1 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:12,280 Hello, a big welcome to the Via Zion Sermon podcast. 2 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,280 We are a church based out of Chennai, India. 3 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:18,800 We are thrilled that you tuned in today and hope that you will 4 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:22,240 be refreshed, revived and energized by what you hear. 5 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:26,280 Our desire is that you will live life with a renewed sense of 6 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:30,040 purpose that stems from a vibrant faith in Jesus. 7 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:35,760 The year 2025 is 1 where we will be positioned by God to possess 8 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:39,280 our promise. Today's sermon causes us to 9 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:43,360 assess ourselves and see if we live with a fear of God or a 10 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:47,040 fear of man. One gives life while the other 11 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:51,520 debilitates. 1 brings clarity and freedom, while the other 12 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:55,520 confuses and confounds. How would you choose to live 13 00:00:55,720 --> 00:01:00,320 from this moment on? Hi church, this is a joy and a 14 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:03,920 privilege to be in God's word to you today counted an honour. 15 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:07,120 And even as we've been going through the entire book of 16 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:11,880 Genesis, we've been seen from the life of Abraham as to how he 17 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:17,120 took the first step of actually pursuing and pushing through and 18 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:19,360 seeing God's promise come through his life. 19 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:22,960 And even as we've started this year, our theme for the year is 20 00:01:22,960 --> 00:01:24,800 positioned to possess the promise. 21 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:28,280 And I believe as we position ourselves, there are so many 22 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:31,840 things that changes in US. What we believe in changes, how 23 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:36,360 we decide to run the remaining race changes, our destination 24 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:39,920 changes, who we rely on changes, and probably even the 25 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:42,160 surroundings change because we're not positioned 26 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:44,960 differently. Suddenly the voices that meant 27 00:01:44,960 --> 00:01:47,680 or governed us or, you know, gave us directions suddenly 28 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:50,600 don't make sense anymore. And we suddenly are realizing 29 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:55,200 that our entire focus is towards what the Holy Spirit is asking 30 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:57,560 us to do. Our dependence is on God's word. 31 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:01,400 We suddenly are keeping our eyes focused on what Jesus wants us 32 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:05,400 to do because we believe that promise is 1 where we would see 33 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:08,840 things happen in the eternal. And it's beautiful because we're 34 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:12,160 not waiting for eternity, but we're waiting for us to live 35 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:15,080 right here on this earth, bring heaven down to earth. 36 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:17,800 And I believe God's called each and every one of us. 37 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:20,800 Last week, when we saw Progenesis 19, we saw from the 38 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:24,200 life of Lot some of the lessons we gleaned from his life. 39 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:27,480 And we saw that we need to have a heart for the city where God's 40 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:29,880 placed us in eventually that heart. 41 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:33,520 Not only this translates to the people around us and to the 42 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:36,240 city, but also to the world where God's calling all of us to 43 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:38,640 really intercede and pray and stand in the gap for his 44 00:02:38,640 --> 00:02:42,040 revival. We also saw that as the remnant 45 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:44,640 few, we need to ask for God's righteousness. 46 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:48,240 Yes, culture changes, culture dictates, but the remnant few 47 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:51,960 believe can I believe can shake the mountains. 48 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:53,720 I believe can shake the mountains of culture. 49 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:56,760 I believe they can shake the principalities of darkness if 50 00:02:56,760 --> 00:02:59,960 God could choose 12. I believe the remnant fewer 51 00:02:59,960 --> 00:03:05,880 enough to take this Kingdom of culture and darkness that is so 52 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:09,680 rampant across the world and bring hope, life and healing. 53 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:14,240 And the 3rd we saw that we don't make decisions out of our 54 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:17,480 temporary things that we need. We keep eternity in perspective 55 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:19,520 and we realize that we are in this long journey. 56 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:22,240 It's just not a Sprint. We are here, so we build 57 00:03:22,920 --> 00:03:26,600 endurance to run this race well and today we moved to Genesis 58 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:28,960 chapter 20 and I've titled my sermon. 59 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:31,480 It's pretty much like a mathematical equation. 60 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:37,640 Fear of man is lesser than fear of God, which means the fear of 61 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:40,760 God in our life should be far bigger than the fear of man. 62 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:44,840 But eventually we given we are so surrounded by things and 63 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:47,680 people around us that we cave in to the fear of man. 64 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:50,320 We, so a lot of us are actually running our lives based on the 65 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:52,800 fear of man. And I think we need to come to 66 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:55,880 this place. Fear in the sense when you look 67 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:58,640 at it with the fear of God that we should have is one of 68 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:01,920 reverent fear where we are in awe, where we like we are 69 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:05,240 without anything. We, we are nothing without God. 70 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:09,880 We are solely dependent on God. But the fear that's associated 71 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:13,080 with man has this connotation where it's more or less this 72 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:17,959 unpleasant emotion caused by threat, danger or pain. 73 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:21,000 And today, if I have to ask you, do we all have fears? 74 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:23,240 Yes. Do we all have fears of certain 75 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:24,200 things around us? Yes. 76 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:29,120 Do we have fears around things that are within us that brings 77 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:31,680 out a lot of fear things around us brings out a lot of fear 78 00:04:31,840 --> 00:04:35,280 things even the are concerned about in the future brings a lot 79 00:04:35,280 --> 00:04:39,920 of fear and I believe God's word constantly encourages to 80 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:42,320 overcome fear. And even as we look into the 81 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:44,560 life of Abraham, there are certain things that I wanted to 82 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:48,280 point out because I believe it's a wrestle we have to have every 83 00:04:48,280 --> 00:04:50,440 day. We have to have every day God 84 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:54,920 uses us because it's so easy to get confined to the four walls 85 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:57,960 of the fear that we are so used to living out of God saying I 86 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:00,160 want to liberate you, I want to set you free. 87 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:03,960 I want to turn our attention to Proverbs chapter 29 verses 25. 88 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:06,200 The fear of human opinion disables. 89 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:09,120 Trusting in God protects you from that. 90 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:11,920 The fear of human opinion disables. 91 00:05:12,280 --> 00:05:14,640 And I think in a world where we are so digitally connected, 92 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:19,320 where we are, so, you know, going by what people say, going 93 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:23,880 back, what our opinion of people are, we believe to a certain 94 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:26,400 extent their opinion actually carries weight. 95 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:29,160 Yes, it does. To a certain extent credibility 96 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:34,920 does, but we but we can't be so in performance mode that we've 97 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:38,200 having and operating out of a fear of people and their 98 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:40,560 opinions. And this is where God wants us 99 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:47,000 to come to a place of the Bible talks about a a place of fear is 100 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:49,240 a place of trembling, of revidence of all. 101 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:55,440 But it's also showing that we are in a place of deep anxiety. 102 00:05:56,080 --> 00:05:59,000 When fear of man is dead, there's deep sense of anxiety, 103 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:03,480 there's this physical trembling and it's dread that we have what 104 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:08,000 is to be shown towards God. We somehow are showing it 105 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:11,280 towards man because we feel the repercussions are immediate. 106 00:06:11,280 --> 00:06:14,840 God is a distant repercussion. You know, eternity, I can manage 107 00:06:14,840 --> 00:06:17,160 that. That's like 40 or 50 or 80 years 108 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:18,960 down the road, how long I live on this earth. 109 00:06:19,280 --> 00:06:23,040 But then the fear of man is so heavy because we feel that, that 110 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:25,560 that that backlash might happen immediate. 111 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:28,680 That backlash might lick us up. That backlash might. 112 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:32,440 But this is where we need to move from the fear of man to 113 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:35,600 trusting God. It says in the amplified the 114 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:38,960 same words, The fear of man brings his net, but whoever 115 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:43,320 trusts and puts his confidence in the Lord will be exalted and 116 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:45,600 safe. Whoever trusts and puts his 117 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:49,480 confidence in the Lord will be exalted and safe. 118 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:53,880 You know, today we're living in the world where AI is evolving, 119 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:56,720 where perplexities come chat, GBTS come open. 120 00:06:56,720 --> 00:07:00,440 AI has got this huge bid to be bought over and we see this a 121 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:03,520 lot of momentum around artificial intelligence and 122 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:05,920 machine learning. What does machine learning do? 123 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:09,920 Takes our own patterns, our own searches, our own queries and 124 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:12,560 starts giving us well formed content. 125 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:16,440 It starts answering for us and the, and the, and the problem 126 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:19,800 with this day and age, why the fear of man is far bigger is 127 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:23,400 because knowledge is at the, it's at its peak today. 128 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:25,640 You don't have to run after knowledge. 129 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:27,640 Knowledge is right there in your device. 130 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:30,920 You can, you can Google it, but we are beyond the Google place 131 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:33,360 right now. We, we ask, we, you know, we, we 132 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:37,160 can go deeper into all these topics because it's, it's, it's 133 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:40,320 learning of our questions. It's learning of the amount of 134 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:43,560 data that's there globally. And so today, as we look into 135 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:48,240 this, a lot of us have the fear that you know what, why? 136 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:51,440 Why do we fear man? Because knowledge is this whole 137 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:54,880 thing that's cultivated, this whole thing that's harvested is 138 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:59,280 of man. And so our major movement, a 139 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:04,040 major move is like God, this, this fear is so real. 140 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:08,840 We, we, we feel like if, if culture calls us out, if culture 141 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:13,480 shames as if culture calls us this particular thing today we 142 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:16,760 had lost it. But God's saying whoever trusts 143 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:20,400 in me and puts his confidence, it's just on trust but puts his 144 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:24,200 confidence that is do we take a bet on God and what he says 145 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:26,480 because this is what is looking like. 146 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:30,680 If we have to pursue a promise like how Abraham did, we will be 147 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:34,200 a few in number. This is not looking like many 148 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:38,039 coming towards many might come, but we don't know if everyone is 149 00:08:38,039 --> 00:08:39,679 actually putting their confidence in God. 150 00:08:39,679 --> 00:08:43,760 And so today I want to talk to you that in this fear of man, a 151 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:46,960 lot of us are worried about what others might see of us. 152 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:50,160 And that's that's a very prominent fear that is exist or 153 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:53,560 what they might do to us. We've also gone to the other 154 00:08:53,560 --> 00:08:56,920 extreme where we are worried what they don't say to us or 155 00:08:56,920 --> 00:08:59,400 what they won't do for us or do to us. 156 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:04,400 And so this, this, this looming thing about the fear of man is 157 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:06,200 real. And I'm not negating it. 158 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:09,440 All of us have walked through different journeys and stages in 159 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:12,880 life where we've been battered, bruised, and so there is an 160 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:16,400 unhealthy fear of man in US. When I say fear of man, it could 161 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:21,120 be from a family member, friend, colleague, associate, relative, 162 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:23,920 whoever. It's someone who's instilled 163 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:26,840 that fear. And so today I want us to stand 164 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:29,760 up to a place where you're saying God, our trust and our 165 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:32,520 confidence is solely going to be on you. 166 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:36,000 Fear of man probably is also coming from a place where we've 167 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:39,880 been let down, where we've, we've, we've seen people who 168 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:41,520 said we'll show up, have not showed up. 169 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:44,880 And that's become a big struggle for us where we've really felt 170 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:48,040 like we've disappointed someone because we've let them down. 171 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:52,400 As we go through this sermon, I want us to identify that this 172 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:57,080 fear of man is not what we can live by because God's promise is 173 00:09:57,080 --> 00:10:00,040 real. God's promise is going to work 174 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:06,600 in and through us, but it cannot partake when the fear of man is 175 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:09,680 resident within us. So the three things which I 176 00:10:09,680 --> 00:10:13,440 wanted to highlight from Genesis chapter 20, and I pray that 177 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:16,960 before it becomes a stronghold, before it becomes something that 178 00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:20,720 we are governed by, we'll be able to say, Lord, I trust you 179 00:10:21,080 --> 00:10:24,000 and I put my confidence in you alone. 180 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:27,560 The first thing that I wanted to take from Genesis chapter 20 is 181 00:10:27,560 --> 00:10:32,680 the fear of man cripples us to only think of our own survival. 182 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:37,280 The fear of mancribles has to only think of our own survival. 183 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:40,200 Let's read from Genesis chapter 20 verses 1:00 to 2:00. 184 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:42,040 And we amplified. This is what it says. 185 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:46,080 Now Abraham journeyed from there toward Negev, the S country, and 186 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:48,200 settled between Kadesh and Shore. 187 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:51,240 Then he lived temporarily in Gerard. 188 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:54,440 Abraham said again of Sarah, his wife. 189 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:57,400 She's my sister. So ABI Malik, the king of 190 00:10:57,400 --> 00:11:00,360 Gerard, sent and took Sarah into his harem. 191 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:06,840 Even as we read this, it's a reminder that yes, Abraham, it 192 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:11,280 shows the human side of Abraham. It shows the emotions that 193 00:11:11,280 --> 00:11:14,360 Abraham had. What I'm really surprised is a 194 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:19,280 woman in her late 90s is actually so beautiful that men 195 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:22,280 actually want her king. A king actually wants her. 196 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:27,360 And we see Abraham is moving, but this time when he's moving, 197 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:30,360 he's not moving as just a household. 198 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:34,960 He's not moving as a nomad. He's now moving as a Chieftain. 199 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:39,120 He's a Chieftain. He's moving as person who's 200 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:41,600 accomplished, who's followed God for nearly 20 years. 201 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:45,320 He's moving to a place. He's moving from a place of 202 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:48,000 being a Chieftain who's who went and fought a battle. 203 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:51,200 He and his household went and rescued Lot and the entire 204 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:54,040 people of Sodom and Gomorrah in that battle. 205 00:11:54,040 --> 00:11:57,240 We are moving to a place to see that his wealth is just 206 00:11:57,240 --> 00:11:58,520 increased. We are moving. 207 00:11:58,680 --> 00:12:02,360 He's moving from a place where he is a man in his own standing. 208 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:12,880 Yet when it came to being around the king, a king ABI Malik 209 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:16,520 there, what happened? He just thought of his own 210 00:12:16,520 --> 00:12:18,840 interests. He didn't think of anyone else. 211 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:22,040 He didn't he? He knew that there was something 212 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:27,080 that would bring about the king to come and ask for his wife, 213 00:12:27,520 --> 00:12:32,280 that he just said, she's my sister and I want us to come to 214 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:35,000 a place that is a hidden selfishness within us. 215 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:39,120 And it kicks in when the fear of man starts, when it gets 216 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:42,080 propelled. The reason being when we see 217 00:12:42,080 --> 00:12:44,280 here, he just thought of himself. 218 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:48,360 He in fact, if you notice the conversation, it's, it's purely 219 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:51,200 for him. He knew if she goes in, he'll be 220 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:57,800 taken care of. And as a husband, I don't think 221 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:00,280 I would give up on my wife like that. 222 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:04,440 I wouldn't give up on my wife, but in this day and age, fear 223 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:07,160 set in. And I believe fear set in 224 00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:11,120 because he was the king. There was a sudden shift in who 225 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:14,920 he was and the sudden shift when the king came along. 226 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:18,680 Remember, he met with the king Melchizedek. 227 00:13:18,680 --> 00:13:21,960 He fought against other kings to rescue his own cousin. 228 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:28,800 He has seen kings, but in a time when there is peace, when a time 229 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:32,320 when there's quietness around, in a time when he's just moving 230 00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:37,800 and moving into a place and wanting to settle, he gives in 231 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:39,760 to fear. And today, if you're in this 232 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:43,520 pathway to move towards a promise, the fear of man will 233 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:50,400 settle in US or get activated in US when we are on our journey 234 00:13:50,400 --> 00:13:55,240 from moving from probably in in in abundance in everything going 235 00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:57,240 right, the fear of man can set in. 236 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:01,000 And this is where we have to come to a place and as Jesus 237 00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:04,560 followers and see what is our response going to be like? 238 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:07,920 Am I going to cave in? Because that's what causes us to 239 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:11,440 stand out. So today when you this isn't 240 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:15,000 about an authority submission issue in a workplace, but this 241 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:19,120 comes to a place where the fear of man is it causing you to do 242 00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:22,520 something wrong just so that you'll earn the favour of your 243 00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:25,280 immediate boss? Is this is the fear of man 244 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:28,880 causing you to take certain actions so that you can you can 245 00:14:29,120 --> 00:14:31,800 steer your people or under you as your subordinates in a 246 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:34,440 different One Direction so that you can Curry the favor of 247 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:39,560 someone else on top as Jesus followers, this shadow can 248 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:42,440 become looming that it can't even cause us to be just 249 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:44,880 selfish. They'll be like you know what I 250 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:46,240 don't think it's what I'm called to do. 251 00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:49,880 I don't think So. What I'm I'm I'm, I'm, it's not 252 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:54,040 my cup of tea, but Jesus followers have to move to a 253 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:58,400 place realizing that as long as we are walking on this world, no 254 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:02,480 one shadow can deter us from the promise that God's called us. 255 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:05,960 No one's shadow or no one's title can deter us from the 256 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:09,640 promise that God's called us. A lot of us today are basing or 257 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:12,120 wanting to be under someone's shadow because it's easier. 258 00:15:12,480 --> 00:15:16,120 You don't have to feel the heat of the Scotch thing sun, you 259 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:17,800 don't have it. It seems cooler. 260 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:20,760 It seems like you're covered. It seems like you're protected. 261 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:23,440 It seems like there's a covering, but God's saying you 262 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:27,120 need, you will be moved to a place where we will have to walk 263 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:31,520 out in boldness so that our trust and our confidence will be 264 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:34,400 solely on God. And I'm reminded from the New 265 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:38,480 Testament of Paul encouraging Timothy because Timothy came 266 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:41,920 from this home where his grandmother and mother was 267 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:45,920 committed believers of Jesus. And as they were people of 268 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:50,040 faith, it was easy for him to walk in their shadows. 269 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:56,560 But Paul saying you have to fan into flame what has been 270 00:15:56,560 --> 00:15:59,160 stirring in the new God's got something bigger. 271 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:01,320 You need to move out. You need to step out. 272 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:04,440 And I want to read that words because I believe a lot of us 273 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:08,760 today have been circling around the shadows of those who are 274 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:11,840 around us, whereas God is saying, step out in confidence. 275 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:14,760 Let not the fear of man make you selfish that you're like, you 276 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:18,040 know what, it's OK, I can. This is not the nature that 277 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:21,160 Jesus wants us to exhibit when he's calling us to possess a 278 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:24,440 promise. So 2 Timothy chapter 1 verses 7. 279 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:27,480 This is what it says. For God did not give us a spirit 280 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:31,880 of timidity or coward or fear, but he has given us a spirit of 281 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:35,600 power and of love and of sound judgement and personal 282 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:39,720 discipline abilities that can result in a calm, well balanced 283 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:43,760 mind and self-control. So this is not us telling you 284 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:46,040 like you're a free bird, you have all the freedom to go do 285 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:49,200 whatever you want. No, it's this freedom that's 286 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:51,400 given with guardrails. It's this freedom that's 287 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:55,120 becoming knowing that God, when I step out, you're stepping in 288 00:16:55,400 --> 00:16:58,360 to this area with me because you're going to be glorified. 289 00:16:58,360 --> 00:17:02,040 All this while I was in the shadow of others where I could 290 00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:03,840 see you. But now when I step out, I 291 00:17:03,960 --> 00:17:07,119 believe and trust, the confidence is that you're also 292 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:13,040 stepping out with me. And there are times as a couple 293 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:16,359 where many a times we've responded in the fear of man. 294 00:17:16,359 --> 00:17:18,920 Oh, what do people think or what people do? 295 00:17:19,359 --> 00:17:23,640 But God's asking you today, would you step out not in fear, 296 00:17:23,640 --> 00:17:27,680 but would you step out with power, with love and of a sound 297 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:30,960 mind? Confidence is on God. 298 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:35,000 We trust in God alone. And so today, if there's one 299 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:38,640 thing that's holding you back, I pray it may not be the fear of 300 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:45,240 man which is crippling you into a place of making it all about 301 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:47,760 yourself. Because here Abraham made it all 302 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:49,560 about himself. He wanted to be protected. 303 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:52,640 He didn't want to be killed somewhere. 304 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:56,480 He was willing to, you know, part with his wife. 305 00:17:56,760 --> 00:18:01,320 He I don't know what happened. Fear has ways of muddling a 306 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:04,600 brain up. Fear has ways of confusing us. 307 00:18:05,360 --> 00:18:11,920 But made the love of Jesus and the beautiful Spirit of God 308 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:16,360 guide us into having a sound mind, Sound mind. 309 00:18:16,840 --> 00:18:20,000 So I pray that we'll rise up from the fear of man and not be 310 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:23,160 crippled anymore, that we won't operate our selfishness. 311 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:28,640 The second thing, the fear of man makes us think less of us. 312 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:31,480 The fear of man makes us think less of us. 313 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:35,160 And so most often we question our God-given identity. 314 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:38,800 A lot of us who follow Jesus have been washed, have been set 315 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:42,280 free, have been liberated from the clutches of sin. 316 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:47,000 And today we are walking in liberty with Jesus who is with 317 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:49,000 us. So he's given us his God-given. 318 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:52,080 90 When we allow Jesus to come into our hearts, our hearts are 319 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:53,800 open. He resides in US. 320 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:56,800 And so we have his identity in US. 321 00:18:56,800 --> 00:19:00,880 He is in US. And today we need to walk in 322 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:05,400 that. Today when Abraham suddenly met 323 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:09,640 Abhimal, like the king of Guerrar, his title, his position 324 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:13,280 suddenly made him feel small. He suddenly didn't realize 325 00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:15,520 Abraham was called to be the father of nations. 326 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:17,240 The God who had called him was with him. 327 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:21,280 He, in the midst of someone else, felt really small. 328 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:27,200 Fear of man will always make us look and feel small, but fear of 329 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:32,320 God helps us to realize what our identity is with Christ. 330 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:35,040 I want to read from Isaiah chapter 41 verses 8 to 10. 331 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:37,720 That's what it says. But you, Israel, are my servant. 332 00:19:37,840 --> 00:19:40,840 You, Jacob, my first choice, descendants of my good friend 333 00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:43,600 Abraham. I pulled you in from all over 334 00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:46,280 the world, called you in from every dark corner of the earth, 335 00:19:46,280 --> 00:19:49,560 telling you you're my servant, serving on my side. 336 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:51,800 I've picked you, I haven't dropped you. 337 00:19:51,800 --> 00:19:56,120 Don't panic, I'm with you. There's no need to fear, for I 338 00:19:56,120 --> 00:19:58,600 am your God. I'll give you strength, I'll 339 00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:02,160 help. I'll hold you steady, keep a 340 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:06,160 firm grip on you. So today, Church, I would ask 341 00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:09,800 you if fear is what is dictating you and making you feel small, 342 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:15,000 The fear of man who operates through man, the enemy, the 343 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:16,800 enemy. And so today, if people have 344 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:19,280 bullied you, if people have called you names, if people you, 345 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:22,480 if people have judged you based on your skin color, your body 346 00:20:22,480 --> 00:20:26,960 type, whatever it is. I pray you move to a place of 347 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:31,880 realizing who God has created you to be, who God has created 348 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:36,160 you to be. The fear of man will make you 349 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:38,040 feel small. You know one of the things I've 350 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:41,720 been bullied, I've been called names, I've been shamed a lot 351 00:20:41,720 --> 00:20:44,360 for my body type. I've been the beautiful thing 352 00:20:44,360 --> 00:20:49,680 that I've seen is God bubble wraps us with his God-given 353 00:20:49,680 --> 00:20:52,680 identity. There's many times where people 354 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:57,640 have, I've done said all these things, but it has never shaken 355 00:20:57,640 --> 00:21:02,080 my identity in Jesus. For for even though I've walked 356 00:21:02,080 --> 00:21:04,520 through abandonment, I've walked through loneliness, I've walked 357 00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:07,720 through so many things which could have shaped my identity, 358 00:21:08,120 --> 00:21:11,240 But God has moved me to a place to realize that I am his. 359 00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:13,960 He is mine. And I believe that's where we 360 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:18,920 have to have a deep love for worship, a deep love for 361 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:21,480 worship, of knowing who we worship. 362 00:21:22,120 --> 00:21:26,360 Because when we know who we worship, we are so comfortable 363 00:21:26,360 --> 00:21:28,760 being in that presence. I don't know how many of you 364 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:31,400 I've, I, I take certain things very literally. 365 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:36,240 I take applying the blood on our doorposts very seriously. 366 00:21:36,560 --> 00:21:39,920 I take being called His very seriously. 367 00:21:40,560 --> 00:21:44,080 And I take the fact that I am his. 368 00:21:44,080 --> 00:21:46,720 He's created me. And if he's create me, there's 369 00:21:46,720 --> 00:21:50,760 nothing that can change because my looks don't determine where I 370 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:53,320 work. My my body type doesn't 371 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:57,200 determine what I get to do. I get to do all this because God 372 00:21:57,200 --> 00:22:00,080 has opened that door. And when we come to that 373 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:03,680 understanding of who God is and where we are at, and we realize 374 00:22:03,680 --> 00:22:06,120 that if he's knitters beautifully in our mother's 375 00:22:06,120 --> 00:22:11,680 womb, whatever drawbacks I have, yeah, prematurely, I'm grey or 376 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:16,280 my skin is acting up or all these other, but I'm still his 377 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:19,560 masterpiece. And still, that's why the Word 378 00:22:19,560 --> 00:22:22,440 of God says my earthly body is fading away. 379 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:25,320 And I pray and ask that each and every one of us will come to a 380 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:29,400 realization of that. That fear of man will make us 381 00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:32,640 feel small. But with a God who comes inside 382 00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:36,000 you, the God of the universe, when he comes inside the heart 383 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:40,280 of a man, he makes us feel unique. 384 00:22:40,960 --> 00:22:46,440 There's no one else like you. You are his masterpiece and I'll 385 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:50,400 tell you how that manifests itself, especially when we get 386 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:51,920 married, when we go into a new place. 387 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:56,000 I remember when we were for a year in attending a church back 388 00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:59,520 in the US, we were in this entirely white church. 389 00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:05,360 It's close to 2000 people who come multiple services and and I 390 00:23:05,360 --> 00:23:08,280 think that's where it's a deep communion of the Holy Spirit is 391 00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:10,560 very important. We realized this is from day 392 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:12,040 one. We went there, we stayed there, 393 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:14,000 we fellowship there. We were part of that. 394 00:23:14,360 --> 00:23:16,960 There were a handful of people I encountered with my hands, only 395 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:18,760 talked. There were some couples who said 396 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:21,880 we need to catch up but never caught up with them to have a 397 00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:25,600 meal or anything. But we love the church so dearly 398 00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:28,960 because God was present. God spoke to us. 399 00:23:29,240 --> 00:23:34,920 God caused us to see how to do ministry and how not to do 400 00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:38,560 ministry. We went into that church and 401 00:23:38,560 --> 00:23:42,320 it's interesting every Sunday because we were the only 402 00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:45,160 coloured people in that church. And it was interesting that 403 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:47,200 every Sunday that pastor would meet us. 404 00:23:47,800 --> 00:23:52,800 We would linger long enough to meet and as we met him, he would 405 00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:56,040 hug us. He would make us feel seen, make 406 00:23:56,040 --> 00:24:00,400 us feel heard. And I came to an understanding 407 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:05,000 of what it is to be comfortable because that's where the Holy 408 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:07,560 Spirit was residing for us as a family. 409 00:24:08,600 --> 00:24:12,160 And so today I pray that the fear of man won't cause you to 410 00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:13,880 be disheveled. What is disheveled? 411 00:24:13,880 --> 00:24:17,400 Disheveled is where you're running helters Caterpillar to 412 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:19,560 post like where is the Spirit of God? 413 00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:22,760 You will come to a place God, if the Spirit of God is resting 414 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:25,200 here, I want to be here. If the glory of God is here. 415 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:28,560 This is where I'll call home if. And so I pray that even as you 416 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:30,920 are watching this or you're listening to this, wherever 417 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:34,520 you're at, I pray that you will have a God-given identity to 418 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:37,080 know that the world will make you feel small. 419 00:24:37,080 --> 00:24:39,160 The fear of man will make you feel feel small. 420 00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:41,880 You'll always feel like you have to measure, but when the living 421 00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:46,800 God comes inside you, He will activate within you His strength 422 00:24:47,480 --> 00:24:50,840 and make you realize who He has created you to be. 423 00:24:52,520 --> 00:24:55,840 Psalm 34 was four to seven. I prayed to the Lord and He 424 00:24:55,840 --> 00:24:59,000 answered me. He freed me from all my fears. 425 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:03,120 Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy. 426 00:25:03,120 --> 00:25:05,840 No shadow of shame will darken their faces. 427 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:09,360 In my desperation, I prayed and the Lord listened. 428 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:11,360 He saved me from all my troubles. 429 00:25:11,360 --> 00:25:13,400 For the Angel of the Lord is a God. 430 00:25:13,680 --> 00:25:16,480 He surrounds and defends all who feared him. 431 00:25:16,960 --> 00:25:21,360 It's protection. And defending happens only when 432 00:25:21,360 --> 00:25:23,640 we fear God. We're protected and defended 433 00:25:23,640 --> 00:25:28,400 only when we fear God. When we fear man, we we leave 434 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:32,280 the entire place open for us to be attacked. 435 00:25:32,600 --> 00:25:35,400 And I pray that we won't walk around prideful. 436 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:36,960 A lot of us think, you know what? 437 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:40,760 Intellectually I know about Jesus, but the truth is, if he's 438 00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:44,200 not done a work in you, you won't be able to see. 439 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:48,160 And the beautiful thing about fear of man will cause us to 440 00:25:48,600 --> 00:25:52,120 protect everything on our own, keep everything constricted, 441 00:25:52,120 --> 00:25:54,800 make boundary walls so that we think we are in control of 442 00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:57,680 everything. No Fear of God will help us to 443 00:25:57,680 --> 00:26:00,320 realize God, you are in control of everything. 444 00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:03,560 If my kid is going through something this let me walk 445 00:26:03,560 --> 00:26:06,120 alongside with them, but let me help them face the world. 446 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:12,000 Let me help them face the world. One of our kids, all three of 447 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:14,040 our kids in fact, have walked through different seasons of 448 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:16,440 their life where their entire friend circle changed. 449 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:19,560 And I know and three of our kids are highly social. 450 00:26:19,600 --> 00:26:23,200 They they love people, they love being around people. 451 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:26,280 But this is a phase where we've seen with, you know, with three 452 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:28,760 kids, we've seen that this in this particular age group and 453 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:30,480 there's a shift happened academically. 454 00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:33,600 We see this thing happen. And we told each of our kids in 455 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:36,560 that those seasons, hey, friends will change. 456 00:26:36,920 --> 00:26:38,840 But you can be a friend to someone else. 457 00:26:39,440 --> 00:26:42,680 You can be your friend to some. And it's interesting how their 458 00:26:42,680 --> 00:26:46,040 entire friend circle has changed when they realized the others 459 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:48,520 have ditched them. And I believe it's this 460 00:26:48,520 --> 00:26:51,800 navigating this different journey with each of them has 461 00:26:51,800 --> 00:26:56,560 helped me realize many a times when we fear God, we live with 462 00:26:56,560 --> 00:26:59,000 hands open because we know when we fear God, he's the one who 463 00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:00,440 protects. He's the one who guards. 464 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:03,440 And so we realize that he's the one who will protect them. 465 00:27:03,840 --> 00:27:09,160 He helps them, you know, shape their worldview, their mind. 466 00:27:09,320 --> 00:27:12,360 We can't shape it. We we can walk around them. 467 00:27:12,360 --> 00:27:16,680 We hope more will be caught than taught, but I believe that as 468 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:19,160 they shape that, I believe they will see that we are people who 469 00:27:19,160 --> 00:27:20,600 didn't give it to the fear of man. 470 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:24,280 We are people who we lived with strong identity, strong 471 00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:29,560 understanding of ourselves. That we will be mindful also as 472 00:27:29,560 --> 00:27:33,120 we lead others, that we will lead them with the fear of God 473 00:27:33,120 --> 00:27:36,240 in our lives. And I pray that as we go through 474 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:41,080 this that we will be a chosen vessel for God's given identity, 475 00:27:41,320 --> 00:27:45,920 that we wouldn't, that when we are his chosen message, we would 476 00:27:45,920 --> 00:27:48,640 radiate with joy. We won't radiate with 477 00:27:48,640 --> 00:27:50,600 bitterness. We would be joyful and we meet 478 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:52,320 with everyone and just we'll talk to everyone. 479 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:56,880 It's interesting, the church that we have, I can see how 480 00:27:56,880 --> 00:28:00,200 certain clicks form between body types, between people of the 481 00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:02,560 same colour, people, people of the same language, between 482 00:28:02,560 --> 00:28:05,480 people who are intellectually thinking. 483 00:28:05,480 --> 00:28:08,680 You can see you can easily see you can see that some people 484 00:28:08,680 --> 00:28:11,360 open their doors, the open doors, longer tables for 485 00:28:11,360 --> 00:28:12,640 everyone. Some don't. 486 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:15,000 Some are very choosy of who they are love. 487 00:28:15,280 --> 00:28:18,760 And you see the fear of man acting in all these different 488 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:20,280 spaces. And I want to come to a place 489 00:28:20,280 --> 00:28:24,800 where Lord, we will move into a space where we will be confident 490 00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:28,520 who you've created so that our faces will radiate with joy for 491 00:28:28,520 --> 00:28:31,440 everyone, not just for the select few, for everyone. 492 00:28:32,360 --> 00:28:36,400 And I pray that we'll see that happen because we are created as 493 00:28:36,400 --> 00:28:38,440 his masterpiece of in this lesson. 494 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:43,240 When we see Abraham, what we see, we see that next to someone 495 00:28:43,240 --> 00:28:46,680 who was bigger in that land, he felt small and he caved in. 496 00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:50,280 And I pray none of us would cave in. 497 00:28:50,880 --> 00:28:55,640 None of us would cave in because the minute we cave in, we leave 498 00:28:55,640 --> 00:28:58,680 a foothold for the enemy. The minute we cave in, we are 499 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:02,880 allowing Him to meddle with our mind, to meddle with all that 500 00:29:02,880 --> 00:29:07,280 God's deposited, and to meddle with the fact that our promise 501 00:29:07,280 --> 00:29:09,760 is not important. As we move to the Third Point, 502 00:29:10,360 --> 00:29:14,840 but before that, I want to read Ephesians chapter 3, verses 16 503 00:29:14,840 --> 00:29:16,440 to 20. And So what it says. 504 00:29:16,440 --> 00:29:20,200 I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you 505 00:29:20,200 --> 00:29:24,200 with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ 506 00:29:24,200 --> 00:29:25,680 may dwell in your hearts through faith. 507 00:29:25,680 --> 00:29:30,600 And I pray that you being rooted and established in love, may 508 00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:35,200 have power together with all the Lord's holy people to grasp how 509 00:29:35,200 --> 00:29:42,280 wide, how long, how high His love for us to know this love 510 00:29:42,280 --> 00:29:45,800 that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled to the measure 511 00:29:45,800 --> 00:29:48,480 of all the fullness of God. Now to him who's able to do 512 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:52,120 immeasurably more than all we can ask, imagine, according to 513 00:29:52,120 --> 00:29:58,040 his power that is at work within us, His love has to be wide, 514 00:29:58,040 --> 00:30:01,720 high, long and wide enough. It surpasses our knowledge. 515 00:30:01,720 --> 00:30:06,240 And I pray that our generation, that generation that is after us 516 00:30:06,240 --> 00:30:10,120 and who's coming after us, who are being born, they won't use 517 00:30:10,120 --> 00:30:12,320 knowledge to confine the love of God. 518 00:30:12,760 --> 00:30:15,880 They will experience it. And this will come from a place 519 00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:19,160 of realizing that fear of man will make you small. 520 00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:22,720 But when you fear God and understand who He's created you 521 00:30:22,720 --> 00:30:26,800 to be, it will give you a renew sense of identity that you can 522 00:30:26,800 --> 00:30:30,480 walk confidently on this earth knowing who's created you. 523 00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:34,320 Because when you are confidently knowing who's created you and 524 00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:38,440 what you're created for, you start accomplishing the things 525 00:30:38,600 --> 00:30:41,600 that will take you closer to seeing your promise being 526 00:30:41,600 --> 00:30:45,440 fulfilled right here on this earth, right here on this earth. 527 00:30:46,680 --> 00:30:52,200 The third thing, the fear of man can make us temporarily give up 528 00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:54,320 on the promise that God has given upon us. 529 00:30:55,280 --> 00:30:59,320 The fear of man can make us temporarily give up on the 530 00:30:59,320 --> 00:31:03,520 promise God has deposited in US. I want to read 2 passages. 531 00:31:03,520 --> 00:31:05,440 Genesis chapter 12 verses 10 to 13. 532 00:31:05,720 --> 00:31:08,360 Now there was a famine in the land and Abraham went to Egypt 533 00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:11,520 to live there for a while because the famine was severe. 534 00:31:11,920 --> 00:31:15,000 As he was about to empty Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, I 535 00:31:15,000 --> 00:31:17,080 know what a beautiful woman you are. 536 00:31:17,360 --> 00:31:20,720 When the Egyptians see you, they will say this is the, this is 537 00:31:20,720 --> 00:31:23,360 his wife. Then they will kill me, but will 538 00:31:23,360 --> 00:31:28,040 let you live, say you are my sister, so that I will be 539 00:31:28,040 --> 00:31:32,040 treated well for your sake, and my life will be spared because 540 00:31:32,040 --> 00:31:35,520 of you. Fast forward from Genesis 12 to 541 00:31:35,520 --> 00:31:38,440 Genesis 20. This is what it says when ABI 542 00:31:38,440 --> 00:31:43,840 Malik had taken taken Sarah into his quotes and kept her there. 543 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:48,960 We see immediately God appeared to ABI Malik and I believe God 544 00:31:48,960 --> 00:31:54,240 intervened because he didn't want the promise that his chosen 545 00:31:54,840 --> 00:31:58,200 person Abraham and walked all these years to go to waste. 546 00:31:58,920 --> 00:32:03,160 If ABI Malik got up here to ABI Malik, God confronted him and 547 00:32:03,160 --> 00:32:04,640 told him, you've taken a man's wife. 548 00:32:05,200 --> 00:32:08,320 And immediately the next day he called his people, he discussed 549 00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:10,240 it and they called Abraham and said, what have you done? 550 00:32:10,800 --> 00:32:13,920 And this is what Abraham says. Early the next morning our Malik 551 00:32:13,920 --> 00:32:16,440 sermon, all his officials. And when they told him all that 552 00:32:16,440 --> 00:32:18,640 happened, they had, they were very much afraid. 553 00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:21,480 Then I mean Malik called Abraham and it said, what have you done 554 00:32:21,480 --> 00:32:23,960 to us? How have I wronged you that you 555 00:32:23,960 --> 00:32:25,960 brought such a great guilt upon me and my Kingdom? 556 00:32:26,200 --> 00:32:28,560 You have done things to me that you should never have done. 557 00:32:28,560 --> 00:32:31,680 And I mean Malik asked Abraham, what was your reason for doing 558 00:32:31,680 --> 00:32:32,720 this? Abraham replied. 559 00:32:32,720 --> 00:32:36,240 I said to myself, there is surely No Fear of God in this 560 00:32:36,240 --> 00:32:39,400 place, and they will kill me because of my wife. 561 00:32:40,040 --> 00:32:42,600 Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my 562 00:32:42,600 --> 00:32:46,640 father, though not of my mother, and she became my wife. 563 00:32:46,640 --> 00:32:50,400 And when God had me wander for my father's household, I said to 564 00:32:50,400 --> 00:32:54,040 her, this is how we should, This is how you can show your love to 565 00:32:54,040 --> 00:32:57,920 me everywhere we go, Say of me, he is my brother. 566 00:32:58,280 --> 00:33:01,800 It seemed that they were creating a protection plan for 567 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:06,080 themselves, but God was saying, hey, you are mine, so you're 568 00:33:06,080 --> 00:33:08,600 under my protection plan. You don't have to do this 569 00:33:08,600 --> 00:33:12,120 because when you're under your protection plan, you're not. 570 00:33:13,320 --> 00:33:17,160 You're unable to control or you're unable to govern the 571 00:33:17,280 --> 00:33:18,440 promise. You can't. 572 00:33:18,960 --> 00:33:22,560 You're not a keeper of promise because if you're not a keeper 573 00:33:22,560 --> 00:33:25,400 of promise, Sarah could could not have protected it. 574 00:33:25,440 --> 00:33:29,280 If ABI Malik had violated her, it it would have changed the 575 00:33:29,280 --> 00:33:31,840 course. Rather the the the promised 576 00:33:31,840 --> 00:33:34,880 child that was supposed to come out of her would have been ABI 577 00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:37,240 Malik's. And here God intervened. 578 00:33:38,120 --> 00:33:42,480 And I believe a lot of us today have somehow caved into the fear 579 00:33:42,480 --> 00:33:46,040 of man and we've got a promise muddied. 580 00:33:47,000 --> 00:33:51,720 If God has called you to take a step of faith into a particular 581 00:33:51,720 --> 00:33:54,400 direction and you've, you've, you're caving in because of the 582 00:33:54,400 --> 00:33:59,360 fear of man, rise up today. The God of Angel armies is with 583 00:33:59,360 --> 00:34:01,160 you. He's wanting you to see clearly, 584 00:34:01,400 --> 00:34:04,400 seek him. And faith step has to be your 585 00:34:04,400 --> 00:34:07,960 step because that's where God honours the faith that you take. 586 00:34:07,960 --> 00:34:11,760 And so take that step of faith. And here God stepped in because 587 00:34:11,760 --> 00:34:15,120 he wanted his redemption plan to be secure. 588 00:34:15,719 --> 00:34:20,120 He didn't want ABI Malik to be the father, to be the reason who 589 00:34:20,120 --> 00:34:22,440 has been called out. And Jesus wouldn't have 590 00:34:22,440 --> 00:34:24,600 happened. The story would look entirely 591 00:34:24,600 --> 00:34:28,080 different. But in God's salvation plan, it 592 00:34:28,080 --> 00:34:32,320 was Abraham's seed through which we would see redemption at the 593 00:34:32,320 --> 00:34:35,600 end, who would be Jesus, who would come to save the entirety 594 00:34:35,600 --> 00:34:41,960 of mankind. So Abraham thought his device 595 00:34:42,360 --> 00:34:46,120 with his wife of a protection plan so that we'll safeguard 596 00:34:46,120 --> 00:34:49,400 both of them. It backfired and God had to 597 00:34:49,400 --> 00:34:52,199 intervene and say I am the one who can protect. 598 00:34:52,239 --> 00:34:55,679 I am the one who governs. I am the promise keeper. 599 00:34:56,560 --> 00:35:01,200 You aren't the promise keeper. When we allow fear to overcome 600 00:35:01,200 --> 00:35:07,840 us in places like this, I believe God, word has to step 601 00:35:07,840 --> 00:35:09,720 in. God's Holy Spirit has to step 602 00:35:09,720 --> 00:35:11,920 in. The invitation is open for all 603 00:35:11,920 --> 00:35:17,160 of us to let go of our fear and to allow God to come in. 604 00:35:17,760 --> 00:35:20,560 And I pray today this fear of man will go. 605 00:35:21,080 --> 00:35:23,960 This fear of man will go. And I want to pray specifically 606 00:35:23,960 --> 00:35:26,880 as I, as we conclude in a couple of minutes, specifically for 607 00:35:26,880 --> 00:35:30,840 those who've gone through abuse, specifically who've had a bad 608 00:35:30,840 --> 00:35:35,080 touch in their life, specifically who feel like 609 00:35:35,080 --> 00:35:39,200 they're unable to trust because something that man did has 610 00:35:39,200 --> 00:35:42,600 gripped them strong. I want to pray that you'll find 611 00:35:42,600 --> 00:35:45,920 freedom in Jesus, freedom in Jesus. 612 00:35:45,920 --> 00:35:49,440 I pray the fear of man won't suffocate you anymore, that God 613 00:35:49,440 --> 00:35:52,280 will bring down his radiant joy on you. 614 00:35:52,280 --> 00:35:55,920 I pray especially that your heart, your mind, and your body 615 00:35:55,920 --> 00:35:59,480 will find healing right now from every kind of fear that you've 616 00:35:59,480 --> 00:36:02,120 been seeing. And that happens only when the 617 00:36:02,120 --> 00:36:05,440 Holy Spirit comes. That's why the Holy Spirit's 618 00:36:05,440 --> 00:36:09,480 invitation is very important. I believe when we allow the Holy 619 00:36:09,480 --> 00:36:12,080 Spirit to enter into our lives, He changes. 620 00:36:12,080 --> 00:36:15,000 He gives us the courage to face anyone. 621 00:36:15,320 --> 00:36:17,560 I want to read a passage from Acts chapter 4. 622 00:36:17,800 --> 00:36:20,760 The very disciples who got scattered away, who ran away, 623 00:36:20,760 --> 00:36:23,480 who were scared. But the minute when they 624 00:36:23,480 --> 00:36:26,640 encountered the Holy Spirit, they were able to stand before 625 00:36:26,760 --> 00:36:29,320 before the sand, and they were able to stand before the very 626 00:36:29,320 --> 00:36:32,440 men who had accused and put Jesus on the cross. 627 00:36:32,440 --> 00:36:35,280 Acts chapter 4 says 5 to 8. The next day the rulers, the 628 00:36:35,280 --> 00:36:38,880 elders, and the teachers of the Lord met in Jerusalem and on us. 629 00:36:38,880 --> 00:36:42,520 The high priest was there and so was Caiaphas, John, Alexander 630 00:36:43,280 --> 00:36:45,560 and others of the High Peace family. 631 00:36:45,720 --> 00:36:48,800 They are Peter and John brought before them and began to 632 00:36:48,800 --> 00:36:52,080 question them. By what power or what name do 633 00:36:52,080 --> 00:36:54,320 you do this? The Peter filled with the Holy 634 00:36:54,320 --> 00:36:56,800 Spirit said to them, rulers and elders of the people. 635 00:36:57,200 --> 00:36:59,800 And Peter goes on to give a big speech. 636 00:37:00,360 --> 00:37:03,440 Then they call them in again and come on them not to speak or 637 00:37:03,440 --> 00:37:05,000 teach at all in the name of Jesus. 638 00:37:05,000 --> 00:37:08,440 But Peter and John replied, Which is right in God's eyes to 639 00:37:08,440 --> 00:37:11,520 listen to you or to Him? You be the judges. 640 00:37:11,520 --> 00:37:14,560 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen 641 00:37:14,880 --> 00:37:18,600 and what we have heard. After further threats, they let 642 00:37:18,600 --> 00:37:20,040 them go. They could not decide how to 643 00:37:20,040 --> 00:37:22,200 punish them, because all the people who are praising God for 644 00:37:22,200 --> 00:37:26,480 what had happened, for the man who was miraculously healed was 645 00:37:26,520 --> 00:37:32,760 over 40 years old. The fear of man can only be 646 00:37:32,760 --> 00:37:37,840 overcome by the Holy Spirit. And today, I don't know what 647 00:37:37,880 --> 00:37:40,840 your understanding of the Holy Spirit is, but if you want to 648 00:37:40,840 --> 00:37:44,240 overcome the fear of man, it has to be overcome only by the Holy 649 00:37:44,240 --> 00:37:46,360 Spirit. The fear of man will be 650 00:37:46,360 --> 00:37:48,280 judgement. The fear of man will cause you 651 00:37:48,280 --> 00:37:52,040 to have a lid over your cup. Won't won't see your full 652 00:37:52,040 --> 00:37:54,760 potential, but the Holy Spirit will open that up to tell you 653 00:37:54,760 --> 00:38:01,400 you're not called to operate in the spirit of fear, especially 654 00:38:01,400 --> 00:38:04,520 the fear of man. Fear of man. 655 00:38:06,880 --> 00:38:09,720 So I pray today, whatever we're fearing due to our experiences, 656 00:38:09,720 --> 00:38:12,680 whatever we're fearing due to our circumstances, whatever 657 00:38:12,680 --> 00:38:15,840 fearing due to our family and the situation that we've grown 658 00:38:15,840 --> 00:38:19,360 up in, I pray we'll come to a place of allowing the Holy 659 00:38:19,360 --> 00:38:23,000 Spirit to move that allow the Holy Spirit to move. 660 00:38:23,640 --> 00:38:26,960 It says in one John, perfect love casts out fear. 661 00:38:27,280 --> 00:38:30,680 The perfect love can come only from the person who is perfect 662 00:38:30,960 --> 00:38:33,880 and who is that? That's Jesus, because Jesus, who 663 00:38:33,880 --> 00:38:36,560 knew no sin, went to the cross for you and me. 664 00:38:37,120 --> 00:38:41,560 Jesus died on our behalf. And it was not fear that took 665 00:38:41,560 --> 00:38:43,960 him there. It was his submission to the 666 00:38:43,960 --> 00:38:48,480 Father, deep love for the call that was on his life. 667 00:38:49,000 --> 00:38:53,160 And what happened is when he rose again, every part of 668 00:38:53,160 --> 00:38:57,280 darkness was broken and shaken. It was torn completely. 669 00:38:57,280 --> 00:38:59,240 So today, fear has no room in Jesus. 670 00:38:59,840 --> 00:39:02,360 Fear. There's no oh, I have Jesus in 671 00:39:02,360 --> 00:39:04,840 me, but I have some fear. No, fear won't be there. 672 00:39:05,640 --> 00:39:07,600 Fear reverent, All will be there. 673 00:39:07,920 --> 00:39:12,000 But No Fear or what, man or no, You won't even be worried about 674 00:39:12,000 --> 00:39:12,920 your name. No longer. 675 00:39:12,920 --> 00:39:15,120 You won't be worried about what the world says because 676 00:39:15,120 --> 00:39:21,440 everything has its timeline. Truth alone will build a legacy. 677 00:39:21,440 --> 00:39:23,240 Lies will fade away after a time. 678 00:39:24,800 --> 00:39:26,480 So I pray that you look to the cross. 679 00:39:26,480 --> 00:39:28,880 I pray each and every one of us. What about fears you're 680 00:39:28,880 --> 00:39:31,080 carrying? Fear of the future, fear of a 681 00:39:31,080 --> 00:39:35,120 bank balance is being empty. Fear of our relationship being 682 00:39:35,120 --> 00:39:39,280 and hanging on that last thread. Fear of a future, of our 683 00:39:39,280 --> 00:39:44,240 children, what they'll become. Fear of everything that's around 684 00:39:44,440 --> 00:39:50,240 will only cripple us, suffocate us, and leave us not being able 685 00:39:50,240 --> 00:39:52,240 to move and fulfill what God has called us. 686 00:39:52,240 --> 00:39:56,040 Whereas when we look to God, when we trust Him, when we call 687 00:39:56,040 --> 00:39:59,960 on His name, when we understand the realness of His love, our 688 00:39:59,960 --> 00:40:02,640 joy, our faces become radiant with joy. 689 00:40:03,120 --> 00:40:06,160 We realize that He's the one who protects and guards us. 690 00:40:08,080 --> 00:40:13,760 And I pray that we will move to a place of trusting Him holy, of 691 00:40:13,760 --> 00:40:16,960 trusting Him holy. So just even as I close, I'm 692 00:40:16,960 --> 00:40:18,880 praying specifically that God will work in and through your 693 00:40:18,880 --> 00:40:22,680 life and my life. I have certain fears and I want 694 00:40:22,680 --> 00:40:25,280 those fears to be relinquished. I want those. 695 00:40:25,400 --> 00:40:27,400 I want to relinquish all. I don't want to walk in the 696 00:40:27,400 --> 00:40:31,600 shadow of the fear of man. I want to be under the wings of 697 00:40:31,600 --> 00:40:34,560 the Almighty. But I know also that God wants 698 00:40:34,560 --> 00:40:37,720 me to take a step of faith out so that I'll be able to know 699 00:40:37,720 --> 00:40:42,200 that He is with me in that step. What we see happen after this is 700 00:40:42,480 --> 00:40:44,960 the King gives him back and restores him back. 701 00:40:44,960 --> 00:40:48,920 Sarah's untouched. And I believe God protects us. 702 00:40:49,200 --> 00:40:53,880 God protects his people. So I pray if you've done right 703 00:40:53,960 --> 00:40:56,000 by what God's called you to do, He will step in. 704 00:40:56,600 --> 00:41:01,400 Don't have any fear of man. Nothing can stop us to enjoying 705 00:41:01,400 --> 00:41:03,840 the promise that God's calling us towards. 706 00:41:04,120 --> 00:41:07,520 As we position ourselves, as we let go of every fear that the 707 00:41:07,520 --> 00:41:10,920 enemy throws, he will constantly keep throwing fear. 708 00:41:10,920 --> 00:41:15,120 The fear of business, the fear of clients, the fear of RP, the 709 00:41:15,120 --> 00:41:18,280 fear of everything that is happening, the cost of living, 710 00:41:18,360 --> 00:41:21,040 all the fear that you have. You can go to God. 711 00:41:21,680 --> 00:41:24,960 He's not afraid of anything. He's overcome everything. 712 00:41:25,440 --> 00:41:27,280 And I want to give you that message of hope that you will 713 00:41:27,280 --> 00:41:30,440 trust him wholeheartedly. You will trust him 714 00:41:30,520 --> 00:41:33,320 wholeheartedly. Can I pray with you right now? 715 00:41:33,320 --> 00:41:35,480 Loving Heavenly Father, I just thank you a lot for this time. 716 00:41:35,880 --> 00:41:38,520 I pray, Lord, even as people are watching and listening, I pray, 717 00:41:38,520 --> 00:41:41,680 Holy Spirit, I pray would flood their space right now. 718 00:41:42,320 --> 00:41:43,680 Their hearts will be flooded right now. 719 00:41:43,680 --> 00:41:46,280 I pray every fear of man, Lord, everything that they have gone 720 00:41:46,280 --> 00:41:49,360 through in life, every experience, every, everything 721 00:41:49,360 --> 00:41:54,040 that they have imbibed, Lord Jesus because of of an attitude 722 00:41:54,040 --> 00:41:57,640 of fear of someone else. Lord, I pray every negative 723 00:41:57,640 --> 00:42:00,720 emotion, Lord, everything that's built over a period of time and 724 00:42:00,720 --> 00:42:03,920 now has become a stronghold. We ask and we bind it in the 725 00:42:03,920 --> 00:42:05,800 name of Jesus and we release freedom. 726 00:42:06,120 --> 00:42:09,120 We release your love. We release Lord Jesus your 727 00:42:09,120 --> 00:42:11,840 protection, We release your guarding. 728 00:42:11,840 --> 00:42:14,760 Lord Jesus is that he'll come. I pray each and everyone of our 729 00:42:14,760 --> 00:42:18,920 faces will be radiant with joy because we trust you and because 730 00:42:18,920 --> 00:42:23,320 we see you do greater things. Lord, I pray you would go before 731 00:42:23,320 --> 00:42:24,640 us. I pray you would strengthen us. 732 00:42:24,640 --> 00:42:28,280 I pray you would take charge, Lord Jesus, and do greater 733 00:42:28,280 --> 00:42:31,600 things. Lord, I pray that we will see 734 00:42:31,600 --> 00:42:34,280 your Kingdom come. Lord, we will be people who will 735 00:42:34,280 --> 00:42:37,920 be able to accomplish everything because we don't cave into the 736 00:42:37,920 --> 00:42:42,800 fear of man, but rather we live with a reverent fear of you, 737 00:42:42,800 --> 00:42:45,440 Lord Jesus. I pray, Lord, our convictions 738 00:42:45,440 --> 00:42:49,000 will become stronger, our decisions, Lord, following you, 739 00:42:49,000 --> 00:42:52,000 things that we choose to do for you will become more clearer, 740 00:42:52,000 --> 00:42:54,280 Lord Jesus. And I pray that Lord, we will 741 00:42:54,280 --> 00:42:57,920 have peace because you are with us. 742 00:42:58,440 --> 00:43:01,640 You are with us, Lord, go before us and be with us. 743 00:43:01,640 --> 00:43:04,400 Lord, your most holy name we pray, Amen. 744 00:43:04,440 --> 00:43:07,840 Amen. I pray that even as you step out 745 00:43:07,840 --> 00:43:11,120 this week, you won't be crippled by the fear of man. 746 00:43:11,360 --> 00:43:14,440 You would overcome it, I pray. If you have any such thing, 747 00:43:14,440 --> 00:43:16,000 reach out to us. We'd love to pray with you. 748 00:43:16,360 --> 00:43:19,560 You know, it says that when two or three agree together, I 749 00:43:19,560 --> 00:43:22,840 believe Jesus is there. And I believe a lot of times you 750 00:43:22,840 --> 00:43:26,120 might want to ask someone to stand alongside with you to 751 00:43:26,120 --> 00:43:29,080 overcome that fear. I pray that God will use you 752 00:43:29,080 --> 00:43:31,600 mightily in the days to come, that you'll be able to live out 753 00:43:31,600 --> 00:43:35,720 whatever God's called you to do, knowing that He's with you every 754 00:43:35,720 --> 00:43:38,360 step of the way. God bless you and have a blessed 755 00:43:38,400 --> 00:43:41,840 week. Thanks for listening to this 756 00:43:41,840 --> 00:43:44,960 message. We hope you were blessed to hear 757 00:43:44,960 --> 00:43:48,680 more messages like this. Make sure to subscribe and check 758 00:43:48,680 --> 00:43:51,320 out our podcast channel for past episodes. 759 00:43:51,800 --> 00:43:55,120 If you like what you are hearing, consider rating us, 760 00:43:55,240 --> 00:43:58,240 subscribing and even sharing it with friends. 761 00:43:58,600 --> 00:44:02,960 That would really help us. For more content from Via Zion 762 00:44:03,480 --> 00:44:07,440 to connect with us, go to viazion.in. 763 00:44:08,040 --> 00:44:11,600 Remember, whoever finds Jesus finds life.