Hope In God Our Constant Companion Series

We continue in our series Hope Found Here and this month we are focusing on Hope in the Companionship of God and each other. This morning I want us to consider together the hope we have in the presence, protection and provision of God.

Listen to these words of God recorded for us in Isaiah chapter 41, I have called you back from the ends of the earth, saying, ‘You are my servant.’ For I have chosen you and will not throw you away. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. For I hold you by your right hand—I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.’ (Isaiah 41:9,10,13)

The word translated here as afraid is the Hebrew word ???????? (tî·ra) which also means fear. We can read this verse as ‘Do not be afraid’ or as ‘do not fear’ but the meaning is the same, we have no need to fear or be afraid because God is always with us.

Both Deuteronomy 31:6 and Hebrews 13:5 remind us of the promise God will neither fail you nor abandon you; Never will God leave you; never will He forsake you. Every moment of every day God is with us so we should not fear or be afraid... Yet sometimes we seem to forget that God is with us,

sometimes we can be fearful, sometimes we can be afraid.

Does anyone know how many times the phrase “Fear not” or “Be not afraid” is found in the Bible? The phrase “Fear not” or “Be not afraid” is in the Bible 365 times - that is one reminder for every day of the year! When God says the same thing over and over again, it suggests we really need to listen to what He is saying to us. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.

God has given us this wonderful promise. Maybe each of us needs to trust His promise more than we do. Perhaps if we trusted God as we should, we would be less anxious, less troubled, less fearful, less afraid. Instead of worrying about things that happen to us, or worrying about things that might happen to us we need to remember God is our constant companion, God is always with us. God can strengthen us, help us, uphold us and bless us in every circumstance of life. God commands us to not be afraid, to not be fearful, He commands us to trust in Him.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 15:13, I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. God is our source of hope when we trust in Him, and Him alone, we can be filled with joy and peace.

Do you need to place more trust in the fact that God is for you, not against you? God cares for you and about you, God is always with you. Trust the truth of God’s presence of God, the truth of God’s power, the truth of God’s protection, and the truth of God’s provision for your life.

If you have repented from your sin and accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour then you have been adopted into a relationship with God,

adopted into the family of God, you are in a relationship with The One who loves you more than you could ever know, more than you could ever understand. You do not need to fear anything because you have a real relationship with the Creator, the omnipotent, omnipresent living God and He is with you and for. Your hope is not based on ifs, buts or maybes, your confident, certain hope is in God and His unbreakable covenant promises with you.

Do not fear because God is with you. When trouble comes He is with you, in the storm, He is with you, He is your solid foundation, He is your rock, He is your fortress, God is with you. God is never absent, God is never asleep, God is never unaware of what is happening, nothing takes God by surprise.

God is your constant companion, Jesus promised His presence with us in Matthew 28:20, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” When Satan tries to distract you with fear, fear not for Jesus is with you. The great “I Am” is with you. The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords is with you. We can live without fear because God is with us. Trust the promises of God. God has promised He will strengthen us. God has promised He will help us. God has promised He will uphold us.