Have you ever allowed your behavior to change because of what you thought others might think about you? Maybe you kept your belief in God to yourself because you thought your co-workers would criticize you. Or maybe you decided to participate in something that would compromise your values because you were afraid of what others might say about you? For some of us, the struggle to please other people is greater than it is for others, but we all find ourselves filtering what others may think of us through our decision making filters. In this week’s message, Pastor Sean talks about how our insecurity often leads us to care more about what others think than we care about what God thinks. But the Bible has a lot to say about who we are and who God created us to be and when we focus on living out that purpose, we can break free from our fear of what others think and our insecurity.

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MESSAGE NOTES

Two types of people:

  • People with many friends (more shallow friendships)
  • Fewer friends but much more deep friendship

 

We often tend to envy the other type of person that we are not.

 

We’re all a little broken: keep distance, manipulate, people pleasers.

 

Job 14:1

There is a strange contradiction in human nature all around us: the fact that a person can reek with pride, a swollen ego and strut like a peacock –  and yet be the loneliest and most miserable person in the world. – A.W Tozer

Peter and Paul. peter dine on the outside, inside not so much.

 

Galatians 2:11-12

Have you ever changed your behavior around certain people?

  • We are often afraid of what other people think about us.

Insecurity is the result of a broken view of God and His view of us.

When Adam and Eve sinned, they became afraid of God and lost sight of His love for them. Before that moment, fear had no part in relationships, after that, they hid themselves from Him and each other.

 

When we remember that their failure did not alter God’s love for them, we stop worrying that our failure derails God’s plan for our lives also.

  • We are more worried of other than God Galatians 1:10
  • Our fears of others, turns to criticism and comparision
  • What are you most critical of in others? Could it reveal some insecurity in yourself?

 

Galatians 2:13

Insecurity is contagious and leads to group think.

  • Like Kind Saul in 1 Samuel 13, offered sacrifice, men leaving.
  • Maybe you knew you needed to pray with/for someone
  • Maybe you knew you needed to ask for prayer…

Here’s a question…. If you knew you wouldn’t fail, what one thing would you do, that you haven’t done yet?

 

Galatians 2:14-16

My failure doesn’t alter my relationship/standing with God.

  • He sees me as holy, because Jesus is holy and takes my place
  • 2 Corinthians 5:21

The only person perfectly suited to live my life is me.

  • Instagram kills me! Comparison kills me!
  • Ephesians 2:9-10, There is a life he intends me to live.
  • I measure myself against others. God measures me against the life he intended me to live.

If you define yourself by God’s perspective, rather than others, you’ll find freedom from criticism. You’ll risk more often, dare greater and actually experience the life he intended.