Fear shows up when it wants. Fear does what it wants.

Imagine with me.. You are held up in a room. The house is secured. The doors and windows boarded up. Everyone has their weapons. People stationed strategically to secure the place. But the zombies, the creature, the killer gets in anyway.
Have you seen that movie?
Fear always manages to call the shots. Fear is always able to slip inside. Even when we plan against it, it seems to outwit us. Fear even defeats logic. We are often afraid of illogical things that don’t even make sense.
The number of things we could be afraid of are unlimited. The number of ways fear could affect our lives is unlimited. Fear appears stronger than us. Fear appears faster than us. Fear appears smarter than us.
But there is good news! The Lord prepares a table.

Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.(NIV)

Fear tries to have a seat at the table, but the Table was prepared FOR YOU. It is time to remove fear from the table and invite someone else to sit.

Fear 3 – Prepared Table and an Uninvited Guest from Redemption Church on Vimeo.

Fear 3 Uninvited Guest

Sermon notes by Pastor Chris Fluitt

Redemption Church Plano Tx

Help Bumper3
Don’t be afraid! You are at Redemption Church in Plano Tx! We are a fun loving church in Plano Tx.
My name is Chris Fluitt. I am lead pastor here at Redemption. I am glad to have fellowship with you.
1 Fear title
We are in the 3rd week of our fear series.
Last week we told you that Fear is conditional.
Fear needs the right conditions

Imagine with me.. You are held up in a room. The house is secured. The doors and windows boarded up. Everyone has their weapons. People stationed strategically to secure the place. But the zombies, the creature, the killer gets in anyway.
Have you seen that movie?
F3 1Fear shows up when it wants. Fear does what it wants.
{Fear enters}
Fear always manages to call the shots. Fear is always able to slip inside. Even when we plan against it, it seems to outwit us. Fear even defeats logic. We are often afraid of illogical things that don’t even make sense.
The number of things we could be afraid of are unlimited. The number of ways fear could affect our lives is unlimited.
Fear appears stronger than us. Fear appears faster than us. Fear appears smarter than us.

Fear has been around so long we can’t imagine him not being there. Fear always has access. He pushes his way into everything. He messes up everything.
Fear acts like it belongs in your life.

So we have this enemy called fear around.. Does the Bible give us any hope?

Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.(NIV)
The Lord prepares a table
{TABLE ENTERS}
You know this scripture right? It is an amazing blessing that the Lord your shepherd, the Lord your provider, prepares a table. God always has a way of giving us everything we need.
{Fear sits at table}
Wait a second…
Fear just acts like he owns the place.

When a new job opportunity comes along… You ought to be feeling hope, but fear comes and takes a seat.
When you have a new relationship… You ought to feel happy and joyful, but fear comes and starts telling you things… “You are going to mess this up again. You will never be happy.”
Instead of focusing on your accomplishments and victories, fear stares at you from its seat at the table and reminds you of all the terrible things that could happen.
Fear reminds you about those people that don’t like you.
Fear reminds you that your life should have progressed past this current point.
At a time where you should be celebrating the table prepared for you, Fear has you worried about your next meal after this one.
Fear has you thinking irrational thoughts… Fear will make you think everyone is against you… Fear will wake you up at night… Fear will cause you to concentrate on things you can’t control or even effect.
F3 1Fear shows up when it wants. Fear does what it wants.
So what do we do? Fear has seat at the table… so we just pull up a chair and spend time with the uninvited guest.
Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.(NIV)

F3 2Who prepared the table?
Did you prepare it?
Did fear prepare it?

F3 3Who did He prepare the table for?
Did God prepare this table for your enemy? No He prepared it for YOU… in the presence of your enemies.
We often want this scripture to read… God removes all your enemies… all your problems… and all your fear.. and then prepares a table. But that is not what it says.
If God worked that way then you would never face your fear. If God worked that way then you would never have to stand up and be a strong person of character. If God worked that way then he would reward laziness. If God worked that way you would not need faith.
This is how it works.
IN THE MIDDLE of the problem, when the fear is staring you down, God can be found. He’s preparing a table.
IN THE MIDDLE of the panic, when it seems like there is no Hope, God can be found. He’s preparing a table.
IN THE MIDDLE of your demise, when your enemy has lied about you, stolen from you, and has you surrounded, GOD CAN BE FOUND. Where is God? He’s preparing a table.
Provision is coming. And you your enemies are going to see it.
Your miracle is coming and the ones that have tried their best to stop you in the natural are going to see you delivered by the super-natural!
Not only will you witness your prepared table.. but your enemies will see it happen.

F3 4It’s your table!
God prepared this table for you.
Why would you allow fear to sit at your table?
Tell Fear that he is not welcome at your table.
{Push Fear off the stage}
Depression, past mistakes, what other people may have said about you, self-doubt & pity, poverty, weakness.. you are not welcome here anymore.
You may need to name some people who are not welcome at your table. These people are eating your lunch and keeping you from God’s plan for you.
You definitely need to tell Satan and every demon in hell that they have no place at your table.
You ought to walk around your life and declare THIS IS THE TABLE THAT GOD HAS PREPARED.
Your house. Your family. Your job. Your calling.

F3 5Who is going to sit at your table?
You have an empty seat at your table? Who is going to sit at your table?
Do not let anyone wrestle their way into your blessed life.
Do not let things that dishonor the one who prepared the table sit at the table.
How about we invite the one who prepared the table to sit at the table.
Is the Lord your shepherd at your table?
Are you ready to remove fear from your table?

Have you been focusing on your fear more than your savior?
Have you allowed fear to call the shots?
Have you forgotten to invite the Lord into your blessed life?

Fear shows up when it wants. Fear does what it wants. You must do something to stand against fear.