ASSURANCE AND COMFORT IN THE DARK TIME
FEAR NOT
ISAIAH 41:8-10
11/26/00
INTRODUCTION:
THESE VERSES ARE GIVEN TO SILENCE THE FEARS AND ENCOURAGE THE FAITH OF THE SERVANTS OF GOD IN DISTRESSFUL TIMES. GIVEN FIRST TO ISRAEL, IN CAPTIVITY, BUT ALSO TO ALL WHO FAITHFULLY SERVE GOD THROUGH PATIENCE AND COMFORT THAT THEIR HOPE WOULD STAY STRONG.THAT THEY WHO BELIEVE AND TRUST IN GOD, MAY DEPEND ON HIS PRESSENCE AND HIS ALL SUFFICIENCY IN THE WORST OF TIMES. FEAR NOT.
THE TEXT:
(1)FEAR NOT THE THREATINGS OF THE ENEMY- I WILL DELIVER YOU.
(2)FEAR NOT THAT MY PROMISES WILL NOT COME TO PASS.
(3)ARE YOU WEAK?-FEAR NOT I WILL STRENGTHEN YOU.
(4) ARE YOU READY TO SINK READY TO FALL-FEAR NOT.
GOD SAYS " I AM WITH THEE".
HE SAYS THAT BECAUSE HE IS GOD ALONE HE YOUR GOD, HE IS WITH YOU.
ISRAEL WAS APPARENTLY IN A HELPNESS AND SEEMINGLY HOPLESS CONDITION AFTER HAVING BEEN TAKEN CAPTIVE, AND NOW RESIDING IN BABYLON.
THERE WAS NO RELIEF TO THE DARKNESS THAT HUNG ABOUT THEM, THERE WAS NO COMFORT INTHE DARKNESS OF THEIR SITUATION. GOD TOLD ISAIAH SPEAK TO THEM, TELL THEM TO "FEAR NOT". THE ALL-WISE, ALL-CREATING, ALL CONTROLLING GOD WAS WITH THEM AND LET THEIR TRUST IN HIM BE THEIR SECURITY, THEIR SAFETY, THEIR COMING OUT INTO THE LIGHT BY AND BY. WHY? BECAUSE HE WAS THEIR GOD.
"FEAR THOU NOT", FOR I AM WITH THEE, NOT ONLY WITHIN CALL,BUT PRESENT WITH THEE, BE NOT DISMAYED AT THE POWER OF THOSE WHO ARE AGAINST THEE FOR I AM THY GOD, AND (ENGAGED) WORKING FOR THEE, ARE YOU WEAK? I WILL KEEP THEE IN TIMES OF NEED.
"THE ASSURANCE OF COMFORT IN DARKNESS" IS A REALITY.
IF HE IS INDEED OUR GOD, THEN-
(1) HE KNOWS US: WE HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES WHO KNOWS ABOUT US, BUT OUR GOD KNOWS US, HE IS THE FRIEND WHO KNOWS, BUT CAN BE FULLY TRUSTED, HE IS A SAFE FRIEND, WHO IS WISE AND LOVING.
(2) HE PROVIDES FOR US.
(3) HE DEFENDS US:WHAT TERROR CAN CONFOUND ME WITH GOD BY MY SIDE
(4) HE CORRECTS US: WHEN WE KNOW OURSELVES, WHEN WE KNOW OUR WEAKNESS AND INABILITY WO WALK ALONE WHEN WE DO, HE WILL CORRECT US HE WILL REMIND US.
(5) HE GUIDES US: HIS PATH IS PLAIN, AND SAFE, IF WE GO FIRST WE CAN BECOME LOST AND DESTROYED, IF WE ALLOW HIM HE WILL GUIDE US.
(6) HE REDEEMS US: THE WORD REDEEM COVERS ALL THE MATERIAL AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS WE MAY HAVE.
ISREAL WANTED REDEMPTION FROM CAPTIVITY: GOD GAVE THAT!
ISRAEL WANTED REDEMPTION FROM SERVING IDOLS: GOD GAVE THAT!
FEAR NOT.
