Escape Room

Paul didn't didn't promise that God would get you out of your difficult situation. 

He did promise that God would give you peace during it that you won't fully understand.     

Philippians 4:6-7  (NLT)

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. 

Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 

7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.

His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Sometimes God calms the storm.  Sometimes God calms you.

1. Fear and doubt can consume your mind. Satan will attack your thoughts and your minds.

Psalm 13:2 New Living Translation (NLT)

2 How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
    with sorrow in my heart every day?

    How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

 2. Fear and doubt clouds your judgement. It makes you make bad decisions. Satan makes you think it's worse than it is. If you are mad at God, tell Him. Don't let frustration keep you from your purpose.

Jeremiah 15:18  (NLT)

18 Why then does my suffering continue?
    Why is my wound so incurable?
Your help (God) seems as uncertain as a seasonal brook,
    like a spring that has gone dry.”

John 12:42 New Living Translation (NLT)

42 Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue.

3.  Fear and doubt can control your life.

1 Kings 19:3  (NLT)

3 Elijah was afraid and fled for his life.

He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there.

  

4 Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day.

He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. 

“I have had enough, Lord,” he said. 

“Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”

Elijah was discouraged by the voices that he listened too.  He was attacked by Satan when he was...

   Hurt, Angry, Lonely, Tired = H.A.L.T. 

A misunderstanding is when people hear the same thing;however, they understand it differently.  

To learn someone, you've got to listen to someone whom you disagree with and hear them out, so you can learn.  

1. You've got to admit that you need help. 

2. You've got to convert fear into faith. 

(Fear causes you to flee.  Faith causes you to fight). 

A father brought his son to Jesus for healing, but doubted that He could do anything about it.

Mark 9:23-24  (NLT)

23 “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”

24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

  

God loves us in spite of our doubt.

Thomas doubted too, and Jesus came and found him in his doubts.

John 20 (NLT)

24 One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. 

25 They told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”

26 Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 

27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”

28 “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.

29 Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” 

Tell Jesus, I've doubted you, but I was wrong.  Please take my life and be my Lord and Savior. 

Notes from Jeremy Foster, Hope City Church

https://hopecity.com/sermons/escape-room-part-1/