Facing Fear with Confidence, Pt 1
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“I shall not be afraid, what can man do to me?” Those are the words of David in . Well, let’s see David. What can man do to you? Man can slander you, assault you, kidnap and torture you. Man can steal you possessions, attack your loved ones, and let’s not forget, man can kill you. So, what’s all this, ‘I shall not be afraid’ business? Besides all that there is the threat of terrorism and war, the possibility of a financial collapse or contracting a deadly disease. If you think about it, there is an endless list of things that cause fear.
How can David say, “I shall not be afraid”? Here’s how. For all of the reasons we might have to fear, all of them together aren’t as big as the one reason not to fear. What is that one reason? God! You do not have to live your life in fear. In fact, God doesn’t want you to. You’re going to face fearful situations, that’s unavoidable. But you don’t have to be afraid. Today I want you to see that God is all the reason you need to not be afraid.
Introduction
Turn in your Bible to . the background of this psalm is a time when David was in the Philistine territory of Gath. He was on the run from King Saul, who was trying to kill him. It must have been really bad for David to seek refuge in Gath. This was the hometown of the giant Goliath, who David killed. These people were Israel’s enemies. In the end, David had to fake insanity in order to escape Gath. David had good reason to be afraid. But he had a better reason not to be afraid. Stand and let’s read the Scripture.
This psalm reveals David’s confidence in God. It is a confidence that enables him to trust and rely on God even in the most fearful of situations. That’s the message for us. When you are afraid exercise confident trust in God. In this Psalm we see four ways we can exercise confident trust in God. We’ll look at two this morning and two tonight.
I. Exercise confident trust in God’s character. (Vv 1-2, 5-7)
I. Exercise confident trust in God’s character. (Vv 1-2, 5-7)
Tramples (same in verse 2) – oppress or cause to suffer / pant after. Picture predator panting as it pursues prey.
All day long – constant, unceasing attack
Oppress – persecute by unjust force
Rely on God’s grace.
Rely on God’s grace.
Be gracious – show favor/kindness
David was relying on the fact that God is a gracious God.
o “The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. 6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” ().
The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,
Verse 5: injure my cause – twist my words. An effort to deceive and incite others against David.
V 6: They stir up strife – incite war against.
V 5b: Plotting only evil
V 6: hiding in wait to pounce on David and kill him
Rely on God’s justice.
Rely on God’s justice.
V 7a: “Cast them out for their evil.” (Better than ESV)
Escape (ESV) – used of lion carrying off his prey
V 7b: cast down = subjugate, put under your feet.
David was relying on God to right the wrongs done to him.
“The Rock, his work is perfect,
for all his ways are justice.
A God of faithfulness and without iniquity,
just and upright is he.
“The Rock, his work is perfect,
for all his ways are justice.
A God of faithfulness and without iniquity,
just and upright is he.
o "The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He” ().
If I am in a situation and I need help, I’m likely to call the same 2 or 3 people every time. Why? Because I know them. I have confidence in them because I have come to know them and their character.
Popular girls in school trying to convince Jenna to drink. She knows what will happen if she refuses. The ridicule will be harsh. She feels like she’s about to be thrown to the lions. Then she thinks about Daniel in the lion’s den. Daniel did what was right in God’s sight and God protected him. But then again, God always looks after His own. That’s the kind of God He is. It’s then she began to feel more at ease. She knew God well enough to know He would take care of her, too.
If you’re in a fearful situation knowing that God is gracious and merciful should give you the confidence to rely on Him. Knowing that God is kind and compassionate should cause you to look to Him with confidence. When your circumstances give you reason to fear, who you know God to be should give you reason to trust Him.
God’s character should be enough by itself to give us confidence to trust Him when we are afraid. But we have more than just HIs character to give us reason to trust Him.
God’s character should be enough by itself to give us confidence to trust Him when we are afraid. But we have more than just HIs character to give us reason to trust Him.
II. Exercise confident trust in God’s Word. (Vv 3-4, 10-11)
II. Exercise confident trust in God’s Word. (Vv 3-4, 10-11)
“When I am afraid”
Vv 4 & 11 say “I will not be afraid”
David isn’t denying the reality of fear but declares that he will face it with trust in God with the result that God will calm his fears.
It is what you do when you are afraid that is the issue.
“In God, whose word I praise” – praising God for His promises (Vv 3 & 10)
– when Samuel anointed Him to be the next king
Notice how closely trusting God is associated with trusting His Word
A few of God’s promises:
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.
But you, O Lord, be gracious to me,
and raise me up, that I may repay them!
o “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” ().
o “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” ().
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
o “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” ().
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
o “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” ().
o “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” ().
Trusting God means taking hold of the promises in His Word.
Your actions should assume God’s Word to be true.
Jared’s employer downsized and he losses his job. Lives week to week, no extra. Wife worries. He starts to feel a little worried, but then remembers . He reminds his wife of this promise and they pray and thank God. He starts job searching confident of God’s provision.
“What can flesh (V 11: man) do to me” – Who is a mere human compared to the Almighty?
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
o “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea” ().
“I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do.
o “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do” ().
Big Idea: When you are afraid exercise confident trust in God.
Big Idea: When you are afraid exercise confident trust in God.
“If fear is cultivated it will become stronger; if faith is cultivated it will achieve mastery” (John Paul Jones). When you face a fearful situation, if you act in fear you only become more afraid. But the opposite is also true. When you are afraid, if you will exercise confident trust in God your faith and trust in God will grow and fear will shrink. So, when you are afraid exercise confident trust in God.
Trust His character. He is good and kind and compassionate. He is faithful to love, protect and provide for His own. In moments of fear remind yourself of who you know God to be. Your confidence in God will blossom and fear will dissipate. Trust His character. And trust His word. God cannot lie. He will never go back on His word. When fear and anxiety start to rise in you, lay hold of the promises of God. Read the, recite them, meditate on them, memorize them. Over and over keep filling your heart and mind with God’s promises and as faith grows fear will subside.
When David said, “I shall not be afraid” he wasn’t being arrogant. He had confidence in God. And you can too. You don’t have to be afraid. When you are afraid exercise confident trust in God.
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Study Guide
Study Guide
1. The three most common fears among adults are the fear of flying, the fear of public speaking, and the fear of heights. Of these three, which are you most afraid of? If none, what is your greatest fear?
2. Where do you think fear comes from?
3. How is fear different in the life of a Christian than in a non-Christian?
4. Read . In your own words, how is overcoming fear related to knowing and believing God’s Word?
5. What kinds of things does the Bible tell us about God that would serve to combat our fear if we truly believed them?
6. Conversely, if we are living in fear, what does our fear reveal we believe or don’t believe to be true about God?
7. Ask your group to read the following texts: , , , , , , and . For each one, point out the particular characteristic of God highlighted. How do these characteristics of God serve to inspire us to trust God? How do they serve to drive out fear?
Why do you think, despite these characteristics, many Christians still live with a sense of fear?
8. What situation in your life right now is requiring an active choice of trust rather than fear?
9. How can you remind yourself this week of the character of God that inspires faith?