DON'T LET FEAR KEEP YOU DOWN

Psalm 23:4 KJV 1900

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

DON’T LET FEAR KEEP YOU DOWN.

STEPPING THROUGH THE DOOR INTO A NEW YEAR SHOULD BE AN EXCITING EXPERIENCE.YET FOR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE,THE ADVENTURE OF ENTERING THE NEW YEAR IS OVERSHADOWED BY FEAR.

THE COLD BREATH OF FEAR KNOWS ALL AGES AND EVERY WALK OF LIFE. SOME PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO GO TO THE SUPERMARKET OR CORNER STORE EVEN IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. OTHERS ARE AFRAID THEY MAY NOT FINE A JOB. PARENTS ARE AFRAID THAT THE NEXT RING OF THE PHONE MIGHT BRING BAD NEWS ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN. SICK PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF WHAT THE DOCTOR MAY SAY THE NEXT TIME THEY GO TO SEE HIM. AND THOUSANDS ARE AFRAID OF THE FUTURE. FEAR, WITHOUT A DOUBT, IS ONE OF THE GREAT ENEMIES OF SUCCESSFUL LIVING.

NOT LONG AGO, A GROUP OF DISTINGUISHED SCHOLARS MET IN CHICAGO. THEY LISTENED AS A NOTED SCIENTIST GAVE A VERY GLOOMY PICTURE OF THE NEXT 25 YEARS. HE REPORTED THAT A PERSON BORN TODAY MAY LIVE TO BE A HUNDRED YEARS OLD. BUT DURING THIS TIME HE MAY SEE THE WORLD RUN OUT OIL AND NATURAL GAS. HE MAY ALSO SEE A MASSIVE DROUGHT ACROSS AMERICA, WORLDWIDE FAMINE, AND A MAJOR AMERICAN CITY LEVELED BY AN EARTHQUAKE. ECONOMIC OUT LOOK IS BLEAK, 45 HAS LOST HIS MIND . THAT'S A VERY DARK AND GLOOMY FORECAST.

BUT DESPITE THE MANY REPORTS LIKE THIS, THE FUTURE DOES HAVE GREAT POSSIBILITIES. THERE ARE MANY EXCITING PROSPECTS FOR THE YEARS AHEAD. YET FEAR ITSELF IS DESTRUCTIVE. LIKE A DROP

OF INK IN A GLASS OF WATER, A LITTLE IS ENOUGH TO COLOR EVERYTHING.

OF INK IN A GLASS OF WATER, A LITTLE IS ENOUGHT TO COLOR EVERYTHING. MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS FEAR DOES NOT DEPEND ON HOW GOOD OP BAD CONDITIONS ARE. IT DEPENDS ON HOW WE RESPONSE TO THEM. DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT FEAR CAN TIE US UP IN KNOTS. IT CAN PARALYZE OUR THINKING AND OUR ACTIONS. SOMEONE MIGHT ASK REV. WHAT IS FEAR? WELL THE DICTIONARY DEFINES IT AS A PAINFUL EMOTION MARKED BY ALARM. IT IS OUR RESPONSE TO WHAT WE THINK MAY BE UNPLEASANT. YES MY BOTHERS AND SISTERS FEAR IS AS OLD AS SIN. IT BEGAN IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN THE DAY THAT ADAM AND EVE DISOBEYED GOD. IN WE FIND ADAM AND EVE HIDING FEARFULLY FROM GOD AMONGST THE TREES OF THE GARDEN.

FEAR DOES NOT DEPEND ON HOW GOOD OP BAD CONDITIONS ARE. IT DEPENDS ON HOW WE RESPONSE TO THEM. DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT FEAR CAN TIE US UP IN KNOTS. IT CAN PARALYZE OUR THINKING AND OUR ACTIONS. SOMEONE MIGHT ASK REV. WHAT IS FEAR? WELL THE DICTIONARY DEFINES IT AS A PAINFUL EMOTION MARKED BY ALARM. IT IS OUR RESPONSE TO WHAT WE THINK MAY BE UNPLEASANT.

GOOD OP BAD CONDITIONS ARE. IT DEPENDS ON HOW WE RESPONSE TO THEM. DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT FEAR CAN TIE US UP IN KNOTS. IT CAN PARALYZE OUR THINKING AND OUR ACTIONS. SOMEONE MIGHT ASK REV. WHAT IS FEAR? WELL THE DICTIONARY DEFINES IT AS A PAINFUL EMOTION MARKED BY ALARM. IT IS OUR RESPONSE TO WHAT WE THINK MAY BE UNPLEASANT. YES MY BOTHERS AND SISTERS FEAR IS AS OLD AS SIN. IT BEGAN IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN THE DAY THAT ADAM AND EVE DISOBEYED GOD. IN WE FIND ADAM AND EVE HIDING FEARFULLY FROM GOD AMONGST THE TREES OF THE GARDEN.

YES FEAR IS AS OLD AS SIN. IT BEGAN IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN THE DAY THAT ADAM AND EVE DISOBEYED GOD. IN WE FIND ADAM AND EVE HIDING FEARFULLY FROM GOD AMONGST THE TREES OF THE GARDEN.

EVER SINCE THAT TRAGIC DAY, FEAR HAS FOLLOWED EVERY MEMBER OF THE HUMAN RACE. WE FEAR AS BABIES. WE HAVE FEARS IN OUR CHILDHOOD AND GREAT AND GROWING FEARS IN OUR YOUTH. THEM MORE FEARS HOUNDS US THROUGH ADULTHOOD AND EVEN IN OR OLD AGE.

BUT NOW I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT ALL FEARS ARE NOT BAD. THE FEAR THAT MAY KEEP A SMALL CHILD FROM RUNNING INTO THE STREET MAY SAVE HIS LIFE NOW THAT'S GOOD FEAR. THE FEAR THAT WILL KEEP YOU FROM TOUCHING A HIGH VOLTAGE WIRE THAT'S GOOD FEAR. YES THERE IS SOME FEARS THAT ARE HELPFUL.

EVER SINCE THAT TRAGIC DAY, FEAR HAS FOLLOWED EVERY MEMBER OF THE HUMAN RACE. WE FEAR AS BABIES. WE HAVE FEARS IN OUR CHILDHOOD AND GREAT AND GROWING FEARS IN OUR YOUTH. THEM MORE FEARS HOUNDS US THROUGH ADULTHOOD AND EVEN IN OR OLD AGE. BUT NOW I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT ALL FEARS ARE NOT BAD. THE FEAR THAT MAY KEEP A SMALL CHILD FROM RUNNING INTO THE STREET MAY SAVE HIS LIFE NOW THAT'S GOOD FEAR. THE FEAR THAT WILL KEEP YOU FROM TOUCHING A HIGH VOLTAGE WIRE THAT'S GOOD FEAR. YES THERE IS SOME FEARS THAT ARE HELPFUL. ABOVE ALL WE NEED TO FEAR GOD. TO HAVE A REVEREN, AN AWE FOR THE GOD WHO MADE US. REPEATEDLY THE BIBLE TELL US THAT IT IS THE FEAR OF THE LORD WHICH IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM. THREE TIMES IN THAT WONDERFUL POEM OF THANKFULNESS DAVID REMINDS US THAT GOD'S BLESSINGS ARE ONLY FOR THEM THAT FEAR HIM. THIS KIND OF FEAR IS THE KIND THAT BLESSES, THAT BUILDS,THAT STRENGTHENS. THE KIND OF FEAR THAT BURDENS IS SOMETHING ELSE.IT IS A ANXIOUS FEAR, A FEAR THAT CHILLS AND FREEZES AND KILLS. GOD IS AGAINST THIS FEAR. AGAIN AND AGAIN, WHEN GOD HAS SPOKEN TO MEN, HIS FIRST WORDS HAVE BEEN FEAR NOT. DON'T BE AFRAID. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT ANXIOUS FEAR IS SIN. IN FACT, PUTS FEAR FIRST IN A LIST OF SINS. NOTICE HOW VERSE 8 BEGINS. BUT THE FEARFUL, AND UNBELIEVING, AND THE ABOMINABLE, AND MURDERERS, AND WHORMONGERS, AND SORCERERS, AND IDOLATERS, AND ALL LIARS, SHALL HAVE THEIR PART IN THE SECOND DEATH.YOU SEE GOD WANTS US TO WALK IN FAITH, NOT IN FEAR. FOR YEARS GOD'S SERVANT DAVID WAS HOUNDED BY KING SAUL. BUT HE FOUND HELP. FOR DAVID SAID IN I SOUGHT THE LORD AND HE HEARD ME, AND DELIVERED ME FROM ALL MY FEARS. DAVID LOOKED TO THE LORD AND FOUND RELIEF. IN THE SAME PSALM, HE ADDS, THE ANGEL OF THE LORD ENCAMPETH ROUND ABOUT THEM THAT FEAR HIM, AND DELIVERETH THEM.(VERSE 7) MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IF WE PUT GOD FRIST IN OUR LIFE, IF WE RESPECT AND REVERENCE HIM, HE WILL DELIVER US FROM OUR FEARS.

ABOVE ALL WE NEED TO FEAR GOD. TO HAVE A REVERENCE, AN AWE FOR THE GOD WHO MADE US. REPEATEDLY THE BIBLE TELL US THAT IT IS THE FEAR OF THE LORD WHICH IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM. THREE TIMES IN THAT WONDERFUL POEM OF THANKFULNESS DAVID REMINDS US THAT GOD'S BLESSINGS ARE ONLY FOR THEM THAT FEAR HIM. THIS KIND OF FEAR IS THE KIND THAT BLESSES, THAT BUILDS,THAT STRENGTHENS.

THE KIND OF FEAR THAT BURDENS IS SOMETHING ELSE.IT IS A ANXIOUS FEAR, A FEAR THAT CHILLS AND FREEZES AND KILLS. GOD IS AGAINST THIS FEAR. AGAIN AND AGAIN, WHEN GOD HAS SPOKEN TO MEN, HIS FIRST WORDS HAVE BEEN FEAR NOT. DON'T BE AFRAID. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT ANXIOUS FEAR IS SIN. IN FACT, PUTS FEAR FIRST IN A LIST OF SINS. NOTICE HOW VERSE 8 BEGINS.

Revelation 21:8 KJV 1900

8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

YOU SEE GOD WANTS US TO WALK IN FAITH, NOT IN FEAR.

YOU SEE GOD WANTS US TO WALK IN FAITH, NOT IN FEAR. FOR YEARS GOD'S SERVANT DAVID WAS HOUNDED BY KING SAUL. BUT HE FOUND HELP. FOR DAVID SAID IN I SOUGHT THE LORD AND HE HEARD ME, AND DELIVERED ME FROM ALL MY FEARS. DAVID LOOKED TO THE LORD AND FOUND RELIEF. IN THE SAME PSALM, HE ADDS, THE ANGEL OF THE LORD ENCAMPETH ROUND ABOUT THEM THAT FEAR HIM, AND DELIVERETH THEM.(VERSE 7) MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IF WE PUT GOD FRIST IN OUR LIFE, IF WE RESPECT AND REVERENCE HIM, HE WILL DELIVER US FROM OUR FEARS.

FOR YEARS GOD'S SERVANT DAVID WAS HOUNDED BY KING SAUL. BUT HE FOUND HELP. FOR DAVID SAID IN I SOUGHT THE LORD AND HE HEARD ME, AND DELIVERED ME FROM ALL MY FEARS. DAVID LOOKED TO THE LORD AND FOUND RELIEF. IN THE SAME PSALM, HE ADDS, THE ANGEL OF THE LORD ENCAMPETH ROUND ABOUT THEM THAT FEAR HIM, AND DELIVERETH THEM.(VERSE 7) IF WE PUT GOD FRIST IN OUR LIFE, IF WE RESPECT AND REVERENCE HIM, HE WILL DELIVER US FROM OUR FEARS.

LET US LOOK AT SOME OF THE PROMISES OF THE SCRIPTURE.

Psalm 27:1 KJV 1900

1 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?

Psalm 32:7 KJV 1900

7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

Psalm 34:9 KJV 1900

9 O fear the Lord, ye his saints: For there is no want to them that fear him.

Psalm 32:7 KJV 1900

7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

Psalm 56:3 KJV 1900

3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

Psalm 32:7 KJV 1900

7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

Psalm 91:2 KJV 1900

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: My God; in him will I trust.

Psalm 27:1 KJV 1900

1 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?

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. .

2 Timothy 1:7 KJV 1900

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

BUT WHEN I CONSIDER THE PROMISES OF THE 23 PSLAM I CAN'T HELP NOT TO REJOYCE. BUT LET US LOOK AT THE 4 VERSE. IT SAYS YEA THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, I WILL FEAR NO EVIL.