Trust--The Answer to All Fear

TRUST-THE ANSWER TO ALL FEAR Spring Valley Mennonite; August 28, 2022 What is it that you fear most? Someone compiled a list of the top fears, determined by the number of internet searches on types of fears--#1 is-fear of flying; 2- public speaking, 3-heights, 4-the dark, 5-intimacy, 6-death and dying, 7-failure, 8-rejection, 9-spiders, 10-commitment. Number 11 is flowers, 12-driving, 13-dogs, 14-dentists, 15-snakes, 16-needles, 17-being alone, 18-water, 19-Fear of God! And Number 20-Abandonment. While interesting, this list reflects a very shallow look at life, for I don't see things like the fear of losing a loved one, or loss of employment, or the crash of the economic system, or having a serious accident. There is also the absence that many in the world face--that of war or terrorism. I was interested in number 19-The Fear of God. For the non-believer, that should take first place. Admittedly, we all have some "concerns", perhaps not full-blown fears, but things that come to mind when we wake up in the middle of the night. Thankfully, God has answers for our fears-it is found in the single word "Trust." Isaiah chapter 12 is a beautiful hymn of praise delivered by the Prophet as he looked far into the future to the coming of Messiah and the salvation He would bring. I'll begin by reading the first two verses of Isaiah 12 (Read). I. THE MEANING TO JUDAH I spoke of the fear many people of national enemies which might bring war. This brings to mind the current conflict in the Ukraine but includes so many lesser known conflicts raging around the world. Judah was facing an immediate threat from their northern neighbors, Israel and Syria. But an even bigger threat loomed from Assyria, and the rising power of Babylon. In this beautiful hymn of hope, Isaiah looks to the future reign of the Messiah, the Prince of Peace. God's Chosen People have always been in danger, primarily because God's enemy Satan knew the Messiah, the One who would spell his ultimate doom would come through the nation of Israel, particularly through the tribe of Judah and the family of David. But despite all Satan's efforts to destroy the little nation of Judah, Jesus was born. He was the promised Messiah who died for the sins of the world and rose again defeating Satan, death and the grave. To those who would listen, this look into Israel's future would give hope and comfort, and a reason to trust. In the latter part of Isaiah's ministry, King Hezekiah did listen and led a period of true revival. Of great instruction and hope to you and me is the message of trust we can derive as we live looking for the glorious return of Christ. Trust in God gives courage to stare our fears straight in the face and state, "I will trust and not be afraid." II. GOD IS OUR SALVATION It makes us uncomfortable to think of a God of wrath and anger (as verse 1 states), but that is exactly what He is toward those who reject His love and forgiveness. God is a just God Who also is a God of love. The only way His divine justice that demands sin's punishment and His divine love for mankind could both be fulfilled is by a sacrifice so great and so incredible that is would satisfy both. That incredible sacrifice was the death of God's Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The ultimate seriousness of sin is stated in Romans 3:23: "The wages of sin is death." There is no escape from this truth, as awful as it is. You sin, you die. This is much more serious than simply physical death, as bad as that is. But eternal separation from all that is good and pleasant and right-with absolutely no hope for relief or escape-such is the consequences of sin. But the incredible, good news is that Jesus died so that we can escape that eternal punishment of hell! Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved! To believe means that you place your hope and trust in the sacrifice of Christ and His forgiveness. It is to admit you are a sinner and repent-to turn to Christ and trust in His atoning work on the cross. This is the answer to our ultimate fear-of God's wrath and anger toward my sin. Because God is merciful and compassionate, He has provided the gift of salvation. Verse 1: Although you were angry at me, your anger is turned away and you comfort me. Verse 2: Behold! Look! Be amazed! God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. Because Jesus came and died the death I deserved, I have nothing but hope for the present and for the future! But we can rejoice because in addition to being my salvation, as amazingly wonderful as this is, God is also: III. GOD IS MY STRENGTH What is meant by "strength?" Strength is the enablement to do what we are called to do. God's strength enables us to do what we cannot do on our own. Realize that we still have an inward tendency toward evil. This inward tendency responds to the evil system and temptations from outside. Paul Tripp describes this process, "By the operation of powerful grace, we are purer that we once were. But here is our dilemma: our purification from sin-that work that will not end until every last microbe of sin is eradicated from every single cell of every heart of every believer-is a lifelong process and not a single event. The process of heart purification is taking place in the environment of a dramatically broken world that is not functioning as God intended and where evil lurks around every corner. And there is not a day in our lives when internal and external evil do not intersect somehow, someway." Without God's strength and enablement, we don't have the power to resist these evil temptations. And here is another issue which requires God's strength to survive: How much of life can we truly control? If we are honest, for many things that truly are a threat, not much! Think of what we have no control over: The weather-for most of us, the unpredictability of the weather is more a nuisance and an inconvenience, but for our farmers the weather means success or crop failure. And there is not a thing they can do, except pray (which, while not a bad thing to do, doesn't guarantee rain will come, or frost will stay away, or that rain won't stay off the hay that's down). We can't control the economy, and our jobs may disappear because of unpredictable circumstances, or our investments may crater, or inflation saps our buying power-such things are out of our control. We can't do much about the government ultimately, and decisions are made which affect our lives. Epidemics and pandemics have us at their mercy. And there is nothing we can do to avoid getting older with all its attendant issues. But we do not need to live in fear of what we cannot control, for God is our strength. We know that nothing happens but what our sovereign God allows, and He will give us the ability to cope with whatever happens. Psalm 27:1-3: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread? When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, my adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, In spite of this I shall be confident." In Philippians, Paul tells us that the Lord has taught him to be content in whatever circum-stances, in prosperity or in want, of having abundance or suffering need, for "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." The strength God gives is proportional to the power He has. Is God's power limited? The God Who merely spoke and all things with their incredible complexity came into being-is His power limited? He is the One who promises to give us power to accomplish His will in our lives. There is one important factor that unlocks God's power and strength, that enables us to trust Him, and that is surrendering to His will, and waiting on His timing to work things out. This does not mean we sit around and do nothing, but often situations arise and challenges come, like the things I just mentioned, over which I can do nothing. Isaiah speaks to those in such a quandary in chapter 40:27-31. Turn there and follow along as I read. He is speaking to those who wonder if God is seeing what they are facing, as they say, "Apparently, God, You aren't aware of what is happening to me..." To which God assures them, "My understanding is complete, nothing escapes my notice." When we are weary and tired of the struggle; when our own strength is exhausted; when we finally give up-when we stop struggling and give the situation to God-That's what it means "to wait"-then God gives us new strength to keep going, to rise up above the circumstances. This is what God told the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Realizing this truth, he continues in v. 10: Therefore, I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong." We think we are much smarter and more capable than we truly are! Humility is recognizing that fact. Isn't this what Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us? "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding..." Doubt comes when we forget God's sovereignty and His desire to bless us-when we fail to give our issues and problems to Him and wait for His guidance and direction. The passage in Proverbs continues, "In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." As we yield ourselves to His perfect will, IV. HE WILL PUT JOY IN OUR HEARTS AND A SONG ON OUR LIPS Read Verses 3-6. As we trust, God rewards us with peace and joy. He makes our heart sing, and we are able praise God for His guidance, goodness, care and protection. We joyfully give thanks and share His answers to others, sharing that living water which comes from the springs of salvation. The strategy of the enemy is to cause us to doubt and fear in the challenges of the day and the unknowns of the future. But when we cast our cares upon the Lord, trusting in His loving character and sovereign ability to deliver us, then the living water is free to flow from our innermost being. This life-giving water of joy and peace then encourages others to trust God with their problems. Isaiah 26:3: "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because He trusts in You." What a wonderful comfort in the uncertainties and fears of life that "...God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; the Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation." So let us trust and not doubt. Let us humbly submit to His perfect will. Let us allow Him direct our paths. And let us joyfully praise Him for our daily deliverance from evil. 2