Part 2: Insecurity

Synopsis of Bible Study 3/17/20

Delivered by Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III, D.Min.

Joshua 1:7-9
7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

I.          WHAT IS INSECURITY CAUSED BY?

1. Insecurity is to lack confidence about yourself. As a result, it causes you to have a sense of instability.
2. Insecurity can be caused by events like divorce, violence, abuse, comparing ourselves to others, and more.

II.          5 WAYS INSECURITIES SHOW UP

1. By Masking. – For example, you may say, “I am not enough”. You may pretend like you are something that you are not.
2. Being easily Influenced. – When you are not comfortable in your perspective, you yield to other people’s perspective.
3. You always see yourself as a victim. – Everyone is the enemy. You always find fault in others.
4. You resist Feedback from others. You have difficulty receiving criticism from others. Be careful of those who always want to tell you who they are over, but never who’s over them.
5. You are an obsessive People Pleasers. – Example: What if I don’t fit in?

III.          HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ARE INSECURE?

1. Self-Doubt Which Causes Hesitancy – You always look at what others are doing.
2. You Live Comparatively – You always compare what you are doing to what others are doing.
3. You Do Not Know Your Purpose – You live out other people’s dream for you.

IV.          HOW SATAN EXPLOITS OUR INSECURITIES

1 Peter 5:8  (NKJV) 8 Be [a]sober, be [b]vigilant; [c]because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

1. By Social Insecurity – You feel like all eyes is on you. You live with a level of low self-esteem. You have created a world that doesn’t exist, and you are imagining that everyone is against you.

Romans 12:2 NKJV – 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. – Don’t conform to this world. If you do, you become a prisoner of others perception and image of who you are.

1. By Professional Insecurity – That fear of losing a job.

Matthew 6:25-30 NKJV – 25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? – God will take care of you. We are God’s responsibility. God is not a dead-beat Dad.

1. Lay your hand on yourself and say, “I’m going to be straight”! Realize that you have value.

1. By Economic Insecurity – This comes from us wasting money. We waste money and make bad decisions.
   1. As a Ministry, a lot of us are good inside the building, but we have failed to prepare people for life on the outside.
      1. You have to have an emergency fund.
      2. Never put yourself in position where Satan can exploit you economically.
      3. Personal Insecurity – You wonder if you are going to make it.

V.          BIBLICAL EXAMPLES of Insecurities

1. Samson – Samson was exploited, because of his weakness. He met Delilah. His weakness was liking women of the enemy. The need for attention and the need to be important can mess you up. The devil will send people to exploit your weakness.
2. Saul – His was his attitude towards David. Comparative Living led to Saul’s insecurity. He won great battles but struggled with his attitude towards David. We call them haters (people that keep privately hate towards you).
3. Gideon – His attitude was towards himself. Judges 6:14-15 (NKJV) 14 Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?”15 So he said to Him, “O [a]my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”- Gideon said he was the least in his father’s house, even after God told him that he would have the victory.

1. Insecurity will cause you to have a negative attitude towards yourself.
2. Give yourself credit for the things you have survived. Many of you have survived cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, heartaches, etc… If you survived all of that, why wouldn’t you survive what you are going through now?

VI.          HOW DO YOU OVERCOME INSECURITY?

1. Let yourself fade away in the background and focus on Jesus Christ.

1. Luke 9:23 (NKJV) 23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross [a]daily, and follow Me.
2. Matthew 10:38 (NKJV) 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

1. Exchanging self-confidence for Christ confidence. When you deny yourself, you are truly free. Psalm 16:2 (NKJV) 2 O my soul, you have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.” – When you see the word Lord, just use the word over. We have to tap into the goodness of God to understand who he is.
2. Exchange Insecurity for Love – Be committed to prayer. Moses was told to tell Pharaoh to let his people go. Moses had a speech impediment and was worried that he couldn’t do what God asked him to do.
   1. Exodus 4:14-17 (NKJV) 14 So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and He said: “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And look, he is also coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15 Now you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you shall do. 16 So he shall be your spokesman to the people. And he himself shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God. 17 And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs.”- Rather than masking his insecurities, he took them to God. God helped him with this.

2. 1 John 5:15 (NKJV) 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
3. John 16:33 (NKJV) 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you [a]will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”-When you call it out according to his word, God hears you. Even when you don’t know what to say, the Holy Spirit will intercede for you
4. Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV) 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.- Don’t sit around and be anxious in your securities. Ask the Lord specifically for what you need.
   1. You have to walk in peace about this after you ask God for what you need. There is no sense made out of this season.
5. 1 Peter 4:19 (NKJV) 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator. – This is the time to keep doing good and serving God.
6. Luke 9:23 NKJV – 23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
7. Matthew 10:38 NKJV – 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
8. Psalm 16:2 NKJV – O my soul, you have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.”
9. Exodus 4:14-17 NKJV – 14 So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and He said: “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And look, he is also coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15 Now you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you shall do. 16 So he shall be your spokesman to the people. And he himself shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God. 17 And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs.”
10. 1 John 5:14 NKJV – 14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
11. 1 Peter 4:19 NKJV – 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

VII. THE TRUTH ABOUT INSECURITY REGARDING THE CHRISTIAN

We’re not like everyone else. We are a different bread of folk.

1. Christians are Very Secure
   Proverbs 3:21-26 NKJV – 21 My son, let them not depart from your eyes— Keep sound wisdom and discretion; 22 So they will be life to your soul And grace to your neck. 23 Then you will walk safely in your way, And your foot will not stumble. 24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. 25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; 26 For the Lord will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught. – You should be walking in the confidence of the Lord through this season. We are not going to be stuck in this season.
2. Christians Have Great Help
   1. Romans 8:31 NKJV – 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? If God is for you, who can be against you?
   2. Psalm 27:5 NKJV – 5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. – God has you in a safe place.
3. God is always at Your Side
   1. Psalm 23:4 NKJV – 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
   2. Matthew 28:20 NKJV – 20 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.” Amen.
   3. Hebrews 13:5-6 NKJV – 5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
4. The Remedy is Complete Trust and Confidence
   1. Isaiah 40:31 NKJV – 31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
   2. John 14:1 NKJV -14 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
   3. Philippians 4:13 NKJV – 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.- We trust God.
   4. Deuteronomy 31:7-8 NKJV – 7 Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. 8 And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”
5. This is a faith that is transferred from one generation to the next. The promise of God on your life has not been cancelled. It may have been postponed, but not canceled. Be encouraged and walk in confidence. Not one ounce of fear, because we trust God’s word.
6. What God is doing through all of this Corona Virus is showing that there will be a great transference.
   1. Ask yourself, do you truly believe? What God promised us, you will get it. You got to come out of insecurity and walk in authority. Gods word does not come back void. It accomplishes what it set out to do.
7. God will make sure you will still get your check and if he doesn’t, he will show you how he will still make a way.
   1. Romans 8:31 NKJV – 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
   2. 1 Peter 5:6-7 NKJV – 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.