Breaking FreeBreaking Free

Fear, Part 2Fear, Part 2

Breaking FreeBreaking Freeand Brokennessand Brokenness

Breaking FreeBreaking Freeand Brokennessand Brokenness

Recognizing fearRecognizing fearFor what it is…For what it is…

Fear is a subtle slave-masterFear is a subtle slave-master

Fear is a subtle slave-masterFear is a subtle slave-master

What are the fearsWhat are the fearsThat you haven't admitted…to yourself?That you haven't admitted…to yourself?

Fear is a subtle slave-masterFear is a subtle slave-master

Fear is conquered when we Fear is conquered when we know:know:- Who- Who God is God is

- Where - Where God isGod is

Origin of Fear…Origin of Fear…

So when the woman saw that the tree So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a was good for food, and that it was a

delight to the eyes, and that the tree was delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took to be desired to make one wise, she took

of its fruit and ate, and she also gave of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was some to her husband who was

with her, and he ate.with her, and he ate.

Then the eyes of both were opened, and Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they knew that they were naked. And

they sewed fig leaves together and made they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.themselves loincloths.

……and the man and his wife hid and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of themselves from the presence of

the Lord God among the trees of the the Lord God among the trees of the garden. garden.

But the Lord God called But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, to the man and said to him,

“Where are you?”“Where are you?”

And the man said, And the man said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, “I heard the sound of you in the garden,

and I was and I was afraid,afraid, because because I was naked, and I hid myself”I was naked, and I hid myself”

- Genesis 3:6-10- Genesis 3:6-10

Fear…caused by sinFear…caused by sin

Led to hiding from each otherLed to hiding from each otherLed to hiding from GodLed to hiding from God

We know it's sinWe know it's sinBecause it caused them to be afraidBecause it caused them to be afraid

Of the very thing they ought to embraceOf the very thing they ought to embrace

Fear…caused by sinFear…caused by sin

Attached to:Attached to:- Shame- Shame

- Guilt- Guilt- Expectation of Punishment- Expectation of Punishment

The first hint of fearThe first hint of fearIs connected to Is connected to

The first act of disobedienceThe first act of disobedience

"I can't let you see me…""I can't let you see me…"

"I can't let you see me…""I can't let you see me…"

Well, we probably shouldWell, we probably shouldCover ourselves upCover ourselves up

"I can't let God find me…""I can't let God find me…"

He's not someone we trustHe's not someone we trustTo see us like thisTo see us like this

Fear caused by sinFear caused by sin

Is subtle, dangerousIs subtle, dangerousAnd causes damage to relationshipsAnd causes damage to relationships

Not all fear is sinfulNot all fear is sinful

But all sin has the potentialBut all sin has the potentialTo produce or exaggerate fearTo produce or exaggerate fear

Put another way…Put another way…

When you choose When you choose Faith in Faith in Christ's sufficiencyChrist's sufficiency over sin over sin

You are choosing to rememberYou are choosing to rememberWho God is andWho God is and

Where God isWhere God is

Fast-ForwardFast-Forward

It still happensIt still happens

Fast-ForwardFast-Forward

It still happensIt still happens

AND…God still AND…God still disciplinesdisciplines

……the Lord disciplines the Lord disciplines those he loves…those he loves…

God disciplines us God disciplines us for our good,for our good,that we may share in his holiness. No that we may share in his holiness. No

discipline seems pleasant at the time, but discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, painful. Later on, however, it produces a it produces a

harvest of righteousness and peaceharvest of righteousness and peace for for those who have been trained by itthose who have been trained by it

- Hebrews 12- Hebrews 12

Those Those whom I love, whom I love, I reprove and disciplineI reprove and discipline

- Rev. 3:19- Rev. 3:19

……God's kindnessGod's kindness is meant to is meant to lead you to repentance…lead you to repentance…

- Romans 2:4- Romans 2:4

In Christ…In Christ…God's discipline is God's discipline is

nevernever punitive punitive(Make you pay for your sins…)(Make you pay for your sins…)

Jesus has taken Jesus has taken Our punishmentOur punishment

He is the He is the propitiationpropitiation for our sins, and for our sins, and not for ours only but also for not for ours only but also for

the sins of the whole worldthe sins of the whole world- 1 John 2:2- 1 John 2:2

In this is love, not that we have loved In this is love, not that we have loved God but that God but that he loved ushe loved us and sent his Son and sent his Son

to be the to be the propitiationpropitiation for our sins for our sins- 1 John 4:10- 1 John 4:10

You are You are always always freefreeof God's wrathof God's wrath

You are You are always always freefreeof God's wrathof God's wrath

(You still deal with consequences)(You still deal with consequences)

There is There is no fearno fear in love, but perfect love in love, but perfect love casts out fear. casts out fear. For fear has to do with For fear has to do with

punishment, and whoever fears has not punishment, and whoever fears has not been been perfectedperfected in love in love

- 1 John 4:18- 1 John 4:18

Perfected=Telios: Perfected=Telios: completecompleteNothing more can be addedNothing more can be added

There is There is no fearno fear in love, but perfect love in love, but perfect love casts out fear. casts out fear. For fear has to do with For fear has to do with

punishment, and whoever fears has not punishment, and whoever fears has not been been perfectedperfected in love in love

- 1 John 4:18- 1 John 4:18

In Christ,In Christ,

When Wholeness When Wholeness Touches Brokenness…?Touches Brokenness…?

So fear dies…So fear dies…

And so does:And so does:

- Human striving- Human striving- Rule-keeping- Rule-keeping- Comparison- Comparison

- Pride- Pride

Because Christ has taken care of itBecause Christ has taken care of it

We resist the notion of radical grace We resist the notion of radical grace because "every natural instinct cries out because "every natural instinct cries out

against the reality of personal against the reality of personal powerlessness"powerlessness"

- Tullian Tchvidjian- Tullian Tchvidjian

Jesus came to set people…?Jesus came to set people…?

Jesus came to set people…?Jesus came to set people…?

Partially? Or Fully?Partially? Or Fully?

Mocked, tortured, ridiculedMocked, tortured, ridiculed

Flogged…beaten…nailed to a crossFlogged…beaten…nailed to a cross

Humiliated, scorned, Humiliated, scorned, "It is finished""It is finished"

Spear jammed in his sideSpear jammed in his side

Dead. Buried. GoneDead. Buried. Gone

Third Day…Alive…Third Day…Alive…Obliterating the tryanny of Obliterating the tryanny of

Hell and the graveHell and the grave

Defeating forever the final foe of deathDefeating forever the final foe of death

Third Day…Alive…Third Day…Alive…Obliterating the tryanny of Obliterating the tryanny of

Hell and the graveHell and the grave

Defeating forever the final foe of deathDefeating forever the final foe of death

Was his sacrifice for your sin-debtWas his sacrifice for your sin-debtA partial payment?A partial payment?

Or was your "debt paid in full?"Or was your "debt paid in full?"

If If partial…partial…

- Religious Rules- Religious Rules

- Comparison- Comparison

- Quiet Desperation - Quiet Desperation marked by Distractionmarked by Distraction

If If Payment in Full:Payment in Full:

- Religious rule-keeping dies- Religious rule-keeping dies

- Comparison is slaughtered- Comparison is slaughtered

- Fear dies and you're Bold and Free - Fear dies and you're Bold and Free to laugh, grow, serve, becometo laugh, grow, serve, become

- Because you can- Because you can

If Jesus didn't lie…If Jesus didn't lie…

If Jesus didn't lie…If Jesus didn't lie…

It is It is finished= finished= Tetelestai: Tetelestai: Completed, done, Completed, done,

nothing morenothing more may be added may be added

What have you doneWhat have you doneThat Christ hasn't paid for?That Christ hasn't paid for?

(Fear is subtle…)(Fear is subtle…)

What did you do…What did you do…What are you doing…What are you doing…

That Christ hasn't already paid for?That Christ hasn't already paid for?

(Fear is subtle…) (Fear is subtle…)

What can you do What can you do That is moreThat is more

Than Christ's death accomplished?Than Christ's death accomplished?

(Fear is subtle…) (Fear is subtle…)

WhenWhen you were deadyou were dead in your sins and in in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, the uncircumcision of your sinful nature,

GodGod made you alive with Christ… made you alive with Christ…

When When you were deadyou were dead in your sins and in in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, the uncircumcision of your sinful nature,

GodGod made you alive with Christ. He made you alive with Christ. He forgave us forgave us all our sins,all our sins, having having canceled canceled

the written code,the written code, with its regulations, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood that was against us and that stood

opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the crossto the cross

- Colossians 2:13-14- Colossians 2:13-14

Forgiven of Forgiven of allall your sins your sins

Set free from Religious RulesSet free from Religious Rules(Nailed to the cross!)(Nailed to the cross!)

Fear is SubtleFear is SubtleWe forget We forget WhoWho God is: God is:

- Settling for religion- Settling for religion

- Comfort replaces Faith- Comfort replaces Faith

- Risk is avoided- Risk is avoided

- Rationalizations are given- Rationalizations are given

Fear is conqueredFear is conqueredBy knowingBy knowing

- Who- Who God is God is- Where - Where God isGod is

Fear when nurturedFear when nurturedKeeps God's people Keeps God's people

From following God's leading From following God's leading

(and Discovering God's Power)(and Discovering God's Power)

God wants more…God wants more…

And he's pushyAnd he's pushy

God wants your heartGod wants your heart

NOT your Rule-KeepingNOT your Rule-Keeping

"Give me the List- I'll do it!""Give me the List- I'll do it!"

- Feel good about it- Feel good about it

- Think I'm serving God by it- Think I'm serving God by it

- Judge others by - Judge others by mymy list list

- When they do better than me, - When they do better than me, I'll feel humbled and very spiritualI'll feel humbled and very spiritual

God doesn't give a rats about your list…God doesn't give a rats about your list…He wants your heartHe wants your heart

God was God was nevernever about the list about the listHe always wanted the heartHe always wanted the heart

This people draw near This people draw near with their mouthswith their mouths

and honor me with their lips,and honor me with their lips,but their heartsbut their hearts are far from me… are far from me…

- Isaiah 29:13- Isaiah 29:13

Rule-Keepers…Rule-Keepers…You can point to rulesYou can point to rules

Rule-Keepers…Rule-Keepers…You can point to rulesYou can point to rules

The rules were not given The rules were not given to to win forgivenesswin forgiveness

But to But to show distanceshow distance

Sabbath- and Circumcision-Sabbath- and Circumcision-Given before the Mosaic LawGiven before the Mosaic Law

Sabbath- and Circumcision-Sabbath- and Circumcision-Given before the Mosaic LawGiven before the Mosaic Law

……if you let yourselves be if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of circumcised, Christ will be of

no value to you at all…no value to you at all……You who are …You who are trying to be justifiedtrying to be justified by by law have been law have been alienatedalienated from Christ; from Christ;

you have fallen away from graceyou have fallen away from grace- Gal. 5:2, 4 - Gal. 5:2, 4

The rules were givenThe rules were givenTo show distanceTo show distance

636 Commandments636 Commandments10 Commandments10 Commandments

For by works of the law no human For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, being will be justified in his sight,

since since through the law comes through the law comes knowledge of sinknowledge of sin

- Romans 3:19- Romans 3:19

Distance…Distance…

……the law is good, if one uses it the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, lawfully, understanding this,

that the law is not laid down for the just that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for but for the lawless and disobedient, for

the ungodly and sinnersthe ungodly and sinners- 1 Timothy 1:8-9- 1 Timothy 1:8-9

Distance…Distance…

……in Christ in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision uncircumcision counts for anything,counts for anything, but only faith working through lovebut only faith working through love

- Gal. 5:6- Gal. 5:6

Law-keeping is outside JesusLaw-keeping is outside Jesus

Jesus wants your heart…Jesus wants your heart…Not your rulesNot your rules

Even ifEven if you call them His Rules you call them His Rules

Fear loses its powerFear loses its powerWhen you knowWhen you know

WhoWho God is- not interested God is- not interested in your Rule-Keepingin your Rule-Keeping

WhereWhere God is- God is-With you With you because he wants to bebecause he wants to be

““This is the covenant that This is the covenant that I will make with themI will make with them

after those days, declares the Lord: after those days, declares the Lord:I will put my laws I will put my laws on their hearts,on their hearts,

and write them on their minds…” and write them on their minds…”

……then he adds,then he adds,“I will remember their sins and their “I will remember their sins and their

lawless deeds no more.”lawless deeds no more.”Where there is forgiveness of these, Where there is forgiveness of these,

there is no longer any offering for sin.there is no longer any offering for sin.

Therefore,Therefore, brothers, since we have brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the confidence to enter the holy places by the

blood of Jesus…let us draw near with a blood of Jesus…let us draw near with a true heart true heart in full assurance of faithin full assurance of faith

- Hebrews 10- Hebrews 10

Sin lies:Sin lies:

- Big deal…everyone sins- Big deal…everyone sins- You can just confess it later- You can just confess it later

Sin lies:Sin lies:

- I can't believe you did that!- I can't believe you did that!- How can you call yourself a Christian?- How can you call yourself a Christian?- God can't forgive that- run from him!- God can't forgive that- run from him!

- Hide from fellow believers- Hide from fellow believers

God loves:God loves:

- Sin is serious- Sin is serious- It causes death- It causes death

- Jesus died for your sins- Jesus died for your sins- You don't have to live like that- You don't have to live like that

- Payment was made…I'm not angry- Payment was made…I'm not angry- Jesus changes hearts…you're free!- Jesus changes hearts…you're free!

Internal Inventory:

What have I heard todayThat has pushed against

What I've believed?

Will I trust God's WordInstead of my beliefs?

Internal Inventory:

What am I doingThat God wants to change?

Will I let himKnowing he's not angry- He's looking to restore?

As a ChurchLet's continue this…

And expand itProclaiming "Freedom to the Captives"

Of religion and lies