fear on SermonAudio

The sermon explores the biblical narrative of Esther to illustrate how God sovereignly places individuals in specific positions of influence for divine purposes. It emphasizes that personal struggles and circumstances are not accidents but part of a deliberate preparation to rescue others and advance the gospel. The preacher urges believers to move from passive observation to surrendered participation, acting with wisdom and sanctified prayer rather than fear or silence. By drawing parallels between Esther and Jesus Christ as mediators, the message highlights the urgency of sharing the hope of salvation in secular environments. Ultimately, it calls Christians to recognize their unique calling to stand for truth and impact their communities for God's glory.

Asking "why" is a profound part of our human reasoning and spiritual growth. There is a difference between sincerely seeking understanding and using the question to complain against or resist God's sovereignty. We see many examples where God in the Old Testament, and Jesus in the New Testament, asked "why?" When God asks "why?" we see that these questions are meant to expose unbelief, confront fear, and lead us toward repentance. God is never searching for information when He asks why, rather, God uses the question to reveal the condition of our hearts and call us to trust His perfect will. We must learn to rest in God's character and wisdom, accepting that some mysteries belong to Him alone while giving ourselves to the truths He has clearly revealed.

The sermon expounds on 1 Peter 2, urging believers to live as sojourners and exiles who abstain from fleshly passions while abounding in good works. It emphasizes the theological imperative to submit to civil authority for the Lord's sake, even when facing injustice or persecution. The preacher contrasts worldly freedom with true Christian liberty found in obedience to God. By fearing God above all earthly powers, believers find the courage to honor authorities and endure suffering without retaliation. Ultimately, the message calls Christians to follow Christ's example of entrusting themselves to the just Judge while maintaining a holy witness in a hostile world.

The sermon explores the nature of God as love and its manifestation through the new birth, identifying faith, righteousness, and love as the primary evidences of regeneration. It emphasizes that God's love is demonstrated historically through the incarnation and propitiation of Christ on the cross, rather than through circumstantial comfort. The Holy Spirit indwells believers to reshape their hearts, enabling them to reflect this divine love within the community of the church. This supernatural affection removes fear of judgment and establishes a moral imperative for Christians to love one another sacrificially. Ultimately, the message asserts that loving others is an unavoidable consequence of being born again, serving as proof of a genuine relationship with God.

What's true of your heart and mind in the midst of clear and present danger? If fear and anxiety of the attempts and work of your enemies frequently knock at your door, desiring to dwell within, may this psalm both guide and comfort you. For Christ your Teacher doesn't leave you naive, but shows you the hatred the wicked have for you as His people. For Christ your Savior is your remedy to fear. Through the work of His Spirit, He's your exclusive guard and protector. He is your ally who is ready to enter the battlefield for your cause.

The sermon explores the profound consequences of sin on God, others, and the individual to prepare believers for spiritual revival. It emphasizes that true revival requires meeting specific divine conditions: humbling oneself, fervent prayer, seeking God's face, and thorough repentance from wicked ways. Using the whiteboard illustration and historical accounts, the preacher highlights how sin grieves God and hinders His work, while also stressing that God is ready to forgive and heal when His people turn back to Him. The message calls for personal introspection and a decisive commitment to holiness rather than remaining passive or conditional in faith. Ultimately, it presents revival as God's faithful response to the sincere pursuit of His presence and obedience to His word.

When it says that "it came to pass after many days", we are to understand that it was the better part of a year and a half. Elijah had probably been about a year in the wilderness near the Brook Cherith, and probably about another year to a year and a half with the widow of Zarephath. Now the time had come, it says here, for Elijah to go and present himself to Ahab. And so, God gave Elijah this command by a direct revelation to his mind, that he should go and confront wicked Ahab, and then God would send rain on the earth. And so, Elijah went. The famine was severe in Samaria and things were getting quite desperate; especially in terms of water for the cattle. And so, wicked king Ahab called Obadiah, it says in verse 3, to tell him what he wanted him to do. Obadiah was in charge of Ahab's house as a steward. But what is even more significant for our consideration, is the fact which is related to us in the parenthesis in verse 3, where it says – Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly. It is this statement that I want to focus your attention on, and draw lessons from it. What did this mean, that Obadiah feared the Lord greatly? And, what will it look like for us if we fear the Lord greatly? That is what we want to try and discover. So, 1st of all, we want to see that there are different kinds of the fear of the Lord which are described for us in the Bible. And 2nd – We want to see that there are different degrees of the fear of the Lord among those who really do know the Lord. Let's see if we can grow in our understanding of this vital doctrine, the fear of the Lord.

In this sermon from 1 Peter 3, Dylan Joyner explains how Christians should faithfully engage a world that is hostile toward Christ and His people. Scripture does not call believers to attack the culture with worldly weapons, nor does it call them to withdraw from the world entirely. Instead, Christians are called to stand confidently in the midst of opposition, trusting Christ and refusing to fear man. Peter gives two central commands: fear no one and honor Christ the Lord as holy. Although believers may experience persecution and suffering for righteousness' sake, nothing can ultimately harm those who are secure in Christ. Even suffering becomes an occasion for blessing, giving Christians every reason to live with confidence and joy rather than fear. The sermon also emphasizes Peter's command to always be prepared to give a defense for the hope within us. Biblical apologetics is not reserved for pastors, scholars, or professional debaters. Every Christian is called to know what he believes, understand why he believes it from Scripture, and be prepared to explain the gospel when opportunities arise. How Christians defend the faith matters as much as being prepared to defend it. Peter commands believers to speak with gentleness and respect, maintaining a good conscience even when they are slandered. Through the righteousness of Christ, believers can fear no man, endure suffering faithfully, proclaim the gospel boldly, and engage the unbelieving world with confidence and joy.