## Fear Not

## Isaiah 54:4

From the beginning of time, Satan has tried to convince us that God is in some way depriving us of what we deserve in life. Many folks hesitate to commit themselves totally to the Lord because they are afraid of what they may have to give up. They are just sure that what the world has to offer is more important than what God will provide them. That kind of thinking is not just limited to those who are lost. Many believers also question whether they can really trust God. Often we are like the fellow who fell off a cliff. While clinging to a small branch he cried out for help. God answered and told him just to let go…there was a brief pause, and the fellow cried out again, 'Is there anyone else that can help?" We just are not convinced that God will take care of us. We want to have a 'plan B' just in case. That is nothing more than lack of faith in the God who created us, and redeemed us. What are we afraid of? Fear is a tool of the enemy. He wants to paralyze us, he wants to keep us from the place of confidently serving the Lord.

In the prophet's message to God's people, Israel, we find several times that He tells us not to be afraid. As a child of God, we can serve Him in confidence, and not fear. Listen to the admonition given.

I. Fear Not, All Is Forgiven v4

A. No need to be ashamed of who we are.

1. We should not be ashamed because we have a Gospel that is the power of God unto salvation.

(Rom 1:16) "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

2. We should not be ashamed because like Paul we know in whom we have believed.

(2 Tim 1:12) "…Nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."

a. True believers confess their faith.

(Rom 10:10-11) "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. {11} For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."

b. The Lord is not ashamed to call true believers His own.

(Heb 2:11) "For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,"

(Heb 11:16) "But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city."

3. We should not be ashamed because we have a hope, a sure hope.

4. Our hope is the Lord.

(Titus 1:2) "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;"

a. The experience of salvation gives us hope.

"And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us" (Romans 5:5).

b. Is our hope in the Lord?

c. We have hope in the coming of the Lord.

(1 John 3:1-3) "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. {2} Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. {3} And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."

5. True believers will never be put to shame on account of Christ. He will never fail.

B. God has completely forgiven our sins.

1. God forgives and forgets and by doing so He helps us to forget the past

(Psa 103:12) "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us."

2. Satan tries to defeat us by planting seeds of doubt in our minds.

3. I like the slogan that said, "The next time Satan reminds you of your past, remind him of his future!"

4. God's forgiveness is so great that it can heal the most sin sick soul.

5. he never does anything half-way!

6. Fear not, all is forgiven.

II. Fear Not, He is Creator, Husband and Redeemer v5

A. In this verse we have the threefold relationship of God to His people.

B. We are His by:

1. Creator (maker)

(Psa 100:3) "Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture."

(2 Cor 5:17) "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

2. Choice "thy husband"

a. He chose us, "We love him because he first loved us." 1 Jn 4:19

b. Ephesians 1:4, "According as he hath chosen us in him..."

3. Redemption "thy redeemer"

(Eph 1:7) "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"

C. Fear not, all is forgiven and we belong to Him.

III. Fear Not, His Mercy Endures Forever v8-10

A. The mercy of God.

1. God's grace means we receive that which we do not deserve.

2. God's mercy means that we do not receive that which we do deserve.

B. He loves us with an everlasting love,

(Jer 31:3) "The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."

1. Everlasting means forever…

2. It means that His love and mercy will not cease toward us.

3. We have nothing to fear…we cannot lose that which is eternal or everlasting.

(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."

(1 Chr 28:20) "And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD."

(Heb 13:5) "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

C. Fear not, all is forgiven, we belong to Him, and His mercy endures forever.

This morning, if you are a true believer in Christ, you have nothing to fear. We belong to an Almighty, Forgiving, and Gracious God.

(2 Tim 1:7) "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Believers, have you been held captive by fear? Come today. Do you know Him today? If not, why not come and receive Christ right now.