Message from David Callahan, High School Teacher

www.desiringgod.org

Reasons Believers in Christ Need Not to Be Afraid

November 27, 2001 | by John Piper | Topic: Fear & Anxiety

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We will not die apart from God's gracious decree for his children.

James 4:14-15

"If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."

Matthew 10:29-30

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."

Deuteronomy 32:39

"See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand." (See Job 1:21;1 Samuel 2:6; 2 Kings 5:7) 

Curses and divination do not hold sway against God's people.

Numbers 23:23

"There is no enchantment against Jacob, no divination against Israel." 

The plans of terrorists and hostile nations do not succeed apart from our gracious God. 

Psalm 33:10

"The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples."

Isaiah 8:9-10

"Take counsel together [you peoples], but it will come to nothing; speak a word, but it will not stand, for God is with us." (See 2 Samuel 7:14; Nehemiah 4:15) 

Man cannot harm us beyond God's gracious will for us.

Psalm 118:6

"The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

Psalm 56:11

"In God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?" 

God promises to protect his own from all that is not finally good for them.

Psalm 91:14

"Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name."

God promises to give us all we need to obey, enjoy, and honor him forever.

Matthew 6:31

"Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' . . . Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Philippians 4:19

"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

God is never taken off guard.

Psalm 121:4

"Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep." 

God will be with us, help us, and uphold us in trouble.

Isaiah 41:10

"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 41:13

"For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, 'Fear not, I am the one who helps you.'" 

Terrors will come, some of us will die, but not a hair of our heads will perish.

Luke 21:10-11, 18

"Then [Jesus] said to them, '. . . there will be terrors (!) and great signs from heaven. . . . and some of you they will put to death. . . . But not a hair of your head will perish.'"

Nothing befalls God's own but in its appointed hour.

John 7:30

"So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come." (See John 8:20; 10:18) 

When God Almighty is your helper, none can harm you beyond what he decrees.

Hebrews 13:6

"So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'"

Romans 8:31

"If God is for us, who can be against us?" 

God's faithfulness is based on the firm value of his name, not the fickle measure of our obedience.

1 Samuel 12:20-22

"And Samuel said to the people, 'Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. . . . For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake.'" 

The Lord, our protector, is great and awesome.

Nehemiah 4:14

"Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome." 

Trusting firm promises with you in fragile times, 

Pastor John