From Fear To Confidence

INTRO :

We live in fearful times.

We face the threat of anthrax, small pox, biochemical warfare, terrorism. (Magazine, T.V., newspaper)

Americans are afraid for good reason :

Qur’an on Jihad (Holy war) :

9:5 Then when the Sacred Months ...have passed, then kill the Mushrikûn (Pagans) wherever you find them, and capture them and besiege them, and prepare for them each and every ambush.

47:4 So, when you meet ... those who disbelieve smite at their necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly (on them, i.e. take them as captives). .... Thus [you are ordered by Allâh to continue in carrying out Jihâd against the disbelievers till they embrace Islâm.

9:29 Fight against those who (1) believe not in Allâh, (2) nor in the Last Day, (3) nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allâh and His Messenger (4) and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e. Islâm)

4:95. ...Allâh has preferred in grades those who strive hard and fight with their wealth and their lives above those who sit (at home). Unto each, Allâh has promised good (Paradise), but Allâh has preferred those who strive hard and fight, above those who sit (at home) by a huge reward;

What should our response be as Christians ?

Today we will look at Heb 13:5,6

I) THE LORD IS MY HELPER

A) THE SOURCE OF OUR CONFIDENCE (Vs. 5)

How can we say with confidence that the Lord is our help ?

Vs. 5 ...because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never

will I forsake you.”

Vs 6. So we say with confidence "The Lord is my helper,....”

Where did God say this ? (Matt 28:20)

Deut 31:6,8 (NAS) "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you."

8"And the LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear, or be dismayed."

As Christians - God isn’t far away that we have to go find Him.

Christians don’t need to pray :

Ÿ “Lord, go with us”

Ÿ “We pray that You be with us”

Ÿ “Lord, come be with us”

He already promised that He would!!!

In fact, you can’t get away from Him.

Psa 139:8 (KJV) If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

Therefore, we can say “The Lord is my helper” because He is everywhere.

B) THE SOURCE OF OUR HELP (Vs. 6)

i) Our help is not in man

Our help is not in the President, the Secretary of Defense, the F.B.I, the Military, etc....

Man’s help is strong but nothing in comparison to God’s help.

Man will fail you - God will NEVER fail you.

Psa 146:3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

Psa 60:11 Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.

Man’s help cannot : save my soul, give me eternal life, etc....

We trust in God ALONE.

ii) Our help is from God

God’s help is : All Powerful -

Ps 121:1-2 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

What can stand against us? Our God is the greatest power there is.

God’s help is : Ever present -

Psa 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

He is our refuge - for taking cover under.

He is our strength - when we are weak.

He is our help when : no one else will help.

our family deserts us.

no one understands us.

we feel alone and scared.

He is always there and comes through for us.

II) I WILL NOT BE AFRAID

E.g. of being afraid : One summer night during a severe thunderstorm a mother was tucking her small son into bed. She was about to turn the light off when he asked in a trembling voice, "Mommy, will you stay with me all night?" Smiling, the mother gave him a warm, reassuring hug and said tenderly, "I can’t dear. I have to sleep with Daddy’s tonight." A long silence followed. At last it was broken by a shaky voice saying, "The big sissy!"

INTERACTION :

How have you dealt with the fear of terrorism ?