Sunday October 18, 2020
2 Timothy 1:7- “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”
INTRODUCTION: Today we’re going to open this new series talking about being Free From the Fear of Intimacy.
Synonyms of Intimacy- Belonging, chumminess, closeness, familiarity, inseparability and nearness.
Antonym of Intimacy- distance
Many people “keep their distance” because of pain or lack of trust.
YOUR PAIN IS REAL!
Job 19:19- “All my intimate friends detest me; those I love have turned against me.”
MY FEAR OF INTIMACY CAN MAKE ME
- Distant
Genesis 3:9-10- “Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”
WHAT ARE YOU HIDING BEHIND TODAY?
My fear of intimacy can make me distant! It can also make me
2. Defensive
Genesis 3:12-13- “The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?”
“The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.”
HOW DO I OVERCOME THE FEAR OF INTIMACY
- I’ve got to take a risk
I need to take a prayerful relational risk.
1 Peter 1:22- “You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.”
The Bible is calling us to closeness, intimacy, belonging! I’VE GOT TO TAKE THE RISK.
FEEL THE FEAR AND TAKE THE RISK. YOUR FEAR IS FALSE!
God hasn’t given you a spirit of fear!
It can be scary taking a risk but it’s scarier when you don’t risk!
1 Corinthians 13:7- (Love) “It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
1 John 4:18- “Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear…”
How do I overcome the fear of intimacy. Take the risk!
BUT BEFORE YOU TAKE THE RISK
2. Find security, acceptance, and intimacy in Jesus Christ
Matthew 22:37-39- “Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Romans 15:7- “Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.”
CONCLUSION: What you think is a risk isn’t really a risk when you surrender your life to Jesus Christ. In fact it’s the most safe and secure thing you can do. The real risk is saying no to Him today.
But when you open your heart to Christ and experience His love the door is open for you to begin to love and be loved by getting close with others.
Acts 2:42- “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.