By Pastor Stan Parker
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
Isaiah 41:10
In our society, we have found various ways to glamorize almost everything-even sickness, death, everyday accidents, and worldly tragedies. We have even found ways to commercialize fear. Considering what is seen on television, in movies, and what we hear each day, fear appears to be exciting and appealing. However, as we consider what God told the children of Israel in Isaiah 41:10 it becomes clear God does not want us to live in, or be controlled by fear.
The children of Israel had been living in bondage for years; God knew this was not his divine plane for his chosen people. Brother and Sisters, we who have accepted Jesus Christ are also God’s chosen people and God does not want us to be in bondage of fear. Mankind is generally afraid of the unknown, and this fear keeps countless people in bondage. If we listen to God as the children of Israel did, then we have no need to be afraid of the unknown. Some may ask why.
I have no need to fear the unknown, when I follow God. In other words, I may not know what tomorrow holds, but since I know who holds tomorrow, I have no need to fear. This is the mindset God wanted the children of Israel to embrace. God wanted Israel to have peace even in the midst of the storms of life. He wanted them to remember he was with them, and there was no need to be dismayed. God still tells us this today; we should not be dismayed because of life situations, when we remember that God is with us.
As God’s children we must not forget that when God is with us, he is greater than everyone. No one can defeat us when God is with us. No one will ever have victory over us when God is with us. Yes, the devil may cause us a delay or give us a detour to our ultimate success, but in the end, we win. The devil’s attacks can bring our weakness out of us, but if we remember where our strength comes from, we will be recharged and move forward, in spite of the devil. God wants us to remain in his strength, and not in our own, that’s why he told Israel, and is telling us today, that he will strengthen us.
Let God strengthen you by accepting his word, his will, and his way. God’s way starts with love, and ends with love. To be strengthen in the word we must accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. We have no need to fear when we have God in us, by accepting his son. Jesus came to give us life and life more abundantly, we ought to accept Christ and give God glory and thanks. 1 Corinthians 15:57 says “Thanks be to God which give us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Since we have the victory, that means we win, and because we win, we don’t have to fear.
If you do not want to fear, then walk by faith in Jesus Christ, and enjoy your life in victory. This is the will of the Lord.
Pastor Stan (Parker) Senior Pastor Faith Fellowship Baptist Church, 1001 Dakin Street Lansing , MI 48912 , The church phone is 517-853-9897.