12/05/2024
This morning let’s contemplate Isaiah 33 and specifically verse 16. In this chapter God's people are under attack and are praying for help, and in our target scripture verse Isaiah is reaffirming God's provision and defense. There is one core truth about being afraid, and it is this… when we remove the cause of our fear we find that our fear goes with it. So, are we trusting the Lord to take away our troubles, and our cares? Do we believe that He can, and will, honor His promises to us?
“He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.”
Isaiah 33:16 KJV
Are you under attack in some physical or spiritual way? If so, how are you handling it, and are you confident in God's provision and defense? In this morning's opening verse God has taken his people to a defendable place, high ground, and in this place provides them with His protection and feeds and waters them. Here we read as God's people are reaffirming His efforts on their behalf and expressing their confidence in Him.
As we come under attack in our lives, are we equally confident in God's ability to protect and keep us? Sometimes we read the promises of His provision in scripture, and instead of being convinced of His being able to protect us, we continue to fret, worry, and give into fear. Do you begin each hardship by asking the Lord for help, and then trust that it will come, or are you inclined to doubt and wonder aloud... "Where is God?"
Our approach to every trial in our lives should begin with prayer. If we replace fear as our starting point to the crisis which confronts us with faith and prayer, then we will find rest in the peace of God, and He will protect and keep us. Later, in Isaiah chapter 41, God reassures us of this in a wonderful verse.
“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 KJV
One of the last things that God wants us to do is live in fear! There are many verses in the Bible regarding this, but I would like to share a couple from Psalms with you this morning...
“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?”
Psalms 27:1 ESV
And...
“When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.”
Psalms 94:19 ESV
Where is our faith in times of trouble? Is it in our own ability, or in the boundless power of God? It is so easy to trust in the things we can see, but trusting in those things unseen takes faith, but isn’t that where our greatest power comes from?
“as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:18 ESV
Pray, pray, and then pray some more. This is how we are meant to live in a world filled with danger and adversity. We are not alone, unless of course we chose to be! God hears our prayers and leads us to high places where He can easily defend us, and then provides for our every need. In what, or whom, should we fear? We should be afraid of nothing and no one, for God is with us.
“fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10 ESV
Prayer:
Thank you Father for removing fear from our lives. Lord, we thank you for your Word, and the strength and power it brings to our faith, and the expectation of your deliverance it brings to our prayers. Holy Father, we thank you for a life that is free from Satan’s most terrible weapon… fear. You are our protector and provider; in you we want for nothing, and find peace in every circumstance. Lord, strengthen our faith in you. With each hardship that you see us through, and each enemy you defeat for us, you are teaching us to trust in you more! Merciful God, we hold to your promise of love, and from that high vantage point of love, we see your sheltering hand as it goes before us against all worldly, and spiritual adversity. Great is your name Lord, and greatly are you to be praised; your love for us is beyond all understanding, and the extent of your grace is a wonderful mystery to us. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who calms every fear, and brings comfort to the lost and forlorn in the world. Holy are you who blesses us in our mourning, by comforting us in Christ. Steadfast are you who gives us courage in the face of all adversity and danger, and who sends angels to hover round us to protect and strengthen us. Hear our prayers Abba, and feel the trust we have in you as we kneel fearlessly before your throne. See our troubles, take them from us, and along with our fears, cast them into the fiery pit with Satan who is their instigator and champion. In Christ we are lifted up, comforted, redeemed, and led in righteousness to you. There in you we are forgiven, given grace, and shown mercy. In you we are loved, and bask in joy and eternal rest; made fearless in your presence forevermore.
And all those who hunger, and thirst to be free from fear, will say… Amen, Amen, Amen.
“Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.”
Psalms 145:3 ESV
“The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
Psalm 118:6 ESV
Rich Forbes