Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Introduction:
Fear of the Rapture as a kid...
Get right w/God and stop fearing the Return, and look to it...
"I've been through some terrible things in my life.
Some of which actually happened." (Mark Twain)
We worry and fear about a lot of things that never happen.
I've seen a stat: 90% of the things we worry about never happen
Fear does not breed peace
But God wants you to have peace
There is a peace that comes when you’re w/your parents
You know they will protect you, provide for you, watch over you
John 1:12 (NIV)
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name,
he gave the right to become children of God
You are a child of God
Understand, you can have Peace, knowing you are God’s child
When you know that you can have true peace!
Not Trusting
How many of us often have worries in our life?
We say we believe one thing,
But a lot of times our behavior tells a different story
We say that God is a provider -- that God is a healer
Maybe I’ll believe God for big thing -- But not a small thing
(or vice versa)
Maybe we say we believe God is a provider
But we worry endlessly over our finances -- we stockpile it
We worry if we give our tenth to God, will we be able to...
This worry and fear is the opposite of what we profess
We say God is #1 in our life
But we come to church when there’s nothing better going
Fear & Worry is the opposite of peace
Sometimes we don’t say its worry
We say we’re concerned
We like to shroud it in different terms -- I’m concerned --
But the problem is this
Worry is the sin of distrusting the power and promises of God
The thing is there is always someone or something out there
planting seeds of worry and doubt in your mind
There is someone or something planting these seeds in your mind
And we know its not coming from God
Well then, who is this? -- This is the enemy of your soul
Strangers
Growing up
we were told not to talk to strangers
Don’t answer the door from strangers
Pick up from School...
You see, problem is theres always a stranger whispering in ear
You’re not gonna make it...
Everyone is against you...
God isn’t gonna come thru for you...
I would tell you today, even tho this is the Adult Class
Don’t Talk to Strangers
The enemy, the stranger plants these seeds in our mind
And we worry and we worry
The devil is a liar
He is a deceiver
Don’t listen to that voice
Don’t give an ear to it
John 10 (NIV)
1 "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.
2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep.
3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
As God’s children, we should know his voice
This is why we must spend time in the presence of God...
4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice."
We will not follow the stranger b’c we don’t recognize the voice
6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.
8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
There are a lot of strange voices out there vying for your attention
They are thieves and they are robbers
Don’t listen to them!
9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.
10 The thief comes only to steal...
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.
The Devil is a liar and he is a thief
There may be some people here today
Who he has not stolen your salvation
Maybe you’re on the way to Heaven
But he has stolen peace from your life
He is constantly speaking: fear and worry in your ear
And he reveling in his success in causing a child of God to fear
Its time for the people of God to shut that voice off
It’s time to say
I’m tired of the Enemy causing me to fear,
Causing me to worry
Stealing my joy, Stealing my peace
It’s time to stand up and say
You’re not going to rob from me anymore,
Not gonna steal me anymore
God has given me peace
God has spoken peace into my life
And I want it all back
Who’s report will you believe?
I’m gonna believe the report of the Lord
And He says I am free
I can peace, I can have joy
I can make it, I can be saved
He’s gonna make a way, He’s gonna provide
1 - Know Who’s In Control
We don’t have to worry about what will happen when we know who is in charge
When we know who is in charge, worry goes away
Family story: Break into house
Worry at night: every little sound...
Don’t worry about day time: b’c we’re awake, we’re in control
We tend to worry most about the things
we have the least control over
Worrying about something, has never fixed it
The problem is, we’re not supposed to be in control of it
God is in Control
He is on the Throne
And He is the King of Kings
He’s God all by himself!
2 - Make Sure Jesus Is On Your Boat
Mark 4
Peace. Be still.
And suddenly the wind stopped.
40 He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid?
Do you still have no faith?"
41 They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"
We can have peace when we know who’s in charge
We can have peace when we know He’s in the boat
We can have peace
Period
The waves are choppy
The boat may be filling with water
But as long as your boat has Jesus in it
See thats the real question today
But if Jesus is in the boat
He’s in control
Make sure Jesus is on your boat!
3 - Identify What You Fear & Tell God
What you fear the most
Reveals where you trust God the least
What is it that you fear the most?
What is that you worry about the most?
Identify it
Take a step of faith today
Give it to God
And have peace in your life
What is it that you fear the most?
Chances are thats where you trust God the least
Is it in your finances?
Is it with your family?
Is it your health?
What is it that keeps you up at night?
What is it that when you lay in bed, it keeps you up at night?
Your brain is still churning...
Philippians 4:6-7
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
When we send our requests to God
And thank him for it
The promise is there
Its like 2 + 2 = 4
The peace of God which passes all understanding
WILL come to you and cover your heart and mind!
When worry about our kids
When worry about our future
Don’t worry about anything
Pray about everything
Tell God about it
Be grateful for what He’s done
And peace will come
Can you fix your spouse? No
Can God change your spouse? Yes
Pray about everything
Can you protect your kids from everything? Nope
Can God?
We’re not gonna hang on to that
We’re gonna give it to God
Can you control your future? No
God can
Can your worry change anything? No
Can God? Yes
Thats why we’re gonna trust God with everything
Why are you afraid
Don’t worry about anything
Pray about everything
Peace will pass all understanding
Conclusion:
If you’re gonna have the Fruit of the Spirit in your life
“Thou dost keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on thee” (Isaiah 26)
When fear and worry rise up...
Keep your mind on the promises of God
