Emotional Monster of Insecurity

James Greer (00:01):
Didn’t they transform this place in one week. Amen? Woo. I tell you, Josh and Bruce and their crew, I think sometimes they went 24 hours and stayed until about six o’clock in the morning. But man, it looks wonderful. S,o I love the transformation. You know what other transformation I really love? I mean, pastor Richie and the youth last week, you know, they baptized five youth. Do you know this afternoon at the next service, they got four more youths to be baptized. Amen? Did you know Pastor Steven at the yesterday VBS, they had a one day VBS and 16 kids accepted Jesus Christ. Amen? Yeah. So man, they are rocking the house. So, we don’t need to take that for granted. I mean, God’s favor upon our house and man he’s blessing us in a special way and man, so we just need to really thank God.

James Greer (00:49):
In fact. Now, if you try to follow along in your notes, they are probably wrong. Because I mean, I got up today and yesterday and in the morning, I really changed them. I felt like God just went another direction, but we’re going to be talking about the truth about security and worth. And we’ve been doing the emotional monster and what’s the opposite of insecurity. You’d say, well just security. And I think Christians should be more secure than anybody. If I said, what’s the opposite of worthy, you’d say unworthy, but Christian should be the most complete and the most worthy you can get.

New Speaker (01:36):
Security and worth comes from the inside out, not the outside in. In other words, true security and worth doesn’t come from what you have, how you dress, where you live, what your IQ is, but it comes from who you are in Christ. It comes from knowing that you’re accepted that you’re forgiven, that you’re significant. You understand that you’re fearfully and wonderfully made. We’re going to be talking about a whole lot about who you are in Christ. I and man in the chairs, there’s a pamphlet that says who you are in Christ. I want to encourage you to make sure that you bring it home. I have it taped in my Bible. I’ve had it taped there for years and years and years and I read it over and over again. So you no longer have to get your worth of security from other people because when you do, when you try to get your worth from other people and your security, when circumstances and people change your security and worth will change. And so you’ve got to be careful.

New Speaker (02:28):
Some of you get your security from circumstances and people. I’m going to tell you a true story about that, about circumstances. And are you getting your circumstances from Christ? I mean your worth and security from Christ or circumstances? I think it was Friday. I called Fred Ruggles, and he just got back from Houston to get his cancer test. And I asked him how it went. And he said, well, you know they are what they are so to speak. And he said, the strangest thing he said, can I tell you God’s greatest gifts and blessings? He said, number one, it’s my wife, Ashley. Well, I know Fred and I know his wife and I’d have say, I agree. He married way above his, no problem. I know that I did that and you did that. Then number two, he said my kids and family, I said, yeah, yeah. I mean, Mayer one of his sons, was here Saturday during the VBS. And he was a big part of leading the 16 kids to the Lord and his other kids are great. And then he said, third. He said, you know, the third greatest blessing is me getting cancer.

James Greer (03:30):
I said, pardon? He said, yeah. He said, that’s the way I look at it now. I said, how do you, what do you mean by that? And he said, I’ve never been able to witness. So people, so many people for Christ. He said, you know, there’s time. I always wanted to do something great for Christ. And he said, since I got cancer, I’ve been able to witness to more people than I ever would have in my entire life. I can tell you not only Fred, but we have at least three couples in our church that have done that. I’ve heard of people talking about that, but I’ve never seen it lived out. And he said, yeah, I’m going to live that out. In fact, Colossians 3:17 says, whatever you do in word and deed, do it all to the name of Lord giving thanks to God, the father through him. I said, Fred you’re right, but I can’t believe you see it this way. He said, I really do see it this way. I think this is a great, God’s greatest gift to me. He said, what I really hope though, when that time comes, when I’m on my death bed, I hope I can still do that. I said, here’s a verse for Fred, Romans 14:8, for if we live, we live to the Lord. Because we want to pray that he’s healed. Amen? And all the rest of them.

James Greer (04:43):
So if we live, we live to the Lord. But if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lords. See, this is one of the greatest problem for Christians. What, first of all, you don’t know if you’re going to live or die either. And so what Christians do is they began to live for what they can see instead of where they’re going to be. So if you keep living for what you’re going to see instead of where you’re going to be, you miss what God has for you. And because he got cancer, now he’s living for where he’s going to be in heaven instead of what he can just see. And God never told us to do that. He’s always told us to start focusing on where are you going to be one day, you’re going to be, where are you going to be? It’s going to be towards you a lot longer than what you can see right here. I said, Fred, that doesn’t mean you’re not going to have a lot of pain or you could. I pray. God heals him. But he said, I know. He said, I’ve already experienced that. But in the midst of pain, you can have peace.

James Greer (05:44):
And John 16:33 says, these things I spoke unto you. That in me, you can have peace. In the world you’re going to have tribulation. As long as you’re in the world, you’re going to have pain. You’ve got, you’re going to have a hard time. So, you’re going to have difficulties, but be of good cheer. I’ve overcome the world. Now, that may be here, but it surely will be in heaven. Peace is this, you all ready? Peace is a byproduct, of trusting God’s promises, purpose and plan for your life. No matter what you’re going through. The reason that he can have peace about having cancer is he’s trusting God’s promises, purpose, and plan for his life. In spite of what’s going on in his life. That’s true security and worth. It’s not what the world is teaching. It’s what he’s got. It’s where he’s at. It’s how he’s living it. So, what I’ve come up with six questions to see where you’re at in life. To see if you’re really trusting in God. If your security and worth is really in God. And if you can’t answer yes to about five of these, it means that your security and worth is probably coming from the world. And what you can see instead of where you’re going to be. You just need to be truthful. I didn’t ask you if you were a Christian. I was asking where you’re getting security and worth from.

James Greer (06:55):
Number one, you no longer worry about what others think about you because your worth and security comes from Christ. So, there’s a lot of people they’re always worried about what everybody else thinks. So if that’s you, you’re missing it. Your worth and your security is not coming from God. Matter of fact, Colossians 2:10 says this, and you are complete. If you’re a Christian, you are what? You’re what? Did you know if you looked up complete it means you have everything you need in Christ. So if you’re a Christian, you’re complete in him, who is the head of all principalities and powers. So number one, are you more worried about what other people think? Or are you more worried about what Christ thinks?

James Greer (07:41):
Number two, number two, you no longer worry about what other people say about you. Man, there’s some people that, I mean, they’re so worried about what other people say. They worry about what other people think. And so you’re getting your security in your self-worth about what other people think instead of what Jesus Christ and his word says, get your security from God’s word. Not what other people say. God’s word says, you’re a Saint you’re annoyed. You’re complete, you’re chosen, you’re forgiven. You’re not condemned. You can do all things. And you don’t have fear if you’re easily upset about what other people say and think you’re not getting your worth from Christ. I can tell you about two years ago, the staff we went for a little retreat, and through that time we came up with, hey, we not getting our worth and our security from what God’s word says, we’re getting it from what other people said. And I said, how do you know? I said, because too many of us were getting upset and worried about what other people think and say, instead of what Christ says. So, we actually took that pamphlet right there and everybody had to go over it and read it and study it. And probably you don’t know as well as your mate knows. Because you’ll tell them things that you won’t tell anybody else. And you’re always worried about what other people say and you’re touchy about it. I can’t believe they said this or did that. Well, why are you worried about so much what they say? If you’d worry more about what Christ says and what his word says about you, you wouldn’t be so touchy and upset about what other people say. So, that’s number two.

James Greer (09:01):
Number three, number three. Your hope is no longer in the world, but in God. You’re not so much worried. See, this is what happens. Some people are so worried about what’s going on in the world right now. And there’s a lot going on. I don’t even understand it. Amen? Do you? But there is something going on in the world, but let me tell you. God’s still in control, no matter what you think, but see if your hope is in this world, this is the best it’s going to get. But if your hope is in heaven, this is the worst of love you’ll get. So, your hope can’t be in this world. And if it is, you’re going to stay disappointed. You’re going to stay discouraged. My hope is not in this world. My hope is in heaven. That’s why I’m so excited.

James Greer (09:47):
Can you imagine in the midst of all this that’s going on, we got four more are going to be baptized in an hour. Amen? We’ve got 16 people that just accepted Christ. Amen? We got five that got baptized last Sunday. And some people said, Oh, I just can’t believe what’s going on. Man, I’m enjoying what’s going on in heaven, not what’s going on here. Amen? Get loud Be excited. My goodness gracious. You all are worried about too much of what is going on in the world. Anyway, Philippians 1:22 says for me to live as Christ to die is gain. You start changing your whole focus. You start changing your whole attitude.

James Greer (10:30):
Fourth, how you are you doing on your test so far for you? You no longer fear people and you no longer trying to please people to accept you. Did you know that? I can personally remember when I had to make a decision where I can please people or not? I can personally remember the time I can personally remember the person. I was in a job situation where I had to make a decision. Whether I was going to please that particular person or I was going to do what I thought God wanted me to do. I can, I can remember when I started coming to the point that I didn’t have to have acceptance from people anymore. Like I wanted. And until you really, really get your worth and acceptance from Christ you’ll do that. Let me tell you, once you learn this right here. Number four, you’ll be more, you’ll be freer than you’ve ever been in your life. Proverbs 29:25 says the fear of man brings a snare. It’s always holding you back. You always feel like you’re in a trap, but whoever trusted the Lord, they’re free. They’re safe. I can remember when I went through that didn’t seem like it worked out. Only job I ever lost in my life was over this verse. But God turned it around to something that fantastic.

James Greer (11:57):
Galatians 1:10 says, do you think I’m trying to please people? Do you think I’m trying to get accepted by you? It says, do you think I’m trying to make people accept me? No. God is one. I’m trying to please. I’m not trying to please people. If I’m still trying to please people, I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ. You’ve got to come to the point that you’re really trying to please one and that’s Christ. He better not especially in the ministry. If you’re going to try to please everybody, because you cannot do it. You’ve got some people right now thinking this, this screen is too bright. Some are saying it’s not. Some are saying it’s too big. Some say it’s too little. Some say it’s too loud. Some say it’s too low. Some say that’s the wrong, some say it’s right. Holy Moses praise Jesus. Whoa. So you better not fear people and you better not try to get accepted by people. You live to please one and that’s Jesus. Do you know how much freedom that is in that? How are you doing so far? That’s four.

James Greer (13:02):
Number five, number five. I’m content where I’m at and who I’m with. I’m good at where I’m at and who I’m with. Why do you think God should open the door to give you another place? Another job? Another home? Another car? To learn to be content where you’re at. And this is be content with who you are. You don’t need to be content looking for somebody else’s wife, somebody else’s husband. You need to be content with who you have. Amen? You all better wake up. The answer is Amen. And if you’re sitting next to somebody and you’re married and you didn’t say Amen it’s proper to kick them. Never mind, you all are going to get me. I’ve been doing so good. And everybody said, thank you.

James Greer (13:46):
Philippians 4 says, not that I speak in regards to need for I have learned yet you what? I learned, in whatever state I am to be content. I know what it’s like to be a base. They have nothing. I know what it is to be a bound, to have plenty everywhere and all things. I’ve learned both to be fooled, to be hungry, both, to abound and suffer. You know what the next verse is? Most of them that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. So, what I’m asking is have you learned to be content where you’re at and who you’re with? In other words, you better learn to be content on the job that you have before you ask God to move you to another job. And if you’re not content where you’re at, the truth is you’re probably not going to be content if God opened another door, you go there you’re not going to be content. That’s what happens to so many marriages. You’re not content in this marriage, you go to another marriage and you’re not content in that marriage. So, you go to another marriage. You’re not content in that marriage. Holy Moses. Learn to be content where you’re at. Amen?

James Greer (14:45):
Six. This was tough. Okay. I just wonder how many you’ve passed so far. When you get your worth and security from Christ, you no longer fear death. You need to live ready to die. The Psalmist said in 23:4, even though I walked through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, For you are with me. You’re my rod and my staff and you comfort me. I told you earlier about Philippians 1:21, for me to live is Christ to die is gain. Revelation, 14:13. I want this verse used at my funeral. I hope it’s a while though. You’re not supposed to fear death, but I don’t really want it right now either. Amen?

James Greer (15:40):
It says, I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, Write this: blessed are the dead. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now. Yes, says the spirit. That they may rest from their labor and their works. Follow them. Did you know the word blessed here means happy, well-off. But it also means a prolonged happiness. Because as long as you’re here on the earth, you’re going to have times of happiness and sorrow and then headaches and stress. This means blessing. There’s a prolonged happiness, that those that die in the Lord and it says their works follow them. It does matter how you’re living your life here before you go to heaven, because your works follow you when you go to heaven. So, it does matter what we do. It does matter how we witness it. So, we want to want it to follow us. When we get to heaven, it says, then we can rest. We can rest from pain. We can rest from our soils. We can rest from our work, but listen. That’s why we’re here. We need to be working for the Lord. Amen?

James Greer (16:27):
This is another verse I want Psalms 116:15. See, if you’re not careful, we’ll be working for everything, but what we should be. We’re working for what we can see instead of where we are going to be. The Psalmist in 116:15 says, precious in the sight of the Lord is the dead or the saint. It’s the death of a saint. Precious, valuable, honorable. I mean, God says, listen, when you get to that point and when you really living for the Lord, when you get your security, when you get your worth from Christ, you no longer fear death. You don’t want death. But when you get to that point, listen, when God gets ready for you, he’ll take you home. Until then, don’t worry about it. Amen?

James Greer (17:22):
Where does the insecurity come from anyway? Number one, insecurity starts from parents. Insecure parents, foster insecure children. It’s a proven fact. The number one thing you can do for your kids is love your mate. No one thing you can do is love your mate. Have a strong marriage. Less the Lord build a house he labors in vain. Everybody’s wanting to do everything for your kids. What’s the best thing to do for your kids. Love your mate. In fact, right now, they’ve got it proven. I just read it 80 to 90% of the problems. The first thing that youth, when they start rebelling is the insecurity in the home. So, you want to bring security. That’s where it starts. Second, looking for security. Then we do it and then they start looking for security, they don’t have it. And parents do it too. They start looking for security in people, places and things instead of God. And sometimes they’re doing that because we’re doing that. We start saying, Oh man, I’ve got to have this, got to have that. If I only had that, then I’d be happy. What happened to Matthew 6:33, seek ye first the kingdom of God and his rights and everything else will be added.

James Greer (18:28):
So, first they get insecure because we’re not secure. We don’t have a strong marriage. So, that makes them uneasy. Then we’re not saying, Hey, we’re not secure in Christ. So, if we only had this, we’re going to have that. They hear us talking about that we’re not happy with what we had. So we’re looking in people, places and things to make us happy. So now they are. Then we don’t understand and we don’t accept. God’s love and God’s plans for our life. Did you know, you have to intentionally accept God’s love? You know, the verse that says, love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your might, but do you intentionally accept God’s love? For God so loved you that he gave his only begotten son. I have to make intentional time to realize that God loves me and let him love me. It does not come naturally. When I woke up at three o’clock this morning, when I was redoing my message and rethinking everything I had to say, God, it’s unbelievable you love me. I said, I want you to love me. I want to accept your love. And you have to do that because by nature, we’re not very lovable. You are not either. I know most of you, but what we do is God wants us to accept his love. Listen, you ready? He wants you to love yourself. A lot of people don’t love herself, but he wants us to. He wants to accept his love and he wants us to love ourselves.

James Greer (19:39):
Number four, he wants us to look at ourselves through God’s eyes, not through man’s eyes. When we look through ourselves to God’s eyes, it’s the Psalmist 139:14. He says, I’ll praise you God, because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way. How did God make you in an amazing and wonderful way? You don’t start saying, man, I’m too tall. I’m too short. I’m too fat. I’m too skinny. You know? No, you’re not. God made you that way. And so that means you’re insecure. That means you don’t have the worth. So you, so you’re not doing, in fact, he said, what you’ve done, God is wonderful is very well. So see, you’re starting to get your worth. How you look instead of how God made you. In fact, if you’re not careful, if you ever make fun of the way somebody else looks, you’re making fun of what God made.

James Greer (20:56):
In fact, in the old Testament, there’s a perfect example. There there’s a prophet that had a bald head. And there were some kids they’re all making fun of him and a bear jumped out and ate all the kids. And it wasn’t the point of that. It was the point of you better be careful how you’re talking about somebody else. And you’ve got to be careful how you’re talking about how God made you. He made you that way. He gave you the intellectual build he did for a purpose and a plan for your life. Amen? Some of you are so ugly that God made you ugly just where some other ugly person would be attracted to you. You see it all the time. You see somebody ugly as can be. And somebody else said, Oh, you’re so pretty. So, don’t worry about it. Huh? So God made you that way accept it. Amen? Insecurity is nothing more than misplaced identity. That’s what it is. And when you’re in secure, there’s five signs of that. You’ll try to be somebody else that you’re not. You’ll, it’s kind of like an imposter, imposter behavior. I’ve tried it. I tried it when I first started preaching. But listen, who you are is the best you can be. Learn to just be who you are. It’s so cool. Just when you finally learn that.

James Greer (21:30):
The second thing is definitely, you know, you’re insecure when you have a defensive behavior. It’s a dead giveaway. Somebody is trying to talk to you. Somebody is trying to help you. And you’re always defensive about it. The third is unhealthy competition. I like competition. Amen? And competition is good, but when it becomes unhealthy, it’s not good. And I’ll be honest with you. I like to win. So, that’s probably unhealthy. I like to confess on Sunday because I feel better Sunday afternoon. Taking yourself too serious. When you don’t really need to take yourself that serious. Take God serious, but not yourself. If your thin skinned, over-sensitive, if you can’t laugh at yourself. It’s going to be hard time in your marriage and in leadership or wherever you go. I mean really I can laugh. I can look out there and see and laugh at most of you. I mean it’s alright. You all can laugh at me. Amen? Don’t take yourself so serious. Thank God serious. It’ll relax you. Amen?

James Greer (22:46):
Performance oriented. Oh wee, I’ve struggled with that. My whole life. I always thought if I could achieve this or achieve that, or if I finally got this, if I made that, you know, I’d finally be happy and I don’t think there’s man, I think Christians should be the most honest and hardworking people in the world, but I don’t think we should get our worth from what we have and what we do. I think we should get it from God. Selfishness. Did you know selfishness is where most of the fights come in?

James Greer (23:56):
James 4:1 tells us, selfishness is a type of insecurity. You don’t have the right self-worth. What causes fights and quarrels? It says James 4:1, don’t they come because your desires that battle within you. You want something, you don’t get it. Why? The main cause of fight and quarrels is because you’re selfish. The thing about this, most people that are selfish, you don’t realize you’re selfish. I’d say because you don’t see yourselves as you are. You see yourself as you want to be. And so most of the fights in marriage and couples and at work and home, and everybody is over selfish that you want your way more than you want them to have their way. And so if you stop being selfish, you’ll stop having so many fights. And it’s because of your insecurity. It’s because you don’t have a good self-worth. Now your mate knows you’re selfish, but you don’t think you are. See, true love wants the best for the other person.

James Greer (24:54):
So, and then seventh is, when you’re really insecure and you really don’t have a good self-worth. Your judgmental. It’s almost like you can sit down with somebody who is always judging somebody else. You can’t believe the way they do. You can’t believe the way they preach. Can’t believe the way they sing. You can’t believe. You know, you’re just real judgmental. You’re the one who has a plank in your eye. You know, worry about you before you get to speck out of somebody else’s eye. But that’s because you don’t have a good self-worth. So, when you don’t have a good self-worth and you don’t have a good self- image, you’re trying to make somebody else look bad. You all ready? But you’re really just making yourself look bad. How do we develop security and self-worth? How do we do that? Yeah, I would say 75% of adults are insecure. Even Christians. You have a chance to make a change today, but nobody can make a decision for you, but you. Man, we got material for you today. We’re not just preaching. We’re teaching. We want transformation.

James Greer (25:58):
Remember number two, remember this is not your home. What you see is not where you’re going to be.

New Speaker (26:22):
It’s not going to be spend time with the right people or no people at all. You’re better being by yourself than run around with the wrong people. If they’re negative and they’re complaining then just cut it off. And when, if you have to be by yourself, let that be a time that you’d have a special time with God. I can remember several times in our relationship, me and Debbie, we had to just cut it off and I loved it. Because I still had her. But if you don’t have anybody, I still say the right people or no people, because there’s nothing. There’s no way that anybody ever has to be lonely. They might be alone, but you don’t have to be lonely because you always have Christ. So number three is be with the right people.

James Greer (26:38):
Number four, learn to make God your best friend. When God’s your best friend, you start talking to him when you’re by yourself. When you’re driving, when you wake up in the morning, you just talk to him. When he talks back it scares you. But just talk to him. Again, that’s something you have to do intentionally. So make him your best friend.

James Greer (27:21):
That’s number five, number five, read or take with you at least one promise a day that help keep insecurity away.

New Speaker (27:21):
Number six, have self-talks. You have to learn how to have self-talk because your mind takes the path of least resistance. It starts telling you all everything that’s wrong. You should have done that. Everything bad that’s going to have. This might happen. That might happen. So you have to learn to have positive self talks.

New Speaker (28:50):
And then seventh, bring home that who I am in Christ. I’ve had it taped in the front of my Bible for years. I didn’t do it just one time. I use it almost every single Sunday. That’s who I am. I am who Christ told me I am. Not even how I feel. Not even if I had a bad day. Not even if I did something I shouldn’t have done. You all either. Don’t look so innocent. I was sitting in there the other day, and everybody said, I just can’t believe he cusses. And I said, is anybody in this room has never said a cuss word? Tell her, I don’t want to tell her. How about? No I don’t want to do that. I bet if I said you put your hand down and he lied. It don’t do it. Don’t do it. But at the same time, I don’t, I really don’t cuss that much. I don’t very seldom. But if I, if I said, is anybody in this room that has never said a cuss word, raise your hand. We wouldn’t have a whole lot of hands going up. You know? But if I did say one, that wouldn’t be who I was. That’s what I did. And the reason I use that illustration, there’s some of you that have done some things that you wish you hadn’t done that a lot worse than that. Can I tell you something? That’s not who you are. If you’re a Christian, that’s not who you are. That’s what you did. That’s why it’s so important to know who you are in Christ.

James Greer (29:48):
So, as we get ready to close, I want to tell you there’s some steps you’ve got to do. Number one, you got to make sure you have Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. You’ve got to, because without him you can’t have security. And we’re so if you’re here today or whether you’re online either one and you’ve never accepted him as your personal savior, that’s what you need to do. You just need to know that you’ve sinned and that we’ve all sinned. You need to believe that Jesus died for your sins. You want to invite him into your heart and you can do that now. And you can do it online. Second of all, you need to start getting your worth your worth from God, not man. You know that if you haven’t been doing that, because you’ve been discouraged about what other people do and say, you got to stop worrying about what other people say and think about you. Man, that takes a lot of energy. It’s emotionally draining. Stop that. Stop worrying about that. Learn to look what God’s word says about you.

James Greer (30:47):
Have you really been content? Where are you at? And who you’re with? If not, would you ask God to help you be content there? Do you know how to beginning to be content? You start thanking God for all that. You have not look at all that you don’t have and start thanking for that. And then fifth and last, are you ready to die? What if you live like you were going to die, what would you change? So you’ve got to come to the point, I got to live. What if I was ready to die? Everybody has to come to the point. They say, I’ve got something I’m going to die for. And if it starts to be Christ, your life will change and your worries go away. So, I want us to really change our thinking and it has to be intentional. It won’t just happen. Okay, will you just stand and let me pray with you and pray for you.

James Greer (32:23):
God, I thank you for today. I thank you for what you’re doing in our church, God, we’re not just here. We’re being transformed. I don’t want to take it for granted. God, I pray for those that are here and those online God, if they never accepted Christ today, they would do that. I pray that we’d quit worrying about what other people think and say, God would look to your word and see what it says. I pray that those that have never been publicly baptized God today would be the day, whether they’re online or here they’d make a commitment. And I say, Hey, I want to follow through with baptism. Maybe you want to join the church. Today is a great day to do that. Maybe you hadn’t been content and you know, you hadn’t been content. You just been complaining about what you hadn’t had and you just want to confess it right where you are at. You can just say God, I’m sorry I hadn’t been content. You’ve been so good to me. God just, just forgive me. I think not being content is a sin. I think it’s a sin we need to confess. We need to ask God to forgive us and thank him for all he’s done. God, I just pray that you would speak to each one of us in our heart. Let us have your way. It’s in the precious name of Jesus. I pray. And everybody said, amen.

Recorded in Pineville, Louisiana.