09 October 2005
John 14:27b (KJV)
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
CP Walker Multicultural Gospel Service
Taegue, South Korea
BIG IDEA: FAITH and TRUST in CHRIST can deliver our teenagers from their chronic fears.
REFERENCES: AFRAID: di-lee-ah’-o – means FEARFUL, and to BE TIMID; -
TROUBLE - To strike one’s spirit with fear and dread; to render anxious or distressed; to perplex the mind on one by suggesting scruples or doubts: John 14:25-31 -; The LORD is fair in all his ways and faithful in everything he does - Psalms 145:17 (GW); For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. - Gal 3:26 (KJV); My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. - 1 John 3:18 (KJV); For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind -2 Tim 1:7 (KJV); Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith -Hab 2:4 (KJV); Be alert. Be firm in the Christian Faith. Be courageous and strong. – I. Cor. 6:13 (GW); Now faith is the substance of things hope for and the evidence of things not seen - Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: John 14:25-31;
II. READ THE PERICOPE: John 14:25-31
III. READ THE TEXT: (… Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be
afraid) – John 14:27b.
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to trust CHRIST to deliver them from their CHRONIC FEARS by facing them head-on through their FAITH in CHRIST.
V. SERMONIC THEME: “Young People’s FEAR: The Enemy of their FAITH”
INTRODUCTION:
Please join me in giving our Young People another round of applause for conducting such awesome ministry today.
And let us not forget on Monday, 31 October 2005, they will be hosting an Alternative to Halloween for our congregation, here at CP Walker’s Multicultural Gospel Service.
This event is called FALL FESTIVAL 2005. LET US COME OUT AND SUPPORT THEM IN A MULTICULTURAL WAY.
This Festival will include NO TRICKS, but lots of fun, games, and activities for children of all ages.
There will be LOTS OF FREE pizza and the works; good gospel music; BAGS OF CANDY; STEP DANCE; Biblical Costume Dressing for prizes, and Gospel RAP by our own youth. All, of which, will be nothing more than a precussor to the theme of our Fall Festival this year: The Meaning Behind Halloween.
Again, please join me in giving our young people another round of applause!
Now, a Gallop Poll conducted this year (2005) reveals “the most common fears of teenagers” in the United States. The top 10 list goes like this:
1. Terrorist attacks
2. Spiders
3. Death
4. Failure
5. War
6. Heights
7. Crime/Violence
8. Being alone
9. The future
10. Nuclear war
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 19 million people in the United States alone suffer from mental illnesses that involve irrational and illegitimate fear responses. These disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. Fear is in the Church; and it’s the Enemy of FAITH.
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MOVE 1: I once read a story, by The Reverend Jeff Strite, of a certain man who often walked through a cemetery on his way home.
One night, though, unaware that a new grave had been dug in his path, he tumbled into the new grave. For some time, afterwards, he struggled to get out of the 7 Foot deep grave, until finally he gave up … and settled down … for the night.
An hour later, a farmer who was out hunting … for Coons and Possums … came walking through the cemetery … and he too fell into the grave.
The farmer started a desparate attempt to get out; unaware that there was anyone else in the grave.
The first man listened to him for a few minutes, … then … he reached over in the pitch darkness … and laid a hand on the man’s shoulder saying, “You can’t get out of here,” … BUT HE DID.
WE LAUGH, BUT THE EVENTS, and costumes THAT SURROUNDS HALLOWEEN should remind us all of the importance of not LIVING IN FEAR: BUT IN FAITH. Because FEAR is the Enemy of Faith.
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MOVE 2: NOW, AS BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR UNDERSTANDING OUR SCRIPTURE, THIS AFTERNOON, we have to follow the conversation of Jesus, FROM CHAPTERS 12 AND 13.
a. FOR OUR TEXT IS THE CLIMAX OF A VERY DRAMATIC SERIES OF EVENTS;
b. BECAUSE IT WAS SPOKEN BY JESUS AFTER HE HAD FINISHED HIS LAST SUPPER; AND A RATHER SUDDEN SHIFT IN THE ATMOSPHERE HAD OCCURRED.
c. A FEW DAYS EARLIER … you may recall A CROWD HAD SCATTERED PALM BRANCHES IN THE STREET AND SHOUTED, “HOSANNA:
d. … BLESSED IS THE KING OF ISRAEL THAT COMETH IN THE NAME OF THE LORD.”
e. BUT BY THE TIME OF THE SUPPER, CLOUDS OF DOUBT AND FEAR HAD GATHERED.
f. ALL WEEK LONG, SINCE PSALM SUNDAY, JESUS HAD ASTONISHED THE DISCIPLES WITH HIS REMARKS ABOUT DYING, ABOUT LEAVING,
g. … AND BEING LIFTED UP FROM THE EARTH. AND ABOUT BEING BETRAYED.
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MOVE 3: NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE DISCIPLES WERE DAZED.
a. FOR MANY OF THEM HAD LEFT BEHIND THEIR FARMS, THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR FISHING BOATS, AND IRS TYPE JOBS, …
b. … AND NOW IT SEEMED THAT JESUS WOULD GO, AND THEY WOULD BE LEFT IN CONFUSION AND RIDICULE.
c. THEREFORE, … IT’S NOT SURPRISING TO ME … THAT FEAR WAS WRITTEN ALL OVER THEIR FACES … TROUBLE AND CONFUSION HAD GRIP THEIR HEARTS.
d. FOR IT APPEARED AS IF THEIR WHOLE WORLD WAS SUDDENLY CAVING IN ON THEM.
e. JESUS HAD GONE ABOUT WASHING THEIR FEET TO SIGNIFY HIS LOVE FOR THEM, AND THEIR BOND OF LOYALTY.
f. BUT, HE HAD SO LITTLE TIME TO BE ASSURED THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD HIM AND WOULD CARRY ON.
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MOVE 4: ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY WERE SO CONFUSED THAT IN VERSE 12 OF THE THEIRTEENTH CHAPTER, JESUS WENT BACK TO THE TABLE, SAT DOWN AGAIN, AND WENT ON TO PREPARE THEM FOR HIS ARREST AND HIS EXECUTION.
a. AFTERWARDS, ALTHOUGH THE DISCIPLES KNEW (BEYOND A DOUBT) WHAT WAS TO HAPPEN, … THEY WERE SCARED!!
b. NOW, SIMON PETER TRIED TO SHOW SOME STRENGTH. HE TOLD JESUS THAT HE WOULD DIE FOR HIM, … BUT JESUS SAW THROUGH THAT AND TOLD HIS CHIEF DISCIPLE … THAT HE WOULD NOT LAST THROUGH THE NIGHT WITHOUT DENYING HIM.
c. EVERYTHING WAS FALLING APART; AND THE SEAMS WERE RIPPING FAST.
d. THEREFORE, JESUS TOOK THE TIME TO HELP HIS DISCIPLES WITH THEIR DISAPPOINTMENTS, CONFUSION, AND OBVIOUS FEARS.
e. AS A RESULT, THE 14TH CHAPTER OF JOHN IS A SOURCE OF COMFORT FOR US ALL.
f. BUT IT WAS GIVEN FIRST TO STRENGTHEN THE TREMBLING HEARTS OF THESE ELEVEN NERVOUS DISCIPLES.
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MOVE 5: THEY WERE NERVOUS ABOUT THEIR CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES AND THEIR FUTURE IN LIFE.
a. They needed to have their faith elevated!
b. But, instead … FEAR had moved in and taken residence in their HEARTS, and faith had to be revived.
c. Similar to HOW FAITH has to revived in us and in our young people today.
d. For life teaches our YOUNG PEOPLE, and all of us, that FEAR is THE ENEMY OF OUR FAITH, and the answer to FEAR is FAITH.
e. In our text, this afternoon, Jesus tried to strengthen the disciples faith, and he went as far as he could before he had to summarize the whole matter …
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MOVE 6: By saying, (in verse 27) “LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED, NEITHER LET IT BE AFRAID.”
a. Jesus told them to KEEP TROUBLE AWAY FROM THEIR HEARTS.
b. In other words, AS CHRISTIANS, WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN to prevent our GOOD WORKS FROM BEING SPOKEN OF IN AN UNGODLY MANNER.
c. We should keep trouble from our hearts.
d. Now, my brothers and my sisters …. It’s also important to note … HERE … that, some of us would have been right at home among those disciples.
e. Because, many of us live with FEAR and NERVOUS TENSIONS ALL THE TIME.
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MOVE 7: Even when there is no crisis, we conjure up one … get on the telephone and solicit one, put one together out of any rumor fragments that are passing around.
a. For example, ONE MAY HEAR SOMEONE ELSE SAY: “CHILD, DID YOU HEAR WHAT I HEARD ON AFN … LAST NIGHT?
b. The weather man said that … THE TYPHOON SEASON IS ON THE WAY …
c. I SUPPOSE THAT MEANS … THE AREA IV COMMUNITY … IS GOING TO BE HIT BY A HURRICANE OR A TYPHOON SOON …
d. AND THERE IT GOES AGAIN – something else to get upset and anxious` about.
e. Still, my brothers and sisters, I’ll be the first to admit that IF WE LOOK HARD ENOUGH … THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TO GET FRIGHTENED ABOUT:
f. CONCERNS ABOUT IF AND WHEN THE moms and dads in Iraq and Afghanistan is coming home; If love ones devastated by KATRINA weeks ago are ever going to be located; young promising teen-agers hospitalized; and CRIMES AGAINST GOD in our Area IV Community.
g. And then there’s … CANCER RANDOMLY SELECTING ITS VICTIMS – both young and old.
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MOVE 8: HIV AND AIDS invading our schools and families at unsuspecting times.
a. If you look for it … there is always something to take your breath away …
b. AND SOMETIMES even if you don’t LOOK FOR IT!
c. SO YOU SEE … SOME OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WOULD HAVE FELT RIGHT AT HOME … AMONGST THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS.
d. Because … the fact of the MATTER IS … NONE US … WILL EVER BE ABLE TO ADEQUATELY PREPARE FOR THE TWIST OF unpredictable HURRICANES or TYPOONS,
e. none of us can adequately prepare for … DEATH, … WARS, AND TERRORISM IN OUR COUNTRY … or in OUR LIVES.
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MOVE 9: For instance, NEARLY 15 YEARS AGO, in the beautiful STATE OF GEORGIA, AND IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA …
a. I was the ON CALL DUTY CHAPLAIN for Grady Memorial Hospital, early one Saturday Morning …
b. When, I received a call informing me to report immediately to the EMERGENCY ROOM …
c. … AN EIGHT YEAR OLD GIRL HAD BEEN BURNED TO DEATH.
d. Upon my arrival, I was met by the Head Nurse In Charge … (Tell the story).
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MOVE 10: NOW, my brothers and sisters, HOW ON EARTH CAN ONE PREPARE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
a. For life cannot consist of staying with our children; or our LITTLE BROTHERS AND SISTERS every minute of the day, watching their every action, and guiding their every movement.
b. Something else must be the answer; AND SOMETHING ELSE IS THE ANSWER!
c. We can’t give OUR HEARTS TO FEAR AND WASTE OUR LIFE.
d. In our scriptures, this afternoon, JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE LEFT ALONE.
e. He promised them a COMFORTER, THE PREVAILING, EVER-PRESENT NEARNESS OF A LOVING AND CARING GOD … WHO HAS ALL POWERS IN HIS HANDS.
f. And that promise is also good for our young people; as it is also good for you and me.
g. “LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED, NEITHR LET IT BE AFRAID.”
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MOVE 11: Surely, The High School Drop-out Rates; and Church Going Teenagers actively engaged in sex – SECRETLY … could get worse …
a. TERRORISM could hit our location; and death could strike our households …
b. But, we can’t keep OUR KNEES SHAKING, AND OUR BREATH SHORT, WAITING FOR THESE AWFUL THINGS TO HAPPEN.
c. AS A MULTICULTURAL BODY OF BELIEVERS … WE HAVE to face this day … with our CHINS UP, OUR SHOULDERS ROLLED-BACK, AND OUR CHEST OUT …
d. … as we go about our SAVIOR’S BUSINESS.
e. Our Young People FAITH must PRECEDE their FEARS.
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MOVE 12: For as children of the most high God … they cannot behave as though they have no HEAVENLY FATHER … BY WASTING THEIR YOUTH serving the devil through their behaviors and THEIR ACTIONS.
a. YOUNG PEOPLE CAN’T LAY DOWN THEIR RELIGION LIKE THAT.
b. As young believers in Christ, you have more than that …
c. Because, the LORD is fair in all his ways and faithful in everything he does - Psalms 145:17
d. Still, we would be remiss NOT TO MENTION THAT IT IS NORMAL TO HAVE SOME LEGITIMATE FEARS.
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MOVE 13: Because, Legitimate Fear … is an important human emotion that one can not live without.
a. It doesn’t mean THAT YOU’RE NOT SAVED …
b. All children have fears at some point in their life and it is usually considered to be a normal part of development.
c. These fears are ONLY ABNORMAL IF THEY ARE PERSISTENT OR keep the child overly preoccupied with whatever is feared.
d. When Your JUNIOR_HIGH aged sister comes home 3 nights in a row after 2200 hours; and you hear a strange car door click …
e. And the car leaves the scene screeching and there is no explanation for these anonymous rides home, YOU SHOULD GET FRIGHTEN!
f. When … YOUR SAVED MOM OR DAD … stop praying everyday; and start going to bed night after night, without acknowledging God’s GRACE … that ‘s the time to be afraid!
g. In fact, its L-O-N-G over due!
h. So, young people, we do acknowledge that there are legitament fears, and they’re UNDERSTANDABLE.
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MOVE 14: WHAT I am preaching against this afternoon is called CHRONIC FEAR.
a. FEAR which is like a DISEASE THAT LAST A LONG TIME.
b. but takes away our Christian Incentives and Drains our Christian Initiatives.
c. Chronic FEAR is the ENEMY of FAITH. It is a corrosive and destructive spirit.
d. Therefore, as believers (YOUNG AND OLD) we should not LIVE BY FEAR; instead we must know when to be afraid.
e. AND, we must refuse to let CHRONIC FEAR intimidate us …
f. Yes, … you may be afraid of the upcoming exams … but with CHRIST you can do all things.
g. You may even fear the silence IN A HOME WHEN THE PARENTS ARE GONE … BUT YOU KNOW THAT YOU’RE NEVER ALONE … FOR CHIRST IS ALWAYS THERE.
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CELEBRATION:
- In other words, WE MUST PUT FAITH IN FRONT OF OUR FEARS …
- For the righteous shall live by their faith – Hab. 2:4
- . For don’t you remember … it was the Apostle Paul (in 1 Cor. 16:13 – God’s Word) …who said … Be alert. Be firm in the Christian Faith. Be courageous and strong.(GW)
- For, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” - Heb 11:1 (KJV)
- In other words: FAITH IS THE ANSWER.
