1. Acts 9:10-17

2.  Scripture is full of people who faced their fears head-on.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.  Daniel.  The Apostles.

3. Jesus asks us to face our fears.

4. Acts 9:10-17

5. Jesus asks us to face our fears.

6.  You cannot go to heaven if you refuse to face some fears. the cowardly  “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Rev 21:8).  Some people refused to overcome fear.  Peter.  Jewish leaders (Jn 12:42-43).

7. Do you have fears you need to overcome?

8.  Are you afraid of becoming a Christian?  What are people going to think?  Jesus asks you to face that fear.  “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple” (Lk 14:26).  Jesus must come first.

9.  Are you afraid to share your faith?  What if someone gets angry?  Jesus asks you to face that fear.  Ananias had to.  How do you overcome fear in evangelism? I am with you always  “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt 28:19-20).  Jesus promises to be right there with you!

10.  Are you afraid of being different?  What are my friends going to think about me?  Jesus asks you to face that fear.  Christians are “saints” (Acts 9:13).  “Saints” are people who are different from the rest of the world.  The majority of people are going to be lost.  “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt 7:13-14).  Why would you want to be like everyone else?

11. Jesus asks us to face our fears Where would this congregation be if we fully understood that “Jesus asks us to face our fears”?