Face Down Your Fears: Before it's To Late
Scripture: John 16:33
Our Crumbling Society. Fear is everywhere. People from every occupation of life seem to share a common concern over the future of our country. Recently, I viewed two videos. The Christian Coalition produced one of them. It described a country given over to the United Nations and foreign troops training in our country. It described the New World order with its concentration camps being prepared to deal with those who disagree with it. One of the tapes described surveillance cameras on the freeways, black helicopters watching our every move. It was alarming to say the least. Is this a doomsday mentality without substance or is it something we should be distressed about? Now, there is no question that a New World order is coming. However, Jesus told us not to be alarmed when we see these things. It is a sign that our redemption is drawing near.
Tribulation in this world. When Jesus spoke to His disciples in the upper room he said, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." ( John 16:33)
The Christian is much like Lot in Sodom and Gomorrah. Peter said, . . . "He (God) rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard." (2 Peter 2:6-8) Don't you feel like Lot most of the time?
In the United States we have not suffered much for Christ. However, the Bible teaches that society will become increasingly corrupt. Paul said, "but mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers Of God -- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." (2 Tim 3:1-5: Luke 21: 27,28)
"However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" Luke 18: 7,8
When Jesus comes back He will not find faith on the earth. Instead, the Anti-Christ will be in power. The coalitions of the west, east, north and south will compete for world power. The closer we come to the Second Coming the more lawless and immoral men and women will be. However, there will be a:
Turnabout.
I know this is a black picture. Jesus said, "Take heart, I have overcome the world." This means to subdue, conquer, prevail, and get the victory. Jesus has already prevailed and won the victory. "Turnabout is fair play is the old maxim." Lets turn this around a little and say, "Turnabout is often God's Play." God excels in taking life's tragedies and shaping them into strategic victories.
Yes, in the world system we will have trouble but someday God will turn it all into glorious victory for the Christian who is a survivor. (2 Cor. 4:17 Romans 8:18)
Adventure Themes
In this series we will look at eight fears or troubles true believers suffer in the world. The question is, how do we do cooperate with God in facing down these fears? I want us to look at several things that we can do to face down the fear of a Society breaking down. First, we need to:
Restore Community. I'm sure you have heard the word. The word "community" comes from a well-known word, Koinonia. One of its meanings is "to hold in common" We begin to rebuild community when we start to find out ways in which we are alike. Everyone has a house payment or rents to pay. All of us have a car payment or occasional car trouble. We all have spouses and kids, siblings we love, careers and dreams for our loved ones and ourselves.
There are also ways in which we are different. We have differences in appearance. Our personalities are different and at times we are abrasive with one another. Just because we are different doesn't mean we hate each other no more that we would hate our own bodies because, some parts are different from other parts. (1 Cor. 12)
Neighborhood.
The early church knew what this was all about. They were like a healthy neighborhood. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42-47) All the believers were together and had everything in common. They really did care for each other. I t was a sort of first century version of neighborhood watch. The word neighbor means "to draw near to" Everyone was looking out for the other. When a lawyer asked Jesus who was his neighbor, Jesus answer stunned him. "He answered: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with your entire mind and, Love your neighbor as yourself."
Why? Because being a neighbor isn't geographical, economic, and racial. It is a matter of choice. A neighbor is anyone we're willing to draw near to.
Jesus tells a parable of a priest and a Levite was walking along the road from Jericho. They saw a man beaten and left for dead along side the road. Both of them passed by and did nothing to help the man. A despised Samaritan drew near to a man left to die, nursed him back to life and provided for his recovery. The priest and Levite ignored the man on the road. We must be restoring a sense of community if we are to overcome fear of a society breaking down. Paul said, when one member suffers all members suffer as well. (Luke 10:25-27 )
III. Rebuild the Family.
Another way to face down our fear of a society breaking down is to regain our sense of home. We should be thankful and supportive of efforts to put Dad back into the home.
Are you aware that women head right now 90 % of single parent households? and that the vast majority of them earn less that $15,000 a year. This places them below the poverty level.
Where is Dad? Have you ever noticed when football player scores a touchdown or a baseball player hits a home run that the player holds two fingers up in victory and says Hi Mom? Why don't they say, Hi Mom and Dad? What's going on? Countless studies show that even when Dad is home he doesn't figure into the mix. Some women don't even trust the kids into their father's care. Unfortunately, many fathers aren't even involved in their kid's lives. Their wives do everything in childcare. I believe fathers and children will pay the piper for that. This is spite of what the Bible tells us. "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." (Eph 6:4 Dt. 6:7-9) The Bible places the fathers right at the heart of instruction and training of their children. Fathers, be sure you are where God wants you to be with your family.
One of the great movements in our country is the Promise Keepers. Can you imagine 50,000 or more men crowded into a stadium promising with God's help to be better husbands, fathers, church members and leaders. It seems that God is using Promise Keepers to restore the withered arm of the home and the church. What do these men promise? Promise Keepers are 1. Men of prayer and students of God's Word. 2. Men of sincerity and honesty. 3. Men who are accountable to one another 4. Men who express honor and care for their wives. 5. Men who father and nurture their children 6. Men who actively support there pastor and church. 7. Men who champion the cause of the needy and fatherless.
IV. Rediscover the Church.
It almost goes without saying that no church is perfect. That's because the people who are in it aren't perfect. We accept the church the way it is and do our best to make it better. Everyone in this room has personal responsibility to make our church the best it can be. We need to rediscover the church as a body where all the parts rush to the member that hurts and not wait for one person do it all. It's impossible for one person to do everything in care giving. It takes everyone to get the job done. Discipline three means being a Barnabas. His name means Son of Consolation. Why not find someone you have never stimulated before and do something to encourage them.
V. Return to Christ. Spiritual Revival and renewal.
When Christians get right with God, making restitution for things they have taken and restore broken relationships many of our fears will dissolve. When we demonstrate Christian love fear will flee away.
At the turn of the century, Wales experienced what church historians refer to as the Welsh revival. J. Edwin Orr, who spent years researching and writing about revivals, notes that as people sought the filling of the Holy Spirit they did everything in their power to confess their sins and right the wrongs they had committed. Surprisingly, and somewhat humorously, their acts of restitution ended up in causing some severe problems for the shipyards along the coast of Wales.
It seems that over the years' workers had stolen all kinds of goods. The result was that the shipyards of Wales overflowed with returned property. The shipyards became so overcrowded that the management said if you have stolen anything please know that we forgive you and we wish you to keep the property.
This is the kind of movement that we need in America today. May I say we need this in our church? I f we are going to overcome fear of a society breaking down we must learn to live together with a spirit of love and acceptance and forgiveness. Time is short. Let us put feet to our faith. "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." If we return to Christ He will heal our families, our work partners, our church. This is the beginning point of it all. (2 Chron. 7: 14)
"Lasting peace is not found in society it is found in a Savior"