How To Live in 2008 Without Fear
Hebrews 13:5,6
Fear Breeds Panic. It causes us to think irrational thoughts and make irrational decisions. Fear Brings Paralysis. Fear imprisons, faith liberates; fear paralyzes, faith empowers. Fear Builds Prisons. Fear imprisons us. It enslaves us Fear is a powerful weapon in the hand of the enemy.
However, God’s Word presents us with a comforting promise that can counter fear, along with an insightful command as we face a New Year: “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:5-6).
It is possible for you and I to live this coming year without fear if we apply four incredibly wonderful truths to our lives and root them deep into our hearts.
I. The Contentment of His Provision
Contentment is not getting what you want, but it is wanting what you already have.
I Timothy 6:6-7 says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”
A. A basic fact
Whatever money and material possessions we gain in this world will be left behind at the grave.
At the funeral of a rich man, a mourner thought of the deceased real estate holdings, business interests, and personal fortune and asked a friend “How much did he leave?”
“How much did he leave?” responded the friend, “All of it.” We cannot take it with us when we go. There are no U-HAUL’S following the hearse to the grave site.
B. A basic formula
If you know Jesus Christ, you should
have contentment. If you have Jesus Christ in your heart, you’re rich! Be content with what He provides for you!
Do you know WHY we have fear? We think our needs are not going to be met. We fear that the things we think are meeting our needs are going to be taken away from us.
However, the deepest need of man’s heart can only be met in the Lord Jesus Christ.
II. The Companionship of His Presence
I don’t know what I’m going to face next year. But there’s one thing I know, He will never leave me. Are you a child of God? He will never leave you either. Isn’t that wonderful!
See Joshua 1:9.
What’s another reason WHY we may experience fear in the coming year? Because we’re afraid we’re going to have to face something we don’t understand, and we’re going to have to face it alone.
When God’s Word promises that God will never forsake you, it means what it says. He will never abandon you. It could be stated like this, “I will never, never, no never ever forsake thee.”
We need to practice the presence of the Lord this coming year. When the devil comes and knocks at you heart’s door, you can simply say, “Jesus, please go answer the door.”
III. The Confidence of His Promise
We’re going to zero in on a little phrase in verse 5, “He hath said.”
A promise is never better than the one who makes it. Now who says, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee”? It is the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God that is promising.
In the coming year, when you say, “God, I just don’t have the strength.” The omnipotent God will answer, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” When you say, “God, I’m afraid of what is going to happen.” The omnipresent God says, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.”
And when you say, “God, I don’t know what to do.” The omniscient God will respond, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” He himself hath said it.
IV. The Comfort of His Protection
Hebrews 13:6 promises, “So that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
He hath said it, but we must say it. We must appropriate what He has said.
When you realize who your helper is, you are on the way to overcoming all fear.
Oh, how wonderful it is that the One who can help you is able, available, and anxious to help you,
Hebrews 13:5, 6 declares that for every circumstances we can say, “For this I have Jesus.” That is so comforting.
I don’t know what you’re going to go through this coming year. But I know you can boldly say, “The Lord is my helper.”
HE HELPS US WITH OUR BURDENS. Somebody has said that there are only two kinds of people in the world - there are those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good morning, Lord,"and there are those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good Lord, it’s morning."
HE HELPS US WITH OUR BATTLES. We are more than conquerors through Him.
HE HELPS US WITH OUR BEWILDERMENT. A. Jesus is my past helper (Psalm 63:7)
“Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.”
B. Jesus is my present helper (Psalm 46:1)
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
C. Jesus is my precious helper (Isaiah 41:10)
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be
not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Conclusion
When you find your contentment, companionship, and confidence in Jesus then you’ll find your comfort and courage in Jesus.
