GROWING THROUGH FEAR

INTRODUCTION:

During the difficult days of the Great Depression, half of all Americans were out of work. There were bread lines, even riots in the streets of Washington. But in the face of it a new voice was heard on the public stage. It was the voice of Franklin Roosevelt as he spoke in his first inaugural address in 1933. He stood on braces, a cripple leading a crippled nation. But he spoke with reassurance and gave the fearful nation a new hope when he said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” The word of a president dispelled the panic of America. In an even greater way the word of God dispels the fears of believers.

During the difficult days of the Great Depression, half of all Americans were out of work. There were bread lines, even riots in the streets of Washington. But in the face of it a new voice was heard on the public stage. It was the voice of Franklin Roosevelt as he spoke in his first inaugural address in 1933. He stood on braces, a cripple leading a crippled nation. But he spoke with reassurance and gave the fearful nation a new hope when he said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” The word of a president dispelled the panic of America. In an even greater way the word of God dispels the fears of believers.

Life has a relentless way of pushing us to the “brink”. Through a persistent parade of obstacles and opportunities we are continually confronted with moments that demand a decision.

Life (or is it God?) has a relentless way of pushing us to the brink. Through a persistent parade of obstacles and opportunities we are continually confronted with moments that demand a decision.

In our text we find that the nation of Israel stands at just such a place. Before them lie the blessings of God. Behind them gather the dust clouds of Pharaoh’s chariots. God’s message to a people on the brink is to:

I. Fear Not

A. There are Two Sources of Fear

1. The Fear of the Past

In Israel’s case, there were the chariots of Egypt bent on revenge.

In our case it is often the failures of our pasts which come back to haunt us.

3. In our case it is often the failures of our pasts which come back to haunt us.

2. The Fear of the Future

For Israel, there was the uncertainty of the wilderness.

In our case it is also not knowing what the future holds.

B. Fear shackles, can discourage, and can even paralyze.

Christians today, like Israel of old, sometimes find themselves trembling on the shore of some uncrossable sea.

We can become discouraged at what is out in front of us

We can become paralyzed in making a decision

C. The strength to dispel fear comes from the Lord.

It is the reassurance of the Lord of the universe: “Fear not.”

Only He can truly dispel fear.

If God is for us, who can be against us?

II. Stand Firm

A. The brink is a precarious place to stand.

It is a place from which we, like Israel, like to run.

We can try to run backwards, to retreat into the security of the past. Israel entertained this idea numerous times in the wilderness.

We can try to run backwards, to retreat into the security of the past. Israel entertained this idea numerous times in the wilderness.

We can try to run away, to escape the challenges of following God. Shallow belief and cheap religion always vanish in the face of challenge.

We can try to run away, to escape the challenges of following God. Shallow belief and cheap religion always vanish in the face of challenge.

B. God’s message to the people on the brink is to “stand firm.”

Our world is full of fleeing people.

They are running from bad relationships, difficult jobs, challenging situations.

But somehow, even in the face of the greatest challenge, faith takes a stand.

2. But somehow, even in the face of the greatest challenge, faith takes a stand. Know who you are, trust in the God you serve and resolve that you will not be moved.

Know who you are, trust in the God you serve and resolve that you will not be moved.

III. See the Salvation of the Lord

A. Though the brink is a fearful and uneasy place to stand

It is also the best place to observe what God can do.

God had brought Israel to this place for the very purpose of demonstrating His power to save.

God had brought Israel to this place for the very purpose of demonstrating His power to save.

The sea they saw as the edge of disaster, now becomes the threshold of salvation.

The sea they saw as the edge of disaster, now becomes the threshold of salvation.

B. God acts in decisive ways to demonstrate that it is He alone can truly save.

This is the great message of this text.

For Israel, the miraculous crossing, the manna, quail, water, the defeat of the Amelekites all demonstrated this great truth.

For Israel, the miraculous crossing, the manna, quail, water, the defeat of the Amelekites all demonstrated this great truth.

In man’s extremity is God’s opportunity. It is precisely when we are at our “end,” when the situation seems most hopeless that God does His greatest works.

In man’s extremity is God’s opportunity.

It is precisely when we are at our “end,” when the situation seems most hopeless that God does His greatest works.

Conclusion

As we stand “on the brink” of life-changing decision, let us, like Israel of old, hear the word of God: “Fear not, stand firm, see the salvation of the Lord.” It is the call of Scripture today that this people go forward by faith.

Stephen M. Hooks, Sermon Outlines for Growing Christians, ed. Sam E. Stone, Standard Sermon Starters (Cincinnati, OH: Standard, 1996), 51–52.