Too Busy Being Afraid

Too Busy Being Afraid

The greatest enemy to the life you want (supernatural) may be the life that you’re living (natural).

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

—John 10:10

Satan does not have to get us to sin to drift from our resolve to live in the presence of God. He just has to get us to be too busy.

A life lived too busy is a life lived in fear…

Now, the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

—Genesis 3:1-6

The Fear of Missing Out. FOMO
The Fear of our Past.

We get so busy running from something OR we get too busy running to something.

It’s amazing how busy we are being afraid.

Examples: Security systems, investments, relationships to avoid loneliness, eating disorders, paranoia…

Too busy to take a moment and read the moment.
Too busy to make decisions from a place of peace.

When we are too busy…

…we think things that are not true.
…we believe in things that are only right at the moment.
…we rush to find quick fixes and not the proper solution.
…we lose appreciation and gratitude because we are too quickly on to the next thing.
…we don’t believe we have ever achieved our best.
…we lose confidence, focus, and direction.
…we lose who we are and to whom we belong.
…we stop praying, we stop believing, we stop growing.

Fear motivates a busy life, and a busy life produces fear…

JESUS NEVER SPENT A MOMENT IN FEAR

He came from somewhere (Identity), yet He didn’t run from his past.
The needs of others gave him a divine purpose.
Removing any obstacles so that we could have a future gave him hope.

Jesus was busy—Never rushed.
Fear did not motivate him.

Jesus has not come to bring us a life of fear. He has come to give us an abundant life.

As he [Jesus] walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.

—Mark 2:14

• If Levi followed an unrushed Jesus, then Levi should’ve been living an unrushed life.

• If we follow an unrushed Jesus, we should be living an unrushed life.

An unrushed life is motivated by peace and not fear.

LOVE OVERCOMES FEAR

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

—1 John 4:18

He gives us life by overcoming the obstacles between us and God.

And this is the real and eternal life: That they know you, The one and only true God, And Jesus Christ, whom you sent.

—John 17:3

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

—1 Corinthians 13:7

We don’t miss out on anything when we are in the presence of God.

FEAR ROBS US OF LIFE

We have got too busy being afraid…

THE THIEF…

…STEALS GOD’S WORD FROM YOU.

When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.

—Matthew 13:19

… SETS TRAPS TO ENSNARE YOU.

…and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

—2 Timothy 2:26

…FIGHTS TO STOP YOU.

For we wanted to come to you certainly I, Paul, did, again and again Satan stopped us.

—1 Thessalonians 2:18

…HE PLANS TO DESTROY YOU.

Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

—1 Peter 5:8

Satan understands a few things about us…

• You can’t be happy when you are not.
• You can’t serve Jesus when you are not!
• You can’t love people when you are not!

THE BETTER WAY

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

—John 14:1-6

1. Surrender
2. Follow
3. Learn
4. Apply
5. Align
6. Repeat

WHAT YOU SEE IS NOT ALL THERE IS

YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN YOUR BATTLES.

WE DO NOT FIGHT FOR VICTORY. WE FIGHT FROM VICTORY.

FEAR IS REMOVED WHEN WE HAVE THE FAITH TO SEE THE SUPERNATURAL WAY.
GOD IS PRESENT!

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

—1 John 4:4

THE PRAYER OF THE ABUNDANT LIFE GIVER…

John 17