Fearless        

The book of Psalm was written by King David and other priests and Levites with musical gifts and responsibilities in sacred worships during David’s reign. Its main theme is about prayers and praises. It is the longest book (150 chapters) and with the longest chapter (Psalm 119:176) the shortest chapter (Psalm 117:1-2) and the middle verse in the Bible is Psalm 118:8 “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people”— such a powerful truth!

What I like about the book of Psalm is it’s totally expresses the full range of human emotions and needs in relation to God and human life. Some of the most known chapters to us and most commonly quoted scriptures are Psalm 23 and Psalm 91. Today Scriptures are taken from;

Scriptures: Psalm 27:4-6 “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 When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. ³ Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.

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.
⁵ For in the day of trouble, He will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.

⁶ Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.

Psalm 27 was written by King David from a season of trouble. It speaks of trouble from enemies, (Psalm 27:2) adversaries (Psalm 27:5) false witnesses and violent man (Psalm 27:12) but this was true of many periods of King David’s life. Yet it is also a song of confidence and triumph. David though he committed an immoral sin of adultery and murder, God commended him as a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam 13:14; Acts 13:22).

Last Sunday sermon talked about fear and why we should not be afraid that, Life without fear is not possible, but faith can call us to live into God’s will for our life instead of reducing our lives because of our fears and insecurities.

We have learned from the Scripture that fear is not just a negative emotions but also a spirit (2 Timothy 1:7) that can torment our mind and influences us to behave illogically that could be detrimental to us and to others, because fear is contagious. Remember the story of 12 spies (Numbers chapters 13-14) sent by Moses to spy in the land, ten of them gave a negative report and expressed their fears except for Joshua and Caleb, the whole tribes of Israelite begun to panic. In some cases fear is a vital response when we see threat or potential harm, it helps us to be cautious and this kind of fear is situational.

On the other hand, to live in fear habitually at almost or any given circumstances is not helpful at all, it gives us limitations to any possibilities. It is like a fear of unknown, what if and what if not? Since the Bible says that fear is a spirit, and God did not give us the spirit of fear.

What then is the spiritual root cause of fear? The Spiritual root of fear is rooted in the fear of death.  Hebrews 2:14-15 “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— ¹⁵ and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

Remember back in the book of  Genesis, when Adam and Eve disobey God’s command “not to eat from the tree of the knowledge good and evil for when you eat of it you will surely die” (Genesis 2:7) by falling into the Devil’s deception and following their evil desires, they disobey God. And the first thing the man said to God when he was calling for them, “I heard you, and I was afraid” (Genesis 3:10)

Fear, then, is the result of a lack of faith, not believing in God’s power and especially His love and willingness to act on our behalf, it breaks the trust that is the basis of our relationship with God. “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. (Hebrews 3:12)

“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?  

What a bold declaration of confidence such bravery, I would say, fearless! We are talking here about the certainty of situations, it is not the case of what if, and what if not? But Even if—because, as the scriptures says David was surrounded by his enemies and yet it does not bother him nor worries about it, because he trust and believed God is keeping him safe and will lead him to victory.

“Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. For in the day of trouble, He will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.

What makes David to confess such bold declaration that even if he has to go through difficulties, dangerous and fierce battles he was fearless!  This is more than just a strong conviction or belief not even because of his good skills or abilities  to fight, but such confidence is a result of a consistent victories in his life built through trusting God at all times.

1. His trust is in God alone, for he knows a man may fails sometimes.

Psalm 56:3-4 “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.⁴   In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

And we know also in building a trust or in order for a trust to take place there should be a good testimony or a record of achievement, a tested quality.

2. David trusted God because he knows who is God to him and God proved to David who He is.

“The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine. 1 Samuel 17:37

“My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.⁸ Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:7-8

Remember it is a piece of rock that kills Goliath! David knew whom he had believed that God is able to delivered him from all of his enemies

3. David knowledge and understanding of who God is, is a result of his intimate relationship with Him through worship and prayers, seeking God’s will and His ways, and obedience to God’s words.

“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”

Remember it was David’s heart desire to build a house for the Name of the Lord. God was pleased to know it, yet he was told his son (Solomon) should do it, because David shed much blood in his sight and have fought many wars. (1 Chronicles 28:2-3).

“So David inquired of the LORD, saying, ‘Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?’ And He answered him, ‘Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.’       1 Samuel 30:8-9

There were at least nine times recorded in the Bible David inquired of the Lord whenever he faces difficulties and battles in life. David’s multiple inquiries of the Lord reveal that he was a man of prayer, who was always intent to know His will. This was the main reason why he was called a man after God’s own heart. God says, “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will” (Acts 13: 22). And David did!

Fearless men and woman of God in the Bible, that even if they have to face death, they remain courageous and confident. Joshua conquering the promised Land (Joshua 1:9) Daniel in the Lion’s den- (Daniel 6), Meshach, Abednego and Shadrach in the fire (Daniel 3), Esther Stating her intent to approach the king, Esther said, “If I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16). The Apostles Martyrdom in the book of Acts and lastly Jesus the One who paved the way for our salvation– The Lord is my light and my salvation, The Lord is the stronghold of my life.

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ –Isaiah 41:10