Message Notes                                                                                                   

Overcoming the Fears that Keep you from Going Big    

November 21, 2004

 

Peter’s Experience with FEAR … Luke 22:54-62 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. ⁵⁵But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. ⁵⁶A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with him."
⁵⁷But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said.
⁵⁸A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them."
"Man, I am not!" Peter replied.
⁵⁹About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean."
⁶⁰Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. ⁶¹The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." ⁶²And he went outside and wept bitterly.

 

Overcoming the fears that keep you from Going Big…

 

1. Walk Close to Jesus CONSISTENTLY

Matthew 17:1-3 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ²There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. ³Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

 

Acts 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

 

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Jesus Christ, This is it.  Today I'm starting a relationship with You.  I turn from living for myself to you. I ask You to forgive me for the wrong things I've done. Thank You for forgiving me so I can start to feel closer to You.  I want You to start to show me how to live.  Direct my life.  Please take over my life and guide me.  I have a lot to learn.  Would You please teach me? Help me to live for you every moment of my life. Amen.

 

2. Learn to see the BIGGER PICTURE of God's purpose and how your life fits into it!

Acts 5:41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

 

Which are you?
God-sized View – purpose, fulfillment, power, abundance, God gets your best

 

Small life syndrome: lack of purpose, need, oppression, God gets your leftovers, if any!

 

3. LET GO of your life.
Luke 17:33 Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.

 

4. Don't WASTE your failures! Let God use them to identify your fears.

John 21:15-18a When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
¹⁶Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
¹⁷The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." ¹⁸
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.

 

Acts 4:5-13 The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. ⁶Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. ⁷They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?"
⁸Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! ⁹If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, ¹⁰then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. ¹¹He is
   " 'the stone you builders rejected,
       which has become the capstone. ¹²Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
¹³When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

 

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

 

 

Joshua 1:9b Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

 

Ephesians 3:20 Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.