Fear Not, Love Never Fails, Anything Is Possible
Today’s sermon is an introduction to our new sermon series. I want to explain what this series is about, why it’s important, and what I hope it will achieve. I must be honest with you. I did not want to do this series. For a long time, the Holy Spirit has been laying this series on my heart, but I refused and avoided it. There are other topics and Bible books I would rather preach on, other sermon series that would be much easier. I argued with God; came up with all kinds of reasons and excuses for why I cannot do this series. When our last series ended it finally came to a head when the Spirit said now is the time. And again I said no. The direction of the Spirit was so overwhelming, and my stubbornness and refusal so strong that I had to take a retreat to go and pray this through. I thought perhaps I could convince God otherwise. For four days I prayed and reasoned with God. The harder I tried to present other topics and series before God, the more He pushed me into this series. Finally, I gave in and said okay God. But then my little faith kicked in, and I planned a last-ditch escape. I told God, if you want me to do this series, you must give me a clear answer, a sign. This, after the many signs, words, directions He already gave me. I don’t know what I was expecting or hoping for. And why want a sign when we have His Word? So Friday came and went. No sign, no answer. Saturday morning I was packed and ready to come home. Then God said to me wait, you have plenty of time. Spend some time with Me before you hit the road. So I took out my Bible and opened it at the reading for that morning was Jeremiah 1. And wham! God’s answer hit me between the eyes. When God called Jeremiah he said,
“Alas, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD. Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. … “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD. (Jer. 1:6-9,17-19)
The answer was clear. But then I realized that these words are not just for me. They are for us as a church also. We must get ourselves ready. The words which God will give us through this series—we must stand up and say them to the world. We must live them out as God’s people. We must not fear because God is with us and will rescue us. So what is this series about? Let’s read—Mt 8:23-27:
Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” [Mark—Do you still have no faith?/Luke—Where is your faith?] Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
1. The Raging Storm
We are in the middle of a raging storm. This storm has been brewing for many years, and this year, it reached hurricane proportions, with COVID-19 and many things happening, and this also being an election year. Emotions are running high. People are on edge. This is a storm of fear and anger. In this series, we will look at the elements of this storm. We will talk about its dangers, ugliness, and terrible consequences. Today I just want to highlight some of its elements to explain its seriousness, and why this sermon series is important for us at this time.
The driving force and distinctive feature of this storm is fear, fear that leads to anger, which in turn creates fear again. The hallmark of our times, everywhere, in our politics, society, social discourse, even in our faith and churches, is fear. Fear of what? What are we afraid of? This fear may be different for different people and groups. It may be a fear of change and the unknown. Fear of loss — loss of income, wealth, health, and life. Fear of losing our privileged position in society, our freedoms, and rights. But one thing is clear, we live in a time and a culture of fear. This fear shows up as anger, anxiety, apathy, frustration, depression, hatred, the demonization of others, conflict. and violence. We see these all around us, on our streets and on our screens, in our news media and social media.
This storm of fear and anger has laid its claws also into God’s people. We have also fallen prey to fear, anger, anxiety. We pretend that this is not true. We say that we trust in God. But when you listen to how people talk, what they say, how they act, what they post on social media, then you discover that there is an underlying fear influencing, driving, shaping, controlling people. We may be unaware of it, deny it, or ignore it, but it is there. We rage like the people and the world around us. We are so desperate to survive that we throw everything overboard. We compromise our faith, beliefs, values, and principles. We seek salvation and take refuge in all kinds of idols. In this series, we will examine these idols and how they are influencing us.
When we allow fear and anger to take over, when we allow our selfish and self-centered desires to take over, when we pay only lip service to Jesus being our Lord, then we become like God’s people in the Old Testament. Let’s look at one of the many descriptions in the prophets of what happens when God’s people lose their way, Jeremiah 5. Read.
2. God’s People at the Crossroads
How should we as God’s people respond to this storm, to the people and the world raging around us? How should we respond to and engage the many challenges and issues we are facing? How should we as God’s people engage in politics? This is what this sermon series is about. The church in America, God’s people in America, we are standing at a crossroads. We must think seriously about the following.
How do we, as God’s people, want to go down in history? As a people who gave in to fear, doubt, anxiety, and worry? Or a people who trusted in God and stood firm in the faith that the Sovereign Lord is in control and accomplishing his kingdom purpose? As a people who sought their refuge and salvation in worldly saviors and idols? Or a people who feared and worshipped only the living, true God, who submitted to Jesus as Lord above all and as the only Savior? As a people who gave in to and lived in anger, hatred, and violence? Or a people who loved unconditionally and made peace? As a people who fell for every conspiracy theory and believed the lies of this world? Or a people of truth who were rooted in and proclaimed the truths of God’s Word, who made every effort to seek the truth, who used our God-given brains and intellect to pursue truth and practice God-glorifying science? As a people who pursued their own little kingdoms, chasing after earthly treasures? Or a people who pursued and sought first the righteousness of God’s kingdom in everything they did? As a people who are afraid of persecution and suffering so we sold our souls for political and worldly power? Or as a people who said, “We are not afraid to die. We know where we are going. We choose to love.”
But ultimately and most importantly, one day when we stand before God’s throne, what do we want the Lord to say? “Go away from me. I don’t know you.” Or, “Well done, good and faithful servants.”
We are standing at a crossroads, at a critical point in history, and we, as God’s people are in real danger. We claim Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. But is He truly our Lord? We claim to follow Jesus but are we truly following Him in love, obedience, kingdom living, and service?
3. Vision—Repent, Love, & Risk To Be Different
This is the time for us to wake up, repent, to love as Jesus loves, take the risk to be radically different, and suffer and die for God’s kingdom and glory. Some of us may say, “This sermon series does not apply to me. We are not doing these things. We are okay. The problem is with the others.” Both sides, both conservative Christians and liberal Christians are so busy with finger-pointing and seeing the speck in the other’s eyes, that they don’t see the log in their own eyes. Instead of working together against Satan’s attacks, we are divided and divided we will fall.
A second problem I observe is that of apathy and disengagement. Believers withdraw from society and politics. You hear statements like, “There is nothing we can do. We have lost the cultural war.” What cultural war? There is only one war raging, and that is the war between God’s kingdom and Satan’s kingdom. We have lost some battles because we have withdrawn or disengaged. Where light withdraws, darkness takes over. Where the salt is not doing its work the food gets spoiled and rotten. Let us be blunt, direct, and very clear. If we disengage and withdraw we disobey our Lord, who said you are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, who commanded us to make disciples of all peoples. We do not believe and trust God’s power and his Word that say, “Love never fails.” Love is what God’s kingdom is all about. Love is what we are called to do.
So this sermon series is God’s Word for all of God’s people. All of us are standing at this crossroads. All of us need to die to self and examine ourselves with brutal honesty in the light of God’s Word. All of us must allow the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts and minds, and convict us where necessary. Do not close your heart and mind, but have an open mind. You will not like everything you will hear as I have not liked everything God has been teaching me. You will be challenged and convicted as I have been. We will discover that there are attitudes, views, thoughts, words, and actions that are not Christianly, biblical, right or good, that are sinful, unloving, and will need repentance and change. So please bear with me. Listen to the whole series. Listen to God’s Word and the Holy Spirit not to me.
I believe that if we listen and hear God’s Word, if we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us, He will bring us to repentance. There will be revival and renewal. I pray that through this series we will dig deep into God’s Word to know the Father’s heart. Then we will reach out into the world to show them who God is. I pray that this series will fill our hearts and flood our souls with one desire, to know God and to make Him known, to lift His Name on high, and to shine like the sun to make the darkness run and hide.
I hope to show you through this series that we, as God’s people, were made for so much more than ordinary lives in this world. We are not here to just survive this storm. We are called to engage this storm, to calm this storm in the Name of Jesus Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit and together, all of God’s people together, we can do this. We can love. We can take the risk to be different, to be kingdom people. We can rise above the storm, and bring calm to the storm.
We, God’s people, are not here in this world to just survive. We were made to thrive. We can live with joy unspeakable, faith unshakable and unsinkable, love unstoppable, and the conviction that anything is possible because with our God nothing is impossible. Therefore, we will not fear. We will love because love never fails. We will be strong and courageous to take the risk to be radically different, living as God’s kingdom people for His glory.