From His Heart

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Today on From His Heart with Pastor Jeff Shreve, a message that just about everyone can relate to because we're all insecure about something.

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How do you break free from the giant of insecurity? Well, some will tell you you just need to give yourself a pep talk. If you give yourself a pep talk, then you can just build yourself up. You can be like the little train.

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Who says, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.

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And that's all you need. Hey, it's not in achievements, not in bragging on yourself. It's not in a pep. So how do you break free? What do you do with the giant of Insecurity?

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He can heal every scar with real truth, real love, real hope. From his heart.

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Here is the truth. Insecurity can imprison you for life. Many people are imprisoned inside their insecurities and fail to enjoy the abundant life that God wants for them. On the contrary, the Bible tells us that believers have great worth, enormous wealth, and an unfathomable reward to come. And the great news is that when you and I understand that truth and live that truth, it can really set us free.

From the Giant of Insecurity, the Message today is the fifth in the seven lessons from Pastor Jeff's series, Land of the Giants: How to Deal with Your Biggest Problems. This series is our thank you gift for your support of any amount this month to From His Heart with Pastor Jeff Shreve. You can find out more when you go to fromhisheart.org.

Now, though, let's deal with our own personal insecurity. First, open your Bible to the Gospel of John, chapter 13, as Pastor Jeff teaches us about how to defeat the giant of insecurity.

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John Quincy Adams was born in 1767. He was an eloquent statesman, a diplomat, a congressman, and a treaty negotiator. He was the sixth President of the United States of America, elected to the office in 1825. He was the son of a president, John Adams, who was the second President of the United States of America.

I read a quote from John Quincy Adams when he was 70 years old, and the quote said, "My whole life has been a succession of disappointments. I can scarcely recollect a single instance of success in anything that I ever undertook." Isn't that amazing? A guy who was so accomplished, a guy who was so important in our history, who came from such great parents, John and Abigail Adams, a man who rose to the very top to become President of the United States. And he would say that he can't think of one success in anything that he ever did.

What was John Quincy Adams' problem? I think he had a problem with self-worth. I think he had a problem with security. And because of that, nothing he ever did seemed good enough. Perhaps you heard the joke about the woman who went to see the psychiatrist. She came into his office, and he said, "Well, what seems to be the trouble?" She replied, "Well, I can tell you right now I have an inferiority complex, but it's not a very good one." Just when you think whatever you do is just not good enough.

We're in a series called "Land of the Giants," and today we want to tackle the giant of insecurity. That is a big giant for most people. Dare I say all people deal with this giant from time to time, and some of us are getting waylaid by this giant.

How do you know if you have a security problem? How do you know if you have a self-worth problem? The giant of insecurity is out there, and he is defeating many, many people. So how do you break free? What do you do with the giant of insecurity? Well, some will tell you that you just need to give yourself a pep talk. If you give yourself a pep talk, then you can just build yourself up. You can be like the little train.

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Who says, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.

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And that's all you need. You just follow the cue of Stuart Smalley from the old Saturday Night Live skit: "Good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me." You just kind of try and build yourself up. You know what that's doing? That's like blowing up a balloon that has a hole in it. It's just going to take a lot of effort, and it doesn't produce.

Or maybe you do, like some people, and just brag on yourself. Have you ever been around somebody who likes to brag on themselves a lot? You know, anytime you find a person who is constantly telling you how great they are, know this for certain: they don't think very highly of themselves. The reason they brag is because they're very insecure. They think if I tell you how great I am, maybe you'll jump on the bandwagon and tell me, "Yeah, you know, that's right. You are so great." Typically, with those kinds of people who constantly tell you how great they are, we don't want to be around them because they make us uncomfortable.

Or how about defeating the giant of insecurity this way? Maybe if I just achieve. Maybe if I win some tournament, make some team, graduate from college, graduate from law school, or get some advanced degree. Maybe if I climb to the top of my profession. Yeah, like John Quincy Adams. Maybe you can become president and still think everything you did was worthless.

Hey, it's not in achievements, not in bragging on yourself. It's not in a pep talk. Jesus said, "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." The truth shall make you free. So we want to look today at the truth of God's word, the truth that we find in the Lord Jesus Christ.

John, chapter 13, presents one of the great events in the life of Jesus: Thursday night, the night he was betrayed. He has time with his disciples, and one of the things he does with them at the Last Supper is wash their feet. John 13:1 says this: "Now, before the feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that his hour had come, that he should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end."

And during supper, the devil, having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he had come forth from God and was going back to God, rose from supper and laid aside his garments. Taking a towel, he girded himself about. Then he poured water into the basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and wipe them with the towel with which he was girded.

In that passage, we get such an insight into the core of who Jesus was as the God-man, especially into his humanity. See, because Jesus was extremely comfortable in his own skin. Jesus didn't deal with insecurity, or if he dealt with it, he didn't succumb to it because he knew who he was and was very comfortable in his own skin. From this passage of scripture, we can learn a lot in terms of how to defeat the giant of insecurity in our own lives. It all comes down to believing the truth, practicing the truth, and letting the truth set you free.

So, three key truths. First, believe the truth that you have infinite worth. How do I defeat the giant of insecurity? I believe the truth that I have infinite worth. Now, Jesus knew who he was and never questioned, "Well, maybe I'm not, you know, maybe I'm not the Son of God." He always knew who he was.

Interesting, when he started his ministry, remember he began with the baptism from John. John didn't want to baptize him, but Jesus said, "Permit it to fulfill all righteousness." He baptized him, the heavens opened, and the Father said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." The Spirit descended on him like a dove. Then he went from there into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. He fasted for 40 days, and after the fast, the devil came and said these words: "If you're the Son of God, command these stones to become bread."

Jesus, I don't know if you're really the Son of God. Why don't you prove it to me? "If you're the Son of God, let's go up to the temple, the pinnacle of the temple. Jump down, because the scripture says he will give his angels charge concerning you, lest you dash your foot against a stone." So you need to prove to me who you are because I'm not so sure who you are. I'm not so sure who your father is.

Hey, Jesus knew his father was God. He knew who he was. Jesus didn't fall for that temptation. He knew he was the Son of God. He knew he had infinite worth and value. So you and I need to understand the same: as God's creation, we have infinite worth and value.

Your worth is not rooted in self; it's rooted in God. The reason people fall into difficult problems with insecurity is that they're trying to find security in self, in what they do, in what they achieve, in how much money they have, in what they do for a living, in some book they write, or this or that or the other, or they win an NBA championship. If I can do something, if I can become president, then I can find worth.

Your worth isn't rooted; it's not supposed to be rooted in self. It's supposed to be rooted in God, in the one who created you. Genesis 1:27 states, "And God created man in his own image, in the image of God. He created them. Male and female, he created them." David said in Psalm 139, "I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works, and my soul knows it very well." Created by God.

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Pastor Jeff will continue that thought from his heart in just a moment with an illustration of a very unique purchase: a book with a price tag of $30.8 million. No kidding. Stay with us. It's hard to believe From His Heart is in our 21st year of sharing God's word together on radio, television, and online. God has done so much more than we could have ever imagined, and he's led you and others to partner with us in this exciting journey.

Listen to this letter we received from a gentleman who was really encouraged by the program. He says, "Pastor, I am recently a healed alcoholic and addict, and I've given the Lord control of my life. Your ministry speaks so well to me, and I want you to use the money God gives me to not go to alcohol and drugs, but to help reach other people who desperately need the Lord in their lives like me. I want to help you continue your ministry as the Lord continues to give his blessings to me." What a wonderful letter that is. That pull on his heart by the Holy Spirit is why this ministry exists: to turn hearts to the Savior.

From His Heart has been broadcasting in English all these years, but we want to expand our reach to partner with Pray.com to help translate our daily radio and weekly TV programs into Spanish and Portuguese. That's about three quarters of a billion people that can be reached. This is a formidable task to actually accomplish, and it'll take considerable resources to produce and distribute. We need your help.

For your gift today of any amount to help us, we'd like to say thank you by sending you Pastor Jeff's inspiring series, The Land of the Giants, and the booklet, When You Don't Like Yourself. To get these resources and help us, thank you for sending it today by calling 866-40-BIBLE (866-40-BIBLE) or go to fromhisheart.org and request The Land of the Giants series in the format of your choice, along with the popular booklet, When You Don't Like Yourself.

We don't have enough words to truly thank you. This ministry exists because of you and those who help us to bless others around the world. Thank you very, very much.

Now let's get back to today's message, part one of the lesson called The Giant of Insecurity. Here again is Pastor Jeff.

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Now, in 1994, there was a book, a notebook that was sold at auction for $30.8 million. Bill Gates bought it. It's like chump change to Bill Gates, but it was the most expensive book ever purchased. $30.8 million, 72 pages, the writings of Leonardo da Vinci from the 16th century. That's how old that notebook is. And so Bill Gates gladly paid $30.8 million for that work of Leonardo da Vinci.

Now get this. It wasn't worth $30.8 million because of the ink. It wasn't worth that because of the drawings. It wasn't even worth that because of the scientific ideas that were presented in it. It's worth $30.8 million because of the author. That's why it was so valuable, because that was from the hand of Leonardo da Vinci, the master.

Listen, you are created by God. You are a God original. And because you're a God original, the Bible says you're his workmanship. We can feel very good about the fact that we were created by God, a God original. You know why evolution and natural selection and this idea that you just came from some kind of primordial soup is such a damaging idea? Because if that is true, then you are not worth anything. You're on par with a fly, with a cockroach. But the Bible makes it clear that God created you different from any other of his creation. He created you in his image. As it says in First Corinthians, man is the image and glory of God. So your worth is to be rooted in God, not in self.

Secondly, your worth is to be understood in his love for you. God has tremendous love for you. John 13:1 says, "Jesus, having loved his own who were in the world, loved them to the end." He loved them to the utmost. This is the last night with his guys, and he loved them with the utmost love. All his love is being poured out in this time with the guys, Thursday night before his arrest and crucifixion.

Hey, we understand our worth through the love of God. Now notice this: God doesn't love you; he doesn't love me because you and I are valuable. We're valuable because he loves us. He has chosen to love us. He's chosen to put his image upon us. The Scripture says very clearly in John 13:1 that Jesus loved his own to the utmost. It says in John 15:9, "Just as the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Abide in my love." Now how much does the Father love Jesus? Jesus says, "Just as he has loved me, that's how much I love you. Abide in my love."

And then in his great high priestly prayer in John chapter 17, he says in verse 23, "I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you have loved me." How much does the Lord love you? God the Father loves you—little old you. He loves you as much as he loves Jesus. That's what John 17:23 teaches us. That's tremendous that God would love me like that. But he does. And when you understand that you are loved by the King, as the song says, then it makes my heart want to sing.

Wow. He doesn't love me because I'm valuable. I am valuable because he loves me. And while I was yet a sinner, Christ died for me. See, the real test of value is how much will someone pay? What are they going to pay? Because that determines value. Sometimes you'll have some kind of sporting event or some kind of concert, and the ticket prices just start to go up and up and up because people see that event as so valuable that they can sell a seat at the football game, Super Bowl, or whatever. And it's, you know, I spent $25,000 on this seat. And you think, that's insane. Who would spend that? Well, it's somebody that thought it was worth that.

How much did the Lord spend on you and on me? For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life, knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood as of a lamb, unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. Your worth is understood in his love for you, and then your worth is understood in his acceptance of you.

I love Ephesians 1:6. In the New King James, it says, "To the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he made us accepted in the Beloved." Accepted in the Beloved. Who's the beloved? It's Jesus. Jesus is the beloved. And when I accept him, the Father accepts me, and I'm accepted in the Beloved. And nothing will change that.

See, we tend to get into a performance-based acceptance with God, and we think, you know, if I'm performing well and I'm doing this thing called the Christian life well, and there are no glaring sins in my life, and I'm having my quiet time and I'm doing all the things I'm supposed to do and I'm not missing a prayer time, then God really loves me. But if I'm not doing that, then the Lord doesn't love me anymore. He doesn't accept me anymore.

One thing that is so freeing to know: God does not accept you on the basis of you. He accepts you on the basis of Jesus, who is the beloved. The moment that I receive Christ, he receives me. God looks at me as I am in Christ, and he accepts his Son. So I am accepted in the beloved. And nothing can change that. That's why when you're saved, you're saved forever because you're accepted in Jesus.

I like to play golf. It's really the only sport I can play anymore. I'm just kind of broken down—an old high school jock who used to love to play basketball. Can't play that anymore. And racquetball? Can't play that anymore. Touch football? Can't play that anymore. Baseball? Never could play that; wasn't any good at that. So I've started to play golf. I'm horrible at golf. You know, when God created me in his image, he didn't give me the golf gene. He gave it to other people. He didn't give it to me.

I remember playing golf with Todd Williams, who was the superintendent of Pleasant Grove a few years ago. Todd and I became good friends, and he was a really good player. He got the golf gene when God created him. So we would play together, and I always got a lot of strokes per dollar. That's how I did it. You know, you always hit that score that has three digits, and that's not good in golf. But after a round, Todd would often say this to me: "Well, Jeff, good news is you're still saved."

Yeah, I guess that's good news. Thanks, Todd. Really encouraging me. But, you know, here's what he's saying: "You know what? You played terrible." And guys know, and girls too, if you play golf, you know that golf is an embarrassing game. It's really embarrassing when you're on the first tee and there are people around. You're just like, "You guys either need to leave or close your eyes because I'm getting ready to hit." If you dribble one or whiff one or knock it in the lake, you know, 10 yards to the right, whatever it might be, I mean, it's embarrassing.

That kind of a sport can make you feel like you're worthless. You're no good at golf. Well, you might not be any good at golf, but that doesn't have anything to do with your worth. Your worth doesn't have anything to do with that game. God's acceptance of you doesn't have anything to do with your golf score. Praise the Lord. He just accepts you the moment that you accept Jesus.

And hey, I can feel good about myself. Why? Because I have infinite worth. Jesus knew who he was. He knew he was the Son of the Father, and He was secure in that. Believe the truth that you have infinite worth.

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Today you heard part one of the message "The Giant of Insecurity," part of Pastor Jeff's seven-lesson series "The Land of the Giants: How to Deal with Your Biggest Problems." This is our thank you gift for your support this month to From His Heart, along with the popular booklet "When You Don't Like Yourself."

To get these resources, call 866-40-BIBLE (866-40-24253) or go to fromhisheart.org. Know that when you support From His Heart, you are truly helping touch the world with these types of messages that encourage us spiritually, practically, and eternally.

I'm Larry Nobles, and we trust that you'll join us tomorrow. Don't miss the conclusion to "The Giant of Insecurity." That's Friday on From His Heart.

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There is true, There is love. There is hope that you always dream of love he can heal every scars of true real love, real hope from his heart.

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From His Heart is the listener-supported broadcast ministry of Dr. Jeff Shreve, speaking the truth in love to a lost and hurting world.

Remember that no matter what, God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.

Find out about that when you go to fromhishheart.org.