Keeping It Young

We're continuing our Overcoming series and beginning a new topic, fear. 
Fear is universal Adam and Eve experienced fear in the garden Farther we go from God and the more disobedient we are, the greater the fear that we experience

Our world offers a continual diet of fear Economy
World conditions
Medical concerns
See Reader's Digest illustration p. 82 LaHaye Joseph Fort Newton, former pastor of St. James Church, Philadelphia
Had newspaper article called "A ministers mail"
His column "everyday living" reached millions of people
One article was about fear and he said that "fear leads to worry and worry is a tiny rivulet seeping into the mind like slow poison, until it paralyzes us and cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained."



Fear is personal We fear failure
We fear that our kids will be hurt
We fear retirement
We fear not having medical help
Parents in our culture especially battle with fear Fear of leaving our kids in a church nursery
Fear of letting our kids attend youth ministry
Fear of losing our kids to the world

Singles battle fear Fear of getting married to the wrong person
Fear of being deceived by someone you marry


Fear is costly 92% of our fears NEVER take place
Emotionally - fear leads to any number of emotional issues Anxiety
Doubts
Timidity
Indecision
Superstition
Withdrawal
Loneliness
Overagression
Worry
Inferiority
Cowardice
Suspicion
Hesitancy
Depression 
Haughtiness
Social shyness

Socially Fear keeps us from speaking
Fear keeps us from serving

Physically Fear affects our health in a variety of ways

Spiritually Quenches the Holy Spirit
Stifles our soul wining Compare Paul and Silas with the Philippian jailor

Prevents us from pleasing God

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Enjoy this last episode of the Overcoming Hurt mini-series. 
 
Fruit That Can Result From A Hurt
v. 14. God will use it to make you holy
v. 17 God will use it to get you to the Father
v. 21 God will use it to build your faith and hope
v. 22 God will use it to purify your heart to fervent love
V. 23 God will use it to get you saved

Part 4 and the final episode in this Overcoming series. 
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4. Forgive the one who hurt you
Forgiveness understands the wrong
Forgiveness understands that it will always be wrong
Forgiveness chooses to move on
Forgiveness releases the debt that I am owed because of the wrong

Let's dive in on part 3!
   5. Treat others with love
   6. Guard your words
      1. Speak truth - but always in love
      2 Be honest - lying never works
      3. Control your temper
          1. The wrath of man never works the righteousness of God
3. Confront the hurt Biblically -Ephesians 4:30-31
     1. Grow spiritually Ephesians 4:19-24
     2. Be kind to those who hurt you
     3. Be tenderhearted about the hurt
         1. Put away bitterness
         2. Put away anger
         3. Refuse to speak hurtfully
4. Forgive the one who hurt you

Let's dive in!
 
Part 2
3.  Hurts can be overcome
Consider our texts
1 Peter 1 v. 3. Lively hope
v. 4 incorrupt inheritance
v. 5 Keeping power
v. 6 heavy burdens

1 Peter 4
 
Consider Biblical examples who overcame
 
Joshua
Daniel
Hannah
David Chosen to be king but ignored by his family
Ridiculed and made fun of
Threatened and hunted and had to run for his life
Forced to leave his home and family
Was mistreated But found healing


These teach us that we are not alone when we are dealing with hurts
These also teach us that we can overcome them
Consider steps that are essential in overcoming
Identify the hurt
Do right in the hurt Think right about it Illustration of "the church hurt me"

Stay in church
Stay in the Word
Stay faithful to God