3 Reasons to Trust God

Here is my sermon from Dec. 27th, 2015. Enjoy.

3 Reasons to Trust God

Proverbs 3:5&6

Sunday, December 27^th, 2015-MRWC

            As we stand on the verge of a New Year, I would like to draw your attention to one passage of scripture that could possibly serve as an anchor in your life for 2016. If you have a Bible with you, I would invite you to turn to Proverbs chapter 3.

Found in this chapter are 2 verses that some of you have probably memorized, and these verse same verses are the ones that you have recited whenever you have felt alone, or if you are left scratching your head, wondering what if God really knew what He was up to.

These 2 verses have often brought me comfort as I have tried to rely on the promise that they bring.

The verses I am referring to this morning are Proverbs chapter 3 verses 5&6, which says: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (NIV84)

I think these 2 verses can be summarized with just 2 words: TRUST GOD. Proverbs 3:5 and 6 teach us that we are to trust in God and not in ourselves.

This was the same admonition that Jesus gave His followers in John 14. In verse 1 of John 14, Jesus says: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. (NIV)

            For Jesus to make a statement like that, a statement that basically says

“Don’t worry; don’t begin to question when things get out of hand. Don’t wonder if I’m coming back for you, all you have to do is trust in God and trust in Me—

For Jesus to say a statement like that, He must have known that at some point in our lives, we would have wrestled with the question “Can I—Can We—trust God?  

            This is a question that people have been dealing with for ages, and it’s a question that we will be dealing with until the end of time.

            Can we trust God when evil is running rampant in our world?

            Can we trust God when earthquakes are killing millions of people?

            Can we trust God when we are faced with the very real possibility of a terrorist attack at any moment?

            Can we trust God in the midst of our personal crisis; when the wheels fall off the cart of our lives?

            Are we really to take the command Trust in the LORD with all your heart seriously?

In a day and age when it seems that the kingdom of satan is running the show, can we really trust in God?

Have you ever pondered that question?

I would have to say “yes”—at some point in all our lives we have wrestled with—or will wrestle with--- the “Can I trust God” question.

            Well I have searched the Bible for the answer to the “Can I trust God question”, and I think the Bible gives us only 1 answer.

            In answer to the “Can I trust God” question, the writers of Scripture would respond: YES. Yes you can trust God. 

            Think about it: if God told you all the secrets of the world such as: why do bad things happen to good people, or when you are going to die, would you really trust in Him?

The obvious answer is no, you would not trust in God if He told you everything.

You would trust in your own self. You would live life the way that you want, and then just before you died, you say a nice little prayer, and then expect God to let you into heaven.

There’s little chance that you would trust God if He told you everything at once. You’d then be walking by sight, not by faith.

The truth is this morning friends, God wants us to trust Him at all timesà when we think we know the way, and when we don’t know the way at all.

God wants us to trust in Him at all times. And I would like to give you 3 reasons why we can trust in God.

#1 God is perfect in Love. What this means is God will always do what is right.

There has never been a time; nor will there ever be a time--when God makes a mistake, or does something evil. God is not tempted to do evil, nor does He tempt anyone to do evil.

James 1:13 address this very truth. “When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;

14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. (NIV)

God has never—nor will He ever-- entice you to do wrong. God does not know how to do wrong. If He did, He would not be God.

So what about all the evil things taking place in our world today? That’s a good question. I don’t think God causes those things to happen; He simply allows them to happen.

That might be a hard statement for some people to grasp. How could a loving God allow some horrendous things to happen? While I don’t have a complete answer, I do believe that God is respecting our right to Free Will and at the same time I must believe that God knows what He’s doing.

ILLUSTRATION- I have worked my way through the Old Testament Book of Job. I’ve even pondered it over these last few months.

It’s an interesting book, it’s a difficult book, it’s a book that has more questions than answers, but one thing the book of Job makes very clear at the very start, is that God allowed satan to inflict troubles upon Job. God allowed them, He didn’t cause them.

Job 1:6-12: “One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them.

7 “Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan. Satan answered the Lord, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.”

8 Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”

9 Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God.

10 You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is!

11 But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!”

12 “All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence. (NLT2)

From this exchange, we see God allowing Satan to go so far with Job, and satan does, and he inflicts tremendous turmoil on Job.  

Friends—don’t miss this statement-- God is not the cause of your problems. God has not caused your problems; God is seeking to fix them—mainly you—and He has done so through His Son, Jesus.

1 John 4:8 reminds us that: God is love. (NIV) All that God does, all that God is, all that God will ever do is because He is love.

Now, His love might rebuke us from time to time, but because God is always good and always loving and always righteous, we can trust Him to do what’s right.

Even when we are left scratching our heads.

One of the greatest verses in the Book of Job comes at the end of the book, when Job had come through his storm and in chapter 42:3 he said this about God: “My ears have heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.” (NIV84)

This is what it looks like to trust in God’s perfect Love.

The Second reason that we can trust in God is because God is infinite in His wisdom.  

ILLUSTRATION- Often times when I tell my kids not do something it’s usually because I know what will happen to them if they follow through with what they wanted to do. I can see the end result of their actions.

            The same can be said about God. While we might think we see the whole picture, the truth is we have finite minds—or limited understanding.

            We cannot see what the end result will be of what God is asking of us, we simply must trust that He sees the entire picture, and what He is asking us to do, will bring honor and glory to Him.

            “Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. 

29 He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. 30 Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.

31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. (Is. 40:28-31, NLT2)

            Because God is infinite in His wisdom He will always do what is right. It might not seem that way, especially when we are going through a dark time, but God sees the entire picture and He knows what is best for us, and we must trust in Him. 

            …my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. 9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways

higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Is. 55:8-9, NIV).

If we want to trust in the Lord, we must understand that He sees and knows all things, and what He wants from us is to “trust and obey”

The third reason that we can trust in God is: He is completely sovereign in His control.

ILLUSTRATION- Some people think that stuff “just happens”. I’ve met some of these people (maybe some are in this church) you’ve met some of these people.

No matter how hard you try and tell them otherwise, they’ll always believe that “stuff just happens”.

            Well I agree that stuff happens, but only because God makes things happen.  

            Colossians chapter 1 teaches us about the Supremacy of Christ.

Look at Col. 1:15: He—JESUS-- is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (NIV84)

Nothing just happens. Things happen—or don’t happen—because God said

they would—or would not—happen.

Because God is completely sovereign, He does not need to consult with the “Higher up’s” before He makes a decision.

Because God cannot do evil, He will always do what’s right—not necessarily what’s right to us—but He will always do what’s right in His sight.

We can trust in the Lord because He is perfect in His love, because He is infinite in His wisdom and because He is completely sovereign in His control.

Perhaps you have been wondering if you can really trust God with your life. You’ve been wondering if God will do the “right thing”.

To answer both of these questions, we need to look no further than to the Cross of Jesus Christ.   

The Cross is proof that God will always do the right thing. Why?

Because it was on the Cross that God sent His one and Only Son to die the death that we were supposed to die.

God could have sent us all to hell, but because of His love for us; He chose to send Jesus to pay the price for our sins.

Can God be trusted? Yes He can. The Cross should be all the proof that we need.

The Bible says that we are to Trust in the LORD with all your heart and

lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Notice friends, that our paths will only be straight if we are trusting in and acknowledging God. We cannot walk a straight path and live in disobedience to God.  

If we want to live lives on purpose, we must trust in the Lord. We are to seek His face when times are good and when times are bad.

We must trust that God is in complete control and He does not need our help to make things work. God knows the way.

ILLUSTRATION- Some travelers, not satisfied with the ordinary packaged tours that some travel companies offer, have chosen wilderness vacations, safaris, and other exotic trips.

For those interested in such adventurous travel, the following advice has been given: Find the best guide available. When you find him, hire him quickly. Trust yourself unreservedly to him. Do exactly what he tells you.

Friends; we have been given the Best Guide in the world. Our Guide, Jesus, has walked the same path that we are now walking on, and He says to us: Come, follow me.” (Matt. 4:19, NIV)

As we’re following Him, we will face some times of uncertainty, but we can be sure that He knows the way (Jesus himself said: “I am the way… John 14:6) and all we have to do is trust in Him.

            As the worship team comes back, I want to invite you to apply this sermon to your life. Maybe you’ve been having difficulty trusting in the Lord.

            Maybe you’ve been dealing with something on your own, and the Lord is inviting you to turn it over to Him.

            Maybe you just need a little boost as this year winds down and a new one ramps up.

            If so, then I want you to know that the alters are open, where you can come and pray, or you can find someone next to you who will pray with you where you are… but don’t leave this moment without praying a prayer similar to this:

            “Lord Jesus, I want to trust in you, I want to follow the path you have laid out for me. Help me to trust in you more.”  

          

God is with us

This is my Sermon from December 20th, 2015. Enjoy:

Good morning church!

What a joy to be back with you this morning.

Pastor Mike and I have been talking a little bit about this morning, and I'm going to take a few moments and share with you one passage of scripture that has been in my mind for the last few days, and everything that I have been reading since I've been home relates to this verse.

If you have your bible with you, please turn to Matthew 1:18-25: I'm reading from the NLT:

“This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph.
But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife.
For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”
When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.
But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.” Matthew 1:18-25 NLT
While there is so much truth In these verses, there is one verse In particular that has resonated with me. It's verse 23. Let's read it again:
““Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”
Matthew 1:23 NLT
This is what we need to know today. Not that God was with our ancestors, Even though He was.
Not that God will be with future generations. Though He will be.
The truth that I want us to know this morning, the truth I want us to remember this morning is that God is with us.
Here. Today. Now. Next week when the wheels fall off the cart of your life.
The bible promises that God is with us. Here. Now. Tomorrow. Next week.

Illustration- as many of you know, I've been in hospital, with the exception of a few days, since October.  I've been sick with infection after infection; infections so big I can't even pronounce the name of them.
Much of this is due, in part to the bile duct that has narrowed in, making it necessary for me to require a second liver transplant.
This frightens me to no end.
This frightens my family to no end.
We have to go through this ordeal one more time.

But you know what the good news is? Jesus is my Emmanuel. He is with me today; He will be with me when I get the call staying that my liver is in, and He will be with me when I'm lying on the operating table for a third time.
He will be with my wife as she has to wait, He will be with my kids as they have to live without mom and dad around for a while, and Jesus will be my Emmanuel while I'm recovering and in pain.
This is good news!! Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us.

Can I share some more good news with you? Jesus didn't just come to be my Emmanuel. Jesus came to be your Emmanuel as well.
He came to be with you when all hell breaks loose.
He came to be your Emmanuel when you get that diagnosis from the doctor.
He came to be, and He is your Emmanuel. He is God with you, He is God with me, He is God with us.
ILLUSTRATION- If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent an educator.
If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist.
If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist.
But since our greatest need was forgiveness, God sent us a Savior! (https://maxlucado.com/audio/daily-audio/god-sent-a-savior/)
Friends, our greatest need is Jesus. He has been given to us and for us. He is our Emmanuel. He is God with us.
Today, tomorrow, the middle of next week. Next year. Jesus is our Emmanuel.

The writer of Hebrews reminds us that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever". (13:8)
This is another awesome scripture! Our Emmanuel doesn't change. He doesn't come and go just because. He is with us at all times, in all places and through all things.
Again the writer of Hebrews reminds us that “For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”” Hebrews 13:5 NLT
So what do I want you to do?
Remember: God is your Emmanuel.

He is with you. Here and now.
He is with you when you leave this place.
He will be with you next week, in two weeks, and all the way through next year.
He is your Emmanuel.
Call out to Him. Lean on Him. Lift up our eyes to Him.
David wrote in psalm 121:  “I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”Psalm 121:1-8 NIV
This is a promise. Our Emmanuel is with us. He will watch over us. He will guide us. Our Emmanuel is with us.

And, just I case you may have forgotten; our Emmanuel is for us: Romans 8:31 says: "If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31 NIV
Our Emmanuel, is with us and He is for us.
Know today, that whatever your going through- good or bad-- Jesus is our Emmanuel
If you have never invited Jesus into your heart and life, there is no better time and place than right now.
Our series verse has been Luke 2:11: and it says: "“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:11 NIV
Jesus has come to be your Saviour, your Messiah and your Lord.
There is no better gift that you can receive this Christmas, or any time of the year, than Jesus Christ.
If you have never invited Jesus into your heart, it's a simple as a-b-c
Admit that you are a sinner
Believe that Jesus is the Savior and
Confess your need for Him.
He will come In and live with you, and Change you from the inside out.
The words that the Prophet Isaiah spoke over 600 years before Jesus breathed His first breath as a flesh and blood human being are Just as true today as they were the day they were written:
"All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”
Closing prayer.

Transformed, part 1

We started a new series last Sunday, (Sept. 20, 2015) here is the first message in the series.

I’m super excited to be kicking off a brand new series called Transformed. Over the next 8 weeks we are going to look at the 7 areas of our lives that God wants to transform.

The 7 areas are: our Spiritual health, Physical health, mental health, Emotional health, Relational health, financial health and Vocational health.

Believe it or not, God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus, and as we allow Him to transform us in these 7 areas of life, we will become the men and women He intends for us to be.

So an obvious question needs to be asked—and answered first thing-is How does God transform us?

Do we simply wake up one morning and Poof! We’re exactly the men and women God wants us to be! I WISH!

I wish I could wake up one morning and be the most patient person in the world.

I wish I could wake up one morning and have no more struggles…. But unfortunately, transformation doesn’t work that way.

It doesn’t work that way, because Transformation is a process. It takes time for us to become the men and women God wants us to become.

2 Corinthians 3:18 says this: “As God’s Spirit works within us, we are being transformed to become more like Christ. This change, from one degree of glory to another, comes from the Lord.”

As we allow God to work in our lives; when we give Him permission to go there in our lives, we will be transformed.

Spiritual transformation is a process; it doesn’t happen overnight. It takes, weeks, months, and even years.

ILLUSTRATION- I would like to believe that I’m not the same person I was 22 or so years ago when I came to faith in Jesus.

            I’m different today than I was then, because of the work of God in my life.

But that doesn’t mean that I have arrived. There is still work to be done in my life, and, the truth be told, God isn’t finished with you either. 

There is still room for all of us to grow, room for all of us to be transformed into the men and women God intends for us to be.

Our text for this morning comes from Ephesians chapter 4, and it highlights the transformation process that God uses to grow us into the people we are supposed to be, so if you are keeping notes, the first thing for us to know today is that:

1. Transformation requires coaching.

We grow better together. When we have someone cheering us on, we do better.

This is the truth of Hebrews 10:24: “let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” (NIV84).

Athletes need coaches, vocalists need coaches, and you and I need a coach if we are going to become the people God wants us to become.

When you look at the Bible you’ll find out that all of the great leaders in the Bible had coaches.      

For instance Joshua was coached by Moses.  Elisha was coached by Elijah.  Solomon was coached by David.  And David was actually coached by Samuel. 

The twelve disciples were coached by Jesus. Paul coached Timothy. Timothy coached others. 

In 2 Timothy 2:2 Paul says this to Timothy: “The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (NLT)

Paul wanted Timothy to share the things he had learned from Paul to other people, so they could grow in their faith.

ILLUSTRATION- Each of you have benefited from the coaches that I have had in my life, and I have had several, from Professors, to mentors, they all have taught me a little bit more about what it takes to pastor a growing church.

While I have been in this season of life, I have endeavoured to coach Pastor Mike in some things as well.

Transformation requires coaching, and we all need someone in our lives that we can invest in and we need someone who is investing in us.

Look at how Ephesians 4 describes this process: “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (NIV)

Paul reminded us that coaches had been given to the church to help the church people become the people God intended them to be.

These are men and women who teach the Word and help us grow up in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

We’ve got 4 great coaches who are ready to help you in your journey with Jesus during this new series.

We all need someone who is investing in our lives; because Transformation requires coaching.

2. Transformation (also) requires learning the truth.

John 17 is a wonderful chapter in the Bible. It records for us the High Priestly prayer of Jesus, the prayer He prayed the night before He went to the cross.

In verse 17 of this chapter, Jesus says something very interesting: “Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.” (NLT2)

Notice what Jesus didn’t say. He didn’t say the newspaper is truth. He didn’t say the magazines and the books we read or the TV shows that we watch are truth. Jesus said God’s Word, the Holy Bible is truth.

One way that we are transformed is by spending time in the Word of God. The word of God, according to Jesus, is truth, and if we want to become men and women of God, we’ve got to know the truth.

Jesus said: “And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32, NLT2)

As we know God’s truth: “we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.” (Eph. 4:14, NLT2)

Knowing God’s word will keep us from going places that we have no business going to. 

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.” (Psalm 119:9, NIV84)

God’s Word is truth, and for us to become the men and women He wants us to become, we’ve got to spend time in His word.

That’s why we’re encouraging you to pick up a copy of the Transformed series journal.

It contains daily devotions, readings that will get you into God’s word, because God’s word is truth, and transformation requires learning the truth.

Here’s the Third truth about Transformation: It requires new thinking.

In God’s economy, change begins in the mind. Change doesn’t begin by changing our actions, change beings in the mind, because the battle is won or lost in our minds.

If we want to be transformed, we need to think new thoughts. How do we do that?

Our key verse for this entire series lets us in on that secret... It’s found in Romans 12:2: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (NIV84)

I love how the NLT translates this verse: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.

Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (NLT2)

To be transformed, we’ve got to change our way of thinking.

(It’s interesting to note, that after we’ve changed how we think, we will be able to know God’s will for our lives… not before.)

Let’s jump back to Ephesians chapter 4 and see what that passage says, look at verse 17: “Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused.

18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him.

19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.” (NLT2)

Now jump down to verse 23: “Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” (Eph. 4:23-24, NLT2)

We are not to conform to this world, we are to be transformed, and the way that we begin to be transformed is by changing the way we think.

We've got to get rid of our stinking thinking, and begin to think Godly thoughts, because transformation requires new thinking.

4. Transformation (also) requires cleaning house.

Ephesians 4:21-22 reads: “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, ²² throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.” (NLT2)

In order for us to live the transformed life, we have to get rid of the trash. Allow me to illustrate what I mean…

ILLUSTRATION- We have been known, from time to time, to leave the full trash bag in the trunk of the car.

         We have every intention of placing it in the garbage box when we get to the bottom of our driveway, but sometimes we forget, often on the hottest days of the year….

            As soon as we get in the car again, we are reminded that we forgot to take out the trash.

       In order to get rid of the smell, we’ve got to get rid of the trash.

            The same is true in our lives. If we want to be transformed into the people God wants us to become, we are going to have to take out the trash in our lives.

 We might have to block some TV channels, maybe we'll need to cancel the newspaper subscription, we’ll have to avoid going to certain stores in the mall, we might even have to avoid certain foods…

Hebrews 12:1 says it the best:  “Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, (The men and women of the faith who have gone on before us)  let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (Heb. 12:1, NIV84)

This verse has the idea of literally taking the thing that is tripping us up, and throwing it away.

Jesus speaks to this issue as well: “If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

“And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.”(Matthew 5:29-30, NIV84)

While Jesus is not advocating self-mutilation, He is telling us to do whatever needs to be done so that The sin that is tripping us up will not trip us up anymore… and that requires cleaning house… getting rid of things that serve no purpose, other than to bring us down.

Sometimes, getting rid of the things that trip us up is easier said than done. Have you ever wondered why?

We’ve had our bad habits a long time. Someone once said: “it took you a long time to get into this mess; it will take you a long time to get out of this mess”.

This why transformation takes a while… because we’ve been programmed one way, and we need to be re-programmed another way...

But the major reason bad habits are hard to break is because Satan fights it.

The last thing satan wants from you is for you to be transformed. He will fight you tooth and nail. He wants you to be just as you are. He wants you to be bogged down with the sin that trips you up; he doesn’t want you to be free.

Eph. 6:12 reminds us that: “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (NIV84)

Satan fights our transformation, but thankfully our God is greater, and our God is bigger and our God stronger, and He beat Satan with a big ugly stick and “the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4, NIV84)

Transformation requires cleaning house, its hard work, but it’s worth it. 

5. Transformation requires community. 

Eph. 4:25 says: “So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.” (NIV84)

To get the most out of this series, we want you to join one of our life groups. We’ve got 4 of them, and they are meeting at different times each week, so you can be involved in one of these life groups.

Some of my best learning moments have come out of my involvement with Life groups, and PM and I want to encourage you to get involved in one of the 4 groups that are being offered.

Complete information, such as times and places can be found in your bulletin.

When we remember that no one in this church is perfect; when we remember that: “Either you were a mess, are a mess or are one dumb decision away from becoming a mess” (Stanley, 2012, 82,) we will be open and honest with those in our life group, because transformation requires community.

Eph 4:32 gives us one last piece of wisdom: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (NIV84)

Because God has been gracious to us, we are going to be gracious to others, especially those who are in our Life Groups.

So what do I want you to do with what you’ve just heard?

I want you to give prayerful consideration to committing the next 8 weeks to your spiritual growth. 

• In just a few moments, I’m going to ask you to come up and pick up one of these commitment cards that are on the alter. (read it)

• Pick up a copy of the Transformed journal. It’s broken down into 7 weeks of daily devotionals, and spend some time, starting next Sunday, learning the Truth that is God’s word. If you don’t think you can afford one of these journals, just write your name down as having taken one, and merry Christmas to you.
• Commit to clearing out the junk that is in your life.
• Allow God to go there in your life.
• Believe that God wants to, and can do something great in your life!

Let it Go, part 2

this post is my first sermon, post liver transplant. It's the second in our current series called Let it go. Enjoy.

Let it Go, Part 2

Let Go of Fear

Sunday August 16^th, 2015-MRWC

 

ILLUSTRATION- This song, “The Eye of the Tiger” was playing on the radio as I was walking the hallway a few days after my transplant, and I told myself that the next time I was preaching, that was going to be my walk up music.

            So I’m preaching this morning, and that’s my walk up music, so thanks for humoring me a little; but more importantly, thanks for praying for me and my family during this season of life; we are blessed to serve some of the best people around!

            Last week, Pastor Mike kicked off our new sermon series called: “Let It Go.” This series is loosely based on the Disney movie franchise Frozen.

          The movie ranks as the highest grossing animated film of all time, and most of us are at least quasi-familiar with the theme song of this movie: “Let it go”

            Not only was the movie a cash cow for Disney, but the spin off products are everywhere. There is almost nowhere that you can go and not find some Frozen related product. 

            Allow me to share a few examples with you. This is from several trips to town:

            Here we have frozen dolls, frozen shoes, frozen what-ever these things are, a frozen alarm clock, frozen cheerios….

Frozen things have even invaded my house… here is my shower curtain!

Frozen things are everywhere; I can’t get away from it! As my daughter’s shirt says, and as the theme of this series goes, I’ve got to “Let it Go… it shouldn’t bother me anyway.” (But it does… I think I may need help!)

The main purpose behind this series is not to knock Frozen, but instead to discuss some of the things that we as followers of Jesus need to let go of if we want to move forward in our Christian walk.

Some of these things, as PM said last week, have the power to keep us frozen, and that’s not a good place for the follower of Jesus to be.

Last week, we looked at our need to let go of self; how on our own we are hopeless and helpless but Jesus died on the cross to give us hope and to bring us the help that only He can bring.

If we want to be fully devoted followers of Jesus, we’ve got to let go of self and trust in Jesus for full deliverance.

This morning, I want us to look at fear; specifically how God wants us to let go of fear.

Fear happens to be a pretty important theme in the movie Frozen, and fear also happens to be a pretty important theme in the movie of our lives as well.

ILLUSTRATION- Over the last several weeks—and really longer than that when you consider all of the procedures I’ve endured leading up to my liver transplant, my check list of things to be fearful about grew by the day.

            Will I make it out alive?

            Who will look after my wife if I don’t make it out alive?

            Will my kids grow up without a father?

            Where will my kids live if I don’t make it?

            Who will take my TBJ and MLT Canadiens collection?

            These are just some of the things that I have been fearful about during this season of life.

            If I were to ask some of you what you are “concerned” about, your list might look like mine, or you might add a few things of your own:

            Will we have enough money?

            Who will help look after me when I’m older?

            What if I get laid off?

            What if I get sick?

            What if, what if what if…?

            Fear has a way of crippling us; it has a way of freezing us into inaction. Fear renders us unable to live the life God intends for us to live. So if you hear nothing else this morning, hear this:

            God doesn’t intend for us to live in fear; He wants us to walk by faith.

          The main Scripture passage I want to encourage you to memorize this week is the same verse that I memorized several years back when I was shaped more by fear than faith.

It’s found in 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (NLT2)

            I would like for us to notice a few things about this verse, first of all: God has not given us a spirit of fear!

            The words fear and afraid are mentioned close to five hundred times in the Bible and in the New Testament there are actually several different words used to convey the idea of fear. 

The first word simply means to be in awe of, or to revere or respect something.  This is a natural fear. In the Bible it is used of the fear of God, or fear of death. 

This is the type of fear that keeps us from doing silly things, like stepping off tall buildings.

Another word that could have been used means exceedingly afraid or terror. It’s where we get our word Phobia. And it is natural fear taken to the extreme.

 If the first type of fear keeps us living, the second type keeps us from living. 

The website www.phobialist.com actually lists over 500 different fears, things like Acousticophobia- Fear of noise or Alektorophobia- Fear of chickens.

Cometophobia- Fear of comets, Agliophobia- Fear of pain (I suffer from this), even though I can’t say this one, it was too good to pass up on: Didaskaleinophobia- Fear of going to school. (I suffer from this, too)

And finally Homilophobia- Fear of sermons, there would appear to be a lot of people who are suffering from that in our country today. (Denn Guptill)

The word that Paul used in writing to Timothy was not revere or respect, or even Extreme fear. The word Paul used meant being afraid to do things or even try things because you are afraid you might fail.

This type of fear keeps us from taking chances; it keeps us from doing something for God—as Matthew 25 instructs us to do--- this type of fear is content with the status quo; not ruffing anyone’s feathers because we don’t want to rock the boat.

ILLUSTRATION- An Arab chief tells the story of a spy captured and sentenced to death by a general in the Persian Army.

        This general had the strange custom of giving condemned criminals a choice between the firing squad and the “big black door.”

            The moment for execution drew near, and the guards brought the spy to the Persian General. “What will it be, asked the general, “the firing squad or ‘the big, black door’”?

            The spy hesitated for a long time. Finally he chose the firing squad.

            A few minutes later, hearing the shots ring out confirming the spy’s execution, the general turned to his aide and said, “They always prefer the known to the unknown. People fear what they don’t know. Yet, we gave him a choice.”

            “What lies beyond the big door?” Asked the aide?

            “Freedom,” replied the general. “I’ve only known a few brave enough to take that door.” (www.bible.org/illustrations/fear/unknown )

            God has not given us a spirit of fear.  The devil wants you to live in fear-à fear of what may not even happen! Not God.

God wants to you let go of fear because you he has given you something much better.

            If God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear, what has He given us? Well, I’m glad you asked!

           According to 2 Tim. 1:7, God has given us 3 things. 1) Power 2) Love and 3) Self- discipline or depending on what translation you use a “sound mind”.

             2. God has given us power to conquer our fears!

            When I find myself becoming controlled by fear, one verse usually comes to mind. It comes from Psalm 56:

        “When I am afraid, I will trust in you. 4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?” (3-4,NIV84)

            I’ve often found comfort as I recite this verse when I'm overwhelmed with fear.

        As I let the truth of this verse sink in, I remember that God has not called me to a life of fear, but one of faith, and His power can help me overcome my fears and lead me to do whatever it is that He has asked me to do, or is leading me through.

            God gives us Power. Power from on high to do what He has asked you to do, or whatever you are being led through.

         I know this because of the words Jesus told His disciples as He was being taken up to Heaven:

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8, NIV84)

When we become Christ followers, we receive the Holy Spirit who lives inside of us, and enables us to do what we need to go through, no matter how life altering it may be.

ILLUSTRATION- June 9 will stay with me for as long as I live. That was the day of my liver transplant, and as I was being taken up to the OR, it was just me and Jesus. No wife, no kids, no friends. Just me and Jesus.

            I remember asking for God to help me and to be with me and I remember, at that moment, receiving a peace that could only be explained by reading Philippians 4:6-7:

            “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.” (NIV84)

            The Holy Spirit was with me that day, taking my fears and replacing them with His presence and power.

         God’s Holy Spirit will be with you when you let go of your fear and lean into His power.

            God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of Power to conquer our fears.

            3) God has also given us a Spirit of Love!

            This is a big one! Love is to be the defining mark, or character trait of the follower of Jesus.

            It was Jesus Himself who said: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

         35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (Jn.13:34-35, NIV84)

            Love is to be the defining mark of a Christ follower. Love not hate. Love not jealously. Love not judge-mentalism. Love not fear.

            True love can best be explained by 1 Cor. 13: “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.

6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.

7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” (NLT2)

This type of love can only be produced in followers of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22 reminds us that: “the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love….” (NLT2)

God’s Holy Spirit gives us power to conquer our fears, and He can also fill you with love, love for God and love for other people.

If you are having a hard time loving God, or even other people, ask Him to produce love in your life. But I need to warn you, asking for God to help you love is like praying for patience... don’t do it unless you’re serious.

4. God has also given us a Spirit of Self-discipline. Or as some Bible versions say, a sound mind.

There are interesting words recorded for us in Titus chapter 2, starting with verse 11 and on: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.

12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,13 while we wait for the blessed hope-- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ….” (Titus 2:11-13, NIV84)

Believe it or not, there are things that are actually harmful to our Christian walk. There are lifestyle choices that can seriously hinder our hearing from and living for God.

Thankfully God has given us His grace to help us to say no to these destructive lifestyle choices and live the Christian life with self-discipline; but before we gain control of our actions, we need to gain control of our thoughts, because the battle is won or lost in our minds.

This is why we are instructed in 2 Corinthians 10 to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5, NIV84)

This, of course, takes discipline, self-discipline. Your mother isn’t going to police your thoughts. You will have to.

When you’re tempted to do that thing you probably shouldn’t do, you will have to make that phone call and ask someone for help.

God has already given us what we need to live victoriously, we need to let go of self and fear and walk in the victory of Jesus.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2Pe 1:3, NIV84)

            So what do I want you to do with what you’ve (hopefully) just heard? Two things:

1. Let go of fear.  God doesn’t intend for us to live in fear—or by fear. He wants us to walk by faith and we do that by letting go of our fears.

Maybe you want to visualise the fear that has been holding you back and place them in your hands and then say to the Lord: “Take this out of my hands, I give my fears, about today and tomorrow over to you.”

You might want to actually pray this way: The bible says Lord, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you.” (Ps 56:3, NIV84) so I give you this fear that’s holding me back, take this and help me to walk by faith today.

You will give Your fear over to God.

The second take away is this: Take what’s already yours!

God has already given us Power, Love and Self-discipline. Listen to the verse one more time:

 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (NLT2) 

These 3 already belong to us! We just need to receive them. We need to put them into practice. All we need to do is ask the Lord to fill us with the Spirit of God and grow these things in us.

So today, we’re letting go of fear and taking on Power, Love and Self-discipline.

As we transition back into a time of corporate worship, if you’d like to let go of fear, and receive the Power, Love and S.D. that are already yours, know that the alters are open, and someone will come and pray with you.

No matter what you do today, let go of fear… it shouldn’t bother you anyway.