Fear Not!
Fear Not!
Dave Riddle - 12/3/2023
Key Passage: Genesis 15:1
The Origin of Unhealthy Fear
- Genesis 3:10
- Sin > Shame > Fear > Hiding
Healthy Fear
- Icy roads, dangerous situations, etc
- Reverential awe for God
- Proverbs 9:10
- When this healthy fear is missing the result is not good.
- Romans 3:10-18
- Psalm 36:1
- Matthew 10:28
- Hebrews 10:31
Fear Not / Do Not Be Afraid
- First instance of this common phrase
- Genesis 15
- “I am your shield”
- Your protection. Your security
- God doesn’t want to leave us in a place of fear, shame, sin, and hiding.
- He wants to have a relationship of hope, joy, peace, and love with us.
- James 2:21-23
- Abraham: friend of God
- John 3:16-17
God’s Love Conquers Fear
- 1 John 4:10
- He loved us first. Not because we loved Him.
- 1 John 4:18
- There is no fear in love
- Perfect love drives out fear
- 2 Timothy 1:7
- God did not give us a spirit of fearfulness
- Revelation 2:10
- The last instance of “fear not”
- From Genesis to Revelation
There is nothing that can separate you from the love of God.
You Can’t Serve Two Masters
Message begins around 34:00
You Can’t Serve Two Masters
Dave Riddle - 8/28/22
Key Passage: Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters…”
Jesus in Matthew 6:24a
“No one” = oudeis (οὐδείς) - not even one
Romans 3:10
“Can” = dynamai (δύναμαι) - to be able, have power whether by virtue of one's own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom
It is impossible!
“Serve” = douleuō (δουλεύω) - to be a slave to (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary):—be in bondage, (do) serve(-ice).
“Masters” = kyrios (κύριος) - supreme in authority
Romans 10:9, Luke 6:46
“…he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.”
Jesus in Matthew 6:24b
It’s impossible for us to love (agapaō: ἀγαπάω - perfect unconditional love) two supreme masters at once.
Compare to Jesus’ comments about the good “single” eye from last week, Matthew 6:22.
“…You cannot serve both God and money.”
Jesus in Matthew 6:24c
“Money” = mamōnas (μαμωνᾶς) - Mammon - everything we pursue in life. Riches, treasures, dreams, feelings, idols. Everything that isn’t God.
Joshua 24:15 - “…choose this day whom you will serve...”
Upside Down View of Ourselves
Message begins around 33 minutes
Upside Down View of Ourselves
03/13/2021 - Dave Riddle
Key Passage: Psalm 37:5
Ralph Waldo Emerson - “trust thyself”
Proverbs 3:5 - don’t do that…
Self-reliance limits our spiritual growth
Psalm 37:5 - “Depend on the Lord. Trust in him, and he will help you.”
Jeremiah 9:23 - Don’t boast about yourself
Philippians 4:11-13 - it’s not about our strength or ability.
Spiritual growth is not about personal willpower, it’s about surrender.
What do we trust in?
His Forgiveness
Luke 18:9-14
…everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.
Romans 3:11-12
Our own goodness will never be enough.
Philippians 3:9
Our righteousness comes from him!
It all goes back to what God has done for us.
His Empowerment
1 Chronicles 16:11
Seek God
Acts 1:8a
Empowered by the Holy Spirit.
dynamos (δύναμαι)= able. to be able, have power whether by virtue of one's own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law
The same power that raised Christ from the dead empowers you today!
His Wisdom
1 Corinthians 3:19
The wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight.
James 3:17
The wisdom from above is pure, peace loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy, unwavering, without pretense…
His Provision
Psalm 34:19 - “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord rescues from them all.”
1 Peter 5:7 - cast all your anxieties on God..
2 Corinthians 1:8-9
We even despaired off life itself!
…so that we would not trust ourselves.
His provision is better than our attempts at self preservation
His Kingship
Psalm 18:2
Psalm 113:4-6
John 6:68 - where else would we go? Only you have the words of eternal life.