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Know Christ intimately,

Grow in Christ continually, and

Go for Christ daily

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Resistance
(Matthew 6:19-34)
Yearly Theme: “Goodness is… Glorious”
Series Title: “Beyond the Noise”
September 15th, 2024

Something to think about:

How many birds have ever been killed by a scarecrow?... None!
Then why are they so effective?... Fear.

As we continue our series today on the spiritual disciplines of solitude and silence, we come to a very powerful word – and feeling – that we all struggle with: Fear. Fear binds and imprisons a person like nothing else. Fear causes resistance, and resistance causes complacency, and complacency leads to apathy, and apathy ultimately leads to death.

Solitude and silence with GOD can stoke our deepest fears. Though this seems counterintuitive, being alone with GOD can conjure thoughts and feelings of inadequacy and vulnerability. To be in the presence of a perfect GOD, and having to face our own imperfections directly, can be very uncomfortable and disconcerting. As a result, the natural inclination for many people is to resist the disciplines of solitude and silence and being alone with the Father in heaven.

So, how do we overcome fear, and the resistance to be alone with GOD? Jesus helps us to unpack this in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:

Key Point: “Anxiety and worry are the vices that make us resistant to being alone in solitude and silence with GOD.”

Let’s take a look at three of the most common fears that we contend with that are inhibitors of our willingness to sit in silence with GOD:

· The fear of not ______ enough.

Matthew 6:19-20 (NLT), 19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

· The fear of not _____ enough.

Matthew 6:22-24 (NLT), 22 “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. 23 But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.

Something to take home:
An Indian fable talks about a mouse that was constantly in fear of a cat. So one day, a magician changed the mouse into a cat. But then the cat was afraid of a dog. So the magician changed the cat into a dog. But the dog was afraid of a tiger. So the magician changed the dog into a tiger. But then the tiger was afraid of a hunter. Finally, in exasperation, the magician said, “Be a mouse again, you have only the heart of a mouse and I cannot help you.”

Even with the heart of a mouse, you can step into the presence of GOD because of what Jesus Christ has done for you.[1] It takes faith, surrender, and confidence through Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life.

Have you learned to overcome the fears of not having enough, not being enough, and not being in control? Have you learned to press through the resistance of being alone with GOD and being vulnerable and transparent with Him? Remember, our doing comes out of our being. GOD desires for us to be with Him before He ever desires for us to do anything for Him or others. Push through the resistance, face your fear, and surrender to the loving presence of GOD.

Key Point: “Anxiety and worry are the vices that make us resistant to being alone in solitude and silence with GOD.”


[1] Hebrews 4:14-16.

In Matthew 6:19-34, Jesus, in His “Sermon on the Mount” puts into perspective the importance of not only storing up treasures in heaven rather than relying on material goods, He talks about the importance of not worrying.What are some things that you worry about?

How hos worry, fear, or anxiety affected you through the years?Has it kept you from doing things (important or otherwise)?Has it cause you to miss out on anything?Explain...

In this passage, Jesus says that a person cannot have two masters (i.e., GOD and money).Describe what Jesus means when He says this?How do people try and serve both, and what happens when they do?

Jesus wants people to learn to trust in GOD for everything in their life.How is it possible to do this?What is the result when a person doesn’t trust GOD in everything?

The closer we grow in our relationship with GOD, more trust is required.How does a person to grow in their trust in GOD?

Worry and anxiety are ways in which people doubt GOD.How have you allowed worry and anxiety to cripple your relationship with GOD?GOD always calls us into a closer and deeper friendship with Him.What does your relationship with GOD resemble (e.g., stranger, acquaintance, friend, all-in-all)?The more we trust Him, the closer we grow to Him.

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