Placing your faith in God can help free you from your fear.

Unknown speaker: 00:01 The other day I asked my dad to make me a sandwich. What did he say? Abracadabra, you are a Sandwich.

Unknown speaker: 00:19 The other day I was sitting on the couch, and my dad came up to me and he said, why is your nose not 12 inches long? Because then it would be a foot.

Unknown speaker: 00:41 This morning at breakfast. My Dad came up to me, and told me that he dreamt he was a muffler, and he woke up, exhausted, exhausted.

Unknown speaker: 01:02 I asked my dad his best dad joke, and he said, you. I know, but at least you're not a sandwich.

Doyle Jackson: 01:36 Awesome. I know those guys are going to be okay. We have them in counseling. You can clearly tell they need some. Alright? It's a great Father's Day, I'm glad you can be here with us. If this is your first time at The Church Next Door, I just want to tell you, this is a great place. We love to have fun. That's why Super Games is here. We just believe that a church can be one of the best places in your life to come and get to know people, and do life together. And that's why we're doing Father's Day the way we are. Hang around afterwards, you can challenge one another to Putt Putt golf, or a shoot off at the basketball hoop, and you can definitely have a root beer float, or an orange float. Or you can do what I did, and mixed both together, and it was all good. I'm telling you what, it's all good stuff.

Doyle Jackson: 02:23 Well, welcome to The Church Next Door. We've been doing this study on Fearless, and this is our last weekend of that. We've been talking about what would it be like for you and I to have less fear in our life, and to have more hope, have more love, have more peace, have more room in our life. See, what we know is this, when you have fear in your life, it tends to keep you from something else. It binds you, it holds you back, it paralyzes you. And so what we're trying to do is to remove some of the fear, get rid of it, to make room for some other good stuff. And so if you would, I want to invite you, you can get out your phones and follow along on the app, or pull out the notes.

Doyle Jackson: 03:03 There's some scriptures there that we're going to look at, that I think will be really helpful. Well, one of the things that I've learned about fear is this, generally in my life when I have been fearful, alright, when fear has arisen in my life, it's because I thought I had to take care of it myself. When I've thought that I had to solve my own problem, that I was the key to my solution, sometimes that's brought fear in my life. Because I knew what I was facing seemed greater than me. And what I know is this, is that there's something more in this world than just me, and that's what I've learned about fear. I've told you that I've had a couple people that have been kind of my mentors, and my heroes, when it comes to fear. One is my grandfather, my grandpa Davidson. The other is my dad, my dad George Jackson, he has been so good to teach me not to be afraid, to challenge me, and to get me involved in his life, and to do life with him from a very small age. He asked me to help him, he was a veterinarian by trade, and so he would invite me to go with him on calls, or to help him and to to hold the animals. Alright?

Doyle Jackson: 04:16 Now this is kind of an old reference, but some of you will need to Google it today. Years and years ago, when I was a kid, there was this TV show that was on on Sunday nights. But you need to know, this is back when we only had four stations. Alright? And one of them was PBS, so that's all I'm going to say about the four stations. Alright? And on Sunday nights there was this TV show, and it was called Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. Alright? Thank you, several people know what I'm talking about. Well, on Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, it was like the beginning of what you and I would call the National Geographic Movement of today. And every week Mutual of Omaha, this insurance company, would take you to some exotic place in the world, and introduce you to nature. Alright? And then I guess they wanted you to buy insurance, I still don't get that connection. But I do know this, every week they had this one, forgive me, mature gentleman with gray hair. Alright? And then there was this young guy named Jim, and the mature guy would describe the situation, but Jim was the one out there wrassling the alligator, pulling anacondas out of the lake, you know having to grab a water buffalo, and pull them to the ground. And I was like always amazed, I mean they're in Africa. Okay? And somehow they have fashioned a car seat on the front bumper of a jeep, and they're flying across the African plain at 90 miles an hour, Jim is hanging out there with no shoes on. Could they not afford to buy Jim shoes? You know what I'm saying? At least gym shoes, right? Dad joke, get it. Alright? And then, you know, Jim comes diving off, grabs the water buffalo or whatever, and rascals it to the ground. I had a very clear knowledge growing up that my dad wanted me to grow up to be Jim. He always put me in between him, and the animal, you know what I'm saying?

Doyle Jackson: 06:16 But this is what he taught me, he taught me how to hold those animals so that they wouldn't get hurt, and I wouldn't get hurt, and he wouldn't get hurt. And I can tell you to this day, I know how to grab a hold of a horse. You grab the halter, I lean in with my hip, right against their shoulder on the front end, and I can guarantee you that horse will never harm me. I know how to hold that animal, I know how to do that. And what my dad taught me was this, he taught me how to live in the safe place, if I would follow his instructions. You know what I mean? He challenged me, just listen to me, listen to me son, and you'll be perfectly fine. And yet I always still remember Mutual of Omaha, and Jim, you know what I'm saying.

Doyle Jackson: 06:58 But God, God invites you to that, that is what God does. He invites you into a relationship with him. The whole reason we celebrate Jesus, is because Jesus stepped into our world, he walked among us. He got to be in fellowship with us, so we could know God, and have a relationship with God. When you and I open up the Bible, the reason that Christians, the reason that men and women, read the Bible to this day is they want to get to know God. And they want to understand this relationship to God, and let me just tell you this, just because you have the Bible on an app, doesn't mean you're reading it. Right? Just because I have a bible...But what God invites us to, is to get to know him through his word. In this Bible, in the word of God, it introduces you to God and his plan. And how he has always loved humanity, how he's always wanted a relationship with us, and how he's invited us to be in relationship with him.

Doyle Jackson: 07:59 Now in the in the Bible, it tells us the story of God's people, Israel and how he wanted to have a relationship with them, and all humanity. And in the midst of their story, they kind of get sideways, and he says, it's okay, I'm going to bring you back and deal with them. And in the book of Isaiah, he reminds them of his plan for their life. I want to read you these verses because it's so powerful. It's from Isaiah chapter 41, beginning in verse eight, he says, "But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend." See God is talking to them about how he loves them, and how they're his friend, and that they're his beloved, and they're chosen. Okay? "I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners, I called you." You may say, yeah, but I'm not Jewish, I'm not. I'm not part of that family. No, no, no, the New Testament, what Jesus said, is if you have faith in God, then you are part of Abraham's family. Just If you begin to believe that God exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him, then you shift in your direction towards him. That makes you part of his chosen people. He says, all you have to do is recognize me. All you have to do is begin to believe in me. All you have to do is love me. All you have to do is just wants me, and you've got me. Doesn't matter where you live, the farthest corners of the earth.

Doyle Jackson: 09:39 Halfway through verse 9, "I said, you are my servant. I have chosen you, and have not rejected you." Please listen to that. Please hear that today. You have not been rejected. You have not been rejected. I know Father's Day can be hard, I know that dads are not perfect, and dads are gone, and dad's pass away, and we have to make it beyond that. I get that. But what God says, is I will be your heavenly father. I will be your heavenly father, if you will just grab a hold of that, and believe in me.

Doyle Jackson: 10:19 Verse 10, "So do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." What God says is this, if you'll just believe in me, if you will just begin to give an inclination in your heart, I might be interested in a relationship with you, God, if you would consider that. If you'll just begin to stretch towards God in your mind and your heart, in whatever way, he says, I'll put my hand right out there for you, I'll give you my hand, I want to take you by the hand. See, that's why Jesus stepped into our world, to take us by the hand, to help us feel the flesh and the blood, for you and I to know that the God that we serve is not a distant God. He's not just an imagination, he's a real God, he's a god that knows the pains and the evils, the heartache, the sorrow, the difficulties of this life.

Doyle Jackson: 11:36 This past summer, last year, we took a group of people to Israel. And after we were done with the trip, Jennifer and I stayed for a few days, just to spend some time with my mom and dad. And if you're interested going to Israel, we're going to do it again next year, mark it down. Let me know as soon as possible, we'll get you on the list, to help you make that happen if you want to. But this is what I remember about last summer's trip. It's about 100 degrees, and we're staying in my mom and dad's apartment. And we decided we would just go get something cool to drink at a little coffee, like shop, down the street from their apartment, and we said, let's just walk down there. And I remember as I was walking along, I just said, I'm going to hold my dad's hand. I reached out and grabbed my dad's hand, and the reason I did was, I still know what my daddy's hand feels like when I was a little guy. You know what I'm saying? My Dad has always had big hands, bigger than my hands. I actually think I know my dad's hands better than I know my own hands. I think if you asked me to draw a picture of my dad's hands, I could do that in my mind, but I'm not sure I could draw a picture of my own hands. Because I have a picture of my dad's hands. When I think of my dad's hands, they mean so much to me. I mean my dad's hands, they represent the living that he provided for me as a kid. Let me tell you what, as far as I'm concerned, there's nothing better than being a dad that's a veterinarian, because you get to do grotesque things with your hands. Alright? And he let me, you probably don't want to shake my hand if you knew where this has been. Alright? I can promise you of that. Alright? There are things that I've touched, that you ought not touch, and I've survived. I think about my dad's hands, and I think about how he would hold my hand. I also think about how my dad taught me with my hands. You know what I'm saying? He would get in there, and he would teach me how to work, and he used his hands. And he wanted me to learn how to use my hands, and he wanted me to participate in life, he wanted me to have a hands on life. I think about my dad's hands, and I know that he corrected me and disciplined me with his hands. When I think about my dad's hands, I still know what my dad's hands look like when he worships God. I know what it looks like to see my dad lift his hands to God, and to worship him, because he wanted me to worship God. And he worshiped God, it was just natural for him, but I can still see that.

Doyle Jackson: 14:18 I know what it is for my dad to fold his hands and pray. We used to teach kids to folds their hands and pray. Some people have come under the conclusion that we do that, just to keep the kids from touching other people and misbehaving. It's not, it's so that they can learn that their heavenly father wants to take their hand. When you fold your hands. it's so you can take your heavenly father's hands. You bow your head, so you can focus on him, and let him know you have my complete attention heavenly father, I love you. My Dad taught me that with his hands. My Dad taught me so much with his hands. I remember him, you know, peeling out a $20 bill, and handing it to me, and say, hey, here's some money. Who knows? You might just need it. He blessed me with his hands, you see. And when I think of my heavenly father, that helps me bridge the gap. It doesn't mean my earthly father was perfect, it just means I want you to know your heavenly father wants to invite you, he says, I want you to take my righteous right hand. Doesn't matter how bad the experiences in this world have been, with the people that you've had around you. I want you to know, I'm for you. I take your hand. And your notes, I put it this way, I said, if you live your life, fear believes I'm alone, but faith knows God is with me. Fear believes I'm alone, but faith knows God is with me. See, God wants to take your hand, he wants to be a comfort to you, he wants to be a comfort to you.

Doyle Jackson: 15:58 I got this great quote for you this week, a great guy wrote it, me. It says, fearless women, men, and young people know, they are not alone. Trust grows out of a faithful relationship with the living God. When they see the sunrise, they know his goodness. The stars at night say, I have you covered in my love. God is with me. If you can just cultivate that awareness in your heart, in your life every day. Just say, Oh yeah, the sun's up, God's with me. When you see the stars at night, he's got me covered. Know that God is with you. Now, when Jesus stepped into this world, he was on a mission to introduce you and I to God, the father. The reason he gave up heaven, the reason that Jesus laid down his life. Please remember this. When Jesus asks you to follow him, he does not ask you to die, he does not want you to die for him. He does ask you to lay down your life for him. Now, why would he do that? Because he laid down his life. He had a life of heaven, he had a life of eternity, and what Jesus did, he says, I'm going to give up heaven and eternity, so I can walk among you so that you can get a taste, just an inkling...You know how when they give you them tiny little appetizers, girly type of appetizers? Oh my gosh, I look at them and I'm like, you are torturing me. I want you to know something. That's all Jesus' 33 years of life here was, because you and I couldn't handle the full dose. And he's trying to prepare for a life where we know him in his completeness. Okay? And as you take his hand, and you do life with him, it's going to get better and better and better and better. And so Jesus spent 33 years doing that.

Doyle Jackson: 18:05 Now, the last three years of his life, he called some men and women around him, to be his disciples. So they could know, so they could share the message, and that's what you and I've got to this day. And he's done this for three years, and then the Bible tells us, that on the night before he gave his life for us, he met with the disciples, he had dinner with them. And in that dinner, he served what we call communion to this day, bread and grape juice to remind us of him. But on that night, he took his hands, and he washed their feet. And he did that, because he wanted us to know that the number one thing is to serve. See, when Jesus laid down his life for us, what it means is...Did he die for us? Yes. He's not asking you to die. He's not asking you to die for him. He's asking you to lay down your life for him. That means you need to serve somebody else, if you are not serving somebody else so that they can experience that foot washing, hands on, love of God. You need to, because you're missing out, you're missing out. After he washes their feet, he looks at him across the dinner table, and he says, guys, I got some great news, I'm leaving. We just got started. Peter's like, I just got to walk on water not long ago, I haven't finished my ski lessons. You know? And I want you to look at what Jesus says, because he's trying to help us to understand, that the way to a fearless life, the way to life, is a person. It's not religious.

Doyle Jackson: 19:57 God is inviting you into his presence, every way, everyday to take us. He says, a fearless life comes through trust. It's right here. John 14:1, it says, "Do not let your hearts be troubled." Stop there, I got to tell you something. Why does Jesus said, don't let your hearts be troubled? Because he's trying to teach you and I that we have control over our hearts. You have the capacity to stop angst, anguish, fear, anxiety, whatever it is, you have the ability to stop it, before it gets into your heart and goes deep within your soul. It impacts the way you think, and the way you live your life. You have that capacity. How do I know that? Because my mom and dad would look at me and say, you better adjust your attitude boy. No, this is how I know it, Jesus taught us this. See, can I tell you what happens? You and I live in a world that says, I cannot control my feelings. That's not true. How do I know that? This is how I know. I know this without a shadow of a doubt, you can be in an all on, brawl fight, vocally in your home, right? And I give you a phone call. You know the answer to this one, don't you? And suddenly your voice switches like, hello pastor, it's a beautiful day outside, what can I do for you? Does that mean you're a hypocrite? No, it just means that you have control over your emotions. We live in a world that wants to tell you that you are just a blob of emotions, and your emotions control you. Jesus said, no, don't let your hearts be troubled, don't let fear have its way in your life, don't let anger have its way in your life, don't let depression have its way in your life, don't let...you name it. You have a choice of what happens to your soul, you are the gatekeeper. It says, take every thought captive, that's what the scripture says. And Jesus is trying to tell them, we're about to go through some really harsh days boys, and whatever you do, do not lose sight of the goal. The goal is for all humanity to know that God loves them, and they can take my hand. Okay?

Doyle Jackson: 22:25 Read on with me. He says, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. (How do you keep your hearts from being troubled?) Trust God, trust also in me." Then he says, "In my father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, I would have told you. I'm going there to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me. That you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I'm going." So Jesus is saying, you've got to keep your focus on what's ahead of you. And I'm telling you, what you're seeing every day, right now, don't worry about it. There's something ahead of you. And sometimes you and I have those kind of days. Sometimes you and I have to put our focus on what's beyond what you're experiencing right now, and not let that control your emotions. Now I realize some of us, we have broken emotions. You know what I mean by that? We've had a traumatic experience, someone's done us wrong, life has hit us wrong, we have had a bad, you name it. And because of that, our emotions get broken. We can't read it quite right, we're not seeing through a clear lens. The reasons that we use drugs and alcohol, why? To mask our emotions, to cover it up, to try to fix that's which is broken. It won't work. They will not. But this is what I can tell you from experience, Jesus can fix broken emotions. How do I know that? Because the psalmist. You know this one too, you know this one, the 23rd psalm, "He restoreth my soul." Your soul is something God can heal, you have to invite him to. But some of us, we like the broken emotion, because we just like the craziness that goes with it. And I'm just telling you, God wants to heal that. And Jesus is saying to them, guys, you know the way. He saying, I am. Look at what it says here, "Thomas said to him, Lord, we don't know where you're going, so how can we know the way? And Jesus answered, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one (say no one.) comes to the father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my father as well. From now on, you do know him, and have seen him."

Doyle Jackson: 24:50 These verses are so important to me. The reason they're so important to me, is I grew up in a Christian home, okay? And I learned about Jesus from an early age, and so I prayed the prayer to invite Jesus into my heart. And I learned how to pray, I learned how to give, I learned how to serve God, I did all this stuff, but then as I got older, I began to have doubts. I began to say, man, am I really all in with God? Because I knew, still, I was not perfect inside. I knew that inside of me there were times when I would get upset about something. There were times when I would think, in my own heart, things that someone who loves God is not supposed to think. And I would get confused by that, and then I'd be at a service, maybe a church service or a gathering of Christians, and someone would talk about this. And I would begin to have questions about my life and my soul, my relationship with God. And one day, I was listening, and this guy, he says, let me just explain it to you. I'm going to explain it to you just as simple as ABC, just as simple as ABC. He said, if you want to take God's hand, if you want to give your life to God, it's just as simple as this. Number one, you have to admit that you are not perfect, now God calls that a sinner. But if you know, if you've ever had a lustful thought in your mind, if you've ever been selfish, if you've ever gotten angry, if you've ever driven on a major highway and gotten upset because someone got in front of you, then you're imperfect. You're imperfect, and only God can heal that for you. Only God, and you have to admit it., you have to admit that you're not perfect. And secondly, he said, you have to believe. You have to believe in your heart that God, that if he loved you, he would send his son to give you the message. So you have to admit, you have to believe, and then finally, number three, you have to confess. You have to confess Jesus, as your Lord. Now this is what he said. He said, what that means is you have to say, God, I've been leading my life, and this is how I've gotten to be such a mess. And if you would be willing, I would like to confess, I want you to be the leader, the Lord, the king of my life, from now on.

Doyle Jackson: 27:18 And then he led us in a prayer, and you know I'd probably prayed that prayer before, but on that day I prayed that prayer out loud with that guy, and I knew that the battle in my mind of doubts about my relationship with God, got sealed up. Now, some of you may be like me, some of you, you may have been in church all your life. And you, you've had that waffling. I want to invite you to pray that prayer with me today again. Now, some of you, this could be your first day to church, and you've never heard that message before. But you say, man, I'd like to say that prayer, I need to take God's hand, I'm good with that. Then you can say that prayer with me right now. This is what I'd really like, I'd like for everybody in the room to say this prayer. I mean, I'd like to challenge you all to say it with me aloud right now, but if you don't want to no pressure, okay? But I just want to lead you in a prayer. Just repeat after me, say this with me today. Say, heavenly father, I admit it, I am not perfect. I am what you call a sinner, and I need help. And I believe that Jesus, is the help I need. He died on a cross, he rose on the third day. And I want to confess today, I would love, I would love to have Jesus in my heart, as the king, and the leader, from this day forward. Amen. That's how you take a hold of God's hand. And that's what Jesus was trying to explain to the disciples on that night. No, he didn't lead them through that prayer, but he said, guys, you know me, you've held my hand, you've seen the miracles that have been done, you've watched it. And everything I've done, everything I've done, is so that you would know what the father is.

Doyle Jackson: 29:15 So he goes into this conversation about, how I, and the father are one. Listen to that, it goes like this, "Philip said, Lord, just show us the father, and that will be enough. Jesus answered, don't you know me Philip, even after I've been among you such a long time, anyone who has seen me, has seen the father. How can you say, show us the father. Don't you believe that I am in the father, and that the father is in me? The words I say to you, are not just my own, rather it is the father, living in me, who is doing this work. Believe me when I say, that I am in the father, and the father is in me, or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth. Anyone who has faith in me, will do what I've been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so the son may bring glory to the father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the father, and he will give you another counselor to be with you forever, the spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him, nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you, and we'll be in you. I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you." What Jesus is trying to say here is this. This has been God, the father's, plan from the beginning. And he sent me to deliver the message of love. You don't have to be afraid in this world anymore. You don't have to live on your own. And when you take God's hand like we just did. When you say, Okay God, I accept your leadership, that means now you're going to follow him, and he begins to direct your life, he begins to open up opportunities for you, he begins to show you a new way of life.

Doyle Jackson: 31:25 And there are three things, there are three blessings of knowing Jesus. I just want you to see these real quickly. Number one, you get to do life like Jesus. You get to do life like Jesus. What Jesus was reassuring the disciples, Peter, and these guys that are there, and Philip and Thomas in that room that night. He was saying, just because I go away doesn't mean that the party's over. Just because I go away be doesn't mean that this is going to end. It's going to keep going through you, to other people. If you're one with me and the father, you can give that away to other people. It's not over. And you know what? He says, guys, you're going to do cooler things than I ever did. You're going to do cooler things than, ever I did. When you think about it, you today, on your Facebook page. Can touch more lives, if you work at it, than Jesus ever did in his earthly ministry. Because you have access to millions of people.

Doyle Jackson: 32:29 Number two, Jesus says, you will have full access. The way I can talk to God, and get my prayers answered, you can have that, and you can also have obedience. The same way that Jesus obeyed the father, that he knew what the father wanted to do, and had the power to obey the father. See, this is the problem. Most of us have tried to obey God in our own strength, and couldn't do it. But once you make him the Lord of your life, you now welcome his strength, and he gives you the ability to obey.

Doyle Jackson: 33:00 And lastly, and I want you to know, this is not the least. He says, I'm going to send a counselor, I'm going to send the Holy Spirit to come alongside you, and help you. The Holy Spirit is going to guide you into the truth. The Holy Spirit is going to empower you to be my witness. The Holy Spirit is going to give you the gifts that you need. Just welcome, welcome, everything that I have for you. And see what happens is this, most of us stop with taking God's hand. And what God wants you to do, is don't just take my hand, do life with me, live in my presence every day.

Doyle Jackson: 33:39 Today is our declaration, okay? That the fear is gone, and that we're serving God. The worship team is going to come back out, and we're going to sing again, that song we just sang. It's called, We Will Not be Shaken, and I want to invite you to stand with them and with me, and just sing this aloud. Just sing these words, and let them impact your soul. Please stand. They're getting their gear on, and by the time you get up, there'll be ready. Alright? And we're going to sing this song. I want you to sing it from the depths of your heart. Let it be your confession right now. I'm not going to be shaken anymore, I'm not going to let the life hit me hard anymore, I'm not going to continue to be beat back by the situations of life. Just give your heart to God. Sam will lead you, I will not sing in the microphone, I will sing, but not in the microphone.

Sam: 35:09 (Song plays)

Doyle Jackson: 37:36 Last thing I want to do with you is a final confession. Okay? I want to read it to you, so you can decide if you want to say it, it's just a conversation with God. It says, Jesus, thank you for introducing me to our heavenly father. I no longer have to be afraid. I choose a new way of life today, following you. I leave behind my past. I trust you. I want you to know something, that has been my experience, that is the key to a fearless life. I'm not telling you, you won't get to do a lot of things. I'm telling you, you'll get to do some amazing things, but you won't be afraid because God is with you. If you want to hold your neighbor's hand, I give you permission. Let's say this aloud together. Jesus, thank you for introducing me to our heavenly father. I no longer have to be afraid. I choose a new way of life today, following you. I leave behind my past. I trust you. Amen. God bless you. Awesome. Hey, we want you to know we have root beer floats outside, some games for you to do. And if you would like to be a part of the outreach this summer, there's a team in the lobby. They have computers, they'll help you connect to see the different outreach opportunities, they'll help you connect with the neighborhood. God bless you. If you're a guest, stop by, and see the team at the welcome center.



Recorded in Columbus, Ohio.