Church 2/17/2024
Offertory scripture:
God is for you and not against you.
John 3:16-17
Offertory scripture:
God is for you and not against you.
John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
The best way to keep yourselves stirred up for God is to remember what He has done for you.
Psalm 103:1-3
Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Sermon message:
Thesis: Faith is God’s fear repellent.
It works like insect repellent in terms of warding off insects.
Perilous times will come as we approach the day of the Lord Jesus’s return.
We are excited about Jesus’s coming again. But fear can get in the way. So we need to be watchful and mindful.
There are all sorts of fears. No matter what it’s a fear of, it’s terrible. It can bring on sickness. Fear is not your friend. And fear is not of God. The Bible makes this clear. The Bible also says fear contains torment. Fear comes from the tormentor.
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace.
Faith comes from God. He gives us faith.
Romans 10:17
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Mark 11:22
So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.
The Bible clearly says we should live by faith. We will be rewarded. Faith brings comfort (one of the rewards) into our lives.
2 Corinthians 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
John 14:26
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit is your comforter.
How to attract faith into our hearts? How to apply faith in our lives?
Point #1: Spend time with real believers.
Hang around with people of real faith.
Psalm 1:1
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
It’s important to meet with other believers.
Hebrews 10:25
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
What day? The return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Point #2: Spend time with God.
Spend alone time with God and spend time with God at church. Public time and private time. Every day.
Jesus spent lots of alone time with His Father.
Matthew 26:41
Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Prayer repels fear.
Point #3: Read and meditate on God’s Word.
Joshua 1:8-9
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. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
God has some promises:
Isaiah 40:30-31
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
Point #4: speak positive powerful words of faith.
Don’t verbalize your fears; verbalize your faith.
Don’t give birth to negative thoughts. Give birth to positive thoughts.
Mark 11:23
For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
Say these things:
Psalm 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Isaiah 54:13-14
All your children shall be taught by the Lord,
And great shall be the peace of your children.
In righteousness you shall be established;
You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear;
And from terror, for it shall not come near you.
1 John 4:18-19
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.
Point #5: feed your faith and starve your doubts to death.
Spend time with real believers and spend time with God. Speak faith.
Galatians 6:7
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.