Power Rendering Fear Powerless

Power

Rendering Fear Powerless

What is your greatest fear?

The Bible tells us the last enemy is death

For the born again believer

Our rejoicing is not over fears of scorpions and snakes

Not even escaping death

“Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you,

but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

It is our fears that hinders the authority and power God gives us

Turn your fear into rejoicing that

“Your names are written in heaven."

How can you compare any loss to Jesus taking you home?

The authority and power God gives you may cost you in this life

But will bring great reward in the life to come

Rendering Fear Powerless

What is your greatest fear?

One report on the internet says…

To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.

Public Speaking is listed as American’s number-one fear

There are many things people are afraid of.

Do you have one of these phobias?

·  Pteromerhanophobia: fear of flying. ...

·  Claustrophobia: fear of enclosed spaces. ...

·  Entomophobia: fear of insects. ...

·  Ophidiophobia: fear of snakes. ...

·  Cynophobia: fear of dogs. ...

·  Astraphobia: fear of storms. ...

·  Trypanophobia: fear of needles

For me it is Trypanophobia: fear of needles.

I have said there is no reason to fear

getting a shot, yet when I do, I pass out.

It seems the only way for me not to pass

out is to lie down when getting a shot.

Imagine being one of the 72 Jesus sent

out to tell people about the Kingdom.

Luke 10

You are paired up with one other person.

You are to find people open to the

Gospel and you are to stay with them.

For some of us the fear of meeting new people

and staying with them would keep us from going.

Jesus warned the 72 that there would be rejection.

It is hard to image anyone who doesn’t fear rejection.

Jesus also said you are to go vulnerable…

No purse or bag or sandals.

I would be afraid to leave

home without my credit card.

Most of us when we are afraid

of something we procrastinate.

That is why Jesus says…

 “Do not greet anyone on the road.”

Get off Facebook and go.

If you come to a place

where you are welcomed…

 

Stay, and heal the sick (demonstrate the

relevance of the Kingdom to their needs).

After the 72 came back, Jesus told

them the authority He gave them…

 

 “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and

scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy;

nothing will harm you.”

Snakes and Scorpions…

Jesus is not saying you won’t get stung or bit.

Remember Paul in Acts 28:5 was

bitten by a venomous snake?

In Genesis 3:15 God curses the snake…

“He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."

Jesus gave…

Power to overcome all the powers of the enemy

to the 72 and He said nothing will harm you.”

God has given us power over

all the powers of the enemy.

But you might say…

 Wait a minute, didn’t Jesus die, were there

not many who went out and did not come back.

The answer is YES.

The truth be known our biggest fear is death.

So if Jesus could give us power over

death our greatest fear would be conquered…

25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For he "has put everything under his feet."

1 Corinthians 15:25-27

"Death has been swallowed up in victory."  

55 "Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?"  

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:54-57

Jesus said… “nothing will harm you.”

If Genesis 3:15 is referring to the cross than the

death of the cross is no more than a bruised heel. 

Physically heeding the command to

“GO” can result in harm even death.

But for the “Born Again” believer suffering and

Pain, even death gives way to an eternal reward.

Rewards that far out weight

the temporary losses of this life.

You and I will never walk in the

power God has for us if we fear.

If we fear the losses of this world…

Even the loss of our own life…

For whoever loses his life

for Christ sake shall gain it.

   

Our power must be based on

the authority God gives us.

Not compromised by our fears.

This is why Jesus said to the 72…

“Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you,

but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

When men and women of faith stand up against

bullies and the bullies put them to death.

The bullies don’t take their life God takes them home.

Like Steven a great man of faith used his

authority to stand up to some bullies.

They may have stoned him but God took him home.

Acts 7

Scripture Reading

Luke 10:1-20 NIV

10:1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

5 "When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' 6 If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

8 "When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.' 10 But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.' 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

13 "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.  

16 "He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me."

17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."

18 He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."