Title: “He is no fool….make a decision”
Text: 2 Timothy 1: 7, 12
Purpose: We don't have to be paralyzed by fear
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Introduction (Are there some things worth fighting for?) (For what will you give your life?)
a. Freedom
b. Good grades
c. Good health
d. Family values
e. Religious liberty
His name is Eric Liddell: Known as the “Flying Scotsman” (1)
• Born in 1902
• Son of Scottish missionary parents serving in China
• Eric’s story is chronicled in the award winning film “Chariots of Fire”
• He was an outstanding sportsman, eventually selected to run in the 1924 Paris Olympiad
• Liddell was a committed Christian and refused to run on Sunday (the Sabbath), with the consequence that he was forced to withdraw from the 100 meters race, his best event.
• He ended up running in the 400 meters race something that he had limited time for which to train. Even so, his success in the 400m was largely unexpected.
• The day of 400 meters race came, and as Liddell went to the starting blocks, an American masseur slipped a piece of paper in his hand with a quotation from 1 Samuel 2:30, "Those who honor me I will honor."
• Liddell ran with that piece of paper in his hand. He not only won the race, but broke the existing world record with a time of 47.6
• Eventually Eric would return to China as a missionary, during some very dangerous times to serve the Lord.
• He was eventually taken to a prison camp, and later died.
• And the reports said, that “All of Scotland mourned”
He was granted an opportunity to make a decision that honored God.
Quote: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” (Jim Elliot)
Today I want to talk to you about making a decision. Things worth fighting for.
My father in law told me when I was just newly married, “In life, you have to make a decision. It might be the wrong one, but at least you’ve made a decision from which you can learn.”
Question: What keeps you and me from making decisions?
Answer: Usually its fear
Whole industry geared to fear, especially on television
• Fear Factor
• Scare Tactics to name a few
Question: How do you handle fear?
1. Sometimes we try to hid it by burying ourselves in our work, or study or relationships
2. Sometimes we’ll avoid the situations altogether
3. Sometime we will even deny that we are fearful
But in reality, fear does exist. It can be a healthy fear that keeps us safe in dangerous situations and forces us to be alert. But fear can also be paralyzing.
Question: What are most people afraid of?
1. Public speaking 3. Heights
2. Spiders 4. Transitions or changes in life
TEXT: 2 Timothy 1:7 & 12
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline….For I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.”
Three people that faced very similar situations in Scripture who had decisions points about honoring God and then a closing illustration
I. Overcoming the fear of uncertainty or unknown
Story of Abram: Genesis 12:1 “The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.’”
Now remember they didn’t have GPS, MapQuest or OnStar on their camels. I’m sure they were lucky to have a map if they had that.
Verse 4 says, “So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran.”
The older I get, the harder it is for transition. Because I’ve got some things figured out
• I know what I like
• I know what works
• I don’t want to have to do it all over again
But Abram was obedient. Now remember, up to this point, Abram had not heard the voice of God. So listen to the promise that God gives in these first few verses.
a. I will make you into a great nation
b. I will bless you
c. I will make your name great
d. You will be a blessing
So Abram was faced with a choice. He could ignore the voice and continue life in the land of Ur, or he could respond to that voice with trust and obedience. No matter which he chooses, life could never be the same for him.
For Abram, he represents the life struggle with the “Fear of the Unknown.”
Question: Do you face the fear of the unknown? Is there uncertainty in your life?
It’s that time in-between much like letting go on the trapeze. When we are faced with decisions, and choices, and we struggle to find our faith.
When we struggle with the issue of the unknown things like
a. Uncertainty
b. Panic
c. Stress
What does God want from us?
A. Be patient
a. Fear of the unknown Hebrews 6:15 “Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.”
b. He waited for 25 years before the promise was fulfilled.
c. When dealing with the unknown I would say this,
“Give all he asks, and take all he promises.”
Philippians 4:6 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything with prayer and petition present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.”
I would encourage you, if you are facing the fear of the unknown, then tell Jesus about it and be patient.
II. Overcoming the fear of inadequacy
Story of Moses: Exodus chapters 3-4
a. Moses is out tending his father-in-law’s flock of sheep when he notices this burning bush
b. He goes to discover, and realizes that it is a bush, consumed by fire, but not burning up
Verse 10: “Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”
What follows is this conversation
V. 11 “But Moses protested to God… “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh?”
And God answers in verse 12… “I will be with you.”
V. 13 Moses protested (#2) again. “Who shall I say sent me?”
Response: God answers again, “I am Who I am”
Chapter 4:1 Moses protested (#3) again, “What if they don’t believe me?”
God responds again, by giving him a staff to use
Finally in 4:10 Moses PLEADED with God… “I am not very good with words.” Please, send someone else. God became angry with Moses, and finally sent his brother Aaron to go as his spokesman.
Question: Have you ever told God all the excuses you could not live for him?
• You don’t know my family
• You don’t know what kind of background I come from
• You don’t know what you’re asking
What I’m trying to show here is that Moses represents:
The fear of inadequacy: There are times we don’t feel adequate for the job
a. Fear of intimidation of authority: “I can’t go to Pharaoh”
b. Fear of Rejection: “Who shall I say sent me?”
c. Fear of Failure: “What if they don’t believe me?”
d. Fear of inadequacy: “I’m not good with words”
Let me ask you today: What is your fear of inadequacy?
• I’m not smart enough
• I’m not talented enough
• I don’t get along with people
• Hard for me to make friends
• I don’t know how to make decisions
What is God asking of you today?
A. Recognize the potential
a. Fear of inadequacy
b. Sometimes we feel like the greatest mistake we can make is constantly fearing we will make a mistake, because we don’t want to look foolish in front of others
c. In the back of our minds, we think we don’t measure up
Listen to what Paul says to young Timothy, 2 Tim. 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”
There are things in your life that God has given you that have not yet been cultivated or matured yet. Don’t short circuit the process. Fan into flame those spiritual gifts that God has given you.
Don’t minimize God’s work and power in your life.
Summary:
1. Abram: Fear of the Unknown or Uncertainty: Be Patient
2. Moses: Fear of Inadequacy: Recognize the potential
III. Overcoming the fear of difficulty
Story of David: I Sam 16
a. Saul was King, but because of his disobedience, God was raising up a new king
b. Samuel came to the house of Jesse, where God had led him, verse 7 says, “The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
c. So Samuel comes, and when David appears, Verse 13 says, “So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that Day on.”
So here is David, just this young boy
Now in chapter 17: We read the battle between the Israelites and the Philistines, and Goliath. For 40 days, the battle raged, and each day Goliath would come and taunt the Israelites. Verse 1o: “I defy the armies of Israel today! Send me a man who will fight me.”
During this same time, David was sent by his father to go to his brothers who were fighting to see how the battle was going, and to bring food.
He arrives at the scene, sees Goliath, and eventually finds himself talking with King Saul.
Verse 32: “Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him.”
Saul’s response: Don’t be ridiculous…..
Question: Have you had someone ever squelch your dreams?
As the story goes, Saul agrees to let David go, and provides him the resources he thinks he’ll need, especially the use of Saul’s armor.
Now remember, David is a boy, and Saul was a very tall man.
David’s response, verse 39-40 “I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again. He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag.”
And in verses 48 it says, that David, ran into battle.
What is it that God asks of us today?
A. Avoid the Comparison trap
a. Fear of Difficulty
b. Use the armor that God gives you
c. Do it all for the glory of God
1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
There will always be someone faster, smarter, stronger, more good looking than you and I. It doesn’t mean that we don’t try our best, and just give up. It means that we get to a place where we are confident and comfortable in our own skin.
Transition: I give you these examples to represent that at each stage of life, we deal with certain fears. None of us is exempt.
Summary:
1. Abram: Fear of Unknown or uncertainty: Be patient
2. Moses: Fear of inadequacy: Recognize the potential
3. David: Fear of Difficulty: Avoid comparisons
What does fear do?
a. Paralyzes us, freeze us in our tracks
b. Makes us second guess our decisions
c. Makes us retreat back to the familiar
At the beginning I told you the story of Eric Liddell who made the decision to honor God, and put him first, and God honored that decision.
But I also gave you a quote: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
Conclusion: Story of Jim Elliot (2)
• Was a missionary to Ecuador in 1952 with the purpose of evangelizing Ecuador’s Quechua Indians.
• While working with the Quechua Indians, Elliot began preparing to reach the famously violent Huaorani Indian tribe.
• He and four other missionaries, Ed McCully, Roger Youderian, Peter Fleming and their pilot Nate Saint, made contact from their airplane with the Huaorani Indians using a loudspeaker and a basket to pass down gifts.
• After several months, the men decided to build a base a short distance from the Indian tribe, along the Curaray River. There they were approached several times by small groups of Huaorani Indians, and even gave an airplane ride to one curious Huaorani who they called “George”.
• Encouraged by these friendly encounters, they began plans to visit the Huaorani, but their plans were pre-empted by the arrival of a larger group of Huaorani, who killed Elliot and his four companions on January 8, 1956. Elliot’s mutilated body was found downstream, along with those of the other men, except that of Ed McCully.
What would possess a man to leave his family, travel to a far country to minister to a group of people who did not know Jesus, and eventually would end up killing him.
My question to you is this?
1. God may never ask you to run in the Olympics
2. He may never ask you to so serve in the jungles of Ecuador
3. But he IS looking for those who will run the race to honor him
4. He IS looking for those who will give up life, to serve in something greater than yourself.
It’s time to make a decision: For he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.
2 Timothy 1:12 “I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.”
What have you entrusted to him today? There may even be things for which to give your life? Will you trust him?
Footnotes
1. secondshttp://www.netglimse.com/celebs/pages/eric_liddell/index.shtml
2. http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/church-history-for-kids/jim-elliot-no-fool-11634862.html
