## Do Not Be Afraid

## Genesis 15:1

As we prepare to close out this year, it has been one that has truly been difficult. It began while we were still reeling from the impact of the attacks of 9/11. We have been anticipating another war, and it seems to be getting closer and closer to a reality. Corporate failures have devastated multitudes as they watched their retirement investments fade away with no hope of return. Face it folks, our lives will never be the same again. We cannot turn back the pages of time however inviting that might be.

Few people look to the New Year with eagerness, most look at 2003 with a great deal of fear in their hearts. As God's people, we are instructed to fear God, but not the future. But practically, how in the world can we not fear what is to come in the next year. I want to focus your attention this evening on some biblical truths that will enable us to look forward without fear of what might happen.

Sixty three times in the Bible we find the command from God, 'fear not'. Twenty six times we are told to 'be not afraid'. Now obviously God knew that we would be afraid of many things in our lives. And fear is a powerful emotion! It can certainly overwhelm us and at times render us totally ineffective. We find that God uses these phrases from the beginning and throughout the Bible. How can we not fear? Let me give you a few thoughts on this today.

I. Fear Not: Because Of God's Eternal Presence

A. We Can Be Assured That God Will Always Be With Us.

1. If you are a child of God, He has promised that He would never leave us nor forsake us.

2. He will be with us in all circumstances.

(GEN 26:24) "AND THE LORD APPEARED UNTO HIM THE SAME NIGHT, AND SAID, I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM THY FATHER: FEAR NOT, FOR I AM WITH THEE, AND WILL BLESS THEE, AND MULTIPLY THY SEED FOR MY SERVANT ABRAHAM'S SAKE."

3. He will be with us wherever we go.

4. No one enjoys being alone…sometimes parents might say, "I beg your pardon? I would love to be alone!"

5. Yes, but not for long!

6. We need one another, but we need to know the presence of God in our lives daily.

(DEU 31:6) "BE STRONG AND OF A GOOD COURAGE, FEAR NOT, NOR BE AFRAID OF THEM: FOR THE LORD THY GOD, HE IT IS THAT DOTH GO WITH THEE; HE WILL NOT FAIL THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE."

(DEU 31:8) "AND THE LORD, HE IT IS THAT DOTH GO BEFORE THEE; HE WILL BE WITH THEE, HE WILL NOT FAIL THEE, NEITHER FORSAKE THEE: FEAR NOT, NEITHER BE DISMAYED."

B. We Can Be Assured That God Will Always Be For Us.

1. Some Christians live in fear of God's retribution upon them.

2. They simply do not understand God's relationship to the redeemed.

3. God isn't against us…He is always for us!

(ROM 8:31-32) "WHAT SHALL WE THEN SAY TO THESE THINGS? IF GOD BE FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? HE THAT SPARED NOT HIS OWN SON, BUT DELIVERED HIM UP FOR US ALL, HOW SHALL HE NOT WITH HIM ALSO FREELY GIVE US ALL THINGS?"

4. God only has our best interests in His heart, because He loves us and wants only the best for us.

II. Fear Not: Because of God's Eternal Provision

A. He Is Able To Provide For All Our Needs.

(ROM 8:32) "HE THAT SPARED NOT HIS OWN SON, BUT DELIVERED HIM UP FOR US ALL, HOW SHALL HE NOT WITH HIM ALSO FREELY GIVE US ALL THINGS?"

1. Everything we have, we have because He has provided it.

2. He knows exactly what we need.

3. We may have some thoughts about what we think we need, but God knows what we need.

4. He has committed Himself to meet those needs.

B. God's provision is in accordance with His time.

1. Abraham had to learn this truth.

2. He and Sarah tried to get ahead of God, and took matters into their own hands.

3. As usual, when we do this we mess things up.

4. We are still dealing with the consequences of Abraham's impatient faith.

5. We often make the same mistake…we try to force something instead of waiting upon God.

PS 123:2 BEHOLD, AS THE EYES OF SERVANTS LOOK UNTO THE HAND OF THEIR MASTERS, AND AS THE EYES OF A MAIDEN UNTO THE HAND OF HER MISTRESS; SO OUR EYES WAIT UPON THE LORD OUR GOD, UNTIL THAT HE HAVE MERCY UPON US.

III. Fear Not: Because of God's Eternal Purpose.

A. The Enemy's Persecution May Well Be God's Method Of Deliverance.

1. Consider the example of Joseph.

2. Had Joseph's brothers not persecuted him, he would not have been in a position to deliver his entire family during the time of severe famine.

3. His source of persecution became the vehicle that brought deliverance.

4. When we are confident in God's eternal purpose for us, we can respond to trials as Joseph did.

(GEN 50:20 KJV) "BUT AS FOR YOU, YE THOUGHT EVIL AGAINST ME; BUT GOD MEANT IT UNTO GOOD, TO BRING TO PASS, AS IT IS THIS DAY, TO SAVE MUCH PEOPLE ALIVE."

B. At times we may not understand what God is doing...still we shouldn't fear.

1. No where do we find that we must understand what God is doing in order to be in His will.

2. What we do find is that we are to obey Him in all things, trusting Him to work through every circumstance and accomplish His purpose.

PR 3:5-6 TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL THINE HEART; AND LEAN NOT UNTO THINE OWN UNDERSTANDING. IN ALL THY WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS.

PS 34:4 I SOUGHT THE LORD, AND HE HEARD ME, AND DELIVERED ME FROM ALL MY FEARS. [6]

3. David had seen the mighty hand of God work many times before and so have you and I.

4. We must not permit the future to be hindered by the lack of our faith.

C. What is God's eternal purpose for us?

GA 4:4-5 BUT WHEN THE FULNESS OF THE TIME WAS COME, GOD SENT FORTH HIS SON, MADE OF A WOMAN, MADE UNDER THE LAW, TO REDEEM THEM THAT WERE UNDER THE LAW, THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE THE ADOPTION OF SONS.

1. From the beginning of time, we see that God's plan has been to redeem mankind.

2. We read that God is not willing that any should perish but that all might come to repentance.

3. If you are not saved today, God's purpose for you is that you might come to Him by faith and receive Jesus Christ as Saviour.

4. His purpose for you this evening is that you be born again.

5. Christian, God's purpose for you is that you might become actively involved in His purpose for this world.

MR 16:15 AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD, AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE.

I. Fear Not: Because of God's Eternal Presence

II. Fear Not: Because of God's Eternal Provision

III. Fear Not: Because of God's Eternal Purpose.