Shut Up and Dance With Me
Matthew 28:16-20 NIV The Great Commission 16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

FEAR is the biggest enemy to your future. It comes in many forms, mainly having to do with your future: failure, rejection, lack, or death (to name a few). Abram was mighty in battle yet his deepest fear was not having a successor. How will you overcome the fears that limit you?

All leaders have had fears. Moses felt ashamed of his past. Jeremiah felt under-age. Gideon felt unqualified. I’ve had fears of the future as well as anyone else. Voices whisper to all of us about our inadequacy and future uncertainties.

WHAT DO I DO WHEN I FEEL FEAR AND ANXIETY ABOUT THE DAYS AHEAD?

  1. I overcome fear with a PROMISE. • Fear comes from our minds. Renew your mind.. It’s important. Faith comes from God’s Word. Hebrews 4:12 ESV For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Matthew 4:4 ESVBut he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Ephesians 4:29 ESV Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

You must read and meditate on one of God’s promises until it stands up TALL inside you and becomes larger than your fear! • Abram saw himself getting older with no apparent answer to his prayer. God spoke directly to him and said, “Fear not, Abram” (Gen. 15:1).

Fear and faith are opposites and must be totally removed before God can work.

Hebrews 11:6 The Message It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.

James 1:6-8 NIV 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

2 I overcome fear with FAVOR. • Favor is God’s circle of protection around you. David said, “You surround me with favor as with a shield” (Ps. 5:12). God’s angels surround you.

His favor causes your enemies to leave you alone.

Psalm 32:7NIV 7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

Psalm 32:10NIV 10 Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.

• Abram was alone in Canaan, surrounded by hostile armies. God’s favor, however, gave him a sense of perfect peace about his security.

• SO WE NEED TO Relax, and think about God’s mighty army surrounding every step where you walk.

Hebrews 1:14 The Message 14 Isn’t it obvious that all angels are sent to help out with those lined up to receive salvation?

1 Peter 1:5 The Message 3-5 What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all—life healed and whole.

  1. I overcome fear with VISION. The Bible says (without a vision people perish, they Go Un-restraint) Unrestraint: equals No Self Control!! Wildness!! Your God is the God of Your VISION!! • The Lord told Abram to go outside, look at the stars, and count them. “So shall your offspring be.” God was taking Abram’s eyes off his limitations and putting them on the spiritual world where God is unlimited. • You are not limited to your plan and ability. You are unlimited because of God’s plan and ability. He is “limitless.” Whatever you need, whenever you need it, He is totally able to make that thing appear out of nothing!

  2. I overcome fear with** COVENANT**. • The last thing God did to help Abram overcome his fear was to make a “covenant” with him. A burning torch in the night passed through the pieces of animals Abram had cut in half. This was a very familiar ritual in those days when two people entered into a covenant of complete trust in each other. • You can trust God. In the dark times, you can trust God. He holds your future in His hands, because He has sworn Himself to BE THERE in your future. He will never leave you, forsake you, or forget you! Hebrews 13:5 “Promises, favor, vision, and covenant.” These four principles are your mighty weapons against every fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. Jesus said, “Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself” (Mt. 6: 34). Rise up, today, over your fears. Keep your eyes on the stars. Hear the promise of God in your ears. Your future is in good hands…God’s hands!