Faith Over Fear: Finding Strength in God
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor discussing the powerful emotion of fear and how it can bring us to the brink of our resources. He refers to the book of Psalms, particularly Psalm 27, which is filled with stories of people who have been taken to the brink and the breaking point. However, the pastor emphasizes that the Psalms also contain stories of hope, where individuals are brought back from the brink through their faith and God's work in their lives. The pastor shares a personal anecdote about a memory card pack from The Navigators, an organization that works with students, which was given to him in the 1980s and encouraged memorization of faith-related content.
The pastor then reflects on the mixed emotions expressed in Psalm 27. The psalmist experiences a range of emotions, from fear to faith, as he grapples with the idea of God allowing his evil opponents to triumph and the fear of being deserted by God. The pastor suggests that some scholars believe the psalm may have originally been two separate psalms, one focusing on fear and the other on faith, that were later linked together. The pastor acknowledges the difficulty in understanding the message of the psalm and shares that he found guidance from two theological helpers, John Calvin and another individual with impressive facial hair.
The pastor discusses the topic of fear and its relationship to faith. He references the American preacher Marx, who states that experiencing fear does not mean that one lacks faith. Instead, the key is to make fear a visitor rather than a resident through faith. The pastor emphasizes that faith does not eliminate fear entirely, but it can help individuals fear less and bring them back from the brink. The pastor uses a personal anecdote about their poodle, Eva, to illustrate how fear often leads individuals to seek comfort and protection from those they trust, such as parents or in this case, the pastor.
The pastor emphasizes the importance of having faith in God that exceeds our fear of situations and people. He uses the example of David, who understood that in order to overcome fear, he needed to know God more deeply and have faith in Him. The pastor highlights that we don't need to generate faith on our own, but rather, we can grow in faith by getting to know God better. The promise is not that we will be completely fearless, but that we will fear less. The pastor encourages the congregation to seek God more, to seek His face and understand His character more clearly.
The pastor concludes by emphasizing the importance of keeping our focus on what is truly important, despite the distractions that surround us. Drawing inspiration from Psalm 27, the pastor reminds the congregation that the Lord is their life and salvation, instilling a sense of fearlessness in the face of adversity. The pastor highlights the experiences of David, a well-known figure in the Bible, who faced numerous challenges and reasons to be afraid. From battling giants and enemies to personal tragedies and betrayals, David had every reason to worry. However, despite all of this, David confidently declared that the Lord is his life and salvation, demonstrating unwavering faith and trust in God.
Key Takeaways:
- Fear is a powerful emotion that can bring us to the brink of our resources, but faith in God can bring us back from the brink. The book of Psalms, particularly Psalm 27, is filled with stories of hope where individuals are brought back from the brink through their faith and God's work in their lives. ([1:23])
- Experiencing fear does not mean that one lacks faith. Instead, the key is to make fear a visitor rather than a resident through faith. Faith does not eliminate fear entirely, but it can help individuals fear less. ([15:45])
- We don't need to generate faith on our own, but rather, we can grow in faith by getting to know God better. The promise is not that we will be completely fearless, but that we will fear less. ([27:30])
- Despite the distractions that surround us, it is important to keep our focus on what is truly important. The Lord is our life and salvation, instilling a sense of fearlessness in the face of adversity. ([35:12])
- David, a well-known figure in the Bible, faced numerous challenges and reasons to be afraid. However, despite all of this, David confidently declared that the Lord is his life and salvation, demonstrating unwavering faith and trust in God. ([42:50])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Psalm 27:1 - "The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?"
2. Psalm 27:3 - "Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident."
3. Psalm 27:4 - "One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple."
4. Psalm 27:13-14 - "I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."
Observation Questions:
1. What are the different emotions expressed by the psalmist in Psalm 27?
2. How does the psalmist respond to fear and adversity in Psalm 27:3?
3. What does the psalmist seek from the Lord in Psalm 27:4?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the psalmist's declaration in Psalm 27:1 relate to the concept of fear and faith?
2. What does the psalmist's confidence in Psalm 27:3 reveal about his faith in God amidst fear?
3. How does the psalmist's request in Psalm 27:4 reflect his desire to know God more deeply?
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you felt fear. How can you apply the psalmist's response in Psalm 27:1 to your own situation?
2. Can you think of a current challenge in your life where you can choose to be confident in God's protection and salvation, as expressed in Psalm 27:3?
3. What is one practical step you can take this week to seek God more, as the psalmist does in Psalm 27:4?
4. Reflect on Psalm 27:13-14. How can you actively wait for the Lord in a situation you are currently facing?
5. How can you make fear a visitor rather than a resident in your life, as suggested by the psalmist's attitude towards fear in Psalm 27?
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Fear with Faith
Fear is a powerful emotion that can push us to the edge of our resources. However, faith in God can pull us back from the brink. The book of Psalms, particularly Psalm 27, is filled with stories of hope where individuals are brought back from the brink through their faith and God's work in their lives. ([1:23](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sjvDMrA7qY&t=68s))
Isaiah 41:10 - "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Reflection: What fears are you currently facing? How can you use your faith in God to help you overcome these fears?
Day 2: Making Fear a Visitor, Not a Resident
Experiencing fear does not mean that one lacks faith. Instead, the key is to make fear a visitor rather than a resident through faith. Faith does not eliminate fear entirely, but it can help individuals fear less. ([15:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sjvDMrA7qY&t=930s))
2 Timothy 1:7 - "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent situation where you felt fear. How can you apply your faith to make fear a visitor rather than a resident in your life?
Day 3: Growing in Faith by Knowing God
We don't need to generate faith on our own, but rather, we can grow in faith by getting to know God better. The promise is not that we will be completely fearless, but that we will fear less. ([27:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sjvDMrA7qY&t=1635s))
Jeremiah 9:23-24 - "This is what the Lord says: 'Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,' declares the Lord."
Reflection: What steps can you take today to get to know God better and grow in your faith?
Day 4: Focusing on the Eternal Amidst the Temporary
Despite the distractions that surround us, it is important to keep our focus on what is truly important. The Lord is our life and salvation, instilling a sense of fearlessness in the face of adversity. ([35:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sjvDMrA7qY&t=2097s))
Colossians 3:2 - "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."
Reflection: What distractions are currently pulling your focus away from God? How can you refocus your attention on Him?
Day 5: Trusting God in the Face of Fear
David, a well-known figure in the Bible, faced numerous challenges and reasons to be afraid. However, despite all of this, David confidently declared that the Lord is his life and salvation, demonstrating unwavering faith and trust in God. ([42:50](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sjvDMrA7qY&t=2555s))
Psalm 56:3-4 - "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?"
Reflection: What fears are you currently facing? How can you follow David's example and declare your trust in God despite these fears?
Quotes
"There are some situations in life that kind of take you almost to the end of your resources... you get to a stage where you're not sure if you're going to be able to cope." [02:14]
"The presence of fear does not mean you have no faith...the key though is through faith making your fear a visitor and not a resident." [11:59]
"Faith doesn't make us fear less but can help us to fear less...what's the role of faith in counteracting fear?" [12:48]
"If he wanted to stop Fear gripping his life and crippling his life he had to know God more deeply and his faith in God had to exceed his fear of the situations and the people he was facing." [19:35]
"To stop Fear gripping your heart, start your heart seeking God. Be like David, seek to be more in his presence, seek to understand his character more clearly." [20:20]
"David knew what it was to have fear that has the ability to grab you and overpower you and mobilize you and sometimes imprison you, sometimes bring us to the brink." #!!03:42!!#
"David understood that all of his experiences in the past, everything that he learned, was a great foundation for facing what he was facing. But what do you do with a foundation? You build on it. And that's what David is doing here, he's building on that foundation of what he knew about God in the past." #!!18:02!!#
"Are you willing to respond to the Lord's invitation to seek his face with determination cuz let me tell you it's going to take determination seeking the #!!23:01!!# Lord it can't be a casual [Applause] Pursuit it's going to be the passionate pursuit of your heart it's about craving his presence longing for his guidance Desiring his intimacy." (#!!23:01!!#)
"Despite experiencing fear, David wasn't Paralyzed by fear because he opposed it, he used his faith as a shield." (#!!10:23!!#)
"For my determined purpose is that I may know him, that I may be progressively more deeply and intimately acquainted with him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of his person more strongly and more clearly." #!!24:45!!#
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