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Quit being afraid

Mark 10:32-34

Once again the disciples are walking with Jesus and they are following him and not really knowing what is going on. They are following but completely lost. So Jesus takes them aside and is describing to them what they are about to experience as they are following him. He clearly lays out the process by which he is going to be crucified. Betrayed, condemned, delivered, mocked, scoured, spit on, killed. And then rising from the dead.

I’m not going to go in order, but I want to draw a few things about this scripture that we can get from it

1. Jesus always Goes before us

• Its an interesting distinction that as the disciples are walking their way with Jesus that he is “going before them”
• That’s the heart of Jesus folks. That’s the heart of a leader. He goes before his disciples. He doesn’t ask of them more than he asks of himself
• He is the one who is going towards the cross- he is the one who is going to face death, and in this instance- they are afraid, and Jesus is going before them.
• Deuteronomy 31:8 And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”
• There are many times in scripture where you see God going before someone. They are able to see God before them, and know that they will be taken care of as they go.
• Lets be honest- who respects a leader who doesn’t go before them? Not many!
• A leader who is never willing to go before their people will never lead them. How can you lead from the back?
• Isaiah 45:2 ‘I will go before you And make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron.

• Doing the tough mudder with PJ- him not letting me fall behind. He was ahead, trail blazing!
• What does it mean to you?
• There is nothing that you are going through that Jesus hasn’t gone before you.
  he has experienced every thing that you have experienced and understands pain. He is BEFORE
• Think about this earth. We think we’re exceptional- we think that no one has experienced what we are experiencing- but the reality is that JESUS has walked through everything with everyone.
  He’s not overwhelmed with it. He’s not concerned with it. He’s not worried about it.
• Deuteronomy 1:30 The Lord your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes,
• This is why reading the Bible is so good! If he did it for someone else, he will do it for YOU
• Red Sea parted, Marah’s waters sweetened, Manna sent In the Wilderness, Water from the rock, Balaam’s ass speaking, The river Jordan divided, Walls of Jericho fall down,Sun and moon stand still
• Jesus goes before you! Before you go into that surgery, before you lose your job, before your kids get sick, before you have to face your biggest fears! BEFORE

• 2 Samuel 5:24 And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the Lord will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”
• There’s a reason we sing songs of victory- and its not so you can forget them!
• Why do you allow yourself to be consumed by the things of this world?
• You know who I love? Kathryn Duffy- man- she is a woman of faith. I’m sure she has her bad days but she lives with cancer every day- and I haven’t seen her curse God yet!
• Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
• Psalm 56:11 In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
• Here’s the truth- Some of you haven’t received the baptism of the Holy Spirit so you’re unable to walk in victory. You haven’t had a heart change.
• Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
• You’re trying to lead your own life and not letting the holy spirit lead your life.
• Father- repentance, son- faith, HS- baptism
• Matt 28:18-20 READ

1. Follow through your fear

• Here’s the deal- Jesus had already told the disciples once before that he was going to be crucified. In Mark 8 and again in Mark 9. This is the third time. THE THIRD TIME
• Yet- they still are afraid! Why are they afraid? Jesus has already told them this 2x!
• They have no reason to fear- they have no reason to worry but here they are – full of fear
• The word here is ‘afraid’ but the root of it is also reverence. Reverential fear is good. Just fear is no good.
• Here’s what I think- I think it’s a hybrid- I think they are afraid- but reverent. I think in their hearts they are worried beyond measure- but they revere Jesus enough to KNOW he’s going to take care of it, and them. They might be seeing the situation, but they are revering JC
• Even though they were afraid, they were still following him
• Their fear wasn’t enough to keep them from following Jesus- they followed anyway!
• Isaiah 35:4 Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.”
• HE WILL COME WITH VENGEANCE! FOLLOW ANYWAY-

• What does it mean to you?
• Do it afraid! Don’t let your fears keep you from following God and doing what he is asking of you. Trust in the Holy Spirit to lead you.
• John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
• Can you imagine being with Jesus as he was moving towards crucifixion? Can’t imagine
• Very scared
• Love that move three kings- “you do the thing you are the most afraid of and you get the courage for it afterwards”
• There are things that you are going to go through that you are going to feel like you’re not equipped for. You must learn to trust God through the process. You must believe.
• Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

• Getting the job at ctas. Commission. One week from fired. Out on my own. No more fear.
• I got to trust God! I got to provide for my family! I got to make it happen
• Psalm 34:4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.
• Learn to lean on God when you are afraid. Learn to trust that he is going to take care of you
• Trust the holy spirit who resides in you- if you have received him!
• He’s been taking care of you since now hasn’t he? He’s never failed and he wont start now
• Wouldn’t it be great if the next time you went through something you just trusted God?
• Wouldn’t it be more refreshing to just believe that God is able to see you through?
• Continue to follow God through the fires of your life!
• I never like to hear about people that say “I’ve just been going through some stuff”
• Is your business behind? Is your marriage struggling? Is your health in trouble? STAY CLOSE TO JESUS and his BODY. Pray in the spirit with all supplications!
• 1 Peter 5:7 casting all your anxieties upon Him, for He cares for you.
• Here’s why-

1. Jesus always knows what is going to happen

• In this discourse, Jesus is explaining to them what is going to happen-
• 33 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; 34 and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”
• I don’t want to ruin the surprise, but that is exactly what is going to happen in the story and that’s exactly what DID happen!
• This is the story of the crucifixion and the resurrection! This is the power of our faith!
• Jesus speaks of this prophetically, and that should give you encouragement- GOD KNOWS.
• Psalm 147:5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.
• God knows what is going to happen tomorrow. He knows what is going to happen next week
• You don’t have to know what is going to happen- you just have to know the one who makes It happen and you’ll be fine!
• Bible reading helps calm the spirit. Gives you perspective. Gives you peace.
• 1 John 3:20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.
• Its fine if you want to wonder and think about the future and what is going to happen in the end times. I’ve got my own ideas, but here’s the deal- I DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT. Its going to be what its going to be
• I’m ready for Jesus to come back RIGHT NOW. My heart is good and my faith is intact!

• What does it mean to you?
• You want to be with the one who knows the future. You want to be on his team.
• The prophecies of the OT. The Prophecies of the NT- they have all come true and they all will come true. Believe in them- put faith in them. Trust in them. Stake your life on them.
• God sees all. He knows all. He sees the past, the future and the present.
• Hebrews 4:13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
• Because of this- the next time you walk through something, you can rest with him knowing that you are going to be walked through the fire with him!
• Isaiah 40:28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
• You may not understand- but he understands- HE knows- he has the plan. When Jesus told him disciples about his impending crucifixtion- they trusted- trust during YOUR trail. During YOUR test- HE IS THE ONE WHO KNOWS. HE IS THE ONE WHO KNOWS ALL>
• John 16:30 Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.”
• I would love to hear more Christian people who are going through something who are able to see past the current situation and see that God is faithful over it.
• You’re serving a savior who overcame death! Do you not think he can handle your small issue?
• Family in the church- trying to buy a house- Fell through- backed out. Stayed put. FAITH

1. There is no stopping Jesus

• If you’re listening what is fixing to happen to Jesus is pretty horrible- betrayed,condemned to death , mocked, scourged, spit on and killed.
• But you know what happened next? And the third day He will rise again.
• Listen up here- There is no stopping the power of Jesus. None. No chance.
• Try as they may to try to shut him down- they are not going to be able to do it
• This is where he gets his confidence from- sure he’s God in the flesh- but HE WINS
• Think of Hebrews 1:3 who being the brightness of Hisglory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

• Jesus is the one who has the power to forgive sin!
• There is no power that Jesus doesn’t have- there is nothing that he cannot do! HE HAS THE POWEr
• John 1:3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
• What does it mean to you?
• Whenever you are going through something- remember that you serve the God who can bring himself back from the dead and overcome everything. This is the savior who forgave your sin
• Acts 5:31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

• This idea of YHWH being angry with our sin, and Jesus being the one to forgive them is cosmic
• Because of this power- I have full faith and assurance in his ability to take care of my every need
• You don’t have to defend yourself. You don’t have to work your own angles. You can trust God
• Colossians 2:15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
• JESUS TRIUMPHED OVER DEATH
• There is no part of his plan that can be stopped. None. Not one part of it. He will take care of every last detail of your life.