Fear Not

Q: What does the Bible say about fear not?

The Bible says 'fear not' frequently, emphasizing God's presence and redemption. In Isaiah 43:1, the Lord commands His people, saying, 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.' This assurance is pivotal, indicating that God does not want His people to live in fear, especially concerning eternal matters like sin, death, and judgment. The phrase 'fear not' appears multiple times throughout Scripture, often accompanied by God's promises of His presence and care. For Christians, these words serve as a reminder that regardless of life's difficulties, we are secure in God’s love and sovereignty.

Q: How do we know Christians are the true Israel?

Christians are the true Israel as they are spiritually united with Christ and believe in Him. The New Testament clarifies that true Israel is comprised of those who have faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 9:6 states, 'For they are not all Israel who are of Israel,' indicating that physical descent does not define being part of God's people. Galatians 3:7 confirms that those who believe in Christ are the children of Abraham, thereby becoming part of spiritual Israel. This understanding reassures believers that their identity is not tied to ethnicity but to their faith and relationship with Christ, who is the ultimate fulfillment of God's covenant promises.

Q: Why is redemption important for Christians?

Redemption is vital as it assures Christians of their salvation and eternal security. Redemption involves being bought back from sin and judgment through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. As stated in Isaiah 43:1, God declares, 'I have redeemed you.' This act of redemption confirms that believers are not only created by God but also purchased at a great price, as highlighted in 1 Peter 1:18-19, where it says we are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ. Hence, understanding redemption gives Christians profound assurance of their identity as God's own and His commitment to keep and preserve them through all trials of life.

Q: What does it mean that we are called children of God?

Being called children of God signifies our identity and relationship with Him through faith in Christ. In Romans 8:16, it states, 'The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.' This signifies a profound relationship where believers are adopted into God's family, enjoying both the privileges and responsibilities that come with being His children. Galatians 3:26 further emphasizes this by declaring, 'For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.' Such identification brings comfort and a sense of belonging, knowing that we are inheritors of God's promises, secure in His love and care. As His children, we are called to live in accordance with His will and reflect His character in our lives.

Q: Why should Christians not fear judgment?

Christians should not fear judgment because Jesus is their Savior and advocate. Fear of judgment can burdensome, but Christians are assured of their salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. As highlighted in Isaiah 43:3, God identifies Himself as our Savior, meaning that the one who judges us is also the one who has taken our punishment upon Himself. Additionally, 1 John 2:1 states that we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. This dual role of Jesus as Savior and advocate reassures believers that they can approach judgment with confidence, knowing they are justified based on Christ’s work and not their own. Instead of fear, Christians can rest in the promise of eternal life.

I have a message that I'm going
to bring to you today that I believe will be of great comfort to many
of you, great comfort and much help. Now, I do hope that you'll
be led to listen, listen. We're not going to learn anything
unless we listen, unless we hear. He that hath ears to hear, our
Lord said, let him hear. And if you'll be led to listen
prayerfully and carefully, I believe from this message, you'll gain
much assurance and much comfort in the mercy of our God through
Christ Jesus, our Lord. Now, if you'd like to follow
in the scriptures, and I really hope you will, it's so important that you see
what I'm preaching right there in God's Word. That's so important
that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of me. but in the
power of God and in the Word of God. Faith comes by hearing
and hearing by the Word of God. That's where faith, how faith
comes to us is by the Word of God. Now, here's the scripture,
Isaiah 43, Isaiah chapter 43. This is one of my favorite, as
my grandson says sometimes, my most favorite of all the scriptures,
Isaiah chapter 43. Here's the title of the message
too. Subject and title. Fear not. Fear not. Now, in other words, don't be
afraid. If what the Lord says in this
text, if what he says is true of me and you, if it's true,
all right, but if it's true of you and me, then we have nothing
to fear. Now, it's true, but is it true
of you and is it true of me? That's the question. You see,
fear, fear is an emotion that we all feel at times. It's an emotion some people feel
all the time, but most all of us feel the emotion of fear sometimes,
especially in regard to eternal matters, especially in regard
to eternal matters. A person who does not have some
fear and some concern regarding death, do you fear death? Judgment, it's appointed unto
me and wants to die after that judgment and eternity. A person that does not have some
concern or fear regarding those three things, death, Four things,
sin, death, judgment, and eternity. Well, if he doesn't have any
concern or fear that he's either a fool or perhaps he's ignorant
of these matters or perhaps, and I hope this can be said of
us when I finish this message, he has a hope, a good hope of
being delivered from those four things, sin, death, judgment
and a separation from God eternally. Do you have such a hope? You
say, well, I'm not a fool preacher, and I'm certainly not ignorant
of those things. Then do you have a hope? Well, we do. We have a good hope if these
words are true of us. Now, will you listen to Isaiah
43? Look at it. Listen to it. Isaiah
43, verse 1. But now thus saith the Lord that
created thee, O Jacob, Jacob he that formed thee O Israel
fear not fear not don't be afraid in verse 5 he says it again fear
not don't be afraid don't be afraid I'm with you now the first
thing we've got to establish is to whom is the Lord speaking
I know who's speaking here thus saith the Lord that's what it
says now thus saith the Lord And he's speaking to someone.
And here, that someone is called Jacob. He is speaking to Jacob
and to Israel. Now, he's not speaking to that
fellow Jacob, necessarily, that was back yonder, that lived,
and whom God redeemed. This is not written just to Jacob. And he's not speaking to national
Israel. A lot of people get that confused. The nation of Israel And the
person called Jacob is not the one he's speaking to here. He's
speaking to sons of Jacob and he's speaking to spiritual Israel. Sons of Jacob represented by
Jacob and spiritual Israel represented by national Israel. That's right.
He's speaking to his people. He's speaking to his people called
sons of Jacob. He calls them sons of Jacob frequently
in the scripture. I'll tell you why in a moment.
He's speaking to true Israel in these verses, telling us not
to be afraid. Now, I want you to notice several
verses. Romans 2.28 says, He's not a
Jew who is one outwardly. He is a Jew which is one inwardly.
Romans 9.6 and 7 says, They're not all Israel which are of Israel,
But in Isaac shalt thy seed be called." That nation Israel back
then in the Old Testament was simply a representative of the
church, of Zion, of the people of God, of the New Jerusalem. Galatians 3, 7 says this, Know
ye therefore that they which are of faith, these are the children
of Abraham. Who are the children of Abraham?
Those who believe on Christ, And those who believe not on
Christ, it doesn't matter what nationality they are, they're
not children of Abraham. They're not even the seed of
Abraham. Because Galatians 3 clearly says that that seed is Christ. And if you be Christ, then are
you sons of Abraham. If you belong to Christ. Listen
to Galatians 3, 26. You're the children of God by
faith in Christ. Listen to Philippians 3 verse
3. We're true Israel who worship God in spirit, who rejoice in
Christ Jesus, who have no confidence in the flesh. So here in Isaiah
43 when the Lord says, Fear not, don't be afraid, O Jacob. Fear
not, don't be afraid, O Israel. I'm with thee. Well, He's not
talking just to people who live in the Orient, or the Far East,
or the Near East, or people in a little nation. He's speaking
to sons of Jacob. He's speaking to true Israel.
He is not a Jew which is one outwardly. He's not Israel which
is one outwardly. He's a Jew which is one inwardly. Circumcision is not in the flesh,
it's in the hive. And you're looking at a full-fledged
Israelite right here. And every one of you out there,
it doesn't matter whether you came from China, or Scotland,
or Africa, or France, or Spain, or what your background or heritage
is, if you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, you're son of Abraham.
And if you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, you're child of
God. And if you're a saved person who knows the grace of God in
Christ Jesus, you are Israel. You are son of Jacob. And if
you do not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you're not
redeemed by His grace, and you're not Christ's seed, then it doesn't
matter. You may be a Hebrew of Hebrews,
but you're not an Israelite. You're not a child of Abraham.
You're not a son of God. Now, that's so clear. It says so plainly, they're not
all Israel, which are of Israel, but in Isaac, in the chosen seed
shall thy seed be called." We're sons of God by faith in Christ. You're the children of God by
faith in Christ. Know ye therefore they which
are of faith. These are the children of Abraham.
Why are we called sons of Jacob? He says, fear not, don't be afraid,
O Jacob, sons of Jacob. He says that so often. He calls
us sons of Jacob in Malachi 3. He calls us sons of Jacob in
Isaiah 44. He says, The Lord hath redeemed
thee, O sons of Jacob. The Lord hath glorified himself
in Israel. Well, I'll give you several reasons
why we're called sons of Jacob. I'm a son of Jacob. You are a
son of Jacob if you're a believer. We're called sons of Jacob because
the Lord loved him and loved us. He loved Jacob. He said that. He said that twice.
have I loved? Esau, have I hated?" Isn't that
what Scripture said? Jacob, have I loved? He said,
I have drawn thee, I have loved thee with an everlasting love.
Therefore, with a loving kindness have I drawn thee. We're sons
of Jacob because God loved us. Secondly, we're sons of Jacob
because God chose us. Like Jacob, it says the Lord
had chosen Jacob for himself. And we're sons of Jacob. The
Lord loved us. The Lord chose us. We're called
sons of Jacob because, like Jacob, the Lord called us to faith.
He crossed our path. He met us at Bethel, house of
God. That's what Bethel means, house
of God. And one night, Jacob, he'd stolen his brother's birthright.
He was running from his brother Esau, and he was fleeing from
home. Everybody was down on him, and
he was running through the night, and he lay down to sleep. And
God met him. And the Lord said, Jacob, I've
loved you, I've chosen you, I've called you, and I'll be with
you. And God met him. And Jacob called
the name of that place Bethel, house of God. I met the Lord
face to face. We're sons of Jacob. Has he crossed
your path? All right. In the next place,
we're called the sons of Jacob because like Jacob, the Lord
has blessed us and given us a new name. He said, what's your name? Old Jacob said, Jacob. You know
what Jacob means? Surplanter, cheat. And the Lord
said, thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel. What is Israel? A prince. A prince,
a son of God. God changed his name. And I'll
tell you this, God's given us a new name. And that name is
Prince, son of God. Christian. Child of God. That's right. And then, not only
a new name, we're called the sons of Jacob, because like Jacob,
the Lord's kept us all the days of our lives. Even in our wanderings. Oh, how that man wandered. And
how that man up and down. Up and down. But finally, God
brought him home. God'll bring you home, too, if
you're one of his sons. sons of Jacob. He said, I'm the
Lord, I change not, therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed. That's right. Well, let's look
at our text again. Fear not, don't be afraid. The
Lord says, fear not, over and over again. He says, fear thou
not, I'm with thee, I'm thy God. He said in Isaiah 41, 13, fear
not, I'll help thee, O sons of Jacob, And Isaiah 41, 14, fear
not thy worm, Jacob, I'm thy redeemer. And in our text, he
says, fear not, O Jacob, fear not, O Israel. And here he gives
us several reasons why we have no cause to be afraid. No cause
to be afraid. I want to give them to you for
your confidence and for your comfort and for your assurance. Would you listen to them? Why
don't you look at the scripture and follow me? First of all,
in verse 1, he says, Jacob, sons of Jacob, Israel, don't be afraid,
for I have redeemed thee. I have redeemed thee. Our missionary
to Mexico, Brother Groover, told me an interesting story. I visit
down there every year and preach in some of these pueblos in the
Yucatan. It's a very poor, poor, poor
country. And people don't have very much.
But one little boy, with the help of his father, had made
a very beautiful and elaborate kite. And wind came up strong
one day, and so he got his string, big ball of string, and took
that beautiful kite out and put it up in the air. And just kept
letting the string out, letting the string out, letting the string
out, kept on getting higher and higher and farther and farther
away. And after a while, the string broke. and the wind just
took his kite away. And several days passed, and
he and his father were in another pueblo, in another village, and
they saw this sort of a garage sale, people selling things in
these little booths and all. And this little boy saw that
beautiful kite, and he said to his father, that's my kite. Somebody's
found my kite, and it's for sale. And he went to the person there
that owned the little booth or whatever it was where
they were selling these things, he said, that's my kite. The
man said, no, that's my kite. It was lost and I found it. If you want it, you'll have to
buy it. So the little boy looked up at his father and his father
reached in his pocket and got out two or three pesos and gave
it to the man. And the little boy got the kite
and clutched it in his arms. And as he walked away, he looked
down at the kite and he said, you're mine. You're mine twice. I made you and I bought you. And that's what the Lord's saying
here to you and me. I made you and I bought you. Our Lord made us and he redeemed
us with his own blood. We're doubly his. We're doubly
his. For as much as you know, you're
not redeemed with corruptible things. such as silver and gold
from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers,
but with the precious blood of Jesus Christ as a lamb without
spot or blemish." You don't have to be afraid. You don't have
to be afraid. God says, I've redeemed you.
That little boy won't let that kite get away again. And I'll
tell you this, he said, I'm not going to forsake them and they're
not going to leave me. I redeemed them. And then in
verse 1, he says, Fear not, I've called you by name. I've called
you by name. Our Lord not only redeemed us,
but He called us. He called us. He called us by
His gospel. Paul, talking about the elect
of God in I Thessalonians 4, said, Brethren, I know you're
God's elect because our gospel came not to you in word only.
It came to you in power. in convicting, converting, life-changing
power. God called us by His gospel.
Ephesians 1.13 says this, In whom you trust Him after you
heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in
whom after you believe, you will see you with that Holy Spirit
of promise. Romans 1.16 says the gospel is a power of God
to salvation. He called us, sent His gospel. and called us. And then He called
us by Spirit. For eye hath not seen, ear hath
not heard, neither hath it entered the heart of man the things God
has prepared for them that love Him. But He has revealed them
to us by His Spirit. And we know that the Son of God
has come and given us an understanding that we may know Him that is
true and that we're in Him that is true. And this is the true
God And this is eternal life. He called us by name. Not only
by his gospel, not only by his spirit, by his word, but by name. He said, I know my sheep. I know
my sheep and they know me. And I give them eternal life
and they'll never perish. Neither shall any man pluck them
out of my hand. My father gave them to me. And
that brings me to the next point. Verse 1. Don't be afraid. I've
redeemed you. I've called you. And look at
these three words. You're mine. You are mine. Oh, I tell you, our Lord prayed
in John 17 for his people. You read that prayer? John 17,
the prayer of the great high priest for his church. Six times
in that one prayer, he uses this phrase, those whom thou hast
given me. You check it out. John 17. The
Lord Jesus is praying, lifted his eyes and said these words
to the Father six times. He says, those whom thou hast
given me. Now look at verse nine. Listen.
He prayed. I pray for them. I pray for them. I pray not for the world. I pray
for them which thou hast given me. For they are thine, and all
mine are thine, and thine are mine. I don't fear because I'm
his. That's what he says, fear not,
I've redeemed you, I've called you by name, you're mine. All thine are mine, he said. My sheep, my church, I'll build
my church, my body, my people, my brethren. Oh, if you could
just read that 10th chapter of John and hear him talking about
those sheep. Talking about those sheep. There
he is. Other sheep I have, he said, which are not of this foal,
them I must bring. They'll hear my voice. There'll
be one foal and one shepherd. They're mine. All that my Father
giveth me will come to me. Him that cometh to me I'll in
no wise cast out. I came down from heaven. not
to do my will, but the will of Him that sent me. This is the
will of Him that has sent me, that of all which He hath given
me, they are mine. I'll lose nothing." Can you imagine
one of His sheep perishing? One of His sheep for whom He
agreed to be the surety? Can you imagine one of His children?
Can you imagine a child of God perishing? I wouldn't let one
of mine get away from my care if I could prevent it. God infinitely,
eternally more powerful, loving, gracious than I. You know how
to give good gifts to your children. How much more should your father
give good things to them that ask him? His children? Can you
imagine one of his children perishing? One of his sheep? Part of his
body? Don't be afraid. You're mine.
All right. Look at verse 2. Don't be afraid. He said, fear not. When you pass
through the water, I'll be with you. When you go through the
waters of trouble, and you will. When you go through the waters
of sorrow, I'll be with you. Don't let these television con
artists and hooksters and merchandisers of men, money-grubbing preachers,
mislead you into thinking because you're sick you don't believe,
because you've got troubles you don't have faith, and because
you have sorrow in your life that you're not living a victorious
life and don't believe in Christ. Let me tell you something. Some
of God's choicest people have gone through the most suffering.
John Bunyan spent 12 years in prison because he refused He
refused to preach what men told him to preach. He preached the
gospel. Charles Spurgeon was a man who preached the gospel
38 years and spent much time in Mentone, France, awfully sick,
awfully sick. Paul talked about his good friend
being sick unto death. I tell you, Paul himself had
a thorn in the flesh. These preachers talk about if
you're not financially wealthy, you're spiritually poor, don't
have any faith, that's a lie. I've got so many friends in Mexico
and those little churches down there that have dirt floors and
sleeping hammocks and sit on boxes and cook on rocks and get
up every morning not knowing what they're going to eat, but
God provides their little meager portions of corn and beans and
they're poor, so they're poor, but they're choice servants of
God and I have no sympathy for men who use these things to make
merchandise out of men's soul. He said, when you go through
the water, I'll be with you. When you come to the river, it won't
overflow you. I'll be with you. You'll pass
through on dry land. I'll be with you, like Israel
of old. When you walk through the fire, you'll not be consumed. It'll not kindle upon you. And
you'll walk through the fire. God puts all of His children.
Be amazed at the fiery trials that come upon you. God sends
them for your good. Faith has got to be tried. Untried
faith's no faith. He knows the way I take. And
after He has tried me with fire, I'll come forth as gold. You
know what Job said? Don't be afraid. You're going
through the water. But he said, I'll be with you.
And you're going to come to the river, but it won't overflow
you. And you're going to walk through
the fire, but it won't consume you, because I'll be with you.
Don't be afraid. And then in verse 3, he said,
Don't be afraid. I'm the Lord your God. I'm the
Holy One of Israel. I'm your Savior. Did you hear
what he said? I am the Lord your God, and I'm
your Savior. In other words, do you know that
the eternal God of heaven and earth is my Savior? The living
God with whom we have to do at the judgment is my Savior. That's
what Mary said. My soul rejoices in God, my Savior. Why should I fear judgment? The
one before whom I'll stand is my Savior. The one before whom
I'll stand is the one who stood for me before the judgment and
death. I don't have to be afraid. My
advocate, my mediator is my God. The judge is my father and the
advocate is his son. That trial's over. Call his name
Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us. He'll save his people from their
sin. I've got to hurry. Listen, verse 4, don't be afraid.
You're precious in my sight. You're precious. Have you ever
considered the things that are called precious in God's Word?
Have you ever thought about that? Valuable, highly valuable, precious. Well, He is precious. He's called
precious. His Word is called precious,
His promises. The death of His saints is called
precious. Faith is called precious. And
here you are, right smack in the middle of it. You're precious. Isn't that something? Don't be
afraid, you're precious in my sight, he said. Not in yours,
maybe not in anybody else's. But he said, in my sight, you're
precious because he paid a tremendous price for you. You're bought
with a price. And then in verse 4, he said, don't be afraid,
I've loved you. The believer doesn't like to
talk about his love for Christ because he knows it's so small. But he likes to talk about Christ's
love for him. And then he says in closing, verse 5, don't be
afraid, I'm with you. I'm with you. Let me show you
something. Isaiah said he was numbered with the transgressors. He was with us, identified with
us. Secondly, he said I'm with you
even to the end of the earth, every step of the way. And then
he prayed, Father, I will that those whom thou hast given me
be with me where I am. Don't be afraid. All right. Fear not. I want you
to get that tape. Fear not. Send $2. That'll cover
the cost. Here's the address. And there'll
be another sermon on the other side, Justification by Faith. And fear not. Till next week,
God bless you, everyone.

Fear Not

What does the Bible say about fear not?

How do we know Christians are the true Israel?

Why is redemption important for Christians?

What does it mean that we are called children of God?

Why should Christians not fear judgment?

Sermon Transcript

About Henry Mahan

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Fear Not

What does the Bible say about fear not?

How do we know Christians are the true Israel?

Why is redemption important for Christians?

What does it mean that we are called children of God?

Why should Christians not fear judgment?

Sermon Transcript

About Henry Mahan

Comments

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