A Place for Fear

Hebrews 4:11-13

Introduction:

1. I'm a chicken: Night terrors in Nebraska motivated me out of bed.

2. Fear has a place in life. For example, people tend to stay out of situations and areas where they fear being hurt.

3. Some fears are just irrational—like fear of the dark.

4. Sometimes fear spurs us into action. Other times it paralyzes us.

5. A wise person will learn to allow fear to motivate him!

6. Uncle Don, he did not use fear to motivate him to go to the doctor. By the time he went cancer was all over his body.

1. What we should be motivated to do: Be diligent to enter the promised rest, heaven (4:11)

   1. “Speediness” (opposite of “tardy”)--this would imply enthusiasm

   2. 2 Peter 1:5—(all diligence), do we eagerly pursue the promised rest?

   3. Christianity is not about social politics, looking good to friends and family, not about how enjoyable and fun worship and other activities are—it's about life and death! It's something we MUST take seriously!

   4. There's a lot of work to be done and we must be diligent in it.

2. How Fear Helps

   1. Fear can breed respect in us. Example: Fear of electricity.

   2. Fear can make us pay attention. Senses are on full alert while walking down a dark alley at night.

   3. Fear can remind us of what is important. We might not value something until we are faced with the possibility of losing it.

   4. Fear can motivate us into action.

      1. This is the healthy use of fear.

      2. It is unhealthy to fear and do nothing about it!

3. The Judgment

   1. Hebrews 4:1— “fear” root word= “terror”. “Something that makes you run in fear.”

      1. Have you ever been afraid of not making it to heaven?

      2. Have you ever been afraid for the soul of another person?

   2. God's coming judgment is coming. This should motivate us into action! (4:13)

      1. There is no place to hide from Him (imagine trying to do that!)

      2. He searches out deeds and motives with His word (4:12)

         1. God will even discern our thoughts and intentions using His word.

         2. James 1:23-25

      3. “Open” (Hebrews 4:13)

         1. “Seize and twist at the neck”—this is the original meaning of this word

            • Done this way for ritual sacrifices

            • later done with criminals before a judge when the pronouncement of judgment was about to come (now-days the one charged merely stands for the pronouncement)

         2. sign of submission

         3. God will grab us by the scruff of the neck and examine us—this simply means that everything will be open to Him.

            • The word can show us a picture of what God sees, if we will look into it diligently!

            • If we would judge ourselves, we would have less to fear from judgment.

            • That is the point in this section—be diligent in your faith!

            • Allow the idea of the Judgment to motivate you to get your life in order!

Conclusion:

1. Fear can cripple. Fear can paralyze you. Don't let it.

2. Use fear as it was intended to be used. Let it motivate you into action!

3. We cannot escape the fact that the judgment is coming. That is promised to us one day.

4. We CAN escape an unfavorable judgment though! That is the message of the gospel!

5. It starts with loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

6. God is awesome. His judgment is terrifying. But God is also loving and compassionate toward those who will seek Him out.

7. Plan of salvation.