Faithful Truths During Fearful Times
Romans 8:14-21
Introduction
o There are many uncertainties that we deal with everyday
o We are scared of what might be: Economics/Politics/Socially
o Y2K, Terror Attacks, Ebola, etc…
o We are living in the day of Terror
Terror: people live in fear
o If we were honest, some fears sitting in these pews today
There’s a wide range of “Phobias” that people deal with
o #1 *Arachnophobia: fear of spiders
o *Ophidiophobia:
fear of snakes
o *Acrophobia:
fear of heights
o *Ablutophobia:
fear of bathing, washing
o *Coulrophobia:
fear of clowns
o *Pentheraphobia:
fear of your mother-in-law
o *Scopophobia:
fear of being stared at
o *Christianophobia:
fear of Christians
The saddest one that I read was:
o *Phobophobia:
fear of having a phobia; …
…or rather it is a fear of having a fear.
o That same “Spirit of Fear” has crept into Baptist Churches
o It might not be about Spiders, Bathing, Clowns, but the spirit
of fear has gripped your heart
o We do have Someone to turn to during these times…
Psalm 56:3 “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”
o Fear takes us into bondage v. 15…Fear is the cause of Bondage
Faithful Truths During Fearful Times
Many are Fearful of PAST FAILURES:
Romans 8:14-21
v. 15
“not received the spirit of bondage again to fear”
o Great men have a past that they wished was different…
-Moses: Murderer
-David: Adulterer
-Peter: Forsook
-Apostle Paul: no telling what was in his past he dealt with
We probably can relate to Paul’s past more than we think...
1. He had a Hidden Past: No one really knows what happened
(Acts 8) “consenting unto his death” “he made havoc of the church”
o There are secrets in this church that would floor us
o There are skeletons in closets that no one knows about
o Things you would die if anyone found out-they’re hidden
2. He had a Hindering Past: Paul had a thorn in his side
(2 Cor. 12:7) “there was given me a thorn in the flesh…”
o Whatever it was that he was dealing with, it was in the past
o You only go so far with God and this rises up to try stop you
3. He had a Hurtful Past: beaten, stoned, imprisoned, forsaken
o There are some that have endured some difficult situations
of pain, grief, heartache…that is now causing you fear
o Experienced: Divorce…Depression…Disappointment by people
4. He had a Haunting Past:
Paul never forgot who he was
Romans 7:21 “when I would do good evil is present with me.”
o The devil always brings it up and reminds you
o God may forget your past, but devil has a photogenic memory
Faithful Truths During Fearful Times
Romans 8:14-21
God knows about your Past
o Devil is not the only one that knows who and what you are
1. Your Past has been Exposed:
Prov. 15:3 “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.”
2. Your Past has been Evaluated:
God knows how difficult it is
3. Your Past can be Erased:
Psalms 103:12 “As far as the east…”
There are 2 ways to get over the Fear of our Past
1. The Process of ADOPTION:
v. 15
Before we are saved, we are not in the family of God
John 8:44 “Ye are of your father the devil…”
Therefore we must change families and get a NEW FATHER
John 3:1 “Behold what manner of love the FATHER hath bestowed upon us that we
should be called the sons of God…Beloved, NOW are we the sons of God…”
Adoption make us sons, NOW…Him our Father, NOW
(3) Things take place in the Ancient Adoption Process
o
The RIGHTS of the Previous Father were Dissolved
o He has no more authority over the child
o He could no longer control him
o
The RELATIONSHIP of the Previous Father was Dead
o He could not have any dealings with the child
o The child could not go back to old father
(Before #1 and #2 could happen…)
o
The REQUIREMENTS of the new Father was Demanded
o Make sure the new Father could take care of the child
 Will He Love him?
 Will He Leave Him?
Faithful Truths During Fearful Times
2. The Process of ADAPTION
Romans 8:14-21
v. 16
o Once Adoption takes place…now comes the Adaption
o Imagine a wealthy well-to-do family adopts a poor child
-He doesn’t know how to act
-He doesn’t fit in
-He often reverts back to his old way
o He is afraid that he will have to go back to old life
o He must Adapt to the new life that has been given him
Gary Edwards:
“My people don’t fit in at most churches”
The main character in the Process of Adaption is the Spirit of God
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit…”
Meaning: The Spirit will speak to us and let us know some things
He Reassures us We are SAVED
o Tells us: “we are the children of God.”
o You are changed!!
o The OLD LIFE is gone…your past has been REMOVED!
He Reassures us that we are SAFE
o Things that made us fearful and afraid before can’t hurt
He Reassures us we are SECURE
o
o
We will Never have to go back to that lifestyle
again…we have a new Father and a new Family
He will take care of His children