BURNING HEARTS: Igniting the Fire Inside
Today, April 19, 2015: “The Room”
Have you ever been afraid?
Alba had a tumor…
This is where the disciples are…
Luke 24:33 (NKJV) So
they (the two Jesus met on the road to Emmaus) rose up that very hour and
returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them
gathered together, 34 saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has
appeared to Simon!" 35 And they told about the things that had
happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.
36 Now as they
said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them,
"Peace to you." 37 But they were terrified and frightened, and
supposed they had seen a spirit. 38 And He said to them, "Why are you
troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold My hands and
My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have
flesh and bones as you see I have." 40 When He had said this, He
showed them His hands and His feet.
41 But while they
still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, "Have you
any food here?" 42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and
some honeycomb. 43 And He took it and ate in their presence.
44 Then He said
to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with
you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses
and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." 45 And He opened
their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. 46 Then He
said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the
Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that
repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things.
49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the
city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
John gives us some more details about that evening…
John 20:19 (NKJV)
Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors
were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came
and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you."
20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the
disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them
again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you."
22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them,
"Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are
forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
Fear is one of most debilitating tools of the enemy; it
keeps us locked down, afraid (literally) of what will happen!
Many types of fear
in Bible…
1. Fear of man…
Proverbs 29:25 The
fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.
2. Fear of the future…
Luke 21:26 (NKJV) Men’s hearts failing them from fear and the
expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of
the heavens will be shaken.
3. Fear of death…
Hebrews 2:15 (NKJV) And release those who through fear of death
were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Fear is the opposite of faith… it is faith in what the devil
says… it empowers the evil around us…
Job 3:25 (NKJV) For the thing I
greatly feared has come upon me, And what I dreaded has happened to me.
Isaiah 66:4 (NKJV) "So will I choose their delusions, And
bring their fears on them; Because, when I called, no one answered, When I
spoke they did not hear; But they did evil before My eyes, And chose that in
which I do not delight.”
It is easy to say “don’t fear”, the Bible says it over 150
times in different ways, so it has to be possible. The question is “How”?
In our text we see
how Jesus deals with the fear of His disciples…
1. Presence of Christ
The physical Presence of the Lord!
Touch Me; handle Me; (1 John 1: …that we have handled…)
Exodus 33:14 (NKJV) And
He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Joshua 1:9 (NKJV) Have I
not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be
dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Psalm 23:4 (NKJV) Yea,
though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;
For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV) Fear
not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen
you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Isaiah 43:1–2 (NKJV) But
now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O
Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You
are Mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through
the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you
shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
Matthew 28:20 (NKJV) “I
am with you always, even to the
end of the age.”
Hebrews 13:5–6 (NKJV) Let
your conduct be without
covetousness; be content with
such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may
boldly say: “The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
2. Peace of Christ
In our text Jesus spoke peace to them twice!
John 14:27 (NKJV) Peace I
leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to
you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 16:33 (NKJV) These
things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you
will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
He is our peace…
Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV) But He
was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The
chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
Ephesians 2:14 (NKJV) For
He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle
wall of separation,
Peace comes from
knowing all our sins are forgiven!
Romans 5:1 (NKJV)
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ,
Jesus is the Prince
(Ruler) of an everlasting, ever increasing Kingdom of Peace!
Isaiah 9:6–7 (NKJV) For
unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be
upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty
God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government
and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward,
even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
3. Passages of Scripture
Just like the disciples on the Emmaus Road…
Psalm 56:3–4 (NKJV)
Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. 4 In God (I will praise His Word),
In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?
Psalm 119:165 (NKJV)
Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble (
in nothing are they offended).
When I fear, I should find verses dealing with my problem
and memorize them… Here are some of my
favorites in addition to all we have gone over so far…
Psalm 27:1 (NKJV) The
LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength
of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
Philippians 4:6–7 (NKJV)
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus.
4. Person of the Holy Spirit
He is called The
Comforter, The Helper, the One called alongside to strengthen…
Haggai 2:5 (NKJV)
‘According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt,
so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!’
Peace is a fruit of
the Spirit…
Galatians 5:22 (NKJV) But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
5. Promise of Power
Acts 1:8 (NKJV)
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you
shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the
end of the earth.”
After the Spirit came, the cowardly disciples became bold
witnesses!
Witness = Martyr
2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) For
God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound
mind.
CONCLUSION
1 John 4:18 (NKJV) There
is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves
torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
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