Don't Be Afraid

Pastor C. H. Jr.

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Servants of the LORD need not be afraid because the LORD is with us

Notes

Transcript

Introduction Power of Fear

Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States during World War II, said, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.”

That statement, of course, is rhetorical hyperbole, but there is a great measure of truth in it. Fear and discouragement have a way of defeating us before we even attempt anything. Nothing can be accomplished through us because we are afraid to start. In many cases, if we can overcome our fear enough to begin a task, positive results occur. But how do we overcome our fear? It is because we are afraid that we cannot overcome our fear!

Oswalt, John . Isaiah (The NIV Application Commentary) (pp. 464-465). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.

Our Fears

Submitting a new job application

Showing up for the job interview

Asking for & accepting more responsibility at your place of employment

Submitting the college application

Going back to school to complete that college degree

Enrolling in college

Asking her out on a date

Returning his phone call- even though you like him

Saying I love you

Being vulnerable

Opening yourself up to be rejected

Being the first one to apologize

Going to the doctor’s appointment or annual exam

Trying out for the football or track team

Church engaging the community

Opening up the church to the community

Accepting your call to church leadership

Matthew 22:14 ESV

14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Fear of tithing and being unable to pay your bills

Philippians 4:19 ESV

19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Trying something new

Being the old dog that learned new tricks

Taking risk for the kingdom of God

Sharing the Gospel- the Good news of Jesus Christ

Evangelizing your family & Community

Breaking Generational Curses

Putting down the liquor bottle & Giving up smoking cigarettes & marijuana

John 8:34–36 ESV

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Philippians 4:13 ESV

13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Fear of being Holy as God us Holy and being rejected by an unholy world

James 4:4 ESV

4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Transforming Fear

Illustration: in her book “Joy From Fear: Creating The Life Of Your Dreams By Making Fear Your Friend”,

The clinical psychologist, Carla Marie Manley states:

The use of anti-anxiety medications to combat a host of psychological conditions continues to increase dramatically. Primary care physicians are often put in the position of prescribing medications for mental health concerns such as depression and anxiety, yet in-depth mental health care is often beyond the scope of their practices. These physicians often face many bureaucratic constraints, including appointment time limitations and pressure from healthcare companies to take the quick-fix, “pill popping” route. As a result, the client seeking pharmacological mental health treatment is often not given appropriate attention, critical follow-up care, and necessary psychotherapy. This common pharmacological approach to treating mental health issues can be likened to throwing prescription darts and hoping to hit near the bullseye; this is unacceptable. A model that provides mindful, individualized care is necessary, as each person’s unique genetic makeup can make it difficult to predict the nature of a response to a medication.

This additional stress can lead an already anxious or depressed client to feeling even worse. These individuals are rarely—if ever—told that it is the approach, not the individual, that falls short of what is needed.

Anxiety disorders account for 1/3 of the nation’s annual mental health bill

Placebo has approximately same impact or effect as the actual anti-depressant

Take a step back learn from what has not been working.

Take a step back, study and understand Root causes and underlining issues of fear are left unexplored

What is ailing within needs thoughtful and diligent attention

Dr. Manley offers a new vantage point:

The psyche is often undervalued and marginalized in today’s externally focused world. The human psyche may be thought of as the totality of the mind’s conscious and unconscious aspects.

The word psyche is derived from the Latin psyche, or “animating spirit,”

and the Greek psyche, or “soul, mind, spirit; breath; life.” Interestingly, the Greek term also refers to “the invisible animating principle or entity which occupies and directs the physical body.”14

Clearly, humans have long believed that the psyche has a direct impact on the body itself. When the psyche is thriving, the physical body feels lighter and free. When the psyche is not doing well, the body will suffer.

Anxiety is the heightened anticipation of a perceived threat

Anxiety is nothing more than fear inspired by an imagined future collapse

Anxiety is the failure of Trust

Anxiety and it’s parent fear are both rooted in the lack of Faith

Transition To Body

Isaiah is speaking to a people debilitated with fear. They are in a situation that is completely foreign to them. They grew up secure in their own land, confident that because they served the living God and had his temple in their midst, nothing bad could happen to them.

Of course, they are not only afraid that God has left them, they are also afraid that their many enemies will overpower them.

Encouragement comes from knowing that God is personally present with them in their distress and from knowing that he will be directly involved in the outcome.

Oswalt, John . Isaiah (The NIV Application Commentary) (p. 460). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.

Body

The LORD’s Inclusive Invitation For Renewal (vv1-4)

Isaiah 41:1–4 ESV

1 Listen to me in silence, O coastlands; let the peoples renew their strength; let them approach, then let them speak; let us together draw near for judgment. 2 Who stirred up one from the east whom victory meets at every step? He gives up nations before him, so that he tramples kings underfoot; he makes them like dust with his sword, like driven stubble with his bow. 3 He pursues them and passes on safely, by paths his feet have not trod. 4 Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he.

Previously in Isaiah 40

They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength

v1- THE LORD God who judges the self-reliant people’s of the world

v2-4- The LORD God who self-reveals himself to the people’s of the world

Arrogance Of Idolatrous Human Self-Reliance (vv5-7)

V5- Peoples of world in fear who do not know the LORD

Illustration: Men’s Fellowship on did God cause this Pandemic. What is the purpose of it?

V6- Peoples of world strengthening one another through their words

V7- Peoples of world strengthening one another through their skills

Isaiah 41:7 ESV

7 The craftsman strengthens the goldsmith, and he who smooths with the hammer him who strikes the anvil, saying of the soldering, “It is good”; and they strengthen it with nails so that it cannot be moved.

Because there is no encouragement to be had from their gods, idol worshipers must encourage one another (41:6–7).

Isaiah 41:6–7 ESV

6 Everyone helps his neighbor and says to his brother, “Be strong!” 7 The craftsman strengthens the goldsmith, and he who smooths with the hammer him who strikes the anvil, saying of the soldering, “It is good”; and they strengthen it with nails so that it cannot be moved.

Oswalt, John . Isaiah (The NIV Application Commentary) (p. 459). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.

The LORD’s Unwavering Commitment Towards His Friends (vv8-10)

8–10 “But you, Israel, are my servant.

You’re Jacob, my first choice,

descendants of my good friend Abraham.

I pulled you in from all over the world,

called you in from every dark corner of the earth,

Telling you, ‘You’re my servant, serving on my side.

I’ve picked you. I haven’t dropped you.’

Don’t panic. I’m with you.

There’s no need to fear for I’m your God.

I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you.

I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.

Eugene H. Peterson, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005), Is 41:8–10.

V8-9 The LORD God who is committed to His chosen servants (the LORD’s friends)

V10 Don’t be afraid because the LORD’s commitment looks like: The LORD God accompanies, personalizes, strengthens, helps, & upholds

Fear:

be afraid, be frightened, i.e., be in a state of feeling great distress, and deep concern of pain or unfavorable circumstance