No Fear

NO FEAR

PS 46

Psalm 46:1-11 (NKJV)

1 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A song for Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah

4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.

5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.

6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.

7 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

a8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has made desolations in the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.

10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

11 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

**The Lord not only is a refuge or fortress for us, He is our helper when we are in trouble. Have you ever been in trouble? When the Lord does help us, He doesn't help us just a little bit, but a lot. In fact, the words "very present help" in the Hebrew language indicate intensity or extremity. In other words, God's help is exceeding or abundant. That sounds familiar. Paul talked about this.

Ephesians 3:20—Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

To look around is to be distressed; to look within is to be depressed; to look up is to be blessed.

**THE ONLY WAY TO DEFEAT FEAR IS “TO TRUST”

The word "trust" comes from the Hebrew word batach {baw-takh'}. This is a great word. It not only means to trust, but has the idea of being at perfect ease or even being careless because of the implicit trust that you have in a thing or person. You have no worries at all because you have a carefree or careless confidence in the Lord.

Psalm 4:5—Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.

Psalm 37:5—Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Proverbs 3:5—Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

**BUT ONE OF THE REASONS THAT FEAR EXISTS IS BECAUSE WE ARE PLACING OUR TRUST IN SOMETHING/SOMEONE OTHER THAN THE LORD?? HERE ARE SOME THINGS WE SHOULDN’T PLACE OUR TRUST IN:

A. SACRED ARTIFICTS OR CHARMS- THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL PUT THEIR TRUST IN THE “ARK” NOT THE GOD WHO’S PRESENCE WAS SYMBOLIZED BY THE ARK:

1 Samuel 4:5-11 (NKJV)

5 And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the earth shook.

6 Now when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, "What does the sound of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?" Then they understood that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp.

7 So the Philistines were afraid, for they said, "God has come into the camp!" And they said, "Woe to us! For such a thing has never happened before.

8 Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.

9 Be strong and conduct yourselves like men, you Philistines, that you do not become servants of the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Conduct yourselves like men, and fight!"

10 So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent. There was a very great slaughter, and there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers.

11 Also the ark of God was captured; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

(STORY OF LT. GEORGE DIXON- FIANCEE GAVE A $20 GOLD PIECE TO, HE WAS SHOT, THE BALL HIT THE GOLD PIECE AND KEPT IT FROM KILLING HIM, HE LATER TOOK IT ABOARD THE CONFEDERATE SUB- THE HENLEY—IT SANK AND TOOK HIM AND THE GOLD PIECE WITH IT)

B. NOT IN THE SWORD:

Psalm 44:6 (NKJV)

6 For I will not trust in my bow, Nor shall my sword save me.