(from: “God is Bigger Than the Bogeyman” by yours truly, Station One May 27, 2008. it wsa my first time to “preach” (because it was really just sharing, on my part) there and needless to say, i was so nervous! this isn’t the exact message… all jokes and random blurt outs have been omitted– you had to be there (hehe). this is what i sent in the station one weekly sermon summary mailing list.)
Fear. We all know it—that goose pimple-inducing, cold water down your spine, hair standing on the back of your neck, freezing you on the spot feeling. Oh, and let’s not forget that dread of what’s hiding behind the corner or what’s under the bed kind of fear that keeps you from going to the bathroom when you really need to go. We can go on and on about fear. Go to http://phobialist.com/ to see how many phobias they have a name for already. But the thing is, we really should get over it.
There’s a quote that goes, “Fear is the mind killer,” and that’s true, one of the greatest examples of this in the Bible are the Israelites in Numbers 13 and 14. The Israelites, after 430 years of slavery in Egypt have been delivered spectacularly by God—the ten plagues, the parting of the Red Sea and all that. Then they heard God’s voice at Mt. Sinai, they got the Ten Commandments and the other laws of God. God fed them with manna and quail. They saw water gush out of a rock. Oh, and let’s not forget the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night! And there, in Kadesh Barnea, they’re finally practically standing on Canaan, the land God has promised them. But after hearing the reports of the ten spies that while the land is good and everything God had promised, there are giants living there! At that last piece of news, they just lost their head and totally forgot about all things God had done to get them there. They didn’t want to go on anymore. Only Joshua and Caleb, the two other spies, said that they could do it because God was with them.
Most of us know this story—we’ve seen the movies. Strangely though, the movies don’t show the part where they had to wander around the desert for 40 years until the entire first generation from Egypt died out and only Joshua and Caleb remained of the original batch of Israelites. Like the Israelites, we too have been delivered from slavery, from the bondage of sin (Egypt), we were baptized and have been identified with the death and resurrection of Christ (crossing the Red Sea), and we too are following the Lord’s leading into the abundant life that He wants us to live (entering the promise land).
God never promised that it would be easy, there will be giants to defeat out there, there are battles to win and walls to break down, and these would all be impossible to do without God. Just like God wanted the Israelites to know the impossibility of their task, He wants us to know that without Him, living a life in abundance and victory would be impossible too. This way, all glory belongs to Him.
He promise that He will be with us and will never forsake us. Most Christians stay stuck in their wilderness because of FEAR. Instead of standing on the truth of what He’s already done, we forget and turn our eyes back to a distorted nostalgia of our life before Christ (Egypt), or whatever other stupid things we lean on that in reality can never compare to the security of a life with Jesus. We’re afraid to let go, relinquish the control of our lives.
The reason we don’t need to fear is because God is sovereign and in control. The only way we can overcome fear is to put our faith and trust in God. Change your perspective, look past the giants and see how they look smaller than grasshoppers next to Him! No matter what happens, trust in Him. This is the key to overcoming fear, total and COMPLETE trust in God.
When it boils down to it, will we choose to get on with it, do we want to claim God’s promise of an abundant, exciting, and blessed life with Him ourselves? Or will we succumb to our fear and leave our bodies to litter the wilderness of indecision and non-commitment?
It’s time to make a decision.
Come to Station One for a new theme this June “Tough Life,” Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. Basement 2 of Union Church of Manila [cor. Rada and Legaspi Sts. Legaspi Village, Makati City].
See ya there guys.
p.s.
my brothers Joshua and Jordan Bautista, with my brother, Marti were there for a special number after my message– i thought that it would be a fitting end to my message if they sang joshua’s song, Victorious. I have to mention that what made it all the more special was that even if they came to station one armed with just a guitar, they sang on stage after my message with a full band! thanks to Macky who played the grand piano, joel on lead guitar, and micah on bass. God really knows how to put things together.
and even if i have to say so myself, it was a legendary Station One. not because i was the one who preached, but it was a different one, and all glory and praise to God.
