 Romans 8:1 – There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

 Romans 7:15, 18-20 – 15For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

 Romans 7:24-25a – 24O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

 Romans 8:1 – There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

If you have given your life to Christ, you are never lost and you can never lose. You are victors of the highest measure!

 Romans 8:37-39 – 37Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

OUR VICTORY IS INDESCRIBABLE

 Romans 8:35-36 – 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

 Romans 8:37 – Yet in all these things we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS through Him who loved us.

We Are Ultimate Conquerors

 “more than conquerors” (hupernikao) – virtually untranslatable

- Root word (nikao) – to conquer, to come off victorious (“NIKE”)

- Prefix (huper) – over, beyond, more than (“SUPER”, “HYPER”)

What Holds Us Back From Making the Single Greatest Decision of Our Life?

His Position—A Pharisee and a Roman citizen—He possessed both religious standing within Judaism and legal standing within the Roman Empire (Acts 22).

· His Prestige—A Man of Reputation and Religious Achievement—He had an impressive religious pedigree and zeal.

Philippians 3:5-6 – 5Circumcised the eighth day of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

· His Power—Authority to Persecute Christians—He exercised his power against the early church (Acts 9).

Acts 9:20 – Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

Is It Evident Who We Worship with Our Lives?

Ephesians 4:1 – Therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.

Hebrews 2:14-15 – 14Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

 I.     We Are ALL Going to Die

•      Death is certain.

Romans 5:12 – Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus DEATH SPREAD TO ALL MEN, because all sinned.

•      Life is shorter than we think.

James 4:14 – whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

•      Death is not a natural part of life.

1 Corinthians 15:26 – The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.

II.       We AVOID Facing the Realities of Death

•      It has governed us for a lifetime.

•      We put off the planning for our INEVITABLE death.

Haggai 1:5-6 – 5Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Consider your ways!' 6You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but do not have enough; you drink, but you are not filled with drink; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes.

Luke 9:24 – For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.

I. THE FEAR OF CHANGE: Why Do We Resist What We Need?

• We prefer a known problem because it asks nothing new of us.

Proverbs 26:14 – As a door turns on its hinges, so does the lazy man on his bed.

• Familiarity feels like security.

Jeremiah 6:14 – They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, saying, 'Peace, peace!' when there is no peace.

II. THE COST OF DELAY: What Happens While We Wait?

• We create a “change gap”: Time, Distance, and Deterioration.

Proverbs 24:33-34 – 33A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest; 34so shall your poverty come like a prowler, and your need like an armed man.

I. The Fear of the Unknown Is Filled with the UNKNOWN

Genesis 22:2 – Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

1. Not Enough Information – The unknown or lack of information ignites the IMAGINATION.

Genesis 22:2b – “Go to the land of Moriah…on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

Proverbs 28:1 – The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.

2. No Precedent – Life rarely asks for something familiar.

Genesis 22:2c – “and offer him there as a burnt offering”

3. No Control – The future is the one place over which you have no hands-on control.

Genesis 22:2a – Then He said, “Take now your son,”

Genesis 16:2 – So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai.

4. No Replacement – There is no spare.

Genesis 22:2b – “your ONLY son Isaac, whom you love,”

Hebrews 11:17 – By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

II. Calculate the Cost of Giving in to Your Fear of the Unknown

I. The Fear of the Unknown Is Filled with the UNKNOWN

Genesis 22:2 – Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

1. Not Enough Information – The unknown or lack of information ignites the IMAGINATION.

Genesis 22:2b – “Go to the land of Moriah…on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

Proverbs 28:1 – The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.

2. No Precedent – Life rarely asks for something familiar.

Genesis 22:2c – “and offer him there as a burnt offering”

3. No Control – The future is the one place over which you have no hands-on control.

Genesis 22:2a – Then He said, “Take now your son,”

Genesis 16:2 – So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai.

4. No Replacement – There is no spare.

Genesis 22:2b – “your ONLY son Isaac, whom you love,”

Hebrews 11:17 – By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

II. Calculate the Cost of Giving in to Your Fear of the Unknown

1 Timothy 1:6-7 – 6Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

I. Exposure Is the First and Oldest Fear in the Book

‍ Genesis 2:25 – And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

• Man’s first invention was a covering.

Genesis 3:7 – Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

‍Genesis 3:10 – So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

‍ ‍• Your fig leaves are more sophisticated than theirs — but they do the same job.

II. What Concealment Costs You

1. It shrinks your assignment.

Exodus 4:10-12 – 10Then Moses said to the LORD, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” 11So the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD? 12Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.”

‍ ‍2. It consumes you from the inside out.

IV. The Diagnostic Question

• The one question that cuts through every Groundless Fear

2 Corinthians 10:5 – Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

• The Question is this: “What is this actually going to DO to me?”

• Does this fear have 1) the AGENCY, 2) the CAPACITY, and 3) the WILL to actually perform this unwanted act against me?

1) IS IT TRUE?

2) IS IT NOW?

3) IS IT MINE?

Galatians 6:7 – Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

John 10:10 – The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

I. The First Deception of Good – “The Road Seems Right”

Proverbs 22:3 – A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, But the simple pass on and are punished.

GOOD FEAR…1) protects you, 2) keeps you safe, and 3) buys you a longer life most of the time.

• If you stay on it long enough, it builds a “Good Man.”

Mark 10:17-22 – 17Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” 18So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ” 20And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” 21Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” 22But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

• The Deception – That Good Feels Like Enough

Proverbs 14:12 – There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

− The word is right – not evil, filthy, or wicked – RIGHT.

‍ ‍The Obvious Hidden Truth: This world does not run on truth. It runs on deception!

Jeremiah 17:9 – The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?

Proverbs 3:5 – Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.

THE FEAR FACTOR: God Fear – Part 2

Proverbs 9:10 – The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

THE CHAIN: Dominion (Your choice) → God (Truth as Source) → God Fear (The Multiplier) → His Word → Knowledge → Understanding → Wisdom → Identity → Authority → Decision → Outcome → Reality → Readjustment → Corrective Decision → Life

I. Truth Is the Only Thing That Actually Governs Human Behavior

John 18:37-38 – 37Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” 38Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.”

• You follow the voice of whatever you are OF.

• "What is truth?" is not a philosophical question for the unbeliever.

II. God Is Not Just Truthful – He is Truth Itself

John 17:17 – Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

• Jesus is not asking the Father to use truth – He is declaring that the Word IS truth.

• Truth is not a concept – It is a person.