Key Life Network

Steve Brown: You're a lot worse than you think you are. Let's talk about it on Key Life.

Matthew: If you're sick of guilt and manipulation and if you're looking for an honest and thoughtful presentation of biblical truth, you've come to the right place. This is Key Life with the founder of Key Life Network, Steve Brown. Keep listening for teaching that will make you free.

Steve Brown: Thank you, Matthew. If you've been listening, I was talking about some of the ways that we inappropriately tried to avoid fear. We pretend that what we fear doesn't exist. We hide from it. And then one of the ways I suggested is that you should fear something bigger than what you were fearing in the first place. Then I said yesterday, I fear what you're going to think about me if you read this book. But frankly, I fear God more than you do. And then some people say you can live the victorious Christian life. And if you pray enough and you're obedient enough and you're faithful enough, you can confront fear and defeat it.

The problem is I'm not that good. And my faith is sometimes lacking. Sometimes I'm not that obedient. Sometimes I fail. Not only that, I sometimes forget to pray. And that's when the monsters in the closet come out to get us. Roman Catholic Church includes priests who are formal commissioned exorcists. I watched the Exorcist and other films like it and have read a good deal about the work of exorcist. Almost always a part of their qualification is a high degree of purity and goodness. So I'll probably never be an exorcist and you probably won't either. I've quoted it so often that you probably can say it yourself.

It's from my late friend Jack Miller who said the essence of the Christian faith is two sentences. Cheer up, you're a lot worse than you think you are. And cheer up, God's grace is a lot bigger than you think it is. But I could probably never be an exorcist cuz I'm not good enough. And speaking of running, that's another way to deal with fear. The farmer facing the tornado noticed his son on his knees praying. And he turned to him and said, Run, son. A scared prayer ain't worth nothing. Well, I'm not sure that farmer is right about a scared prayer, but sometimes there is wisdom in running away from what we fear.

Relief may be temporary, but temporary is better than nothing. But listen. I've wasted enough time on this. Let me show you a better way. First in dealing with the lies that frighten us, repentance, believe it or not, is necessary. At the top of the list is a need of our repentance. Um of our violation of the first commandment. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Exodus 23. We put other gods before the one true God a lot. You've heard the sermons, but while they often refer to people and politics and preferences, uh we put before God they um they rarely mentioned that one of the main ways we put other gods before the real God is to believe the lies about the power of those other gods.

There's a presupposition here that should be considered. It's the importance of naming the demons that cause the fear, of owning them and taking their names to God. There's a great danger in pretending that we aren't afraid. It is said that one of Napoleon's generals found his legs shaking in fear before a battle. And he said, looking down at his legs, Shake, will you? Shake, will you? You would shake even more if you knew where I'm going to take you today. He knew and named his demon of fear before heading toward the battle. What frightens you?

Make two lists. Write down the things that should legitimately cause fear on the first list. On the second list, far longer and more detailed, is of everything that frightens you and uh has become in your life a false God. For instance, I'm afraid people will discover I'm not nearly as spiritual or as good as some may think. I have a friend who was with Billy Graham as they stood by his mother's deathbed. And she was in a coma. When she regained consciousness and asked, Billy Graham's mother had a shock look on her her face and almost immediately went back into a coma.

My friend Grady Wilson, who was there, said that Mr. Graham was depressed for days cuz he thought his mother had gone before God's throne and God had told her about her son's sins. I took strange comfort in knowing that even Billy Graham, a man I've always admired and loved, had to deal with the fear of discovery. Neither of us should have been afraid because the Bible is clear about the reality of our sins and failures. Mr. Graham's mother should not have been shocked. Mr. Graham should not have been afraid. And I should not be afraid either.

And do you know why? Because I am forgiven. I'm absolutely forgiven of every sin that I've committed, will commit or am committing now. I'm not afraid. You think about that. Amen.

Matthew: Thanks, Steve. If you're just joining us, we're studying the biblical truths that inspired Steve's most recent book, God's Not Mad at You. Tomorrow we'll continue delving into the unhealthy fear that we sometimes have about Satan and demons. Join us for that. Well, sometimes life is scary and hard. You could lose your job. You're dealing with past hurts. You're just exhausted. You you get the idea. We do just about anything to find true peace and contentment, right? Well, in a message from Philippians 4 titled How to Be Content Not, Steve teaches what works and what doesn't.

Take a listen to part of that message, then I'll be back to tell you about a special free offer. Here's Steve.

Steve Brown: Now let me tell you about my friend Paul. In the seventh chapter of 2 Corinthians uh Paul makes a reference to an incident that happened in the third missionary journey. Now you need to know the first and second Corinthians are a compilation of at minimum three different letters, maybe even a fourth. On the third missionary journey, Paul had gone to Corinth. He had spoken some things, truth to power, that needed to be said, and they were not happy with him, and he left. And then he got to Troas. And trust me on this, I've been there.

I've done this. I've got a pile of t-shirts. Paul gets to Troas and he says, Oh my, I wish I hadn't said that. I say that every time I preach. I don't believe I said that. They'll think I'm just irritating them because I don't like them. I could have been a little bit more gentle, a little wiser. I could have been softer and more pastoral and kind and more How could I do that? And so Paul sends Titus, his young friend, to Corinth to see if he can fix the problem. And Paul waits at Troas for Titus to show.

And he waits and he waits and he waits. And I can just I know Paul's a friend of mine. I'm just like him. And Paul said, Oh gosh. And he just broken empty. Can't sleep at night. He gets on a boat. He goes to Macedonia and continues with his work. Sadder but wiser. And then Titus shows up in Macedonia. And Titus goes, Hey, I love you, man. I think you're the best thing since sliced bread. If they were here, they'd pour Gatorade over your head. They think you are wonderful. You Oh, Paul. They have repented and they said for me specifically to say how much they loved you.

And then the seventh chapter of 2 Corinthians is where Paul goes, That is so good. Why? What was going on? He's insecure. That's what's going on. If you don't believe it, go to the 11th chapter of 2 Corinthians. That where Paul brags that he's better than everybody else. You say, No, no. He's more No, he's not. Now what he said is true cuz I believe in verbal plenary inspiration. But nevertheless, the people God uses for scripture are just like you. That why God can use you. And so Paul brags. He said, I've done this, and I've done this, and I've done this.

And then he stops in the text and says, I don't believe I'm saying this. I've got to be out of my mind. But I'm going to do it anyway. And he goes on until And he stops again. And he said, I can't believe I'm doing this. It isn't me. This is Well, it's not the Lord. It's me. And then he goes on and does it again. And then when you move into the 12th chapter, he's so human. He asks God to remove the thorn. What's the thorn? Well, it could be his insecurity. And God says, My power is made perfect in weakness.

You say, Steve, what are you bringing us up for? Cuz you ought to know. We're going to kill ourselves with this hero thing. We really are. We're all messed up. Look to the person next to you or the person in front of you. Uh don't look behind you cuz I'm insecure and sensitive and I think you're not listening. But look around. They look so together, don't they? I mean everything working. They got their Bibles open. If you've got yours and they don't have and they don't have theirs, you can feel self-righteous. But they do look together, don't they?

We've all worshipped. We church no less. Let me tell you about that person. They're just as screwed up as you are.

Matthew: Gentle listener, we would love to send you that complete sermon on CD for free. So call us right now at 1-800-KEY-LIFE. That's 1-800-539-5433. You can also email Steve at keylife.org to order that CD or go to keylife.org/contact to find our mailing addresses for the US and Canada. Again, ask for the free CD called How to Be Content Not. Before you go, if you've been blessed by the ministry of Key Life, would you help share that blessing with others through your financial support? Giving is easy. Just charge a gift on your credit card or include a gift in your envelope or give safely and securely by text.

Just whip out that phone and text Key Life to 28950 then follow the instructions. Key Life is a member of ECFA in the States and CCCC in Canada. And as always, Key Life is a listener-supported production of Key Life Network.