The Defeat of Fear
Text: Roman 8:17-39
Introduction: Do we, as Christians really know what God as
done for us in Jesus Christ? We should
walk, talk and sleep victory but too many times we do not.
We are living in fearful times. There is a great deal of
uncertainty, of conflicting opinions and opposing conclusions of what is
happening and how to deal with it as a nation and as individuals. Fear is
something this world has in abundance and loves to create even more.
Consider what some fearful
scientists have predicted in the past.
If everyone keeps stacking National Geographic’s in garages and attics instead of throwing them away, the magazines' weight will sink the continent 100 feet sometime soon and we will all be inundated by the oceans. Now you may think this is foolish and it is, but just remember a few years ago a certain Congressman publicly questioned if too many people on the island of Guam would cause the island to flip over and capsize.
Another study found that, if the number of microscope
specimen slides submitted to one St. Louis hospital lab continues to increase
at its current rate, that city will be buried under three feet of glass by the
year 2224.
How about this one, If beachgoers keep returning home with
as much sand clinging to them as they do now, 80% of the country's coastline
will disappear in 10 years....
It has also been reported that pickles cause cancer,
communism, airline tragedies, auto accidents and crime waves. About 99.9% of
cancer victims had eaten pickles sometime in their lives.... 96.8% of communist
sympathizers and 99.7% of those involved in car and airplane accidents.
Moreover, those born in 1839 who ate pickles have suffered a 100% mortality
rate. And rats force-fed 20 pounds of pickles a day for a month ended up with
bulging abdomens and loss of appetite. And you thought COVID-19 was scary, we
better wake up and fear the pickle. -
Barry Siegel, "World May End With a Splash," Los Angeles Times, October 9, 1982.
Do we need to talk about scientists, politicians and the
media when it comes to fear and Global Warming? No, I didn’t thinks so.
There are many real fears in this world and many foolish
ones but do you know the best way to overcome all fear, real or unreal? Its
right here in this book, this is, among so many other wonderful things, the way
to defeat fear. I want to give you a quick and very non-exhaustive example this
morning from the book of Romans chapter 8.
Christian Roadmap
Romans, for the Christian is a Roadmap of our beliefs, our
hopes and our way to live.
Romans 1-3 Sin: Guilty before God
Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no,
not one:
Romans 4-5 Salvation by God
Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed
God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Romans 5:6-9 For when we were yet without strength, in due
time Christ died for the ungodly.
For scarcely for a
righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even
dare to die. But God commendeth his love
toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more
then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through
him.
Romans 6 -8 Living With God (Sanctification)
Fear Defeated By Emancipation - Romans 8:1-9
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in
Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ
Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was
weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful
flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not
after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but
they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be
spiritually minded is life and peace.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to
the law of God, neither indeed can be.
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the
Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not
the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
No Fear Because We are Free
Paul says there is no condemnation. This means I am not
condemned of God because I am now his child, I have put me faith in the death
of Jesus Christ and I need never fear the judgment of God for my sin, because
that price has been paid by the death of Christ in my place.
Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in vs. 2 says,
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the
law of sin and death.”
Paul says you no longer fear condemnation. If you are a child of God, then you have the
Spirit of God within you to overcome your fear, your faults, even your
sins. You no longer need to fear, you
have been set free, emancipated, from fear by the Spirit of life in Christ
Jesus,
Illustration: No Fear of Gravity pg. 130 in The Normal Christian Life.
“… the Lord says in Matthew 6: “Behold the birds… Consider
the lilies.” If we could ask the birds
whether they were not afraid of the law of gravity, how would they reply? They would say: “We never heard the name of
Newton. We know nothing about his law. We fly because it is the law of our life to
fly.” Not only is there in them a life
with the power of flight, but that life has a law which enables these living
creatures, quite spontaneously and consistently, to overcome the law of gravity.
Fear Defeated By Regeneration - Romans 8:10-11
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is
life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up
Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall
also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
No Fear Because We are Quickened
Quickened is an old word, taken from the Greek word for
life, “zoon.” Here it means to made alive, to give life.
Christians cannot fear when they realize that before they
came to Christ, they were already dead. What could be worse for a human being
than to know you were never really alive, but were just dead people walking?
But that death has been defeated because we have been quickened, made alive for
the first time. How can I be afraid now? I’ve already passed through death and
if Jesus Christ defeated death then I
know He will also defeat fear.
No Fear Even At the Grave
1 Corinthans 15:51-57 — Behold, I shew you a mystery; We
shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling
of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall
be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put
on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this
corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on
immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is
swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy
victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But
thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Fear Defeated by Adoption - Romans 8:12-16
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to
live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye
through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many
as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not
received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit
of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness
with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
No Fear Because We are Children of God
Paul boldly proclaims, “We have not received the spirit of
bondage, by the Spirit of Adoption and now as the children of God we cry out
“Abba, Father!” The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the
children of God!
If we could just grasp a small portion of this truth, every
fear we could ever face would be instantly vaporized, gone in a flash of
boldness in the knowledge of who we are.
We are the children of God. We belong to the family of the
creator and sustainer of the universe. We walk upon a world that will one day
be claimed by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and ruled by us as God’s
people. How can I be afraid of anything in this world? This world may be
occupied territory now by the power of sin, but I know the truth, this world
and all that is in it, will one day be conquered by its rightful ruler and
King. When that happens you and I as children of God, as those who cry out
Abba, Father, will ride behind Him and rule with Him.
Fear Defeated by Redemption - Romans 8:17-25
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs
with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified
together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy
to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest
expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For
the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him
who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be
delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the
children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in
pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the
firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting
for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope:
but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope
for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
No Fear Because We are Redeemed
As Children we are also heirs and joint heir with Christ.
Paul points out that we will suffer with Jesus Christ but he looks past the
suffering and says we will glorifed. The suffering, the sorrows, the
persecution and the tribulations can’t compare to that glory that will be
reveal in us.
This Paul says is and earnest expectation that is not just
ours but all of creation. Vs 19. Creation
itself waits in hope for the glorifying of the sons of God, for when they are
glorified then all of creation will become what God originally created it to
be. Creation shall be delivered from bondage in the liberty of the children of
God.
This great hope is the redemption of our bodies, our final
sanctification, the final proof of God’s love and power, the final defeat of
fear.
These bodies so weakened by sin, so easily infected by
disease, so quickly run down and so easily conquered by death; these same
bodies God will redeem, sin can’t even claim them after I’m dead and buried.
Now that is something that should give us courage and put fear to flight.
In Luke 21, Jesus was describing the events that would
precede His return for the nation of Israel in vs.28 when these things begin to
come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth
nigh.
That’s also what we should be doing with dealing with the
fear all around us. We have this assurance, we have this hope, we have this
earnest expectation given to us in God’s word. So lift up your head redemption
draweth nigh.
Fear Defeated by Intercession - Romans 8:26-28
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we
know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh
intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that
searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh
intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all
things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called
according to his purpose.
No Fear Because The Spirit Pleads For Us
Still our victories over sin, death and fear continue in vs
26. Fear is defeated and we have victory through the intercession of the Holy
Spirit vs. 26
The Holy Spirit has been given to us, to help us in our infirmities,
our weaknesses, or fear. He does this by making intercession for us. He prays
and pleads for us even in words that are beyond any language or vocabulary I
have. When words fail me, when fear begins to control my thoughts and my
prayers, the Holy Spirit, paracletos, take control.
In Him, even in the midst of fear I possess this great and
abiding assurance, That all things work together for good to them that love the
Lord and are called according to His purpose. vs 28
Fear Defeated by Predestination – Romans 8:29-30
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be
conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many
brethren. Moreover whom he did
predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified:
and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
No Fear Because We are Predestined
The Bible says, God foreknew us. He knew us as his children,
as those who would accept His Son as savior. Because of that fore-knowledge, He
then predestined us. He determined before it happened that we would be
conformed to the image of His Son, not that we would be saved, but that we
would be glorified and conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. All this He know in
eternity past, but for us it began in our lifetime when He called us, to salvation,
called to the cross of Calvary, called us to be the children of God. When we
answered that call, He Justified us and he He glorified us.
All this done in God’s mind before the world began. You
cannot understand it but you can know victory and freedom from fear, by
believing it right now.
Ephesians 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places
in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the
world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having
predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself,
according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his
grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Why should I be afraid? God has seen everything from the
beginning to the end of time. He has seen what is happening to us today and He
has already determined that His children will not be defeated, His children
will be glorified.
Quit being afraid, all of this we are going through has
already been dealt with by the fore-knowledge and predestination of God. Its
already be taken care of.
Illustration: Harry Houdini can’t open the lock.
Harry Houdini’s only failure to escape from a jail cell
almost came in a little English town with an old fashioned lock. After regurgitating the lock pick he worked
for hours on the old lock but could not make it budge. At the point where he was ready to quit he
leaned against the cell door and it swung open.
The sheriff had forgotten to lock the door. Houdini had been working on an open
lock. Christian you are experiencing
defeat because you are trying to do the work which Christ has already
done. We are already victorious. It’s time we swung open the door and began to
act like it.
Fear Defeated by Justification - Roman 8:31-39
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us,
who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for
us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay
any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he
that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who
is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who
shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or
persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For
thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the
slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him
that loved us. For I am persuaded, that
neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things
present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature,
shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our
Lord
No Fear Because We are Justified
What shall we say to these things?
If God be for us who can be against us?
He did not spare His own son will he not give us all we
need?
Who shall lay anything to the change of God’s elect?
God has justified us.
Who is he that condemns?
Christ died, rose and now intercedes on our behalf.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Tribulation, distress, persecution, famine nakedness peril
or sword.
For thy sake we are killed all the day long, we are
accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors
The phrase “more than conquerors” is just one word in the
Greek and it means super-victorious. It
means we are beyond mere victory. We are super-victors, experiencing victory
above and beyond the normal understanding and experience of the word because of
the power of God working in and through me.
I am persuaded.
The word literally means, I stand utterly convinced, we as
Christians, as believers, as overcomers, as children of God and warriors riding
in the host of heaven, We cannot be separated from the love of God.
Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor
powers, nor thing present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, no any other
created being, shall be able to separate us from the love of God,
Paul, like a fighter on the battle field, stands before the
enemy and says, “Bring it on! I stand in the power of God and nothing you do
can separate me from His love.”
Do you understand that you also are super-victorious today in Christ?
Paul had nothing in his relationship with God that you do
not have. The same victory he claimed and proclaimed is just as much ours as it
was his.
Conclusion
The great Baptist Missionary, William Carey is called the
father of modern missions because he believed that the Great Commission meant
going to the ends of the earth.
He began life as a cobbler of shoe, a shoe repair man, and
he married Dorothy who could not read and signed her marriage certificate with
nothing but an x. Yet God called this humble and simple man into the
ministry. As he set at his workbench he
would read the Bible and study. In a few years he had learned Hebrew, Italian,
Dutch and French.
In 1783 he was baptized into the local Baptist Church and
later served as a schoolteacher and pastor. At a ministers' meeting in 1787,
Carey raised the question of whether it was the duty of all Christians to
spread the Gospel throughout the world. An older preacher is said to have retorted:
"Young man, sit down; when God pleases to convert the heathen, he will do
it without your aid and mine."
Carey went to India with his family but the East India
Company did not want missionaries reaching out to their tea plantation workers
and refused to let him enter. He finally landed in Dutch territory and started
his work. While there his oldest son fell sick and died and this caused his
wife to have a nervous collapse and never again recover her mind and after
years of caring for her and the work, she died of a fever.
Carey remarried and after a few years his second wife
Charlotte died, followed by his second son.
During this time Carey learned Bengalese and Hindi and then
translated the Bible into those languages for the Indian people. He also found
a Bible college and began to train men for the ministry. Throughout his time in
India he endured sickness, opposition and terrible stress.
Carey years before he left for England preached a sermon
that became famous for launching the modern missions movement. Throughout the
sermon he returned again and again to this phrase. “Expect great things from
God, attempt great things for God.”
William Carey was a man who never let fear dominate or
defeat him. His faith in God overcame every fearful situation, every insurmountable
obstacle, every seeming impossible task. He was a man who knew that as a Child
of God he need not fear anything this world could do.
May we know that same
reality, fear has been defeated and we live as super victorious through Jesus
Christ.
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