Fearless

Previously Preached: December 27, 2015 AM

Text: Various

What lies ahead?

We just sang it to open the service:

What lies ahead may be unknown, as I brave the unseen road; So, God, PLEASE go with me!

Because Lord, if you are with me, “I am fearless in Your presence.”

I originally preached the heart of this message on the last Sunday on 2015.

Wow the things that have happened since then!

We bought property, built a building and relocated a congregation to new facilities.

We have lost people to old age, diseased bodies, cancer, and covid.

We have faced fire with the Thomasons house burning 2 1/2 years ago.

Just last year we faced the outbreak of a pandemic that continues to this day affecting 23 of our folks with many facing hospitalization.

We have gone through political turmoil, racial upheaval, ransomware causing fuel shortages, chronic shortages of everything from toilet paper to meat.

I think we are facing the end times, the beginnings of sorrows before Jesus calls the church to be with Him.

Back then we just THOUGHT we had an idea of things we should fear!

Little, so VERY little, did we know what lay in the future.

Maybe the challenges we have faced in the last 6 years will help us to remember how uncertain tomorrow ALWAYS is.

That’s why James said:

James 4:13–16 The Message

13 And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, “Today—at the latest, tomorrow—we’re off to such and such a city for the year. We’re going to start a business and make a lot of money.” 14 You don’t know the first thing about tomorrow. You’re nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. 15 Instead, make it a habit to say, “If the Master wills it and we’re still alive, we’ll do this or that.” 16 As it is, you are full of your grandiose selves. All such vaunting self-importance is evil.

I’m NOT trying to get us to FEAR tomorrow.

No!

I’m trying to get us to do what James was trying to get his readers to do.

In everything that involves the future look to God.

May we learn to trust an unknown, uncertain future to a known God who never changes.

Which brings me to this question:

Do you know Him?

If not, I invite you to know Him today.

Establish relationship with Almighty God by being truly sorry for your sins and asking Him to forgive your sins.

By faith, receive the forgiveness Jesus gives because Jesus paid for your sins.

Then surrender the unknown future into His hands.

Give Jesus the “Obedient Yes” spoken of in one of the last articles in today’s Worldview

Read that whole article as it talks about a variety of “yeses” we sometimes give to God.

If we will give an “obedient yes,” then the challenges of “paradise” can be tackled.

With a Bible school established to train pastors in paradise (read about it on page 21

With a ministry established to reach the young people of French Polynesia

A ministry that the President of French Polynesia is asking the Assemblies of God to start because he is seeing drugs, alcoholism, school dropout and suicide claiming the lives of that generation.

Also mentioned on page 21.

Will WE say “Yes” to laboring for the Kingdom of God on this Labor Day weekend?

So many labor for their own selfish desires.

How many will labor for Jesus?

For something bigger that their own little world?

Can that be said of us?

If we will choose to labor for for Jesus, then we have no fear for whatever challenges tomorrow holds.

C. Because it would be SO easy to be afraid of what is over the horizon!

1. Of the unknown!

D. How many things could cause us to fear in the coming days?

1. The possibility of terrorists attacking on the 20th anniversary of 9/11 because they have been given free access to this country because of unsecure borders and then emboldened by the messages given by the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan?

2. Or we could face emotionally disturbed shooters in schools, store, malls and workplaces — even in the church?

It seems we hear about such things on an almost daily basis.

3. We face the possibility of technology breakdowns that could plunge us into chaos — even anarchy?

Or, more likely, ransomware attacks that exploit the weaknesses in our infrastructure.

4. Financial collapse?

So many of us wonder about the future of Social Security. They say it will run out of funds in just a few years.

5. We face an uncertain Supreme Court that a few days ago declined to stop a Texas pro-life law but before that legislated from the bench about what marriage in our country looks like.

Will they soon announce MORE decisions that take away our freedoms?

7. Certainly there is the likelihood of more war breaking out soon.

Be it in the Middle East or in another part of the world?

E. On a personal level, we could face:

1. Additional health issues to go along with the constantly mutating covid.

2. Cancer, heart problems, just getting old.

2. Family relationship problems.

3. Things we haven’t even thought about.

4. The list could go on and on!

F. So many different things that could cause us to be paralyzed with fear.

1. But is that God’s will for our lives?

G. NO!

1. Absolutely not!

God desires that we face an uncertain future in faith — trusting in God.

H. So, this morning let’s briefly consider 7 verses that give us 7 teachings about dealing with fear. Whether it is:

1. Fear of ongoing and future challenges

2. Fear of covid

3. Fear of the unknown

4. Fear of whatever lies ahead

I Will Trust God

When fear comes crashing in on us, let us determine that we will not fear because we TRUST in God.

Trying times definitely reveal the source of our trust.

So the true antidote to fear is to fully trust God.

1. Psalm 56:3–4 (NASB95) When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. 4 In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?

B. Are we trusting in God or are we trusting in ourselves?

C. We are finite.

1. God is infinite.

D. We are fallible.

1. God is infallible – He never fails.

E. We are weak.

1. He is strong.

G. We grow weary and give up.

1. God never tires or gives up on us.

H. So let’s trust in Him.

The Lord Loves Me

A. Let’s not only trust God, but let’s trust that God loves us.

1. 1 John 4:18 (NCV) Where God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love drives out fear. It is punishment that makes a person fear, so love is not made perfect in the person who fears.

B. We don’t deserve His love.

1. We deserve His righteous punishment.

2. We are rebels against God.

3. Born into a rebellious state.

C. And yet, God extends His love to rebels.

1. He gives it to us according to His grace and mercy.

D. We didn’t even love Him first:

1. The next verse after what I just read says:

i. 1 John 4:19 (NASB95) We love, because He first loved us.

2. Romans 5:8 (NASB95) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

E. I started with the concept of trust.

1. Do we TRUST that God loves us?

2. That we cannot earn that love?

The Lord is My Salvation

A. And then, do we trust in God’s love so much that we believe that:

1. If we repent of our sins

2. Ask Jesus to take over control of our lives

3. That He will save us?

B. Isaiah 12:2 (NASB95) “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the Lord God is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.”

In God’s salvation is freedom from fear.

C. Once again, trust:

1. Trust that He loves us.

2. Trust that HE saves us.

i. Because we cannot save ourselves.

Seek God

A. If we trust in God:

1. In His love

2. In His salvation

3. Then we will seek Him.

B. Psalm 34:4 (NASB95) I sought the Lord, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears.

C. We must seek God to be delivered from ALL fear.

1. Notice that the psalmist not only said that he sought God, BUT THAT GOD HEARD HIM — God answered him.

D. When fear comes in like a flood do we despair?

1. Or do we seek Him and become delivered from our fear.

2. Delivered because we hear Him speaking into our souls: Peace!

Not delivered from SOME of our fears, but ALL of them.

The Lord Defends My Life

A. Let’s trust in God:

1. To love us

2. To save us

3. To answer us when we call out to Him and deliver us from ALL our fears.

B. Let’s believe and trust God to deliver us from fear and keep us in fearful circumstances — because He is our Defender.

1. Psalm 27:1–3 (NASB95) The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? 2 When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, In spite of this I shall be confident.

C. We are NOT strong enough to defend ourselves.

1. Paul’s testimony:

2. 2 Corinthians 12:9–10 (NASB95) And [God] has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

The Lord is My refuge

A. Let’s trust that He not only defends us,

1. But that He is our refuge — IF we will run to Him.

B. Psalm 46:1–3 (NASB95) God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.

C. We sing a chorus that says:

1. The Name of the Lord is a strong tower …

2. Based on …

3. Proverbs 18:10 (NASB95) The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.

God Gives Me A Spirit of Power

A. Finally, we can be delivered from fear:

1. As we trust that He loves us, saves us and hears us when we call out to Him

2. As we trust that God is our Defender and our Refuge.

3. As we walk in the POWER to overcome fear.

B. That Power that comes through the Holy Spirit.

1. 2 Timothy 1:7 (ANT) For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a Spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

C. The Holy Spirit allows us to confront a scary world with peace, love and calm.

D. I continue to plead for all believers:

1. If you have not been baptized in the Holy Spirit, seek the infilling without delay.

Looking ahead with confidence and peace

A. So, this morning we look towards the uncertainty of the unknown.

1. We do so with confidence and peace — because we trust God.

I Respond

A. Is that YOUR testimony?

1. That you trust God?

That you have confidence and peace?

B. If it isn’t it can be.

1. Come to an altar this morning and we will join with you in prayer.

2. Prayer for relationship with the One who delivers us from ALL fear.

3. Prayer for a supernatural impartation of the peace that passes understanding

Altar