HOW TO OVERCOME FEAR

SERIES: WE SHALL OVERCOME.

TEXT: ISAIAH 41:10.

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed for I am thy God; I will strengthen you, I will help thee, yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness”-Isaiah 41:10.

These are comforting words. Notice five times God uses the personal pronoun “I” in this short verse.

• “I am with thee.”
• “I am thy God.”
• “I will strengthen thee.”
• “I will help thee.”
• “I will uphold thee.”

The reason God used the “I” so many times is because we feel so helpless due to the difficult time we face.

But He says I AM not helpless!!

• This verse is used to comfort those who have lost someone in death. To comfort widows, orphans and loved ones.
• This verse is used on someone who is going through divorce or those going through terminal diseases.
• But all of us need to be comforted by this verse in the days of our lives.
• Let us see how we can overcome fear in the days of our life.

What are some of the fears that people have today and how can we overcome?-

SOME FEAR DEATH EVERYDAY OF HEIR LIVES.

• This is not very difficult to prove.
• Alfred Krupp, the Russian manufacturer had such a fear of death, it is said of him that:-
• He never forgave anyone who brought up the subject of death in his presence.
• All his employees knew that to bring up the subject of death in his presence would bring immediate dismissal from their jobs.
• A relative of his wife was visiting with them and died suddenly in Krupp’s home. He fled the house in terror.
• His wife later rebuked him for his act and he forsook her and never lived with her again.
• He offered his doctor 1,000,000 dollars if he could prolong his life for ten years!!
• No doctor can prolong life-so Krupp died like everyone else dies.
• There are many who live every day with the fear of death-Hebrews 2:14-16.

SOME LIVE WITH FEAR OF GROWING OLD.

• You can take the most attractive person in this town and ten years later they have aged so much that you and I might not be able to recognize that person if we saw that person coming down the street.
• Many people buy oil of Olay in the buckets trying to prevent aging.
• But aging happens to them just like it happens to everyone else!!
• Many are fearful everyday as they look in the mirror daily and discover their bodies are aging.
• Men and women alike have this fear.
• Some people have not celebrated birthday for 50 years.
• Birthday is a reminder of age. Raburu Odinga, the senator of Siaya county celebrated his 81st birthday last week!! He said he feels like 40 years!! To me when he walked he walked like 100 years!!
• The psalmist said in Psalm 56:3, “what time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”
• God gives us at least four reasons to not fear:-

1. We have to acknowledge something.

“fear thou not, for I am with thee.”

• To live life without fear you must acknowledge that God has promised you. “I AM WITH THEE.”
• When we are aware of this truth that God is with us, we can face the future.
• We do not know about tomorrow but we know who holds tomorrow.
• When you become aware of God’s presence, it gives courage to face the hard times of life.
• When we are aware of God’s presence we can face life’s difficulties without fear-Hebrews 13:5-6.
• You and I should not fear what man can do to us-Vs. 6.
• The young pastor Timothy had times of fear, Apostle Paul wrote to him-2nd Tim. 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind.”
• In order to overcome fear in our lives we must acknowledge His presence.

1. We must trust in someone.

• Look again at Isiah 41:10”…… be not dismayed; for I am thy God.”
• The word “dismayed” here means “do not look alarmed.”
• God is telling the children of Israel to be CALM.
• The children of Israel that time were in captivity. They were being abused and were under much stress, but God was saying to them, “Be not dismayed for I am thy God.”
• God does not tell them “Be not dismayed, for I am your friend.” He said “FOR I AM YOUR GOD.” Friends can only say “pole” but God.
• God is telling them not to be dismayed because “I AM BIGGER THAN YOUR PROBLEMS.”
• Trust yourself to God, He is bigger than any problem you have.
• Trust God, no matter your age 50 or 100 years, you can always trust the Lord.

1. We must receive something.

“I will strengthen thee, yea I will help thee.”

• Do you know why God has to strengthen us?
• Because we are WEAK AND FRAIL!!
• You may look at some people, big and tall, but they are afraid of something.
• We all feel fearful at times. Some people fear germs, they can’t touch door handles.
• Receive His strength and help.
• The apostle Paul says I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me”-Phil. 4:13.
• If we are going to overcome fear in our lives we have to receive something-Strength.

1. We have to understand something.

• Isaiah 41:10”……….. yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
• God had requested the people of Israel to trust in Him while they were living during difficult times in captivity.
• Friends, there are difficult things in this life and if we are going to survive them it will be because of Him, not us!!
• It is during these difficult times that God says, “I will uphold thee with my right hand of my righteousness.”
• We are at the mercy of germs so small we cannot see them with our naked eyes.
• We are at the mercy of the elements of weather.
• We are at the mercy of economic conditions.
• We are at the mercy of political situations.
• So, put your trust in ME and BE NOT AFRAID.

CONCLUSION

• We have to acknowledge something –I AM WITH THEE.
• We have to trust in someone-“I AM YOUR GOD.”
• We must receive something-“I WILL STRENGTHEN YOU.”
• We have to understand something-“I WILL UPHOLD YOU with my right hand of righteousness.”
• Do not fear-OVERCOME FEAR.