On Wednesday nights we

... have been doing a series on “Do Not be Afraid” so for the next few weeks I want to share with you what we have been talking about. Isaiah 41:10 (NLT2)  “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” What would you guess would be one of the most common commands in the Scripture? The single command in Scripture that occurs more often than any other—God’s most repeated instruction is formulated really in these words…Do not be afraid or fear not.

1. Let’s look at why God tells us to not be afraid. I believe the number one reason God tells us to “not be afraid” is because fear is the reason humans are tempted to avoid doing what God asks them to do...to trust Him.

2. We must know based on God’s Word that He can be trusted even when we are afraid. Isaiah 43:1‑2 (NKJV) “But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.” Father God can be trusted as long as we acknowledge Him. John Ortberg – “I believe the reason God says “fear not” so often is that fear will sink us faster than anything else.  Fear disrupts faith and becomes the biggest obstacle to trusting and obeying God.”

3. Fear and the cost of living in fear. When we are not willing to face our fears...it will definitely cost us...What? Fear will cost us our self-esteem. Fear will cost us a loss of destiny. Fear will cost us a lack of joy. Fear will cost us a sense of real intimacy. Fear will cost us our availability to God. –This is key: you will never know God is trustworthy if you do not risk obeying Him. When you come to the end of your life all those “what ifs” becomes “might have beens”. What might have been if I had trusted God? Fear gets passed from generation to generation. What are we passing to our children...faith or fear? Psalm 103:15‑18 (NLT) 

“Our days on earth are like grass; like wild flowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows, and we are gone— as though we had never been here. But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments!