[Blogger's note: I regret to share that this particular sermon I did not get complete notes on the message, particularly during the latter portion. I did get every Bible verse or passage that was used or referenced, but what is missing are some of the connecting points. To clarify my best understanding of the purpose of the message: 1. How to get rid of fear; 2. How to receive God's peace; 3. Trusting that God's word is right, no matter what is going on around us; 4. Spending time in God's word will allow what we already believe by faith to really settle in our hearts; 5. Be careful what you read, watch, listen to, etc; as that will impact what you think and what you say, which will impact whether you are struggling with fear vs. receiving God's peace. A personal experience I can add is that I have had a history of struggling with thoughts in which I am arguing with someone else in my head. Through both my faith and therapy, I have been able to manage it for the most part, and I can corroborate the teaching pastor's point that repeating "Jesus, I'm sorry for giving into these thoughts yet again. I repent; please forgive me. I give these thoughts back to You, again" over and over, really works. It did take quite a while for it to work. But it does work. Anyway, below are the sermon notes.]
Offertory scripture:
giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:12,13,14, NKJV
Sermon message:
The anointing of God is on the Word. The hearer can draw on the Word. Any scripture verse or revelation can change the course of a persons life. A revelation can turn head knowledge into heart knowledge.
Two main recent topics:
1. How to get rid of fear
2. How to receive the peace of God
Fear. What is fear? Fear is faith in the wrong thing. But faith in the word of God is a blessing to us.
The byproduct of fear is a lack of peace.
Peace. Peace is a byproduct of staying close to God and in His peace. You can have the peace of God in your heart all the time. God has given us peace. It’s a fruit of the spirit.
First step is to recognize when fear is knocking at the door. Then saying no to it staying in your life.
How do we get rid of fear?
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17, NKJV
Perfect love will cast out fear. God is love and His word is love. Getting the head knowledge down to heart knowledge.
So how do we do that?
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Joshua 1:8, NKJV
Meditate on God’s word. Let what you think about, let what you say, let that be God’s word. We do our part; God will do His part.
Another key: what you put inside your mind, what you watch, what you listen to, that will affect what you think, say, pray, etc.
If I can believe God for my salvation, I can also trust Him for anything else that may come up while on this earth.
Healing? Jesus did many healing miracles. And Jesus said that He only did what He saw God the Father doing.
What are we saying? Refer to James 3:
For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.
The tongue is the rudder that steers the ship, etc. the enemy is after your tongue. If he can get you to say his thoughts rather than the word of God, he can steal your victory. But the truth is God has given us the authority over everything in our minds, bodies, mouths. (Self control)
Blessed is the manWho walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,Nor stands in the path of sinners,Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;But his delight is in the law of the Lord,And in His law he meditates day and night.He shall be like a treePlanted by the rivers of water,That brings forth its fruit in its season,Whose leaf also shall not wither;And whatever he does shall prosper.
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,And whose hope is the Lord.For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,Which spreads out its roots by the river,And will not fear when heat comes;But its leaf will be green,And will not be anxious in the year of drought,Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
Don’t let the enemy use our tongues. But give God permission to use our tongues.
The Parable of the Sower
13 And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. 18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20 But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”
13 Then He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand and grasp the meaning of all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word [of God, the good news regarding the way of salvation]. 15 These [in the first group] are the ones along the road where the word is sown; but when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them. 16 In a similar way these [in the second group] are the ones on whom seed was sown on rocky ground, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy [but accept it only superficially]; 17 and they have no real root in themselves, so they endure only for a little while; then, when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they [are offended and displeased at being associated with Me and] stumble and fall away. 18 And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, 19 but the worries and cares of the world [the distractions of this age with its worldly pleasures], and the deceitfulness [and the false security or glamour] of wealth [or fame], and the passionate desires for all the other things creep in and choke out the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20 And those [in the last group] are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word [of God, the good news regarding the way of salvation] and accept it and bear fruit—thirty, sixty, and a hundred times as much [as was sown].”Mark 4:13-20, AMP (Amplified Bible)
casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
Cast your cares on God. When negative thoughts invade your mind, verbally tell God you’re entrusting the thought or situation to Him. They will try to return. Continue to give it back to God. Speak faith, speak scripture, as necessary. Lather, rinse, repeat, until the negative though goes away and stays away.