DO NOT FEAR

DO NOT FEAR, "How to Live in Today’s Turmoil", October 23, 2016

CONNECT

We are living in tumultuous times.  Things are changing so fast that it can make your head swim!  Many are living in fear of the future.

Here are the top 10 fears of 1997: USA Today

·      Being in a car crash

·      Having cancer

·      Inadequate Social Security

·      Not having enough money for retirement

·      Food poisoning from meat

·      Getting Alzheimer’s

·      Pesticides on food

·      Being a victim of individual violence

·      Being unable to pay current debts

·      Exposure to foreign viruses

·      Getting AIDS

·      Natural disasters

Here are the top 10 fears of 2016: USA Today

·      Corruption of government officials

·      Terrorist attacks

·      Not having enough money for the future

·      Being a victim of terror

·      Government restrictions on firearms and ammunition

·      People I love dying

·      Economic or financial collapse

·      Identity theft

·      People I love becoming seriously ill

·      The Affordable Care Act

TENSION

How should we live in these crazy days?  What is happening in our country?  Who do I vote for?

SOLUTION

I want to address all of these questions in the next three weeks.  Today, I want to share a word the Lord has given me on how we should live in these days.  Next week I want to speak a word about our country. The Sunday before Election Day I will tell you who to vote for!

INSTRUCTION

Isaiah gives us seven keys to living in these days…

1.     Isaiah 35:4 (NIV) Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”

2.     Isaiah 41:10-12 (NIV) So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  ¹¹All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. ¹²Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all.”

3.     Isaiah 41:13 (NIV) For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you.

4.     Isaiah 41:14 (NIV) Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I myself will help you,” declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

5.     Isaiah 43:1-2 (NIV) But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.  ²When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

6.     Isaiah 51:7 (NIV) “Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have taken my instruction to heart: Do not fear the reproach of mere mortals or be terrified by their insults.

7.     Isaiah 54:4a (NIV) “Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.

INSPIRATION

Dr. L. Nelson Bell was serving as a medical missionary when the Japanese invaded China, and his family was at great risk. It was November 1938, and Sutsien, his neighbor station a few miles away, had fallen. Rumors of missionary casualties were rampant. On Christmas Day, Nelson wrote to his mother in America:

This past Thursday it was my time to lead prayer meeting, and I talked about the place of physical fear in the life of the Christian. Last week it dawned on me that our Lord, tempted in all points the same as we are, yet without sin, hungered, thirsted, was tired, became angry, and gave every evidence of his humanity, but He was never fearful. Fear, therefore, must come from lack of faith. Just as we never become sinless, so we never entirely lose fear, but it surely is His will for His children to live with peace in their hearts, trusting in Him and His promises.

Years later, his daughter, Ruth Bell Graham (Mrs. Billy Graham), said this in describing her growing-up years in China: I can never recall going to sleep at night without hearing gunshots in the countryside around the house. I remember one tremendous fire over in the city. We went up to the third-story attic window where we could see it and hear the explosions. We thought the city was being invaded. The whole skyline was lit up.… I think the greatest tribute to mother’s courage is that we children never sensed fear and we ourselves never had any fear.

ACTION STEPS

David knew about trouble!

Psalm 56:1-13 (NIV) Be merciful to me, my God, for my enemies are in hot pursuit; all day long they press their attack. ²My adversaries pursue me all day long; in their pride many are attacking me.

David gives us five action steps:

³When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. ⁴In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

1.     Trust God, not man

⁵All day long they twist my words; all their schemes are for my ruin. ⁶They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps, hoping to take my life. ⁷Because of their wickedness do not let them escape; in your anger, God, bring the nations down.

2.     Know God is in control

⁸Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll— are they not in your record? ⁹Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me.

3.     Pray

¹⁰In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise— ¹¹in God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me?

4.     Claim His Word

¹²I am under vows to you, my God; I will present my thank offerings to you. ¹³For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

5.     Thank God for the victory

HASHTAG #donotfear

INVITATION

“God of Angel Armies”