As you drive around our community, you see many yard signs saying: “FAITH OVER FEAR.”    We are definitely living in a time when there is a widespread “fear factor,” as people worry about their health and the economic, moral, academic and spiritual future for our nation. There is plenty of room for worry and fear if that is your chosen response to what is happening around us.  Added to that is the loneliness and depression caused by all the “social distancing” and reduction or elimination of opportunities for group interaction.  It is definitely a trying time for all of us.      

I guess it has been a problem throughout history, including Bible times, for 331 times we read in Scripture the phrase: “Fear not!”  Jesus Himself, during His sojourn on earth often uttered those words to His followers.  Myra Kahn Adams, a media producer and op ed writer for Townhall Daily, suggests that we check out Michael W. Smith’s “Our God Is An Awesome God,” and sing along with him. The words are very appropriate for “such a time as this.”  “Our God is an awesome God. He reigns from heaven above with wisdom, power, and love. Our God is an awesome God.” When we focus our heart and mind on the awesome attributes of God and recognize that He reigns with “wisdom, power, and love.” our heart can be calmed and and guarded by a “peace that surpasses all comprehension” (Phil. 4:7).     

It is God that we need to fear, but not in the sense of being frightened or scared of what He might do to us, but rather having an awe and reverence and respect for who He is. It was said of an early Christian leader that “He feared man so little because he feared God so much.”  It is putting our faith in our sovereign Lord, knowing that nothing happens without His allowing it and that all things, good and bad, “work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (of conforming us to the image of His Son)” (Ro. 8:28,29). Our God is to be feared because He reigns over us with “wisdom, power and love.” And that is also why we need “fear not” when it comes to circumstances or people who may be against us. The Fear of the Lord is “the beginning of wisdom”(Pr. 1:7), a ‘’fountain of life”(Pr. 14:27), and leads to life, rest, and contentment (Pr. 19:23).     

Faith can be defined as “Forsaking All In Trusting Him.” Fear is “False Evidence Appearing Real.” Trust (faith) in the Lord is the cure for a fearful spirit. In the Psalms, David (who had many reasons to fear) wrote:  “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in Thee. In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?” (Psa. 56:3,4).  “I sought the LORD, and He answered me; and delivered me from all my fears” (Psa. 34:4). Relying on God means developing the kind of faith that believes in the wisdom, power and love of our awesome God. Fear does not factor into the resources we have in God. As the Apostle Paul wrote: “If God is for us, who is against us?” (Ro. 8:31). Nothing can separate us from the love, wisdom and power of God, “which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (v. 39).

Fear imprisons, faith frees. Fear troubles, faith triumphs. Fear cowers, faith empowers. Fear disheartens, faith encourages. Fear darkens, faith brightens. Fear cripples, faith heals. Fear puts hopelessness at the center of life; faith puts fear at the feet of God. “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?” (Ps. 27:1).   God does not want us to be fearful. He wants us to trust in Him. He wants us to practice “FAITH OVER FEAR.” He loves us perfectly and “perfect love casts out fear” (I Jn. 4:18,19).

Go online and check out Michael W.Smith’s “Our God Is An Awesome God” video and sing along with him. It will help you “fear God and fear not man.”         

Forever His,            

Pastor Dave