Facing Fear

In FDR's 1933, inaugural speech, he said, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

There are many different fears and phobias under agoraphobia is the fear of heights arrow phobia is a fear of flying. I go to phobia is the fear of open spaces, so I hope none of you suffer from and through both phobia which is the fear of people. Then there is acrophobia which is the fear of water fairly common is arachnophobia which is the fear of spiders. Some of you know that claustrophobia is one of the better well-known severe of closed spaces and the children here who fear the darkness afraid of the dark. That's night to phobia and then of course there is a video phobia which is the fear of snakes.

I'm told that the most common fears are the fear of spiders quite sure why but spiders, snakes and heights.

So if you're on the top of a ladder in there confronted with a snake with a spider on top of it.

Many of your I really going to fear everyone suffer from these fears, we may think those that such fears. Rather silly, but the reality is all of us have fears.

Some of you this morning out of freight afraid of the future. Afraid that your husband or wife will leave you afraid of never getting married, afraid of not making the team afraid of an abusive husband and abusive father, afraid of getting fired to work afraid that you will not have enough money to live on as you get older, afraid of having a terminal illness afraid of dying, afraid of failure. Afraid of not meet meeting the expectations you have for yourself or that others have for you afraid of failing the exam of flunking out of college. Afraid that some dark secret in your past one day will be revealed afraid of having no friends of being alone afraid of your children leaving home and put up the real fear of your children not leaving home. Yes, fear is one of the most common of all human emotions.

The bravest of warriors. No fear. The toughest of athletes experience fear the riches of people experience fear the most intellectually bright of people experience fear and that with that being the case, and I'm sure none of us would argue with that. It's not surprising that one of the most common commands in the Bible is fear no fear not. These words come from the living God, and so on the authority of the word of God. I say a fresh do you want you to understand this. I want this truth to grip your very soul. This morning we listen to God is talking to you, whoever you are, and the word is this morning. Fear not wonderful in the grace of God and with the strength of God. You may not only face your fears, but so are high with wings of Eagles above them.

Fear not, let's think first of all, perhaps, rather strange way by its accurately that this is a command. Let's look at the commands open your Bibles to Isaiah. Somewhere in the middle of your Bibles in the series with wings like eagles, we turned over and over again to Isaiah, and we do this this morning this wonderful Old Testament prophet and we are looking first of all I'd Isaiah 14 19 coverage of the company or Bibles you don't have one others' one in the pew in front of you take that and looking at a lot of verses and if you believe in underlining your Bible from time to time, as I sometimes do not too often. Otherwise you end up underlining everything is all the word of God.

But these words were going to read to him today are some of the most beautiful, comforting words ever written. First of all, the command Isaiah chapter 41 verse 10 Isaiah 41 verse 10 it is you listening. Fear not as a command.

Fear not for I am with you.

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, I will help you I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Verse 13 for I the Lord your God hold your right hand. It is I say to you, fear not, I am the one who helps you fear not you warm.

Jacob you men of Israel, I am the one who helps you, declares the Lord, your Redeemer is the holy one of Israel. Here's the find. It is God who is saying to you, fear not. Chapter 423 Isaiah 43 verse one for now, thus says the Lord. He who created you will Jacob, he who formed you, Israel, fear not for I have redeemed you have called you by my name, your mind when you pass through the waters, I will be with you and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the holy one of Israel, your Savior, I give Egypt that you ran some corrosion CIBA and exchange for you because you are precious in my eyes, and honored and I love you.

I give men in return for you people in exchange for your life.

Fear not. Verse 54 I'm with you. I will bring your offspring from Easton from the last I will gather you. I will say to the north give up and to the south. Do not withhold bring my sons to my father and my daughters from the end of the.

Everyone who is called by my name, whom I have created for my glory who my farms and made brilliant verses in chapter 44 Isaiah 44 verse one but now here all Jacob my servant Israel, whom I have chosen, thus says the Lord, who made you who formed you from the womb and will help you fear not. Verse eight Isaiah 44 verse eight. Fear not getting the point for missing to you over and over and over again.

If you're not here this fear not, nor be afraid of. I told you from of old, and declared it under my witnesses is that a God beside me there is no rock. I know not any.

The command is fear not what someone says while the Scriptures are wonderful. But what's the context whether the circumstances who is God speaking to the context of these commands is the magnificent last section of the prophecy of Isaiah here in chapters 14 through 66. Which of you haven't read for some time. I do commend to you Isaiah the prophet is writing around 700 BC and is making a profit say he's anticipating the events when Israel will be in captivity in Babylon. And this prophecy comes through the Babylonians conquered Israel 605 BC, led by their famous king Nebuchadnezzar.

They ransacked Jerusalem.

They burned the temple and they take many Israelites back into captivity in Babylon.

Such people as Daniel and Ezekiel why God allowed his people to be taken into captivity, but instead of worshiping the true and living God, the Israelites had turned from the word of God.

They had worshiped false idols, and they had followed their own sinful desires. But now, in chapters 14 through 66, Isaiah is demonstrating great hope and a magnificent future about restoration of Israel to the promised land. Israel had come from God. That's true. But God never forsakes his people at the prophet Isaiah writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit foresees the time when the Babylonian captivity will come to an end and the people of Israel will return to the land. So these chapters are focusing on God's deliverance on God's salvation of his people. The message is God saves your trust is in him you have a magnificent future. Your people of hope and real time from God present each person here fallen into the captivity of sin. Haven't you chosen your sinful desires rather than God's need a case rent that rather than obeying the first commandment, that you will have no other gods beside me that things and people and situations in your ambition and your career and your pleasures and your money and your family on your sport and yourself haven't tried this being first in your life that in a sense, in a very real sense, you become an idolater of the such people who should've known better than to forsake God. Isaiah brings to the to these people, but brings yes to you and to me these words of comfort. These words of all these words of a few children they come to us with fresh power this morning because they're coming from the living God. Here is the command to you today.

We take it personally. Here is God's voice. Do you and all of your circumstances. Yes, the vast majority of your wounded we were on the say yes we have fears about some things. Here is the word of God to you. Yes, do you fear not, that's the command that is such people that the much loved and quoted, sometimes out of context. The words of Jeremiah 29, in the same circumstance. Jeremiah say much the same thing when he arrives in Jeremiah 29 verse 11. I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil to give you a future and a hope was the context of Jeremiah 29 the people out in captivity, the people have sinned. But listen to what the word is then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will hear your you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all of the nations in all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile, wonderful words of comfort of hope in the future but remember the context they are written to a people in captivity who have sins, but here is the promise if you repent, if you return to the Lord your God if you turn from your evil ways, not just in your lips and your actions.

God has a glorious future for you. No need to fear. No need to worry. No need to be anxious. Fear not, that's the command now. What are the reasons why we should not fear is about 20 easy John to say fear not, but why not. I'm an anxious person am I fearful person well. The basic message that Isaiah is saying.

It was seen this over and over again and we sing about it and we talk about it and wait write about going to read a about it again this morning is this because of who the Lord is over and over again Isaiah as the rhetorical question.

Do you know anyone other than this God is one greater than the Lord no fear not because of who the Lord is I want to give you four descriptions. Isaiah gives us of the Lord. There are many.

First of all, the Lord is your creator you create are the one who made you is the one who same to you, fear not of children sang about it lacerated. Isaiah 40 verse 28. Get your Bible open Isaiah, for they verse 28 through is this one who is saying, fear not, the Lord is God is the creator. Isaiah 4028 have you not known. I do not heart the Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the he doesn't fainter grow weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He is the creator chapter 423 will ready rather look at that again verse one. Isaiah 43 verse one for thus says the Lord. He who created you all. Jacob, he who formed you all Israel, fear not. Verse seven everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory to my farm the ends made chapter 424 verse two thus says the Lord, who made you who formed you from the womb and will help you fear no great to know God made me fearfully and wonderfully made, not just a chance, not just a product of evolution but I direct creation by God that God made you, he knows your name.

He formed you from your mother's warm, he knows who you are and it is this God who is your creator who today is saying to you. I created you for my glory. I got plans for you. Therefore, fear not only God's own created Isaiah remember reminds us he is our Redeemer again. Isaiah 43 verse one the Lord not only is your creator is your Redeemer, but now says the Lord.

He who created you will Jacob, he who formed you, Israel, fear not for I have redeemed you. I've called you by name. You are mine you love that chapter 44 verse 21, Chapter 4421. Remember these things will Jacob on the drill for you are my servant, I formed you that we have it gods or creator your my servant all Israel you will not be forgotten by me. You sometimes forget your friends. Yes, forget someone was up to in the past. Yes, God never ever forgets verse 22 is written to those who have been redeemed to believers. I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like Miss return to me, for I have redeemed you single heavens for the Lord is done at Charlotte to a depth of the break forth into singing Wilmington. So far, as in every 300 Y for the Lord has redeemed Jacob and will be glorified in Israel. Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, who formed you from the woman I am the Lord who made all things prolonged stretch of the heavens, who spread out the my myself with bringing this evening as we think of the life of Moses about the redemption from Egyptian captivity. The children of Israel under the leadership of Moses are delivered from slavery in Egypt. He leads them through the Red Sea and Josh was going to read lead them into the promised land. People of Israel have been redeemed. They been freed from their captivity.

That's a fine. This is a God who has redeemed us who has delivered us.

We belong to God. As we come to the New Testament we realize that our Lord Jesus Christ frees us, not from Egyptian bondage by the far greater bondage, the bondage of sin, the bondage of the fear of that was into Hebrews 2 verse 14. Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself outlawed likewise partook of the same things that through dad he might destroy the one who has the power of that that is the devil and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

Fear of day is great, who could deliver us from that fear can delivered us from the bondage of our sin, who can liberate us from the sinful desires and the strong force in our life that pools is nine is that I delivered her is that our Redeemer and of course that is that is our Lord Jesus Christ who comes into the world to delivered us and he does that is the writer of Hebrews is say he does that by dying for our sins by being buried and rising from the dead, conquering Satan conquering the one who holds us in his grip, conquering us from the sphere of their spirit of that which is the king of toddlers and the turnout of kings. And so now we have been redeemed. We began our service this morning by the orchestra and the Prelude reminding us that we have been redeemed.

We love to proclaim it, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb that Peter says no you one redeemed with corruptible things like silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, the blood of the lamb was spotless that we as a people of God had been delivered and I now belong to my Lord Jesus Christ yes purchased me. I am bought with my a price if you're if you have been redeemed.

You belong to Jesus Christ are part of this family, so why are you fearful is the point. He has redeemed you based on the most difficult thing by delivering your from Satan so why would these problems and live distract you and would allow you to be soul captive is your creator is your Redeemer is the resurrection on the life.

Therefore, fear not, the Lord is your creator number one. Secondly, the Lord is your Redeemer third, the Lord is your savior closely linked. Of course, the concept of redemption, but that's Isaiah's theme that the Lord saves wood back to chapter 43 Isaiah 43 verse three told us invest.

One. Fear not, why find the Lord your God. Isaiah 43 verse three, the holy one of Israel.

Your Savior, I give Egypt a chill ran some cushion CIBA in exchange for you. Yes is he's redeemed us. He has saved us. Chapter 43 verse 11 I am the Lord. We thought of that several weeks ago, the Lord Yahweh self existent one the great I am the eternal one on the Lord, and besides me there is no savior anyone else who can save you. Is anyone else who can forgive your sins as anyone else who can teach you from darkness into his marvelous light. Is there anyone who can deliver you through dad and take you into God's eternal presence. It know of anyone. Isaiah saying over and over again, know that is only one Savior, Peter the apostle puts it this way. Neither is there salvation in any other for that is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. Jesus himself is going to say I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father part from me, know that is only one Savior. Chapter 45 verse 22 is the command to me looking Jim says look to me and be safe over why or why look to the Lord is the only Savior turned to me and be saved. All the ends of the this is a mess is not just of Israel, not just Americans but to all people. Why, for I am God, and that is no other no other salvation were told today that many ways to God.

There's many ways to salvation and Isaiah would send all of Scripture would say absolutely not, the Lord God is unique. There is none like him that there is none like our Lord Jesus Christ.

There never was, and there never will be anyone like him. He is the unique God and he is the only Savior 45 verse 22 was the verse that Spurgeon that was used in the providence of God to bring Charles Spurgeon as a teenager to saving faith in Christ and he was going become one of the greatest preachers ever. He tells a story that one Sunday it's snowing in and in London and that he's looking for a place to worship of the beast as he finds himself in the small church in the primitive Methodists and the preacher hadn't turned up snowed up Spurgeon's eyes and then they said this is my went up to preach. He said he was much of a preacher. He said there is a shoemaker or something like that and that he is.

Spurgeon says it was a very poor preacher but had a very good verse.

That's the secret of preaching the good verse right and Spurgeon said he didn't really say much other than saying the most important thing of quoting Isaiah 4522, over and over again. Look unto me, and BU saved from God and there is none else than lifting up his hands. A quote from Spurgeon he shouted is only a primitive Methodists could do with apologies to any primitive Methodists in young man look to Jesus Christ look look look. You have nothing to do but look and live Spurgeon says it was thing I saw. Once the way of salvation. I know not what else he said I didn't take much notice of it. I was so possessed without one thought I been waiting to do 50 things but when I had that word look what a charming word.

It seemed to me oh I looked until I could almost have looked my eyes away there and then the cloud was gone. The darkness and rolled away at that moment I saw the sun and I could've risen that incident on some with the most enthusiastic of them of the precious blood of Christ and the simple faith which looks alone to him exit or that someone had told me this before trust Christ and you will be saved together money to fear your dad. No need to fear eternal damnation looks for Christ turned to him and be saved.

All the ends of the art from God and that is no other.

He's our creator. He's our Redeemer is our Savior force the Lord is your helper good to know we all like people in life you can help us margin of the Lord is your helper is what we have. Isaiah 41 verse 10 we read it limited again. Fear not from with you. Be not dismayed, some of your dismayed today your discouraged your binder, perhaps a little bit about something. Don't be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Verse 13 I the Lord your God hold your right hand. It is I who say to you, fear not, I am the one who helps you fear not. You were in Jacob, you men of Israel, I am the one who helps you, declares the Lord, your Redeemer is only one of Israel.

Imagine having the Lord in your site. Imagine always having the Lord with you. What are you afraid of is the pints he is there to help her and he's with us.

With this in the most difficult and excruciating situations of life situations which would produce fear and confusion and uncertainty.

He's told us this in chapter 43 that I read when you pass through the waters, I'm with you through the rivers, the one overwhelm you when you walk through the file you want to be burned once what's Isaiah doing the same picture slot that's going to sweep you away.

I picture a terrible fire women thinking of these awful fires in California think of think of that that will make you afraid.

Once at noses. Isaiah remember this, the God is with you.

Afraid when you're here scattered in captivity. Chapter 43 verse five know God's going to bring you back. God is going to restore your some of you have wandered away from the Lord, your your heart is hardened your fallen into the Satan you think God one take me back and I've messed up. Fear not the Lord is your helper. We read in chapter 43 fax for these precious words you are precious in my eyes. I love you.

Here is a God who not only is great to can create everything is a God of love, a God of great compassion, a God who is with me some hundred and 21. This is Lord is the keeper. He neither slumbers nor sleep Isaiah Psalm 121 he never goes on vacation.

He is watching over you he watches you, you're going in the jet coming out. You should is your keeper teacher helper old women in the village was asked why she was not afraid during an earthquake. How would you not afraid she says I rejoice that I know the God who shakes the world shaken by third brewers life unfair tragedy, injustice. Yes.

But do you know God, the creator, the Redeemer, the Savior, the helper and this dog can be trusted in the changing world of fears and anxieties. God is our unchanging and unchangeable rock missing it over and over again.

Isaiah 44 verse eight he is this ever lasting rock unchanging and unchangeable God is always 100% reliable friends can let your dying family can let you down.

Counselors can let you down. The best of people can let you down but God never ever ever fails, he is 100% faithful, and God never gets tired of us never going to someone for help and you realize you can debilitating them rights from, or someone comes to you again.

I guess a good bit nicer. This person trying to help them a little bit in your garage and because never like that is faithful, compassionate, his character is constant. He's a faithful God. Whatever your fears the Lord is with you, creator, Redeemer, Savior, and helper. We stand and read this verse wakes me up again to comfortable there.

Hebrews 13 verse six.

A short verse was rated thoughtfully usable verse and as you read it say is this true as God to help this to be a reality in your life with me so we can confidently say the Lord is my helper, I will not fear what can man do to me through that again so we can confidently say the Lord is my helper, I will not fear what can man do to me a man please be seated. What are we to do. We are to replace fear with faith of trouble with trust obey the command don't focus on the tough circumstances they will produce fear stand on the promises of God. We live in a world when is difficult to know who to believe and want to believe. Think of the spin of the politician, the hyperbole of the salesman that the height of the advertiser. But God's word is absolute truth. This book is absolute truth.

God cannot lie and he spoken in his word. We believe in the inspiration of holy Scripture that when God speaks in his word on when the Bible speaks it is God speaking when the Bible speaks God speaks our culture says there's no absolute truth.

It's all a matter of opinion, personal preferences, your truth, postmodernism is built on the upside foundation that it is a fact that there are no facts just your personal viewpoint is all your opinion is what you think that's cool man here okay I am okay Isaiah has reminded us hesitantly in chapter 40 verse eight of the grass withers, the flower fades with the word of our God stands forever. The opinions of men and women come and go, they have that ideas they have their viewpoints. They have their opinions but they're all in a sense swept away and in the difficult times of life, many of us have experienced.

I know here that we stand on the word of God. It is God's absolute truth. It is the psalmist says forever settled in the heavens.

It is God's eternal word so think of what we read today when God tells you not to fear because he's with you. Trust when God tells you not to fear because he will strengthen your trust. When God tells you not to fear because he has redeemed you. You belong to him and he's going to help you trust him. Don't you believe God really questioning God the answer to your fear is faith based on yourself not in a position on the new employer, not in your resources not in your family and friends, but trust in God the Word of God, the rock of ages since promises are unfailing. His promises are unassailable is faithful promises flow from his immutable his on changing faithfulness. Isaiah is saying this is only one God. There's only one raw was only one Redeemer, one Savior, one helper therefore trust this is what it means to live the Christian life isn't it. Living by faith different from the world isn't it standing on the faithful unchanging promises of God. I'm not minimizing your difficult circumstances. I know some of them excruciatingly difficult. I understand you being shaken. I understand you are fearful but listen to the word of God.

Fear not, no situation is too difficult for him.

No situation is too insignificant for him. He'll never leave you, says the psalmist, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, how scary you want your walking through the valley of the shadow of dad I spoke to a couple good this week are literally there, walking through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil.

Why for your with me and your rod and your staff they comfort me that God watches over us with the gentleness of a shepherd and with a vigilant protection of a mighty warrior. Therefore, don't be afraid for when Alexander the great was asked how we could sleep soundly when surrounded by so much personal danger with his enemies around them.

He replied that part of many auto is faithful Gen. was watching Alexander the great, could sleep soundly because he knew that his mighty warrior was protecting him. We have a more powerful watch of the import menu would only psalmist says is the mountain set on Jerusalem so the Lord surrounds his people from this time forth and forevermore the Lord is watching your sister. Lord cares for you. He's protecting your peacekeeping what you want this archer. He will give you all the grace and all of the strengths you need. Therefore, fear not your bite of surgery. Fear no beginning and you career. Fear no euro lawn spouse) has died. Fear no your been abandoned or betrayed by husband by Wi-Fi family member or friend, the parent, fear not starting a new school, new job and you situation fear not your beginning in your ministry here at Calvary you you you signed up to help over the Christmas ministries and you get anxious about that. You're a bit afraid. Fear not a serious illness. Not getting about to lose her job.

Fear not, you're getting old. Fear no.

You feel very young and vulnerable anxious fear notes. Yes, with God's help in this grace not only can you face that fear you can soar high with wings of Eagles above them you so fearful for her not have you not known, but you not heard the Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of their he doesn't fainter grow weary.

His understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint was God saying to you today to words fear with and sing a hymn, which I trust will deepen our faith in God but God is our shield and our defender. We pray with me. When you take these fears and remember that God is your creator, but God is your Redeemer, but God is your Savior and your helper father, we thank you for your gracious word comes to us how we needed with people of fears and anxieties so we thank you for these magnificent words written thousands of years ago by they have come to us today with power with conviction with comfort. May our faith be strengthened and may those who don't know Christ look to him today and be saved. And may we who know the Savior.

Fear not, may we munch up with wings like eagles, may, may we run the not be weary. May we walk and not faint. And we ask it in Christ's wonderful name or Savior, and the other helper