Intro: A man said to his wife just before an important engagement, "I'm so nervous, I've got sweaty palms and a dry mouth." His wife replied, "Then why don't you lick your palms?"
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That is probably not the best advice to deal with our fears. Last week we discovered the way to begin dealing with our fears is to receive a word from God. Do you remember the most important word we can hear from God? Chosen!
Ephesians 1:4 “For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight.”
He choose us with a plan and purpose in mind. To be holy and blameless in His sight. If we allow fear to be the rule in our lives then we can frustrate God’s plan of using us to display His faithfulness to the world.
Hebrews is a very important letter for us as we seek to mature in Jesus Christ. Hebrews is called the 5th gospel. While Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are concerned with Jesus earthly ministry, Hebrews is concerned with His heavenly ministry. It reveals Jesus all through this letter as better. Thirteen times the word better is used of Jesus and His ministry as the great High priest. Jesus is better! Jesus is better than Moses, He is better than Joshua, better than Aaron, He brings a better covenant, better temple and better sacrifice.
Here in Hebrews 13 we see another step in our journey of maturing into Christ.
Hebrews 13 tells us to be content with what we have, because He says he will never leave or forsake us we will not fear what man brings against us.
He is superior at everything in our life especially at giving us satisfaction. When we are satisfied in Christ our fears will be frustrated and our faith will be fortified!!
Contentment - a resting or satisfaction of mind without disquiet. It is "internal satisfaction which does not demand changes in external circumstances." (Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
A life that is free from fear grows from a life that is fully satisfied in Christ!
I. We can be free from fear when we are content with what we have – God provides our needs
The command from God here is to be free from the love of money. Which really is a command to be free from materialism or covetousness. So God tells us to be free from covetousness. How do we do this? We learn to be content.
It is so very easy to get what we want and what we need confused.
Adrian Rogers shared a powerful illustration: I heard about two tears who met themselves along the river of life. Said one tear to the other tear, where did you come from? Oh this tear says, "I'm the tear of a girl who loved a man and lost him. And where do you come from?" She said, "I'm the tear who found him and married him."
1 Timothy 6:6 – 8 “But godliness with contentment is a great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.”
If you have a relationship with Jesus and are content you are rich beyond measure. Notice very closely that we brought nothing with us into the world and we will carry nothing out.
What on earthy is Paul trying to teach us?
Material things will never satisfy us. Why? God created an appetite within us that cannot be satisfied by the temporary. Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts”
God designed a place in our inner man that can only be satisfied by His living presence. If you focus on temporary things to satisfy your appetites and desires it will never ever give you satisfaction.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 “The one who loves money is never satisfied with money, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income. This too is futile.”
When you have material things you will want more because you are not satisfied, or if you don’t have it you will want it.
God has placed an appetite for eternity in our hearts. In the inner man we have whether we realize it or not a hunger for heaven. Contentment is not just accepting you lot in life. It is also realizing there is a lot more prepared for us than temporary things.
Psalm 37:4 “Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.”
This doesn’t mean every desire, appetite, craving or longing not matter how fleshly will be fulfilled. No it means all our desires are satisfied in Christ. What you heart has really been seeking and hungering for is Jesus!
We often fear because we feel our needs will not be met. There is great fear about the 19 trillion dollars of debt the US has amassed. Fear that pensions, SS, programs will no longer be available to us.
We will never fear if we truly believe God will provide for us all our needs in Christ Jesus.
II. We can be free from fear when we are content with what God says
What a word from God! Hebrews 13:5 “for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you.”
Those that study Greek tell us that there are 5 negatives in this statement. It literally reads, I will never, no not ever, no never leave or forsake you.”
“For He Himself has said.” What a personal and powerful word to us that can chase away doubts, fears, difficulties and devils.
I like Wuest's rendering "For He himself has said, and the statement is on record, I will not, I will not cease to sustain and uphold you." (Hebrews - Wuest's word studies from the Greek New Testament)
Faith in the promises of God is the power to live a radical, normal Christian life.
The ultimate answer to any fear is the promise of God that He will never abandon you and will always sustain you.
If you have ever been abandoned by anyone if you trust Jesus He will never, no never, not ever abandon you! (Examples from life!)
It is this promise of Gods faithfulness that carries our worries, calms our fears, and lightens our depression.
Worry, fear, covetousness is a mild form of atheism. Why? Because it acts like God either doesn’t exist or will not keep His word.
His answer is always, “I will never leave or forsake you.” When Madilyn Joyce Ricks was still born, those words rang loud. He said, “I will never leave nor forsake you.”
III. We can be free from fear when we are satisfied with God Himself
“So that we may boldly say, God is my helper.”
George Muller used to say that the first business of every day is to be truly at rest and happy in God (Pierson, pp. 257, 315).
A) The warning of dissatisfaction
Dissatisfaction is a disease that will steal your joy and take away your peace. Fear causes sickness: Numbers 22:3 And the Moabites were greatly afraid of the people, because they were so numerous. The Moabites were sick with fear because of the Israelites. (Net Bible)
Dissatisfaction leads to
Warren Wiersbe – Revelation and responsibility go together.
When we believe god will help you, you will no longer fear giving to others.
B) The result of satisfaction
1) Love without limits – let brotherly love continue
2) Sharing with strangers – Love all believers
3) Giving with generosity -- free from the love of money
4) Commitment to all our covenants – marriage bed undefiled
5) Submission to all God’s commands & callings -- properly respect elders
As we walk in our journey of contentment with Christ there will be issues, situations and frustrations with family, friends and foes. However, you can remain content, calm and you will conquer your fears with God as your helper.
He is our Jehovah-Ezer. The Lord our Help. Ask yourself this question, how many birds have been killed by scarecrows? Fear is a reality in our lives but with Jehovah – Ezer the Lord our helper it doesn’t have to rule our lives.
