NOT AFRAID

Press pause on our normal message plans

speak directly into what’s happening in world today.

Speaking mostly from my heart!

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Now, unless you’ve been sleeping under a rock
You know that there’s a lot of unrest all around us today.

As you know,

• The coronavirus (Covid-19) is spreading

• Stock market has been dropping
• People are panicking
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What should we do?

• Not worry about it and go on with life as usual? (Under-reacting?)

• Buy extra hand sanitizers and toilet paper, hide inside, prepare for
end of world?

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I don’t pretend to be an expert—I don’t know where this is going to go.

But I’ll try to speak into it from a Faith-Perspective.

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Insert personal story of coronavirus impact if you have one…

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Brings us to today…

• Professional sporting events, conferences, concerts are canceling…

• Some schools shutting down for semester…
• Travel bans appearing…
• Grocery stores are out of toilet paper…

What are we going to do?

Ignore it—Stockpile beans/rice and stay home next 3 months?
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First, I’m not going to make any long term and permanent decisions today.

I’ve found in times of crisis and panic,

It’s best not to project out into the future.

It’s always best to make wise decisions based on what we know today.
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And as disciples of Jesus—the filter that forms our decisions is different.

Why?—We are not of this world!—Not to be conformed this world.

Do not live like those who have no hope!—Different!

TITLE of today’s message—NOT AFRAID—with an emphasis on

“not”

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THREE WAYS WE ARE NOT LIKE THIS WORLD

 1) We live by faith, not by fear.

When Jesus was comforting his disciples in John 14…

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.
John 14:1
27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the
world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27 NIV

I like the way the NLT translates Jesus’ words…

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27
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I
give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
John 14:27 NLT

Peace that goes beyond human understanding…

God’s not sitting heaven thinking “I didn’t see coming.”

• Our God is faithful!—He’s in control!

• He is good! Our God has a plan!
• He won’t leave us. Won’t forsake us.
• He’s working in all things…
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Paul said…
7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love,
and self-discipline. 2 Tim 1:7

We are not panicking—> Peace

We are not fearful—> Have faith!
For we live by faith, not by sight. 2 Cor. 5:7
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1. We live by faith, not by fear.

2. We are sacrificial, not selfish.

3
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others
as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but
take an interest in others, too. Phil 2:3-4 (Paul believers Philippi)

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During the early church, they faced extreme persecution—Losing life for
their faith!
st
1 C Christians didn’t hoard their goods!

They weren’t rushing the Jerusalem mega-mart to grab emergency

supplies!

We are the body of Christ—We put others ahead of ourselves!

44
All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They
sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every
day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke
bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts… Acts
2:44-46

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Every day they continued to meet…
 It’s a time when people will skip church and play it safe!

Encourage you to display your faith/worship—Not once a week—Daily!

Join as family—Pray!
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Are we going to meet publicly at church every week during time? We

don’t know. But we will try.

As for meeting—See our church as a spiritual refuge for people in need.

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We’ve always been biased to being open—Having church—Always will.

You are smart people

If you don’t feel well, or don’t feel it’s wise—Stay home—Attend church
online
Not forcing anyone—Not going to hell if you miss church!

But don’t stop worshiping—Don’t stop seeking God!

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We know a lot of people looking for hope!

If it becomes obviously unsafe and unwise to meet publicly extended then

we’ll shift to the most evangelistic church online movement you’ve ever
seen.
46
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They
broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
47
praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord
added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:46-47
 With all my heart, I believe God will use this time for good—Turn to
Jesus!
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We live by faith—Not by fear—We are sacrificial—Not selfish.

3) We shine the light, we do not hide it.

14
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
15
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put
it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same
way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your Father in heaven. Matt 5:14-16 (Jesus)

During this time, people are afraid… unsettled… anxious…

Looking for hope—We are HOPE DEALERS!
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Hope Dealers—Light shiners—Love givers!

This virus may be highly contagious!

I’m praying for some Christians to be more contagious.

Spreading hope—Spreading love—Spreading life in Christ!

I’m believing the love and hope of Jesus

Spreads faster than any virus!
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Not of this world…

Do not grieve or panic like those who have no hope…

I did a little research—Looked up Bible verses in the New Testament that

featured the word “Not”
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Angel at the birth of Jesus…

• Do not be afraid—bring you good news and great joy

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Jesus saying why he came…

• I did not come for healthy—Sick… Not for the righteous, but for
sinners.
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We are not of this world…

• Do not live by bread alone, but by every word of God…

• Jesus does not lead us into temptation, but he delivers us evil.
• Do not store up for ourselves treasure on earth… but store up in
heaven.

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• Do not worry tomorrow, each day has enough trouble of its own…
• We walk by faith, Not by sight
• God has not given us a spirit of fear…
• Like Jesus: Not my will but yours be done!
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Do we have good news! Yes!

• We are saved by grace and not by works!

• Justified by faith in Christ not by the works of the law
• God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation
 • Do not set minds earthly things (social media, the news)— set minds
things above.
• Let perseverance finish its work… not lacking anything
• Do not become weary in doing good

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Will it be a battle? Yes…

• We struggle not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, authorities,
powers of this world
• Will not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good
• We do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed but to
those who have faith and are saved

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• The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise
• We will not grieve like the rest of mankind who have no hope
• We will not give up meeting together
• The Lord is our helper, we will not be afraid
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Not ashamed of name of Jesus—or the Power of the Gospel

It’s the gospel that brings salvation to everyone who believes!

Like 1st century believers in book of Acts…

Cannot stop talking about what we’ve seen and heard!
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• Not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and

petition, make your requests known to God and the peace of God that
 passes all understanding will guard your heart and your mind in
Christ Jesus.

We are different—Not of this world—Our minds are not conformed

Transformed so we can do the will of God!

We live by faith—Not by fear.

We are sacrificial—Not selfish.
We shine the light—We do not hide it!
7
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing
power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side,
but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not
abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Cor 4:7-9

That’s why are NOT AFRAID!

Pray…