOD NEWS! Why should we keep a secret?
Christ for the Nations: When I think about the Lord…it makes me want to shout!
Be Thankful, not fearful! Think about all God has done – forgiveness, healing, deliverance…why don’t we want to share that?
Tell Your Story! Tell His Story! What has God done?
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God’s power for the salvation of everyone who believes, of the Jew first and of the Greek as well. ...
