Breaking Free…from Fear

John 8:31-36              1 John 4:13-18

First Presbyterian Church, Brownsville, TN

February 1, 2009                        Dr. Will Jones

 

Summary: Jesus promises his followers that they will be free.  In the book of John, he promises to set us free from spiritual slavery and from sin. Freedom through Christ is a major theme of Paul’s writings as well, especially in the books of Romans and Galatians.  Being a Christian brings freedom from the fear that so often debilitates us. 

 

Outline:

 

I.        Breaking free…

a.        Jesus’ promises of freedom:

                                                              a.      “If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed!” 

                                                             b.      …free from slavery to sin.

                                                              c.      …free for God and others

1.       “Let my people go, so that they can worship me.” 

II.      Fear

a.        Phobia-mania: how many “phobias” are there?

                                                              a.      Atephobia- Fear of ruin or ruins:

1.       Mexico Mission trip; Mayan ruins

                                                             b.      Athazagoraphobia- Fear of being forgotten

                                                              c.      Atomosophobia- Fear of atomic explosions.

1.       1960’s-1980’s

                                                             d.      Atychiphobia- Fear of failure

                                                              e.      Aulophobia- Fear of flutes.

1.       “She was such a talented musician, but she had a bad case of aulophobia.”

                                                              f.      Aurophobia- Fear of gold.

b.       Fear:

                                                              a.      Some fears like those laugh at, but some fears common and real and painful

                                                             b.      Why do people fear?

1.       Instinct: fear is a God-given trait within us that helps protect us in danger. 

2.       When the hair stands up on your neck; when your adreniliene flows and your heart pounds: fear is kicking in because you are threatened; walking by the lake; water moccasin with fangs exposed by your ankle; milliseconds; jump 15 feet up and over. 

                                                              c.      What & who do people fear?

1.       Physical threats: you, your body, your life are in danger; being hurt; death.

a.        Moses’ fear of Pharoah

b.       Judges 6:3 Gideon; battle of Midian: “Announce now to the people, 'Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.'" So twenty-two thousand men left.”

c.        Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane: “Let this cup pass.”  Why? He is human, therefore afraid.  Pain, suffering, death. 

d.       Health: Psalm 38: 7 “My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body.”

2.       Spiritual/Value threats

a.        Not life-threatening, but persistent worries that are like fear;

                                                                                                                                       i.      Fear of public speaking: embarrassment, shame

1.       Rather hold a tiger’s tale than a microphone

                                                                                                                                      ii.      outcome/future uncertain: job losses in U. S.; Home foreclosures. 

                                                                                                                                    iii.      Fear of losing something; fear of losing someone

b.       Worry about loved one; their future uncertain; fear for the way they’re living. 

                                                             d.      The debilitating nature of fear: what it does over time: crippling affect

1.       Fear prevents your “good” life

a.        Confines you: man who won’t leave his own property

b.       Can’t see beauty of world/goodness of God

                                                                                                                                       i.      So defined and dominated by fears, that they can’t see goodness

                                                                                                                                      ii.      Become imprisoned

III.   Freedom from fear through Christ

a.        1 John 4: “Mystical union” with Christ

                                                              a.      Christian experience: union with Christ

1.       Galatians 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”

2.       1 John 4:15: “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16….God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.”

                                                             b.      Union with Christ: spiritual unity whereby we begin to assume his personality

1.       Admired someone enough to emulate them?  Talk, act, follow.

2.       Love Christ and to being talking, acting, and following as a Christian 

b.       Perfect love that casts out fear

                                                              a.      Gift of the Holy Spirit:

1.       1 John 4:13 “We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.”

2.       Love of Christ overpowers fear

a.        Fear in the garden, overcome by assurance.

                                                                                                                                       i.      “your will be done….”

                                                                                                                                      ii.      Whatever happened in that prayer, Jesus was assured of Father’s love.  We hear Jesus’ words; we don’t know Holy Spirit’s role in that exchange

3.       God’s promise to us in our faith is reassurance of love that washes out fear

a.        God’s presence with us and in us relieves fear

                                                                                                                                       i.      God to Moses: “I will be with you.” 

                                                                                                                                      ii.      God to Gideon (v16) "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together."

                                                                                                                                    iii.      Isaiah 43:1 “But now, this is what the LORD says-- he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

4.       This sacrament of communion: Christ with us, Christ in us, Christ for us. 

 

 

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