“Let our lives lovingly express
Ephesians 4:15
the truth in all things –
speaking truly, dealing truly,
living truly.”
How fear messes up your relationships (Genesis 3:1-19)
I. WHEN I’M AFRAID OF MY FAULTS, I BECOME DEFENSIVE
- “God asked,
Did you eat... what I told you not to eat?' Adam answered,the woman you put here with me gave me the fruit and I ate it.’ … She replied, `The snake tricked me into eating it.” vs. 12-13 - “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth.” 1 John 1:8
II. WHEN I’M AFRAID OF MY FEELINGS, I BECOME DISTANT
- “God called to Adam,
Why are you hiding?' Adam answered.…I was afraid and hid from you because I was naked.” vs. 9-10
Feelings That Frighten Us
- Hurt Feelings
- Anger Feelings
III. WHEN I’M AFRAID OF LOSING MY FREEDOM, I BECOME DEMANDING.
- The result of their sin:”… Your yearning shall be for your husband, yet he will lord it over you… ” GEN 3: 16
THE ANSWER
- Be honest with yourself.
- “The Lord gave us a conscience; we cannot hide from ourselves.” Pr. 20:2
- Be honest with God.
- ”We have no need to fear someone who loves us perfectly; his perfect love for us eliminates all dread..” 1 John 4:18
- Be honest with your mate.
- “Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you will be healed.” James 5:16
- …Fully-developed love expels every particle of fear, for fear always contains some of the torture of feeling guilty.” 1 John 4:18
