No Fear This Year - January 7, 2024
Text: Genesis 15:1
Everywhere we look today the news is bad, the world situation is bad: the economy is bad, and the state of our politics is all bad. But as we begin this new year, I would like to help you remember that no matter what, God is in charge. Because He is, all of us can live with no fear this year. Our main text this morning is short and comes from Genesis 15:1: "After these things, the Word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying "Fear not, Abram: I am your shield, and your exceeding great reward." While this promise was from God to Abram, this same promise applies to every single person who puts their faith and trust in God since that day almost 4,000 years ago and in al the days that are ahead. All you need do is change Abram's name to yours and trust that God is true to His word.
If we let it, fear can spoil the anticipation and excitement of the New Year. Fear robs us of adventure and joy, leaving us with gloom instead of gladness. The very first 'fear not' in the Bible was given to Abram, who was a man of great faith. Did you know fear and faith are opposites? As we allow our faith to increase and grow, we will find our fear decreases. But sometimes, being the imperfect humans that we are, like Abram, we sometimes experience fear after a great victory. God came to Abram after he had gained influence in the land. Perhaps he was afraid of revenge from the kings he had just defeated during his rescue of his nephew Lot from Sodom as is told to us in Genesis chapter 14. In the reassuring vision from God, a promise was given to Abram to allow him to overcome his fears.
The words from the Lord indicate that Abram was afraid, which prompted God to speak to him. Remember the promise God had made to him about having a son and making a great nation from him? Well, because of his enemies, it was likely that Abram was afraid he would be killed by them before the promise of God would come to pass in his life. Like we tend to do today, God found that Abram was focusing too much on the promise he was given instead of focusing on the Giver of the promise. He had to learn, as do we today, that God must be looked at as the reward and then His promises are sure to come. But too often, like Abram, we set our eyes on the gift instead of the Giver. God has promised, as shown in our text, that He will always be our shield, our protector, and He will reward us for our faith and trust in Him.
We know this to be true because of what He has told others in our Bible. Psalm 121:2 says that our help comes from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and Earth. This planet we live on is extraordinarily beautiful and even more functional. As it's Maker, God is not going to let anything happen to His creations; especially us His most prized creation. Paul wrote in Titus 1:2 "In hope of eternal life, which God, Who cannot lie, promised before the world began." Eternal life is a gift from the grace of God and the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. Paul makes it clear at the start that God does not lie. We can always trust in God's perfect moral character as the foundation of our faith. Because God is truth, indeed the source of all truth, He cannot lie. We can have confidence that we will have the eternal life that God has promised because He keeps all His promises. It is our job to build our faith on the solid foundation of the trustworthy God who never lies. Our God is the One who can do anything but fail. Jeremiah wrote in 32:17: "Ah Lord God! behold, You have made the Heaven and the Earth by Your great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for You." Jeremiah prayed this prayer after he became concerned about a field he just bought. His prayer is a reminder of just how good and capable God is and because of that we never need to worry. When Mary learned she would give birth to the Messiah but couldn't understand how it would happen, the Angel reminded her in Luke 1:37 "For with God nothing shall be impossible."
Each of these references, along with so many more found in Scripture, are firm reminders that we can stand securely on the promises of our God. Each and every one of them will hold strong when trouble comes into our lives. When trouble comes, too often we resort to our old habits of fear and worry when instead, we should immediately lean on God and remember that His promises are real and will drive all our fear and worry away. Each and every problem that we will face this year is covered by the promises of God. Because of this, we can live each day of this year and every year to come with confidence in our unfailing God.
God's promise is also accompanied with His protection. He said, "I am your shield." He didn't just shield Abram. In Deuteronomy 33:29 we see where Moses wrote: "Happy are you, O Israel: who is like unto you, O people saved by the Lord, the Shield of our help, and Who is the Sword of your excellency! And your enemies shall be found liars unto you; and you shall tread upon these high places." These promises to Israel are extended to the present time and even the distant future. They apply to Israel when in the Kingdom Age she will finally accept Jesus as Messiah and to all those who fully accept Him as their personal Savior and Lord before the Kingdom Age. David called the Lord "Our Help and our Shield." in Psalm 33:20. In Psalm 84:1 he said, "For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from them who walk uprightly." The great English Baptist Preacher Charles Spurgeon said, "The Christian still finds light and shelter in the Lord his God, a Sun for happy days and a Shield for the dangerous ones." Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:16: "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." He is telling us when Satan, the ruler of this world, sends his flaming arrows of temptation, doubt, lust, anger, despair, or desire for vengeance at us, we can use God's promises to shield us and stop them because everyone born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory given to us by Him. Our faith and trust in God are our source of victory over the darkness and fear offered by a world that doesn't recognize God. Solomon tells us in Proverbs 30:5: "Every Word of God is pure: He is a Shield unto them who put their trust in Him." It doesn't get much clearer than that.
When we stand firm in our faith and trust in God, we will be protected and rewarded. When you find your faith fading, read your Bible and pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit. He will never fail us as long as we trust that His love for us is real and allow Him to be all that He wants to be for us. If you don't see that God is your Shield and wants to reward you for your trust in Him, look at what Jesus said in John 6:37: "All who the Father gives Me shall come to Me and him who comes to Me I will in no wise cast out." Jesus did not work independently of God the Father, but in union with Him. This should give us even more assurance of being welcomed into God's presence and being protected by Him. Jesus' purpose was to do the will of God, not to satisfy His own human desires. When we follow Jesus, we are to have the same purpose. Remember the invitation that Jesus gives to everyone in Matthew 11:28-30: " (28) Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heaven laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and you shall find rest unto your souls. (30) For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." In contrast to the judgment Jesus predicted for the people in the cities that rejected Him, He offers rest to those who come to Him in childlike faith. Jesus invites all people, not just the wise and cleaver. The rest Jesus offers means peace from the burdens, worries, and fears of life. To find that peace requires faith and trust in the One who made all things and cannot lie. Allow God to be your Shield and Protection and I promise you will be able to live with no fear this year and all the years ahead.
Until we meet again, may God bless and keep you, may He shine His light on you, show you grace, and give you peace in all the days ahead.