The Spirit of Fear
The Spirit of Fear
(Ephesians 2:1-13)
Introduction:
Read: Ephesians 2:1 (You were not dead because you sinned)
Trespasses and sins didn’t cause you to be dead. You were already dead.
You were dead because by nature there you have a sinful nature.
Illustration: Liar, Dog (bark), Pig
You were dead in your trespasses and sins
Read: Ephesians 2:2-3 (You may be clean now, but there was a time)
Read: Ephesians 2:4-13
The reason this passage is important to us is because we started a walk a little while back
In Zechariah 13 when we begin discussing the three barriers that the children of Israel had
That was hindering their progress in rebuilding the temple of God.
Point:
If they don’t rebuild the temple then the Glory of God will not return
If the Glory of God does not return, there is no (peace, comfort, blessings)
You can’t have a blessing without the Glory of God.
Many of us struggle in our marriage because the Glory of God has departed (marriage)
Many of us struggle in our parenting because the Glory of God has departed
Many of us don’t have any comfort in our Christian walk because the Glory of God…
So they had to rebuild the temple to bring back the Glory of God.
Point:
Now, some of you may remember that there were three things that God wanted them to do.
And if they could do those three things and bridge the gap, then they could move forward
And rebuild the temple and experience the Glory of God.
Question: What were those three things?
- Idolatry (cut-off the names of the idols / remembered no more)
- Immorality (we need to have a good moral compass / life should reflect it)
- Unclean Spirit
And we learned the reality of the unclean the spirit and that the unclean spirit is the evidence
Of demonic activity. And that demons are fallen angels.
Under the control of the prince of demons. And he has many names.
Names of Satan:
The prince of the air
The god of this world
The ruler of darkness
Leviathan (one who dwells in the sea of humanity)
Lucifer (light-bearer)
Apollyon (destroyer)
Beelzebub (prince of demons)
The wicked one
The accuser of the brethren
Whatever you want to call him, he is still a fallen angel and he is restricted.
Point:
Satan is not omnipresent like God. Satan cannot be everywhere at the same time.
Explain: God is omnipresent (everywhere) – You can’t go anywhere that God is not.
That’s why it doesn’t make sense to think you can hide from Him.
And because Satan can’t be everywhere, he has some demons that work with him.
Point:
They are territorial, they are generational
Illustrate: Territorial (Daniel 10:10-13; 20) They are territorial
And they are generational
Some of us are dealing with things in our lives even today, because it is in our family tree
And once they gets in your family tree they doesn’t want to leave.
Points: Men (live right in front of our sons) Women (live right in front of your daughters)
(Sons struggling with things that their father / Daughters struggling with things that momma)
But at some point we need to get spiritual enough to change our family tree.
Point:
So in dealing with the unclean spirit, I mention a few different types of unclean spirits.
(Spirit of Haughtiness, Infirmity, Whoredom, Bondage) – Spirit of Fear
Reference: (II Timothy 1:7 – For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power)
The spirit of fear will paralyze you.
The spirit of fear will stop you from doing things that God has called you to do.
Point:
Some of you experienced the spirit of fear even this morning
(collection basket / bills due and you have most of the money)
You know (1st day of the week the basket would pass. / Knew that before you came)
(Decision Time) – Do I take out of my bill money (almost have enough to pay)
Do I trust God and give like I know to give?
Do I say, Jesus you been so good to me. But Jesus, you know I have bills to pay.
The spirit of fear will keep you from giving. It will paralyze you.
The spirit of fear will keep you in your comfort zone.
Point:
Comfort zones are the enemy of progress.
We don’t typically make progress in our comfort zones
If you are going to make progress, you are going to have to step out of your comfort zone
If you are going to take some risk and try some things (cannot do that with the spirit of fear)
Point:
This congregation has been given a God-given vision to do some things in this community
But we cannot do it with the spirit of fear holding on to us
(We have made some great progress / It was done by having no fear / out of comfort zones)
So, we want to get rid of the spirit of fear. How do we do that?
The antidote for the spirit of fear is something called “Perfect Love.”
And we have to get rid of the spirit of fear / and these unclean spirits (Glory of God)
Reference: I John 4:17 (fear will keep you from appreciating your salvation)
And if you don’t understand your salvation you don’t have confidence in the day of judgment
So, you will lay down at night wondering (have I lived good enough to go to heaven)
And you are gripped with fear. And some of us want even go to sleep (not sure)
But the truth of the matter is you can’t live good enough to make it into heaven (gift)
Your salvation is not based on your works. You don’t work trying to get saved
You work because you are saved.
Illustration: (Wife loves me) do things not trying to get her to love me / she already loves me
(Can’t make people love you) – Doing things to try to get people to love
Point:
God loves me and I love Him and I do things as it relates to God
Not trying to get saved, but because I’m already saved.
Read: I John 4:17-18 (Perfect love – mature love) / (Not roses are red…)
Point:
Now, based on what we have taught so far about fear and mature love
Does anybody want to know how to obtain mature love?
(People) – I wish I had mature love so I wouldn’t have to worry about stuff…
Preacher, can you help me to develop mature love?
Conclusion / Reference: Ephesians 2
Point: Mature love is developed when you have a mature view of your salvation
When you get a mature/comprehensive view of your salvation
Embedded in that view of your salvation are all the characteristics of God (bless your life)
Now, when I talk about a mature view of your salvation, this goes beyond (HBRCB)
See, some take the position that is we have that, then we are through.
(I know HBRCB) – I did it. I’m saved. That’s it.
No harm intended, but that is shallow, with no real appreciation for your salvation.
But when you really figure out have saved you really are. You don’t have any fear
But you have some sure enough faith.
And that faith will produce some sure enough love.
You’ll have so much faith/love that when you experience fear, it will cast it out.
Read: Ephesians 2:1 (dead not physically / spiritually)
And when you are dead spiritually, you don’t feel anything spiritually
(You were dead…)
Reference: I Corinthians 2:12 (There are some things you should know)
But the spirit of fear has a grip on you and stops you from knowing the Glory of God
Read: I Corinthians 2:13-14 (He doesn’t understand, because he is spiritually dead)
When you are spiritually dead, you can feel some things physically
That’s how somebody can come in here right after coming from the club
And pat your foot (Thank you Jesus)
Why? Because you can feel it physically, but spiritually you’re dead.
If you were spiritually alive and that was the case, you would be sitting here weeping
With a bowed head, pleading to the Lord for His grace and mercy
You would have a repentant spirit. You wouldn’t be planning what you are doing tonight
You already know that you plan to be in the house of mercy.
Read: Ephesians 2:1-2 (can’t discern because you are caught up in the philosophy of this world)
The rationale that we sometimes experience is based on the philosophy of this world.
Read: Ephesians 2:2-6 (Raised up together / Sit together)
Read: Ephesians 2:7-13
Illustration: John 12 (Banquet at the house of Simon the Leper)
(Leprosy) / Martha (serving at Simon’s house) / Lazarus is present
(How did Lazarus get to the banquet)
We all get to the banquet table the same way
You were dead, but He being rich in mercy made us alive together with Christ (be in Christ)