I Ain’t Never Scared

Have you ever been in a situation where fear tried to take over your life? Have you ever faced obstacles so big that they made you question if you could even make it through? If we are honest, life has a way of throwing storms our way—problems that seem too powerful, enemies that seem too strong, and struggles that make us feel like we’re about to break. Fear is a powerful force. It can paralyze us, it can hinder us, and it can shake our faith if we let it. We live in a world that seems to thrive on fear—fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of the unknown, fear of sickness, fear of financial collapse, fear of violence, and even fear of death. Turn on the news, and you will see how fear dominates our culture. Politicians use fear to manipulate votes, the media uses fear to get ratings, and the devil uses fear to keep us from walking in the promises of God. Fear is a reality that every person faces at some point in life. No matter how strong we are, no matter how much we have achieved, no matter how close we walk with God, there will come moments in life where fear will try to show up, grip our hearts and disallow us to have the promotion and the progression that you know you should have. Some people fear the unknown, afraid of what tomorrow might bring. Others fear failure, worried that they will not live up to expectations. Many fear rejection, afraid that they will not be loved or accepted. Some fear sickness, while others fear death. Fear, if left unchecked, can consume us, dictate our decisions, and hinder our faith. Yet, as believers, we do not have to be controlled by fear. We serve a God who is greater than anything we will ever face.  I came to tell somebody today that when you have God on your side, you can boldly declare, "I ain’t never scared!" For in Psalms 27, it seems to me that King David, that great psalmist of Israel understands something about not being afraid of anything, not being intimidated by anything, not having anxiety over anything. When you know who you are, and whose you are. When you know in whose hands you find yourself,  you can boldly profess as did David in Psalms 27 “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” David had every reason to be fearful—he had enemies plotting against him, he had people seeking his downfall, and he was constantly in danger. But despite all of that, he made a decision: he would not live in fear because he trusted in the Lord. This same confidence should belong to every believer. No matter what comes against us, we can stand firm, declaring, "I ain’t never scared!" This is not a declaration of arrogance but a declaration of faith. We do not boast in our own strength, but we boast in the strength of our God. We do not claim to be fearless because of our own power, but because we know that the God we serve has already given us victory. Fear is a weapon of the enemy, but faith is the weapon of the believer. When fear whispers that you are alone, faith declares that God is with you. When fear tells you that you will fail, faith reminds you that God never fails. When fear tries to paralyze you, faith gives you the courage to move forward. Look at your neighbor and remind them of this truth “I aint never scared.” Listen again, will you please to the words of this sweet psalmist of Israel, listen again to the one who is called a man after God's own heart. Listen, to the one who understood what it meant to have God to find him where he was, and move him to the place of prominence where he needed to be. He says “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” How does someone make such powerful statements? Listen to the declaratives and the interrogatives of verse 1. The declaratives “The Lord is my light. The Lord is my salvation. The Lord is the strength of my life.” These bold assertions, these bold affirmations that he makes in this first verse of Psalms 27 need not go unnoticed. Listen again to these words, these declarative statements  “The Lord is my light. The Lord is my salvation. The Lord is the strength of my life.” And with those declarative statements he follows them up with interrogatives, inquiries, questions that need to be asked and answered. “Whom shall I fear? Of whom shall I be afraid?” If you know that the Lord is light. If you know that the Lord is your salvation. If you know that the Lord is the strength of your life, who you gone be afraid of? What is there to fear? What phobia can grip you and disallow you to have the promotion and the progress you know you should have? May I share it with you again? I hope you haven’t gotten bored of it yet. “The Lord is my light. The Lord is my salvation. The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?” How does he say this? How does he make this bold assertion? How does he stand so flat footed and make these claims of Psalms 27? Well, if you kept that bible open, if you kept that phone unlocked, will you please look again at Psalms 27 because it seems to me, as the Psalmist goes through these verses of this Psalm that he is real clear on who God is, what God has done and why he can make this statement that he makes in verse 1. It's the thesis statement of the psalm in verse 1. But then in the next 13 verses he supports his thesis statement with some words that help me to understand there is no reason to ever fear ANYTHING that should come my way. I know that fear shows up, but the last time I checked your bible in 2 Timothy 1:7 we are reminded, "For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." David had every reason to be afraid. His enemies wanted him dead. King Saul sought to kill him. Armies surrounded him. Yet he stood firm in his confidence in God. He understood that no matter how great the battle, no matter how strong the opposition, no matter how dark the valley, God was greater.

Somebody in this house needs to know today that God is greater than your storm. He is greater than your sickness, greater than your financial trouble, greater than your depression, and greater than any attack of the enemy. And when you know that God is greater, you don’t have to be scared of anything! So how does he make these claims? How can he stand so flatfooted and boldly profess that “I aint never scared?” Im glad you asked the question. Lets dig into the text and see if we can find the answer together through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

First of all, David declares that he is never afraid because of his triumphs in God. David begins this psalm with a bold declaration: "The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?" Notice that David does not say, "The Lord gives me light," or "The Lord provides salvation." No, he says, "The Lord IS my light, and the Lord IS my salvation!" David is making it clear that his confidence does not come from external circumstances—it comes from his relationship with God. Because of who God is, David knows he has nothing to fear.

One of the greatest weapons against fear is memory. When you remember how God has brought you through past trials, it gives you strength to face new challenges. David understood this because he had a history with God. He remembered how God delivered him from the lion and the bear when he was a shepherd boy. He remembered how God empowered him to defeat Goliath when others were too afraid to fight. He remembered how God protected him from King Saul’s attempts to kill him. Every time David faced danger, God gave him victory. He says I’m not afraid because of my triumphs in God. If you still have your bible open, and I hope you do. Would you please read verse 2 with me, he says “When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, They stumbled and fell.” Please don’t miss that. He talks about his triumphs in God. David is not just speaking hypothetically—he is speaking from experience. He had seen God defeat his enemies time and time again. And if God did it before, David knew He could do it again. This is why David refuses to be afraid, even when he is surrounded by trouble. All too often church family isn’t it true that we talk so much about our tragedies, we talk so much about our troubles, we talk so much about our trials, that we neglect to remember how many triumphs we’ve had in God. And the truth of the matter is all throughout this sanctuary there are brothers and sisters who can testify everyday hasn't been a bad day. Everyday hasn't been a gloomy or doomy day. There are some days where I’ve had a smile on my face all day long. Where the Lord has shown me His grace, His mercy, His compassion, His loving kindness and I am grateful for my triumphs in God. And there’s somebody in the sanctuary who can testify there have been some days I had to thank God all day long for walking with me and talking with me, and holding me and keeping me cause I’ve had some triumphs in my life. And here’s a good homework assignment, every now and then just pause in the middle of your day and start writing down all the good things God has done in your life. Just pause sometimes, and you’ll be able to testify with the late Rev. Paul Jones “All of my good days outweigh my bad days, so I won’t complain.” Is there anybody in here that can testify “God’s been good to me, and so instead of complaining I lift my hands and say Thank Ya Lord.”  Many of us can testify to this truth. Think about your own life—how many times has God come through for you? How many times did He make a way when there was no way? How many times did He heal, deliver, restore, and provide? Some of us should have been dead, but God kept us. Some of us should have lost our minds, but God preserved us. When you remember your past triumphs in God, you realize that there is no reason to fear the future. So, when the devil tries to bring fear into your heart, remind him of your testimony. Tell him, "I ain't never scared because my God has already brought me through too much!" If He gave you victory before, He will do it again. If He made a way before, He will make a way again. If He defeated the enemy before, He will defeat him again. Stand on your past triumphs and declare with boldness: “I ain’t never scared!” And every now and then every believer ought to ensure that he or she takes time simply to thank God for some triumphs you’ve had. “Yea, yea for every mountain you brought me over, for every valley you’ve seen me through, for every blessing, hallelujah, for this I give you praise.” 

Please watch the text, he says not only am I not afraid because of my triumphs in God. But secondly I’m never afraid because of my trust in God. He says “In this will I be confident.” I love the way he makes the statement about his confidence in God. He says I trust in God because I’ve seen how God is able to work miracles in my situation. And because I’ve had some triumphs, I’ve learned to trust him all the more. 

In the 90’s, I grew up at the Mount Hermon Missionary Baptist Church of Chicago as you well know, where the Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Allen was my pastor. And when I grew up in church here on the southside, we understood that there were some things that happened in old school traditional baptist churches that have shifted a bit in the new school modern churches that are now Pastored. In the old school, we didn't start church 15 minutes early with praise and worship and the choir singing. Naw naw, that ain't how we started church. In the old school church, the deacons would line up across the front of the church and we would have what was known as “devotion.” Devotion was where a song would be sung by a deacon, then a scripture would be read by a deacon, then a deacon would pray a prayer. He’d pray and pray and pray and pray. And we always knew what the deacon was gone pray cause he prayed the same prayer last week, and we were able to walk right through that prayer with him. Maybe you’ve heard my deacon's prayer. “Once again Heavenly Father, a few of your hand made servants come knee bent and body bowed before you. We wanna thank you that last night was not our last night. Wanna thank you that our bed was not our cooling board. Wanna thank you that our sheets were not our winding sheets. Wanna thank you that early this morning you touched us with your finger of love and bid our golden moments to roll on a little while longer.” And then that deacon would start hooping deacons. By the end of the prayer he’d say “Nooooow Lord, when it's thine to call and ours to answer, give us a home in your kingdom where we’ll breathe our lives there sweetly.” Those deacons knew how to pray. Right before they sat down and went to sleep. They would pray and get church started. Right after that prayer, there was an old Deacon, Deacon Willie B. Reason, who has gone on to try a world unknown. Deacon Willie B. Reason would start stringing out and sing a song that went a little something like this.

I will trust in the Lord,

I will trust in the Lord,

I will trust in the Lord until I die.

I will trust in the Lord,

I will trust in the Lord,

I will trust in the Lord till I die. 

That's what we sang at church.They said there’s some things you can count on. And one thing you can count on is I’m gone trust in the Lord. Because the Lord has done so much for me, God has been so good to me that I’ve learned how to trust Him. Isn’t that what Solomon told his son? Solomon told his son in Proverbs ``Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct thy path.” Here my church family is the psalmist David telling us we have no reason to be afraid because we have a God that is “trustworthy,” one in whom we can believe. Listen to what he says. He says “Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: Though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.” I’m gonna be confident God is able to secure me. I love this don't you. For it seems that the psalmist is boldly professing to us that no matter what you go through, no matter what you deal with. No matter the terror, the trauma, the trail, the trouble, the tragedy God is still able to secure you, and hold you, and provide for you in spite of the calamities that come in this life. And don't you fool yourself, despite what the televangelist might tell you, God understands in this life we will have some moments where fear will try to grip us and take us off course. But that’s what happens in life. Sometimes the trouble, the tragedy, and even the trauma will make you lose your trust in God. But the psalmist says even if a host should encamp against me, even if war should rise against me, even if the worst should come in this life I’ll still be confident in my God. And that’s a good word for somebody, no matter how the bottom drops out, no matter if recession comes again, no matter if the debt ceiling is messed up, no matter if they can't reach a compromise in Washington DC. The good news is we have a God who still supports us, holds us, undergirds us, keeps us, and is still able to do for us what nobody else is able to do. Is there anybody in here who has lived through some trouble? Lived through some calamity? But you’re here as a living testimony if you trust in God, he is able to make ways for you that you could not make for yourself. If you trust in God, he’ll feed you when the recession shows up. If you trust in God, he’ll hold you even when you get a pink slip on your desk. If you trust in God, He’s able to secure you for his glory and for your good. I ain't never scared, because of my triumphs in God. I ain't never scared because of my trust in God.  

David’s confidence was not just based on what God had done in the past—it was based on his present trust in God. He says in verse 4, "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life." Notice that David is not just seeking God’s protection—he is seeking God’s presence. He knows that true security is not found in physical safety but in a relationship with God.  David understood that his trust was not in weapons, armies, or personal strength—his trust was in God.

When you trust God, you don’t have to panic when trouble comes.

When the doctor gives a bad report, you can say, “I trust God!”

When bills are due and money is short, you can say, “I trust God!”

When friends turn their backs on you and walk away, you can say, “I trust God!”

Trust is built through intimacy. The more you know God, the more you trust Him. David trusted God because he spent time with Him. He sought after God’s presence, he worshiped God, he prayed to God, and he meditated on God’s Word. David was not afraid because he knew God personally. He had seen God’s faithfulness, and he was convinced that no matter the circumstances God would never fail him.  I pray that you haven’t closed your bible. Will you please look at Verse 5 with me. It says, "For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock." ​​That means God has a covering for His children! That means God is my shelter! The enemy can attack, but he can’t defeat you. The storm can rage, but it won’t destroy you. Why? Because God has already secured your safety. When the storms of life are raging, He covers me. When the enemy is attacking, He shields me. When trouble is all around, He gives me peace.  David is using the imagery of divine protection. In ancient times, kings had special pavilions—hidden places of safety where they could retreat in times of war. David is saying, "When trouble comes, God will be my hiding place. He will keep me secure."

This is the same confidence we must have today. When life gets difficult, we must remember that we are covered by God’s protection. When storms come, we must trust that He is our shelter. Proverbs 18:10 says, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it and is safe." When you truly trust God, fear loses its grip on you.

So, when life gets overwhelming, don’t run in fear—run to the presence of God. Let your worship be louder than your worry. Let your trust be stronger than your trouble. Declare, "I ain’t never scared because my trust is in God! You ain’t never scared because you know that if God is for you, nothing can be against you! 

Can I push it a bit further? Well thank you so very much. David says not only am I afraid because of my triumphs, not only am I afraid because of my trust. But last and finally I’m never afraid because of the time that I’ve spent with God. David was fearless not just because of past victories or trust in God’s power—but because he had a personal relationship with God.

You can’t be bold in battle if you don’t know who’s fighting for you! One of the most powerful weapons against fear is intimacy with God. The more time you spend with Him, the stronger your faith becomes. David understood this, which is why he didn’t just rely on past victories or his trust in God—he prioritized being in God’s presence. He declares in Psalm 27:6, “And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.” David wasn’t just a warrior—he was a worshipper. He understood that the more time he spent with God, the stronger his faith became.

You can’t be bold in battle if you don’t know who’s fighting for you!

If you never pray, you’ll be weak.

If you never worship, you’ll be vulnerable.

If you never read the Word, you’ll be easily shaken.

But when you spend time in God’s presence, you develop spiritual confidence!

This is why Daniel wasn’t afraid in the lion’s den. He had spent time with God. This is why Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego weren’t afraid of the fiery furnace. They spent time with God. This is why Jesus wasn’t afraid of the cross. He had spent time with the Father.

When you know God for yourself, fear loses its grip on you! When you spend time with God, you develop confidence in His presence:

That’s why the prayer warrior isn’t easily shaken.

That’s why the worshipper doesn’t lose faith. And, 

That’s why the believer who stays in the Word can stand firm no matter what shall come about. 

 David recognized that his strength and boldness didn’t come from himself—it came from the time he spent with the Lord. The reason he could stand in confidence was because he had developed a deep relationship with God through worship, prayer, and communion. Fear has a hard time holding onto you when you are constantly in the presence of the Almighty! You can’t worry and worship at the same time. You can’t be afraid and filled with faith at the same time. When you spend time with God, you develop a spiritual boldness that makes the enemy back down. 

Look at what David says in verse 7: “Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.” David wasn’t just a warrior—he was a worshiper. He knew how to call on the Lord in every season of his life. And because he was a man of prayer, he had the confidence that when he cried out, God would answer. This is the confidence that every believer should have. When you have spent time with God, you don’t have to panic when trouble comes—you just pray! You don’t have to break down when enemies surround you—you just lift up your voice and call on His name!

This is why those who have a strong prayer life don’t get so easily shaken. Have you ever noticed that some people can go through hell and still have their joy? Have you ever seen someone face a storm and still stand firm in faith? It’s because they have been spending time in the presence of God! They have developed a trust that goes beyond their circumstances. They don’t just know God’s works—they know God’s ways. They don’t just seek God’s blessings—they seek God Himself.

David continues in verse 8, saying, "When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek." David had a personal relationship with God. He wasn’t just seeking His hand—he was seeking His face. Some people only run to God when they need something, but David had built a lifestyle of seeking God in both the good times and the bad. That’s why he could be fearless—because he wasn’t just depending on moments with God; he had developed a lifetime with God.

This is why Jesus told His disciples in John 15:5, “Abide in me, and I in you… for without me ye can do nothing.” The key to walking in boldness is abiding in God’s presence. The more time you spend with Him, the less room fear has to dwell in your heart. You can confidently declare, "I ain’t never scared, because I don’t just visit God on Sundays—I walk with Him every single day!" You ain’t never scared because the more time you spend with God, the stronger you become! 

I'm done today, but if fear has been weighing on your heart, I want you to make a decision right along with me to let it go. God told me to tell you that fear has no place in the life of a believer. If you have been feeling anxious, worried, or afraid, take it to God and stand on the promises of His Word. Lets help hope each other right through here. 

If you’ve been afraid of failure, remember that God’s strength is made perfect in your weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

If you’ve been afraid of what people think, remember that your worth is found in Christ alone (Galatians 1:10).

If you’ve been afraid of the future, remember that God has already gone before you (Deuteronomy 31:8).

If you’ve been afraid of death, remember that Jesus has already given you eternal life (John 11:25).

Today is the day to stand firm in your faith and declare: Look at your neighbor and say, "I ain’t never scared, because the Lord is my light and my salvation!"

I’m in my seat , but if you want to know the ultimate reason why we can stand bold, flat footed and say, "I ain’t never scared,"with confidence,  then look no further than Jesus Christ and the cross! Jesus is the perfect example of someone who walked in fearless faith. Jesus conquered fear so that you and I could walk in victory. And because He won, we win! But here is the shout beloved, we’re still winning. Romans 8:31 reminds us, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" That means there is NOTHING that should shake your faith! If sickness comes, trust God for healing. If financial trouble comes, trust God for provision. If enemies rise against you, trust that God will fight your battles. No matter what happens, stand firm and say, "I AIN’T NEVER SCARED!"

Jesus said in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Because Jesus conquered death, hell, and the grave, we have no reason to fear!

If He conquered death, we can conquer our problems.

If He defeated the grave, we can defeat our struggles.

If He rose in victory, we can stand in victory!

So, the next time fear tries to grip you and make you afraid, just declare and remind him: “I ain’t never scared! My God has given me triumph, my God has secured my trust, my time with Him gives me strength, my time with Him has made me strong! I walk in victory, and I stand in power!” Grab a neighbor. Hold 'em and shake' em. Shake’em and hold’em, and remind them “Im gone be like Jesus, I aint never scared.” 

When He stood before Pilate, He wasn’t scared.

When He was beaten and mocked, He wasn’t scared.

When He carried the cross up to Calvary, He wasn’t scared.

When He hung between two thieves, bleeding and suffering, He wasn’t scared.

Even in His darkest moment, Jesus trusted the Father completely. Didn’t he do it.  He knew that the pain of the cross was not the end of the story. He knew that victory was coming on the third day! Didn’t he do it? And because He triumphed over death, we don’t have to be afraid of anything!

Hebrews 2:14-15 says, “That through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” This means that because Jesus conquered death, we no longer have to live in fear! The enemy lost his power at the cross. Fear lost its grip at the empty tomb. And now, as children of God, we walk in complete victory!

So, no matter what the devil tries to throw your way, you can boldly declare: ✅ I ain’t never scared, because my God has already won the battle! ✅ I ain’t never scared, because Jesus already conquered the grave! ✅ I ain’t never scared, because I am covered by the blood of the Lamb! ✅ I ain’t never scared, because I have victory in Christ Jesus!

Romans 8:31 reminds us, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" That means there is NOTHING that should shake your faith! If sickness comes, trust God for healing. If financial trouble comes, trust God for provision. If enemies rise against you, trust that God will fight your battles. No matter what happens, stand firm and say, "I AIN’T NEVER SCARED, BECAUSE OF MY TRIUMPHS IN GOD. I AINT NEVER SCARED BECAUSE OF MY TRUST IN GOD. I AINT NEVER SCARED BECAUSE OF MY WITH GOD.” 

Now if you believe that, stand on your feet and give our great and awesome God some praise like you really mean it.