Sermon Tone Analysis

Acts Series #34

Back to the Beginning:

When Church was Church

*"Do Not Be Afraid"*

*Acts 18:1-11*

 

Fear – /an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger/

 

Fear is one of the strongest and most compelling of emotions … it drives us … it controls us … it makes decisions … it is the thing without which psychiatrists would be out of jobs.

We call them Phobias … fear of heights, fear of insects, fear of water, fear of people, fear of speaking in public.

I read once that fear of dying was superseded by the fear of speaking in public.

So, I guess most folks would rather die than speak at the service … rather be IN the casket than do the Eulogy

 

I read about a Japanese soldier on the Island of Guam that went into hiding in 1944 close to the end of the war.

He hid in a cave for fear of the Enemy.

He only came out at night.

He stayed there in self imposed isolation for 22 years.

After awhile he knew the war was over because of leaflets that were dropped.

But he didn’t come out because he was afraid of execution

 

1658 Voice From Coffin In Truck

Here’s something that sounds like a joke, but it’s a tragedy.

It happened in Spain.

In Barcelona a truck was rolling along carrying an empty coffin.

A farmer who was hitchhiking thumbed a ride.

He was bouncing along in the rear of the truck, which was open, when it started to rain.

He examined the coffin, found it empty, and crawled inside to keep dry.

There he fell asleep.

Further on, two other hitch-hikers got a ride on the truck.

They were going along at a lively clip when the farmer inside the coffin pushed open the lid, stuck his head out, and observed: “Oh, it has stopped raining.”

The two other hitch-hikers were so terrified that they leaped from the speeding truck.

One was killed.

[1]

 

Is anyone afraid here today?

Are you gripped by fear

Are you struggling between obedience and disobedience because of fear?

Are you in the Valley of indecision because of Fear?

 

Well I came by to encourage you today …

Do Not Be Afraid

 

Read with me from the Word of God

Acts 18:1-11

* *

*1.

Do Not Be Araid*

The word translated Afraid here … is the Greek Word /“phobeo” – fear dread, to put to flight/ --- The Lord was telling Paul, don’t turn tail and run … stand in and do what I have put in your heart to do

 

  *A.*

*Fear* is a *Tool* of the *Evil* One

    1. 2 Tim 1:7 – /God did not give us a spirit of timidity (fear) but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline/ and then verse 8 put it in context

/So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord/ --- one of the greatest things Satan wants you to fear is testifying

 

  *B.*

*Fear* is a *Lack* of *Understanding*

2 Kings 19:6 /Isaiah said to them “tell your master, ‘this is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard … /

 

Most often fear is a lack of Understand … or a misunderstanding …

 If we know who God is and understand what he has done for us and provided for us, we will not be Afraid …

The Lord is not a concept

The Lord is not a way of living

The Lord is a Person, he is someone who can Speak, can Encourage, will come to your aid

He is Alive and Well

He is Creator of All

He Is ruler of all

He has a purpose

He has a plan

So Do Not Be Afraid

 

  *C.*

*Fear* is a *Lack* of *Trust*

If you are afraid then you do not trust God

    1.

Lack of trust is misplaced Fear --- If we Fear God we will fear no man

Pr 14:26 – /He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress and for his children it will be a refuge/

Is 26:4 – /Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord is the Rock Eternal/

    2.

If we don’t trust God we don’t understand the security of his promises

2 Sam 23:5 /Is not my house right with God?  Has he not made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part?

Will he not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire?

/

David understood the security in God’s promises and so he had no need to fear and in his Trust he found the Ability to move without Fear …

 

Do Not Fear … because …

 

*2.

You are Not Alone*

* *

  *A*.

You *have* *Partners* in ministry

    1.

it is easy to feel like you are alone … But you have partners in ministry here

    2.

Paul had Silas and Timothy, Luke and other companions, Paul found a partnership with a husband Aquilla  and wife Priscilla.

They shared a vocation and they shared a passion for the gospel of Jesus Christ

    3.

You have people here that share similar backgrounds, similar passions, you are not alone

    4.

Part of the reason for the church is for a family where we can encourage and strengthen one another

 

  *B*.

You are *surrounded* by other *Believers*

    1. in the city (you haven’t met) but be encouraged

You may think that you are alone, but let me remind you that Florissant, Ferguson, Hazelwood, St. Louis County, St. Louis City, the entire Metropolitan area is filled with people you have never met that have a passion for Christ and serving him.

Like you they are doing their best every day to surrender to the Spirit of God.

You are Not Alone … Look around you

      a.

when you see bumper stickers

      b.

when you see JESUS signs ~/

      c.

pray for them

      d.

count the fish symbols you on cars

      e.

look around at your Restaurant maybe someone will pray before their meal … be encouraged you are not alone

      f.

Lisa and I were eating at Olive Garden a few weeks ago and we asked our Waitress if we could pray for her about anything when we blessed our food … she paused and said “I always need prayer” then she teared up and said “I’ve never had anyone ask me that before” … She felt alone … you are not alone

    2. in the heavenlies (a great cloud of witnesses)

      a.

there are thousands upon thousands, millions of believers who have gone before you, have struggled where you have struggled, who have failed where you have failed, have gotten up and found victory where you are fighting

      b.

Solomon said /“though a righteous man falls 7 times, he always rises”/

      c.

In Hebrews 11 the writer of that encouragement tells us that /Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see/ --- and then he reminds us that many have gone before us to give us an example to follow