HOSTAGE WEEK 1

We kicked our new series this Wednesday as we dived into the things that hold us back, the things that hold us hostage from who we are created to be.
The definition of hostage is:  one that is involuntarily controlled by an outside influence.
So what is controlling us, is it fear, performance, living up to other people's standards, insecurity, being good enough, bitterness, broken relationships, busyness, bad choices, etc...

This week we dived into being help HOSTAGE by fear, specifically the fear of risking.   (Ask Britt Pendelton about facing his fear on stage)
We looked at the story of Esther and how she got a chance to face the fear of coming out from the protection of a comfortable life into the opportunity to risk her life to save a whole race of people.  Check out Esther in the Bible to get the  whole story.

FOUR CHARACTERISTICS of RISKS:
• Risks have a cost – that is why they are risks – it could cost you something – we don’t have to have all the costs figured out before we risk, before we tackle the fears
Having hope will give you courage You will be protected and will rest in safety – Job 11:18


• Risk our hearts on people that have hurt us, because Jesus was willing to risk His heart on them,
He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire, He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along – Psalm 40:2

• Risk on being known, of not having to be controlled by fear of what people will think, how they will react, 
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity but of power, love, and self-discipline – 2 Tim 1:7

• Risks when they relate to being free from things God wants to free you from are not RISKS, they are guarantees.   When you jump to Jesus, He always catches you, I John 4:18 – Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fears. If we are afraid it is for fear of punishment and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.

Hope you join us for the rest of the series -- this week HOSTAGE to your Self-Image

STRAT MATS

• SPRING RETREAT coming in March -- dates will be posted soon!
• FULL THROTTLE -- Our new FUSED new communty group will be starting in the next couple of weeks -- more details next week
• Lafayette FCA -- FUSED gets to lead at the Lafayette FCA this TUESDAY, Jan. 19.