WATER BAPTISM AFTER THE SATURDAY SERVICE ONLY THE MERCY TREE TICKETS DISTRIBUTION IN THE FOYER 1AT1 PRAYER Introduction FEAR LESS #9 Less Fear of the Future - Part 2 Welcome Frederick Campus Welcome Clarksburg Campus Welcome Universities at Shady Grove Campus Welcome Online Campus In this series of messages we are looking at the topic of fear and how to overcome it. God s plan is for you to live a FEAR LESS life. Last weekend we started talking about the fear of the future. The future is the realm of our unknown tomorrows. It s also the realm of the uncontrollable events in our tomorrows. People spend quite a bit of time, emotional energy and thought concerning themselves with the future. Last weekend we learned that to have less fear about your future you must remember: (1) What s unknown to me is known to God. (2) What may be hard or impossible for me is easy for, and possible with God. (3) Recalling God s faithfulness in the past gives me courage and confidence to face the future. Today we are going to continue with 2 more things we must remember. Remember: 1. Whatever my future, GOD will be with ME. With the right help and friends you can make it through anything! As you go into your future, it s essential for you to remember that you will not and do not go alone! Church of the Redeemer Pastor Dale O Shields March 12 & 13, 2016
Jesus gave us a fantastic and important promise to hold on to: Matthew 28:20b (NIV) And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. The writer of Hebrews reminded us of this promise: Hebrews 13:5, 6 (NIV) Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. 6 So we say with confidence, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? Not only has God gone before you, into your future, He will be right there with you through it. God is with us is, not as a useless by-stander, but as a loving, caring, active, engaged, trustworthy High Priest and faithful Friend. Proverbs 18:24 (NIV) One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Hebrews 4:14-16 (NIV) Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are yet He did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. 2. Living RESPONSIBLY today prepares me for my tomorrows. The past is past. It s only value is experience and education. The future is future. We can t predict it, and in certain ways we can t control it. The present is a present. It is the gift that God has put in our hand.
What we do in the present should be informed by the experiences and education of our past, and in preparation for a better future. When you live God s way today, you are best prepared for tomorrow! There is a great story in the Old Testament about a lady who lived responsibly in the face of a very uncertain future. Let s look at the story: Ruth 1:3-5 (NIV) Now Elimelek, Naomi s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, 5 both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband. To appreciate the lessons of this story we need some historical background: (1) Elimelech and Naomi were Israelites. (2) Israel had experienced a terrible famine that had driven this couple to the land of Moab for survival. (3) This couple had two sons. (4) After some period of time in Moab, Elimelech died. (5) Naomi s sons married Moabite women; Orpah and Ruth. (6) After 10 years, Naomi s sons died also. We now see a family of three women; Naomi, Orpah and Ruth, all suffering from terrible losses in their lives. There was no one to support them or protect them. They were very vulnerable. Everything about their situation said, This is the end! There is no more hope for you. There is nothing left for you to live for! You will never survive! What seemed like a terrible set of circumstances were actually the circumstances God would use to usher two of these three ladies into a wonderful new opportunity the fulfillment of His plan for their lives.
God had positioned Naomi and Ruth for something new for new possibilities. Let s take a look at Ruth s responsible actions. IN NOTES: To secure your future: Live according to God s rules. Naomi lived a pure, righteous and godly life. She lived by God s rules. You will never regret living righteously. It secures your future. (2) Be positive. Not once do we find Ruth complaining about her circumstances as a young widow. No bitterness is evident in her. She expressed no anger about her lot in life. Never does she blame anyone for her situation. She never complained about having to go to work to feed her mother-in-law and herself. She was a positive person in the midst of, what many would consider to be a very negative situation. Ruth believed that God was going to take care of her and Naomi. She never appeared worried, fretful or anxious. Ruth 2:2 (NIV) And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor. Naomi said to her, Go ahead, my daughter. She truly believed that, if she would go to the fields, God would give her favor. That s real faith! (3) Be consistent. Ruth remained consistent and faithful to her work in Boaz field. She went back, day after day to glean, until the harvest was completely in. She was consistent and faithful in her duties to provide for Naomi and herself.
(4) Be diligent. Ruth was a hard worker. She understood the value of hard work. It was a part of her character. She went to work gleaning grain in the field of a man named Boaz. This was hard work. Ruth 2:7b (NIV) She came into the field and has remained here from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter. God takes note of hard workers. He values this quality in people: Proverbs 10:4 (NIV) Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. (5) Be humble. There was something very pleasant about Ruth s personality. She was a winsome woman. She was never pushy or obnoxious, demanding or ungrateful. She demonstrated a pleasantness that prepared her for the new possibilities God had in store for her. She had no pride. Ruth demonstrated a winsome spirit of humility. Ruth 2:10 (NIV) At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me a foreigner? (6) Gain wisdom. Ruth was wise, sought wisdom and followed it. (7) Keep trusting. Never stop trusting God. Ruth trusted God when her circumstances seemed impossible. Your future is secure when you trust God. Listen to Paul s words: Philippians 4:6, 7 (TLB)
Don t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don t forget to thank Him for His answers. 7 If you do this, you will experience God s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus. What was the end result for Ruth? How did her future turn out? Ruth 4:13-16 (NIV) So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14 The women said to Naomi: Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth. 16 Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. Responsible living secures your future! When it comes to concern about your future, God has 2 words for you: FEAR NOT! Listen to one last promise in today s message: Isaiah 43:1-3a (NIV) But now, this is what the Lord says He who created you, Jacob, He who formed you, Israel: Do not fear, 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. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior How do we have less fear about the future? Remember: 1. What s unknown to me is known to God. 2. What may be hard or impossible for me is easy for, and possible with God.
3. Recalling God s faithfulness in the past gives me courage and confidence to face the future. 4. Whatever my future, God will be with me. 5. Living responsibly today prepares me for my tomorrows.