When I am Afraid...
Notes
Transcript
Fear and anxiety have gripped our nation stronger than any other time in my memory. How do we, as believers in Jesus Christ, cope with fear? Are we immune to it? Can we overcome our fears?
Because of the times we are now in, I have decided to set aside the sermon series I have been working through in preparation for Easter. Instead, we will look at various passage that deal with fear, with the hope of boosting your confidence in the goodness of God and His sovereign control of all things.
Please take your Bible and turn to . This particular psalm was the starting point of Martin Luther’s famous song: A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD. I thought it would be fitting to read some of the verses from this great hymn.
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; our helper He amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing. For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe — his craft and pow’r are great, and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing, were not the right man on our side, the man of God’s own choosing. Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He — Lord Sabaoth His name, from age to age the same, and He must win the battle.
And tho’ this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph thro’ us. The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him — his rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure: one little word shall fell him.
That word above all earthly powr’s, no thanks to them, abideth; the Spirit and the gifts are ours thro’ Him who with us sideth. Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also — the body they may kill; God’s truth abideth still: His kingdom is forever.
As we look at this psalm we will consider the source of our security, the source of our comfort, and the objective of judgment. First let’s read our passage together. Today I will be reading from the English Standard Version.
To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song.
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,
though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
You may have noticed that the Holy Spirit provided three distinct divisions in our text with the insertion of the word “Selah.” Many believe that this term is a musical directive for a pause or perhaps a musical interlude. So, Lord willing, this morning I will remember to pause and reflect when we get to this term which is repeated three times.
Let’s consider first
The Source of Security
The Source of Security
Note that: The Believer’s Source of Security is God alone, and not God plus anything else. Look again at
The Believer’s Source of Security is God alone, and not God plus anything else.
Look again at
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Notice that the text doesn’t say that God and I partner together to provide a refuge, etc. Nor does it say that God and some other entity work together. Rather, it says “God is...”
Before we look at the description of what God is, let’s notice the limitation or qualification. The text says: “God is ‘our’.”
In other words, the descriptions that follow only are for those who are described by the psalmists as “our.” And the “our” is a reference to the people of God who are called by His name. As Peter once wrote:
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Now, let’s turn our attention to:
Three Descriptions of what God is:
Three Descriptions of what God is:
Refuge — this gives the external or defensive aspect to salvation — it is the place where we find rest and “sanctuary.” This aspect of God is described in many different ways: He is our hiding place; He is our shelter in the time of storm are just a couple of descriptive ways in which God is referred to. (play Ron Larson’s song — Hope for the Hurting Heart)
Ron Larson’s song — Hope for the Hurting Heart
Strength — this is the dynamic aspect of the indwelling Holy Spirit who empowers us for living the Christian life
Very Present Help — God is always present with His children, and always ready to help
Is God the refuge for all of mankind without exception? The psalmist states that He is “our” refuge, etc.
We who are believers in Jesus Christ do not take refuge in ourselves. We don’t trust in our wisdom – we trust in the wisdom of God. We don’t trust in our ability to protect ourselves – we trust in God’s protection. No matter how our world is falling apart we can trust in God. When we are afraid, we must remember that God alone is our refuge. As a result of all of this, the psalmist goes on to say:
As a result of all of this, the psalmist goes on to say:
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
The earth and the mountains are what hold back the raging sea from flooding the entire earth. Even if that happens, we can trust in God who is our refuge. Spurgeon wrote:
“Alps and Andes may tremble, but faith rests on a firmer basis, and is not to be moved by swelling seas. Evil may ferment, wrath may boil, and pride may foam, but the brave heart of holy confidence trembles not.”
There are differing opinions about what is happening in our world right now. I’ve seen some who think it’s much to do about nothing. I’ve seen others who are in such panic mode that they can hardly do anything.
Last Sunday morning, since we did not have anything planned for our church, I walked up and down every street in this village, praying for the residents as I was on their street. I prayed for protection from this deadly virus. I prayed for the spiritual salvation of the residents, and that perhaps the Lord would allow me to minister to them. On one of the streets a man came out of his home and we had a lengthy conversation about this virus. His belief was that 100,000,000 folks in the U.S. will contract the virus, and that about 3.5 million will perish.
We really don’t know just how bad it could get, but we do know that we can trust in God who is, for us, our refuge and strength, and a very present help in trouble. He alone is the source of our security.
But what about those who are not the people of God? Do they have any hope? As scary as the times are, what an opportunity we have to share the life-giving message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with our friends and family who are not Christians! We can even practice “social distancing” as we do so. All we have to do is pick up the phone and call them. Or sit at the computer and write them an email.
If you choose to embrace this opportunity to share the gospel, remember that the message begins with God, who is the Creator of all and the ruler of all. The message includes the fact that mankind, who was made to be God’s image bearer, rebelled against the One whose image they were to bear. The result of this rebellion was spiritual death.
But God had a plan: He sent His Only begotten Son to become man, to live a sinless life, and to die a cruel death on the cross. In so doing Jesus absorbed God’s wrath for all who place their faith in Him. And the question is: how will a person respond to this message? Will they receive this message by embracing its truth and calling upon Jesus to be their Savior? Or will they reject the message?
Let’s pause for a moment and thank God for the refuge that we, as believers, have in Jesus Christ. Let’s consider next
Let’s consider next
The Source of Our Comfort
The Source of Our Comfort
Note that: God’s Presence With His People Brings Them Comfort During Times of Adversity. Look at verses 4-5.
God’s Presence With His People Brings Them Comfort During Times of Adversity.
Look at verses 4-5.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.
We move from waters that are raging all around, threatening to flood the earth and destroy it, to this picture of a river which brings gladness and comfort. Some have reflected on how this river with streams that branch from it is similar to the rivers that encompassed the Garden of Eden. They see this river in our text as a metaphor for restoration and blessing. And that it may well be. I think of another passage that speaks of a river in
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
The river in this psalm seems to point to God’s presence among His people. He will never leave us or forsake us. Though the world around us may be raging, God is in control.
Though the mountains may be moved (vs. 2) the city of God will not be moved since God is present in her. And what could be more comforting than the knowledge and awareness of God’s presence with us — Immanuel — God with us! Notice verses 6-7.
Notice verses 6-7.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
The term “LORD of hosts” is literally “LORD of armies.” Not only is He with us but He is also our fortress. The term, fortress, implies a lofty inaccessible place.
Verse 7 ends with that word “Selah.”
While the nations of this world may rage against one another, making war with one another; while society may rage against Christ and His followers, we do not need to give into fear for the God of angel Armies is always at our side.
Verse 7 ends with that word “Selah.” We should pause and reflect on God’s sovereign control. Though we don’t see the full picture regarding what is happening in our world presently, God sees the end from the beginning. Rest in His sovereign control. Finally, let’s consider:
We should pause and reflect on God’s sovereign control. Though we don’t see the full picture regarding what is happening in our world presently, God sees the end from the beginning. Rest in His sovereign control.
Finally, let’s consider:
The Objective of Judgment
The Objective of Judgment
Note that: Though God Brings Judgment, His Objective is Peace. Look at verses 8-9.
Though God Brings Judgment, His Objective is Peace.
Look at verses 8-9.
Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.
Is the Coronavirus a judgment from God? Perhaps it is. On the one hand, we need to be careful in ascribing every “natural disaster” as being a judgment of God. On the other hand, we do know that God has used such things in the past as a judgment. Ultimately all natural disasters, as well as all diseases, trace back to the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. As Paul wrote:
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
In our text we are invited to:
Come, behold the works of the LORD
The term “come” is an invitation to something
The invitation is to “behold” — this has to do with contemplation
What we are invited to contemplate is “the works of the LORD”
The works we are to contemplate are mentioned as follows:
Desolations on the earth
The ceasing of war
Though desolation has been a constant thing in the history of civilization, the ceasing of war has never occurred. Therefore, this must be a reference to the end times when Christ will reign in His earthly kingdom. At that time, and not until, all wars will cease. Until that time we are exhorted to
Until that time we are exhorted to
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
To be still is to cease striving. We should cease our striving with fear and anxiety, and with whatever else we may be striving. Instead of striving we are to rest in the fact that God is God. He is in control. Nothing can harm us, while we live in this present age on earth, that is not a part of His purposeful plan. And in the eternal realm nothing can harm us, period; end of story! This psalm ends with this statement:
This psalm ends with this statement:
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
As I was writing this, I looked outside and saw snow falling in some of the largest flakes I’ve ever seen. Snow can cause tragedy – it certainly has for me on occasion. And yet, out of tragedy can spring forth beauty. Isn’t that the way of God.
Out of the horrific pain of labor comes a beautiful infant born into this world. And out of the tragedy of this present time God is able to bring beauty. We don’t yet perceive it, but we recognize the way in which God has so often worked.
Out of the tragedy of sin in the Garden of Eden, God gave the promise of a Redeemer. Out of the heartbreak of barrenness, God brought to Abraham and Sarah the son of promise – Isaac. As a result of the rebellion of King Saul, God raised up King David. And to David it was promised that the Redeemer which was prophesied of old would be born in the lineage of David – the man after God’s own heart.
Finally, this One who would be the Redeemer, Jesus of Nazareth, came unto His own. And yet His own rejected Him. But to those who believe in Him, He gave them the right to become children of God. And through the tragedy of His death on the cross, Jesus absorbed God’s wrath for all who believe in Him.
In contemplation of the works of God, we should be still and know that He is God. We should stop striving and rest in the work of Christ, who is the Way and the Truth and the Life.
This morning we’ve looked at the source of our security — which is God alone; the source of our comfort — which is His presence with us; and the objective of judgment — which is peace.
My desire for those who are listening this morning and are not believers in Jesus Christ, that you would embrace the gospel message. When you do you will no longer be at war with God, but you will be at peace with God. My desire for believers is that you will bring your anxieties to God, for then you will receive the peace of God that surpasses all understanding — this peace which will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
As we close this morning, I’d like to read the lyrics of a song that has been on my mind lately.
When I fear my faith will fail, Christ will hold me fast;
When the tempter would prevail, He will hold me fast.
I could never keep my hold through life's fearful path;
For my love is often cold; He must hold me fast.
He will hold me fast, He will hold me fast;
For my Saviour loves me so, He will hold me fast.
Those He saves are His delight, Christ will hold me fast;
Precious in his holy sight, He will hold me fast.
He'll not let my soul be lost; His promises shall last;
Bought by Him at such a cost, He will hold me fast.
He will hold me fast, He will hold me fast;
For my Saviour loves me so, He will hold me fast.
For my life He bled and died, Christ will hold me fast;
Justice has been satisfied; He will hold me fast.
Raised with Him to endless life, He will hold me fast
'Till our faith is turned to sight, When He comes at last!
He will hold me fast, He will hold me fast;
For my Saviour loves me so, He will hold me fast. Let’s pray!
Let’s pray!
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
