The Opposite of Fear

Back Pack Sunday

8 But you, Israel, my servant,

Jacob, whom I have chosen,

the offspring of Abraham, my friend;

9 you whom I took from the ends of the earth,

and called from its farthest corners,

saying to you, "You are my servant,

I have chosen you and not cast you off";

10 fear not, for I am with you;

be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

11 Behold, all who are incensed against you

shall be put to shame and confounded;

those who strive against you

shall be as nothing and shall perish.

12 You shall seek those who contend with you,

but you shall not find them;

those who war against you

shall be as nothing at all.

13 For I, the Lord your God,

hold your right hand;

it is I who say to you, "Fear not,

I am the one who helps you."

Kenna is big on opposites right now.

She finally understands the concept and now she asks us what the opposite of things are. Some are easy but others don’t have true opposites. We know big and little. Up and down. left and right. But what about pancakes dad? What about Bacon dad? And so I explained some things don’t have a true opposite but its more either or, that was a bit of a stretch for a 4 year old mind.

Sometimes I think God stretches my mind in the same way when I allow him too.

Today let’s get stretched. Let’s think outside of our box. What if I asked the question, “what is the opposite of fear?”

I can ask this question because it has occurred to me that I have a lot to be afraid of right now.

We throw around different words for fear but its all the same thing no matter how you nuance it. We call my Grandma in Arizona a worrier, “oh she's a worrier, better call her.” We say oh they’re concerned about this or that. We’ve started seeing the signs for the Haunted Houses and Kenna from the back seat says, “I’m scared of those places. Those places are for the teenagers.” Whether you worry, are concerned, are scared, are afraidy cat, are nervous personality. No matter what word we use, it is all fear.

There is a whole bunch of change coming up in my life. New things starting and starting in bunches, but what is it that causes this fear? That’s what we need to find to get to the root of the problem.

In Isaiah just like in a lot of the Old Testament we see God’s chosen people in a pickle yet again. They have once again been taken over by a conquering nation and have forgotten who their God is. They are currently under the thumb of the Babylonians with King Cyrus of Persia threatening to overtake the Babylonians and thus take control over them. They have taken up the craft of idol making and worship yet again. We see in , , and 41 all of this playing out and God coming to his people trying to bring them back to their senses, but they, like us, can’t seem to get out of their own way. We let our fears, (insert worries, concerns, problems, whatever word you want here) change our mind about who God is. That’s why we need to remind us who God is and what He can do.

So let’s break this down…

The New International Version Chapter 41

8 “But you, Israel, my servant,

Jacob, whom I have chosen,

you descendants of Abraham my friend,

9 I took you from the ends of the earth,

from its farthest corners I called you.

I said, ‘You are my servant’;

I have chosen you and have not rejected you.

We are God’s. When you prayed the prayer when you submitted to His authority. When you excepted His Grace and Mercy, your became God’s. You may have not realized all that came with the prayer that you prayed. I was talking to someone recently about cars and extended warranties. That’s what God’s about to show us here. I know I think too many times God leaves me because that’s what we as people are good at.

Life’s tough let’s change things. Marriage isn’t working like we want it to let’s get a divorce. Have a problem at the office, I’ll get a new job. But David you don’t know my situation. No! You don’t know my God.

This isn’t a one time deal. Its not like that coupon you get for the free oil change for a year after you buy the car. This is day in and day out. Hour by hour but its up to us to realize we have to ask for it. So how do I get this? Well let’s go back up to verse 9,

9 I took you from the ends of the earth,

from its farthest corners I called you.

I said, ‘You are my servant’;

I have chosen you and have not rejected you

When stuff goes south in my life most of the time, scratch that, ALL THE TIME, it is because I have forgot that detail. When I let fear, (insert your word here) crepe in its because I forget who God is and who I am in relationship to Him. When we serve Him, he counts us as friend. When we commit to him he commits to us for the long haul. He chose us!

Let’s flip to

Romans 8:31–39 NIV

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

"For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."

37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The New Revised Standard Version Israel Assured of God’s Help

10 do not fear, for I am with you,

do not be afraid, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

11 Yes, all who are incensed against you

shall be ashamed and disgraced;

those who strive against you

shall be as nothing and shall perish.

When we remember who we are to God and who God is the “fears” of this world should pass away. I can’t emphasize this enough don’t let your fear overcome your faith. Trust who God is. God is bigger than the bank. God is bigger than your marriage. God is bigger than your family. God is bigger than your job. Tell your neighbor “God is bigger.” What’s the opposite of fear? Faith

Now remember, I’m not saying bad things aren’t going to happen because you are reliant on God. Bad stuff is still going to happen. I’m saying, and in full belief, you don’t have to let the fear of that and what comes with it dictate who you are. Let your faith in God be the foundation of your strength, courage, and the source of your boldness.

Isaiah 41:12–13 ESV

You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all. For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”

Where are your problems? God has taken care of them. Who holds your hand? The God who created the universe and holds it all in His hands. What do you have to fear? “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”

Where are your problems? God has taken care of them. Who holds your hand? The God who created the universe and holds it all in His hands. What do you have to fear? “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”

Can I ask you to do one thing as we close today? Take the hand of the hand that holds the world. He is there as you start school, he is there as you go home, he is there at the office, he is there with the kids. He is there. Where are you?