Overcoming Fear to Embrace Divine Destiny
Summary
In my sermon, I emphasized the debilitating power of fear and how it can hinder us from fulfilling our God-given assignments. I highlighted how fear can keep us stagnant, preventing us from stepping into our divine destiny. I used the biblical story of the man at the pool of Bethesda to illustrate how fear can make us give excuses and miss out on God's blessings. I also pointed out that fear can contaminate our faith, causing us to doubt God's promises and power. I encouraged the congregation to confront their fears and believe in the greatness that God has placed within them. I concluded by reminding everyone that God is always ready to help us overcome our fears and fulfill our divine assignments.
Key takeaways:
- Fear can keep us stagnant and prevent us from fulfilling our God-given assignments. [ 01:25:18]
- Fear can contaminate our faith, causing us to doubt God's promises and power. [ 01:27:22]
- God is always ready to help us overcome our fears and fulfill our divine assignments. [ 01:30:51]
- We need to confront our fears and believe in the greatness that God has placed within us. [ 01:32:00]
- God can circumvent processes in our lives, but our fear can prevent us from receiving His blessings. [ 01:32:38]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 1:26-28 #!!01:18:26!!#
2. John 5:1-9 #!!01:30:51!!#
Observation Questions:
1. In Genesis 1:26-28, what does it mean that God gave humans dominion over every creeping thing?
2. In John 5:1-9, why do you think the man at the pool of Bethesda gave excuses instead of answering Jesus' question directly?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of dominion in Genesis 1:26-28 relate to our ability to overcome fear?
2. What can we learn from the man at the pool of Bethesda's response to Jesus in John 5:1-9 about the role of fear in our lives?
Application Questions:
1. Can you identify a time when fear has held you back from stepping into something God has called you to do?
2. How can you exercise your God-given dominion to overcome fear in your life?
3. What is one specific step you can take this week to confront a fear that is hindering you from fulfilling God's purpose for your life?
4. Can you think of a time when you made excuses out of fear, like the man at the pool of Bethesda? How can you respond differently in the future?
5. How can you encourage and support each other in the group as you each confront and overcome your fears?
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of Now Faith
Faith is not a future concept, but a present reality. We often distort the meaning of faith to believe that it's for the future, but Hebrews 11:1 declares that "now faith is". We must believe in the now, not in the future. God can do what we ask for now and it can last us for the rest of our lives. [01:11:06]
Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Reflection: Reflect on a situation where you've been waiting for God's intervention. How can you shift your faith from the future to the now?
Day 2: Fear Inhibits Faith
Fear can make our faith inactive and unable to work. When we place our faith in the future, it's outside of its time. Fear can prevent us from experiencing God's blessings because we're walking in fear and not in faith. [01:11:43]
2 Timothy 1:7 - "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
Reflection: Identify a fear that has been inhibiting your faith. How can you confront this fear and replace it with faith?
Day 3: God Circumvents Processes
God can circumvent processes in our lives, but fear can prevent us from receiving His blessings. We often make excuses out of fear, but God is trying to help us get through it. He's trying to make things happen for us right now. [01:30:51]
Isaiah 43:19 - "Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
Reflection: What process in your life is God trying to circumvent? How can you let go of fear and trust in His timing?
Day 4: Fear of Being Who God Called Us to Be
The enemy uses fear to prevent us from being who God has called us to be. We often fear the greatness that God has placed inside us and question if we can live up to what God has said about us. This fear can keep us stuck and stagnant. [01:25:18]
Jeremiah 1:5 - "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
Reflection: What has God called you to be? How can you overcome the fear of being who God has called you to be?
Day 5: Fear Tolerated is Faith Contaminated
When we tolerate fear, our faith is contaminated. Fear is debilitating and can keep us stuck in a place where we do nothing. We must confront our fears and not let them contaminate our faith. [01:26:37]
1 John 4:18 - "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
Reflection: What fear have you been tolerating? How can you confront this fear and purify your faith?
Quotes
1. "How many visions and dreams has God given you that are now billion-dollar ideas that he placed in your hands? A lot of these people that invent stuff, they're mostly college dropouts, some high school dropouts. They just went with what they knew, they teamed up with some other people that knew some stuff and boom, it happened." - 01:22:48
2. "There are three things that the enemy comes to challenge where fear is concerned in your life. Number one, he comes to challenge the love of God. Number two, he's going to come to question whether the word works for you. And the third area that he's going to come to attack is the fear of being who God has called you to be." - 01:25:18
3. "How long has your journey been already because of fear? How long has your business been on hold because of fear? How long has your book not been written because of fear? How long have you been stuck in the same job because of fear?" - 01:16:51
4. "How many millions of dollars have you lost that you never even knew that you could have had access to because of your fear? What would have happened if you would have went with that idea?" - 01:19:46
5. "Every excuse that you give God is simply fear rearing its head. Fear is debilitating. Fear will keep you stuck and stagnant in a place where you do nothing. You got to begin to get to the bottom of what you're afraid of. What are you afraid of? What do you fear?" - 01:26:37
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