Fearless Faith: Embracing God's Power in Chaos

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound reality of living in a world that often seems to be spiraling into chaos and darkness. Yet, amidst this turmoil, we are reminded of the power and presence of God in our lives, which equips us to stand firm and fearless. The testimonies of Jen and Cody, two high school students, served as powerful illustrations of how young believers are courageously living out their faith in challenging environments. Their stories remind us that our mission fields are right where we are, whether in schools, workplaces, or communities.

We delved into the concept of fear and how it is not from God. Instead, God has given us a spirit of power, love, and self-control. This truth is crucial as we navigate a world that often promotes fear and anxiety. The end times, as described in Luke 21, are not meant to instill fear but to encourage us to stand tall, knowing that our redemption is near. This perspective shifts our focus from the chaos around us to the hope and assurance we have in Christ.

Furthermore, we examined the characteristics of the last days as outlined in 2 Timothy 3. These traits, such as being lovers of self and money, proud, and ungrateful, are prevalent in our society. However, as followers of Christ, we are called to rise above these tendencies and live lives marked by love for God and others. The challenge is to not just have the appearance of godliness but to truly embrace the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Ultimately, the call is to live fearlessly and faithfully, trusting in the power of God to sustain us. We are encouraged to be a light in the darkness, knowing that God is with us and that His Spirit empowers us to overcome any obstacle. As we continue to grow in our faith, let us be reminded that we are not alone, and that God's power is at work within us, enabling us to live boldly for Him.

Key Takeaways:

- Fearlessness in Faith: God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and self-control. This truth empowers us to face the world's challenges with confidence, knowing that our redemption is near and that God is in control. [13:22]

- Living Out Our Mission: Our mission fields are wherever we are placed, whether in schools, workplaces, or communities. Like Jen and Cody, we are called to be lights in the darkness, sharing the love of Christ through our actions and relationships. [07:03]

- The Reality of End Times: The signs of the end times are not meant to instill fear but to remind us of the hope we have in Christ. As the world grows darker, we are called to stand firm, knowing that our redemption is drawing near. [11:01]

- Authentic Godliness: It's not enough to have the appearance of godliness; we must embrace the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This power enables us to overcome sin and live lives that reflect the love and character of Christ. [37:38]

- Trusting in God's Power: The power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to us, enabling us to overcome any temptation or adversity. This assurance allows us to live fearlessly, knowing that God is with us and that His Spirit empowers us. [46:28]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:17] - Presence of God
- [00:33] - High School Video Reaction
- [01:07] - Encouragement from Students
- [01:37] - Jen's Testimony
- [03:30] - Cody's Testimony
- [05:35] - Living Out Christianity
- [06:49] - Missions Field in Schools
- [09:27] - Facing Fear with Faith
- [10:06] - Luke 21: Signs of the End
- [13:22] - Spirit of Power, Love, and Self-Control
- [22:15] - Characteristics of the Last Days
- [37:38] - Appearance vs. Power of Godliness
- [46:28] - Resurrection Power Available to Us
- [47:23] - Closing Worship and Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Luke 21:25-28
- 2 Timothy 1:7
- 2 Timothy 3:1-5

---

Observation Questions:

1. In Luke 21:25-28, what signs are described as indicators of the end times, and how are believers encouraged to respond to these signs? [10:06]

2. According to 2 Timothy 1:7, what kind of spirit has God given us, and how does this contrast with a spirit of fear? [13:22]

3. What characteristics of people in the last days are outlined in 2 Timothy 3:1-5, and how do these traits reflect the current state of society? [22:15]

4. How did Jen and Cody's testimonies illustrate the concept of living out one's faith in challenging environments? [01:37]

---

Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the assurance of redemption in Luke 21:28 provide hope and encouragement for believers facing a chaotic world? [11:01]

2. In what ways does the spirit of power, love, and self-control mentioned in 2 Timothy 1:7 empower believers to face challenges without fear? [13:22]

3. How can the traits listed in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 serve as a warning for believers to examine their own lives and avoid conforming to societal norms? [22:15]

4. What role do personal testimonies, like those of Jen and Cody, play in encouraging others to live out their faith boldly? [01:37]

---

Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a situation where you felt fear or anxiety. How can the truth of 2 Timothy 1:7 help you approach similar situations differently in the future? [13:22]

2. Identify a "mission field" in your life, such as your workplace or community. What specific steps can you take to be a light in that environment, as Jen and Cody have done in their schools? [06:49]

3. Considering the characteristics of the last days in 2 Timothy 3:1-5, which trait do you find most challenging to resist, and what practical steps can you take to overcome it? [22:15]

4. How can you shift your focus from the chaos around you to the hope and assurance found in Christ, as encouraged in Luke 21:28? [11:01]

5. Think of a time when you relied on your own strength rather than the power of the Holy Spirit. How can you cultivate a deeper reliance on God's power in your daily life? [37:38]

6. What specific actions can you take this week to demonstrate authentic godliness, moving beyond mere appearances to embrace the power of the Holy Spirit? [37:38]

7. How can you support and encourage young believers in your community to live out their faith courageously, as seen in the testimonies of Jen and Cody? [01:37]

Devotional

Day 1: Fearlessness in Faith
In a world filled with uncertainty and chaos, it is easy to succumb to fear and anxiety. However, God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and self-control. This truth empowers believers to face the challenges of the world with confidence, knowing that God is in control and that our redemption is near. By embracing this spirit, we can stand firm in our faith, trusting that God will guide us through any storm. The assurance of God's presence and power allows us to live boldly, without fear, as we navigate the complexities of life. [13:22]

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." (2 Timothy 1:7, ESV)

Reflection: What specific fear or anxiety are you facing today? How can you invite God's spirit of power, love, and self-control into this situation?


Day 2: Living Out Our Mission
Our mission fields are not distant lands but the very places we inhabit daily—our schools, workplaces, and communities. The testimonies of Jen and Cody, two high school students, illustrate how young believers can courageously live out their faith in challenging environments. Like them, we are called to be lights in the darkness, sharing the love of Christ through our actions and relationships. This mission requires intentionality and a willingness to engage with those around us, demonstrating the transformative power of the Gospel in our everyday lives. [07:03]

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden." (Matthew 5:14, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your immediate environment needs to see the light of Christ through you today? What specific action can you take to demonstrate His love to them?


Day 3: The Reality of End Times
The signs of the end times, as described in the Bible, are not meant to instill fear but to remind us of the hope we have in Christ. As the world grows darker, believers are called to stand firm, knowing that our redemption is drawing near. This perspective shifts our focus from the chaos around us to the assurance we have in Christ's return. By keeping our eyes on this hope, we can navigate the challenges of the present with confidence and peace, trusting in God's ultimate plan for redemption. [11:01]

"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." (Luke 21:28, ESV)

Reflection: How does the promise of Christ's return influence your perspective on current world events? What steps can you take to live with hope and anticipation today?


Day 4: Authentic Godliness
In a society marked by self-centeredness and materialism, it is not enough to have the appearance of godliness. Followers of Christ are called to embrace the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives, which enables them to overcome sin and live lives that reflect the love and character of Christ. This authentic godliness goes beyond outward appearances and is rooted in a deep, transformative relationship with God. By relying on the Holy Spirit, believers can rise above societal tendencies and live lives marked by love for God and others. [37:38]

"Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people." (2 Timothy 3:5, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you relying on appearances rather than the power of the Holy Spirit? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to transform these areas today?


Day 5: Trusting in God's Power
The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to believers, enabling them to overcome any temptation or adversity. This assurance allows us to live fearlessly, knowing that God is with us and that His Spirit empowers us. By trusting in God's power, we can face life's challenges with confidence, knowing that we are not alone. This trust is not passive but requires active reliance on God's strength and guidance in every aspect of our lives. [46:28]

"And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might." (Ephesians 1:19, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to rely more on God's power? How can you actively trust Him to work in this area today?

Quotes



"and sometimes we can be clueless to that but that wasn't the intention of the video I mean it it's it was just one of those things where we go you know what this is where the world is I mean it's not like when we were in high school that everyone was a goodie goodie you know it it's just you know yeah it's gotten worse but you know what that's the way the world is and that's the world we live in and let's face reality at the same time it's nothing to fear and like I said I've seen students across the nation standing up for Jesus Christ like never before and that ought to be encouragement to us" [00:44:55]

"and I know like a lot of you guys that watch the video um when I was a freshman I wasn't as Extreme as those kids which I know some of you guys wanted to hear that that I was a crazy drugie and now I'm like a good Christian which I wasn't but um I did hang out with a lot of kids like that and when I first went to Royal I completely mentally denied Christ and um I didn't want have anything to do with him and um by God's grace I totally um am now a Christian and um I started like walking with God and um now like practically like I am living out like like Francis said um living out like Christianity" [00:01:38]

"and I really like just went down a really dark path and it wasn't until 10th grade where um it was just these regular kids just these regular you know churchgoing kids you know that uh invited me you know start hanging out with them and I started hanging out with them and they weren't like preaching to me or anything it was they weren't like evangelizing at me they were just just you know just being good friends and like they had something like they had like this spark in them like this overwhelming Joy which I didn't know because every day of my life was just depression and sadness and like hate and I really wanted it and so as I spent more time with them eventually a year ago at uh baffled which is the house boat trip I uh finally decided to take the step to have that and I accepted Christ and got baptized" [00:04:11]

"and like I I I thought of the analogy like if if there's a firefighter saying saving a kid from a burning building you don't go and take the firefighter away from the burning building you know you let him do its job you know and my job right now is to minister to these kids at my school and uh but the thing is I I can't really do it alone you know I need God but not only that but my parents are like huge supports my mom uh every Tuesday she goes to my school and walks around it and just prays for me and the kids at my school and like that hugely affects me like that really does make a difference in my day and like I just think like I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have that and I mean in all reality I mean if God is with me who can be against me you know so I got God on my side I got my parents on my side I got my friends on my side you know the only I mean pretty much I don't really see a reason why I need to be taken out I mean or from school I mean I feel like I'm doing a pretty good job there you know" [00:07:24]

"and so absolutely as the world gets worse and worse and worse is there plain of fear yes but not for us not for us it's during those times as the world gets worse there ought to be this side where we can stand up straight lift up our heads and go a any moment now any moment you guys end times that the whole idea of talking about this is not to invoke any type of fear it's it's a peace yes honestly on on Wednesday Wednesday I was a little stressed out um just a lot of things going on and then I got sick and I'm thinking I don't have time to be sick you ever get that it's like ah this is the worst time you know there's just too many things I got to get done and uh I start getting that I open up the word and uh just felt like I was led to read the book of Revelation you know I start reading Revelation and I was like see it's like I just felt so much peace by reading the book of Revelations like oh this is all going to burn anyways you know it's just there was just honestly there was this comfort that comes over me of just you know what God's in control I know how it's going to end and so as we talk about the end times I my prayer is that you just get more and more encouraged and more and more peaceful not stressed out because we know our God's in control we know the story is ending this way and so I I don't fear the world getting more evil and you shouldn't either I don't fear I don't fear death I Don't Fear The Return of Christ I don't fear the end of the world all these things it's it's fine I don't fear and in fact this needs to be our theme verse as we uh continue in in the in the book of second Timothy but second Timothy 1:7 I'll put it on the screen again 2 Timothy 1:7 For God gave gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self control I love that we we need to all memorize this God didn't give you a spirit of fear okay so whenever you're fearing or worrying that's not coming from God that's coming from the other source that's coming from Satan himself trying to get you freaked out about everything oh no the world's getting bad oh no this that we better you know let's let's move let's get to a saf placees do no you know what you're not going to find a safe place not on this planet you know we're we're in this one of supposedly one of the safest cities in in the world it's it's it's you feel safe you know it's it's just not going to be there but he says you know what God didn't put that fear in you that didn't come from God he gave you a spirit of power and I hope this morning as you walk in this room you feel that sense of power you know I listen to to Jen and Cody as high school seniors and their public campus I I get a sense of power I get a sense of love for their friends and concern for their friends I get a sense of self-control of yeah that's what everyone else is doing but it doesn't mean I have to do it it's this strength it's this power it's this confidence and that's the way God wants us to live you guys if we really trusted God's promises and trusted you know the word of God like that our lives would be so much better I mean seriously guys like that old Hy says is so sweet to trust in Jesus just to take him at his word it's so sweet it really is when you just absolutely trust and you go you know what I'm powerful I I got the holy spirit of God in Me He put that in me and so I don't fear the Temptation I go you know what I have more self-control than whatever Temptation Satan's going to throw my way I don't fear people getting angry at me I just go you know what Lord you'll give me enough love to love these people in return I I don't fear things it's about power and if you haven't found that power I I I pray that you do because otherwise you're going to stress yourself out on this on this Earth you're going to get depressed you're just going to be you're just going to live a miserable life uh nothing like what Jesus intended for us I can't really explain this power I'm talking about and this peace that I'm talking about it you know I I I know some of you you come week after week and you're like man I want it I want I want it and I want to explain it to you and I want to so badly have you just get it like there's literally nothing nothing nothing to fear while we're on this Earth but I can't I can't put that into someone and yet I know when I see it I know when I see it in someone I know when I see that power I saw it yesterday I saw it yesterday when I went over to Walt Fuller's house Walt Fuller was a guy that uh you'd see him right up here front row or you know just just he just in the this he's been coming to the church for a good 10 years at least back in the in multi-purpose room everything else and uh Walt was on the train and he was in the front car and uh and he and he passed away it was an immediate thing but I tell you I'm at the house and I'm speaking to his wife speaking to to one of his kids and as tears are coming down their face there's this peace I mean if you if you met wall you see his face I mean he's just this joyful you know every time I saw him just this this there's just light coming from you know and then you you just think okay I can't imagine how happy he is now I can't imagine you know as we're worshiping and I'm thinking it's great down here I'm thinking oh man he's got got it so much better you know and I can't tell you I mean I see it all the time and I know when there's serious peace and that's just what I felt at the house yesterday you know when when uh I mean his his daughter you know one of his daughters came up just you know crying you know over her dad and um college student and she just so peaceful though of just I I really am okay as tears are coming down she goes I really am like I know where he is and I'm I'm so confident and peaceful in that and I I it's just either you have it or you don't either the spirit of God has come into you and you have that peace and I can't talk you into it and I I sometimes try too hard and and try to manipulate it or whatever else last week at this at all the I had people come up and read scripture and I think it was a 9:00 service um where there was a gal uh Rachel Rachel um was a girl from Z Zambia was that the service um was it yeah I think so she came up and she just read scripture she's an exchange student and I don't know there was something about when she was reading I just got the chills because there's just a peace and this strength and this confidence in the Lord even though she's just reading scripture she was on the train and um I guess she uh her skull was fractured and it it cut her brain and uh so she had surgery yesterday and uh we won't know for couple days from what we understand the surgery went well but you just you don't know with the brain surgery type of thing but I'll tell you something I would bet money that Rachel's at peace right now you can just see it in people I I just see there was no spirit of fear in her there's just a peace there's a confidence and I I don't even know what to say this morning no matter how many things happen it somehow doesn't get through our heads that life changes overnight Everything Changes overnight and yet it's not something to fear it's not something to be afraid of that there's a peace and a confidence and a power that we can have in the holy spirit of God that says you know what I already know the way it's going to end and the world's not going to get better it's going to get worse talks about In this passage how people get from Evil to more evil okay we're we're not going to change that but in the midst of that there will be individuals who will stand up lift their heads and say I'm not afraid of that and like I said last week Jesus says I'm going to build this church on this Earth and no matter how bad it gets the Gates of Hell will never stand against it there will always be a remnant of my people that are fearless because they have my spirit in them and they will stand no matter how bad it gets and uh it's a good thing and again this passage is not to create fear in us it's it's to warn us but to remind us that we're okay we're okay we're children of God in here and uh while the rest of the world can freak out about all the things that are going on it's not that we like them it's just that we can have the peace in the of it and that's what I've Loved is is some even around looking around in this room we've gone through some hard times together and I just love the way even with tears streaming down your face there was still a peace about you and uh and that's what it's about it's not like we're these machines these robot robots that don't feel anything anymore you know it's not like we're we're immune to pain or that nothing hurts us because we're Christians no we ball our eyes out we hurt like the rest of the world the difference is there's a peace about it there's a power about it and I just pray that everyone in this room finds it and I I can't force that upon you I just know when I see it and I know when I don't second Peter 3 we didn't get real far last week and I don't know how far we'll get this week because I already spent half of our time um Second Timothy 3 just as a reminder we'll start in verse one we talked about this last week goes but understand this that in the last days there will come times of difficulty for people will be lovers of self lovers of money proud arrogant abusive disobedient to their parents ungrateful Unholy heartless unappeasable slanderous without self-control brutal and not loving good treacherous Reckless swollen with conceit lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of of God having the appearance of godliness but denying its power avoid such people okay so so we looked at a lot of this last week we said okay during the end times here's what it's going to be people are just going to love themselves we talked about that last week did you guys think about that during the week lovers of self that's a comment I kept hearing back from people I was so struggling with that this week I realized how much I love myself I'm consumed with myself I adore myself you know and just realizing why I told got caught up in that and I would felt totally justified in loving myself that way and and you know taking care of my needs and on and on and on and and so it's so good hopefully you've grown in that area this week you know that wasn't to bum you out it was just go wow okay I got caught up this is a warning to Timothy goes be careful here's the way the world's going to go you got to fight against it and so here's that here's that's the warning I want to give to you for you to realize oh yeah I was starting to go with the flow and let me run from that now let me be a lover of people it may be a lover of God rather than a lover of self lovers of money we talked about that we talked about the proud The Arrogant abusive disobedient to parents The Ungrateful um you know basically that just again all of this stems out of loving ourselves right you love yourself you're not going to love all the people that got you to where you are right now including God you almost will have this sense of arrogance like well I got here in spite of everyone else in spite of the cards I was dealt in spite of what God did to me no rather than being grateful that God has placed you in this place that you're at right now um it then then he uses that word Unholy now as Christians when we hear that word Unholy we're thinking about okay typically that that word we we think these are people who disobey the commands of God but actually in this context in this word this word Unholy isn't so much about God's commands and every you know command we see in scripture this word for Unholy has to do with an absence of human decency like he says you know just watch as the world goes on there are certain things that God even instinctively put into us as humans and even those parameters you'll see people could just care less about them and uh then he goes on and he says uh they'll be again heartless is another word like that heartless um Can can be translated and some of your Bibles may even translated as this without n without natural affection this word for heartless is is is talking about how it's not talking about how the Bible says that we are supposed to supernaturally by the power of the Holy Spirit love our enemies you how the Bible commands us to even love our enemies do good to those who hate you okay that's not what this is talking about when it says the these unloving or heartless people here he's talking about natural relationships where there ought to be love like between a father and a child you know like a parent and a child how there ought to be just this natural love you know how when your your child's born and it's just like ah you know it just it squirts out to the grossest thing but you know at the same time there's this amazing love right then that very second it's like wow this natural bond and he says you know what towards the end of the world people won't even have that see it's it's it's supernatural when we love our enemies but there is a sense in which it Bible teaches it ought to be natural for us to love those who love us in return He says look anyone can do that even the pagans do that this idea of Heartless is in the end times he says people won't even naturally love people who love them in return I mean it's such a scary thing he says in the end there won't even be this natural affection and there will be some of you who will be so self-absorbed that you can't even love those who are crazy about you you may have a wife that's crazy about you and yet you'll be so ungodly that you'll still cheat on her you'll still abuse her this is going to happen in the end times this is what's going to take over this is the mindset of people will leave those who love them we're not talking about the enemies we're not talking about you know Holy Spirit wonderful things that some of you have done filled with the spirit you love even those who hate you he's just saying this is just natural love this stuff man it should just happen even among people don't believe in God but he says it's going to get to the point where people won't even love those who are crazy about them because they're so self-absorbed in these natural relationships where where parents will just give everything to their kids and pour their lives into them and the kids will still hate their parents and then there'll be kids that are crazy about their parents and their parents will still ditch them and leave them because they're so into themselves and they found something that might bring them a little bit more fulfillment they'll ditch their families and when this family structure starts falling apart and there's an absence of natural affection man you know the world is going to pot you know everything's just coming coming close to an end and he says this this attitude it's not just going to happen out in the world again remember Paul's telling Timothy it's going to be in the church that's why in the end when he says avoid such people he's not talking about nowhere in scripture does it ever tell us to avoid people in the world in fact Jesus says you got to run to those people that's what that's what we're saying about the public schools or whatever not like we ditch them oh they're so even no run to those places help those people love on those people he's talking about in the church the commands to avoid those types of people are the people call themselves Believers yet live this way and that's why he says avoid those people but he says you know there'll be people who are heartless people that are unappeasable the word unappeasable you you know those people it's it's the word irreconcilable it's it's the it's the person who won't listen to reasoning do you know people like that it doesn't matter how calmly how carefully how politely how sweetly you say something to them you just can't reason with them they're always right it's amazing they just they're always right they're amazing people it it's just unappeasable doesn't matter what you do what you say you can't reason with them because that's the way it's going to be at the end they're just not listening they just won't reason they're unappeasable then there's this word slanderous slanderous is the word a gossip someone who is a gossiper a malicious gossip and and and and I know that some sometimes this sin is belittle this sin is belittled a lot where big deal me and some friends get together and we yeah we spoke negatively about this other person it's just a little bit of Gossip right do you realize the word for gossip or slander here in the Greek it's the word diabos do you know that the word for the devil diabos that's the word for slander because that's what Satan is he's a slander he's an accuser that's what the enemy is and but we just go ah it's just a little gossip so what we got together and we're talking about how ugly she is you know it's just we just did this we just did that we're just talking about this person we're just slandering that person no big deal and yet that word is the word diabos and the truth is is I I could say that about everything on this list all of the things on this list are belittled today so what if I'm a lover of myself everyone loves them so what if I love nice things and I love my money we all love nice things so what if I'm proud man it's okay we need self-esteem we'll teach it at our schools so what if I'm a little bit arrogant you know so so I I say some things yeah you know what I get mad I get abusive toward other people I just I just slip at the tongue I don't obey my par parents but who who really does yeah I feel like I kind of earned my way here and so I'm not real grateful Unholy you know who who it just on and on and on it's like all these things are belittled you know unappeasable yeah I'm just I'm just strong willed you know I always was and and and and oh well you know I just I just got to have my way he what the brat gets you know what the brat wants the brat gets I that's just the way I am and we laugh about all these things and yeah me and my girlfriends yeah we talk about our husbands and we probably shouldn't but we do and we go on and on and on down this list every single thing on this list is belittled why because Paul tells Timothy this is going to be the prevailing thought this is going to be popular yes everyone's going to live this way but you man of God you know and it's like yeah the whole campus is going this direction but you know what not my children not my kids K God says they have my spirit in them and they're going to walk with me and in the same way that's the way we got to live man I'm not I I didn't bring up a couple students to say oh you know what look you know what the kids are okay I I I lift them up as examples because okay they're in their environment it's difficult and you know what we're in an environment too that's very difficult very difficult to stand for the things of Jesus Christ and live this way when the rest of the world belittles these sins we got to be serious about them this is this is the word of God it goes on it says they're without self-control you know you just take whatever you can get it's just this whole idea of when there's a Temptation you just go for it what happens in Vegas stay in Vegas it's that whole mindset of just go why not no one's going to know about it just just just go whatever whatever you're urge is whatever your desire is just go for it brutal you you don't care about any the word brutal is a word for Savage Beast not loving good I talked about that a little bit again not loving good it's it's this has always been that way you know ever since grade school ever since adolescence you know we always bagged on the goody goodies right why because we're not lovers of good we'll mock those who live the holy life and the majority of the world will mock those who are living the way God wants them to it it it goes on the treacherous treacherous means ready to betray the disloyal those who are ready to backstab you you've been stabbed in the back before and you thought man I could totally TR but there's no loyalty there's not going to be loyalty at the end people just want what they want and if you're in the way they'll stab you in the back doesn't matter how long you've been Partners doesn't matter how long you've been together doesn't matter how long your friendship is when there's this opportunity to gain and it's going to hurt you a little bit sorry there's just this disloyalty Reckless means headstrong or he swollen with conceit swollen with conceit I love that word because it's this it's the word uh that the root of the word is the word smoke it's like you're in a fog you're in your own world you just can't see clearly you're so into yourself but then this next phrase is so important he says lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God and I don't even want to explain this one I just want you to hear the phrase and evaluate yourself lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God what are you you know what it's like to be in love right the the feelings when you're in love I I don't need to Define love for you I think you know that's always hard to do anyways right but you just know when you're in love with someone and you love someone it's not just about the pleasure they bring you you just love that person madly in love with them is that true of your relationship with God I talk about this a lot how I don't want you just to be in love with this idea that there's a being up there or this concept of this Almighty all powerful savior but I so badly want you to be in love with him him it's the greatest command love him love him that's why I was so good I I just the other a couple weeks ago when we just had that time of Silence in this room and I just gave you an opportunity and we all turned off our cell phones and uh we just blocked out all noise and I said you guys just love on God just love on him and I remember just after that time of prayer just tears all around this room because it's just so good to go oh yeah I really love him I love being alone with him and I got to get rid of all this noise in my life so I can just be in love with him because I don't want to be a lover of pleasure I don't want to just come in the church because I want this I want that and maybe God will give it to me because then I'm not really loving God just loving what he might give me he may give me more pleasure he may you know fix this fix that and it's like oh AR in love with him today I hope so and then he says this it's such a I keep saying that such a key phrase but this is it verse 5 having the appearance of godliness but denying its power avoid such people see the we're not talking about people that are anti- God again we're not people that are going man it's it's you know this person's the Antichrist or this person's so evil he goes no these people have the appearance of godliness honestly right now look around the room doesn't everyone in this room pretty much have the appearance of godliness we're all cleaned up a little bit we're sitting in a church building we just sang some songs you're listening to a sermon okay so I mean I look at you guys go man that is look at this room the appearance of godliness we all look good we just do we just appear Godly it's it's easy to do that in the church the question is is who believes in the power it's not who looks like a Christian in this room or who looks like a follower of God or who has his appearance or semblance of godliness it's who in this room really believes in the power of the Holy Spirit where where you can just stand here and say you know what every sin you throw at me every Temptation I really have the strength to put that to death I don't come in here defeated and going oh you know maybe this will help and then after this I'm going to go here for some more help and then I'm going to do read these other self-help books and on and on and on and all these things together might help me and a little bit of Jesus too no it's people who stand here and say you know what he he's enough for me I I've seen what the holy spirit's done in my life I used to be like this and then I saw the power of God transform my life and I know I can tackle anything the world's going to get more evil but I'm really not afraid because of this power of God there are so many churchgoers churchgoers are notorious for this not really believing in the power of God they just they really they they think they're stuck I'm stuck here you know this is my sin this is my vice this is going to be my struggle this is going to be the thing I'll just keep falling to for the rest of my life I'll never really have an impact on other people because of this because of that and that's exactly what this verse is talking about those who will come to church call themselves Christians get dressed up well we don't really get dressed up here but you know in the South you know but uh it's it's this whole we look very Godly I mean a lot of churches everyone will come and they're all dressed up and they'll look fine but what's really going on in their hearts and do they come in with that type of confidence and that type of power I love that verse they got the appearance of godliness but they deny the power you guys so much of what we believe is about a powerful almighty God who sits on this Throne everything's under his control he's going to come back and he's going to take us to be where he is he's going to destroy this world there's nothing to fear all through scripture I mean this morning I was reading uh the Bible in uh in uh first first Kings chapter 18 First Kings 18 I was reading about Elijah again I just love that story you know it just it just motivates me it's Elijah on Mount Carmel remember that one where there's 450 prophets of Baal I mean here's one guy and here's 450 prophets of Baal and there all fighting against this one guy Elijah and he's just mocking them the whole time the whole time he's just laughing at them as they're screaming out for their God to light the altar on fire remember Elijah's words Elijah's words oh where's your God maybe he's relieving himself it's just he's mocking go oh I think your God's in the bathroom maybe that's why your altar is not being lit he just you're one p you're on a mountain by yourself and here are 450 enemies and you're mocking them and then he gets on his knees and said Okay God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob light that thing on fire I love that it's that confidence yeah I'm just one guy but I've got my god with me and he didn't just have the appearance of godliness he had the power he believed in this God and again I don't know what I can do to tell you and convince you man this God's for real and there's this power about him but the Bible says for those who don't believe it and yet have that appearance of godliness he goes get away from those people goes avoid such men get away from those people don't really believe in the power of God they don't believe that God can actually do something in their lives that say oh we believe this and the holy spirit's in us but you won't really feel him and he'll really not do a whole lot but just believe he do avoid those types of people this is about about power our God is about power and finally let me just read through those last few verses uh verse 6 among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women burdened with sins and led astray by various passions I love this verse verse seven always learning and never able to arrive at the knowledge of the truth just as janny's and jamers opposeed Moses so these men also oppose the truth men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith they will never get very far for their Folly will be plain to all as was those as was of those two men he just says you know what there will always be people like this taking advantage of you trying to take advantage of other people but that phrase always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth this is what Grieves me is there will be some of you that will attend this church week after week after week and yet there's just some block there it's like you know it you're learning and you're learning and each week you're oh I get it more I get it more I get it more but you just you know there's some sort of block that keeps you from just going I want it I want him I want to dive in completely I trust him now I I I believe that he died on that cross for me that Jesus literally died on that cross that God the father had his son pay for all of my crimes so I can trust him so I'm ready jump in this water I'm ready I'm done with my old life I can let go of the money I don't even care about that anymore I can even let go of myself I don't even love myself anymore and all these things that used to be so tempting I'm done and and just to jump in and go it's it I want Jesus in my life 100% I want this power I want this Spirit of power love self-control give him to me I want him I want him I want him and there are those of us who have done that and there's others that you'll come week after week after week and you'll always be gaining more knowledge and yet you'll never come to that actual knowledge of Truth where you get it and it's great that you're here you know I'm glad you keep learning and learning and learning but at some point you jump in and I don't know what's that block is for you and if it's just this doubt that the Holy Spirit can really come into you and be more fulfilling to you than whatever Vice you're holding on to and you'll learn more about him it's it's like dating someone forever and never making the commitment I just that's what I see in that passage it's just you're going to date God for the rest of your life and never commit and just say okay for better for worse this is it and and maybe that's been you and maybe you're seeing this and you're looking at the end times and saying wow okay so there's this wide Road that's headed to destruction and there's this narrow road that's not as attractive to the world but the truth is is if I'm in the room with all of those people and I'm popular amongst them I'm in a lot of trouble I want to be with the few individuals that will stand on their campus in their City at their workplace I want to be one of those I want that spirit in me and I'm ready to ditch the whole world and follow them I want that Holy Spirit I want that power and if that's you today then during this worship time come forward give your life to Jesus even though you weren't planning on it get in the waters of baptism go home soaking wet because you just don't even care anymore you just don't care anymore you don't love yourself that much you're a lover of God now God loved you so much that despite everything you did he sent his son to die on that cross for you and then his son died was buried 3 days later he rose from the grave and God says you know that resurrection power that raised Jesus from the dead that can be yours to get rid of any issue you've got see I believe in that power I don't believe there's any Temptation on this Earth that I can't overcome I don't believe there's any adversity on this Earth that I can't overcome that doesn't mean there won't be pain doesn't mean life won't be hard it's just that I'm not scared and the world can get as evil as they want to get but we want to be like those people in scripture you can be thrown into a dent of lions you can be on a Mountaintop with 450 enemies you can be thrown into a fiery furnace the flood waters could be rising you just stand because you know who your God is and you know the spirit that's in you let's worship that God and if you need some prayer there'll be some people up here by the prayer room" [00:10:06]

Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Dec 04, 2014. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?