~ LISTENING CENTER ~

Date: October 6, 2019 Title: Faith v. Fear Passage: Numbers 13:25-14:9 Speaker: Ervin Stutzman Download Audio

* When we come to hard circumstances, we have two choices: Faith or Fear. * Many of our fears are unreasonable which cause us to do unreasonable things. Fear is caused by several factors. First, we fall into fear when we focus on the obstacles. Fear can be a result of us being confronted with different people and/or cultures. Fear can result when are focused on, or stuck in, the past. (Focusing on the past presents an unreasonable fear for the future.) Finally, and probably the greatest problem, is a lack of faith in God. * Faith conquers fear. * Fear results in depression (the people wept all night), misery and a desire to run away. However, you cannot run away from difficulties ... they will follow you! * Fear causes us to miss out on blessings and sadly, we don't even know it sometimes. When we choose fear instead of faith we miss out on blessings. * When we step out on faith, trusting God, we get to see what God can do through a willing vessel. True faith is faith that is focused in the faithfulness of God; that God will do something. God may not act according to our plans, but God will do it. * Finally, when we choose fear instead of faith it will affect our children. * Faith brings blessing, peace, joy, hope, and good works. * * Are you walking in fear or faith? * * Ervin Stutzman is a representative of Southeast Church Extension. (southeastchurches.org) * Southeast Church Extension exists to "Bring Ministry to Pastors and Churches" by helping churches advance church planting, providing helpful counsel and ministry training in the southeastern USA. The staff and board of SCE bring over 125 years of pastoral experience to this vital ministry. We extend a hand in ministry to pastors, churches and learning intitutions in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, S. Carolina, N. Carolina, the eastern portions of Tennessee and Kentucky, and the mountain areas of Virginia. SCE works with Bible colleges, institutes, seminaries and with churches to train young pastors by offering internships and mentoring, and by participation in missions conferences and guest speaking engagements. SCE works with churches all along the growth spectrum by providing church health conferences and training, participating in missions conferences, church assessment, pulpit supply and even facility advice. SCE is a member of IFCA International, a network of 2,000 pastors, churches and Christian organizations around the globe, and is the extension ministry of IFCA Int. officially endorsed by the Gulf States, Atlantic SE and Cumberland regionals.