Fear Not!

Well, brethren, it really is a great blessing to be able to keep these holy days, these days of Unleavened Bread, that we're still in. Along with Passover, these days picture the beginning of God's plan of salvation as revealed in God's annual holy days. The children of Israel were rescued from slavery and harsh bondage in Egypt by the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob by the Great I Am. I gave a sermon recently about how Paul talks about how wretched I am, and then I talked about how we are to become like the Great I Am. So from wretched I Am to the Great I Am. That's quite a leap, so we can all look forward to that.

The plan, of course, was for the Israelites to cross the Red Sea and keep moving right on into the Promised Land of Canaan. Of course, this was a land that was to picture the ultimate Promised Land, the Kingdom of God to be established on Earth, where Christ and the saints of God will rule and reign for a thousand years. So they were supposed to go on into the Promised Land soon. They really weren't supposed to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. Something got in the way big time.

What was it that kept the Israelites from possessing the Promised Land immediately? Why weren't they able to go in and possess the land? Let's go to Hebrews 4, where we find the answer to this question.

Hebrews 4 tells us why the Israelites were not allowed to go in to the Promised Land right away. In Hebrews 4, let's go to Hebrews 3, verse 7, and then we'll go to chapter 4. Hebrews 3, Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, today, if you will hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion in the day of trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tested me and tried me and saw my works for forty years.

Therefore, I was angry with that generation and said, they always go astray in their heart, and they have not known my way, so I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter my rest. Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. That really was the problem the Israelites had, is they lacked faith. They were afraid.

They were fearful. And so they did not go in and possess the land. In verse 13, it says, But exhort one another daily, while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. And of course, sin is very deceitful. And we understand that more fully when we consider leavening and how leavening can be in things like salt. You know, they'll put baking soda and things in salt, which you would not expect there to be any baking soda there.

So it is deceitful in that way. And sin is also deceitful. Sometimes we can be sinning and not realize it. And so it can be very deceitful. And Satan is the one who has deceived the whole world. So a lot of people are sinning and don't really realize it. Verse 14, For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.

While it is said today, if you will hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt led by Moses? Well, it was certainly almost all. Wasn't it? There were actually a few who were faithful, who did not rebel, but the vast majority of the Israelites did rebel. Verse 17, Now with whom was he angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned whose corpses fell in the wilderness?

And nearly everyone died in the wilderness. And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who did not obey. They did not obey God's voice. So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. They lacked faith. They were fearful and afraid. Now in chapter 4, verse 7, Again, he designates a certain day, saying in David, today after such a long time as it has been said, today, if you will hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.

For if Joshua had given them rest, then he would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest. Actually, this is a keeping of the Sabbath for the people of God. For he who has entered his rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from his. Of course, the Sabbath was ordained at creation. And so we look to the one who created us, who is also the Lord of the Sabbath, as we observe the Sabbath today.

So, brethren, the problem with the Israelites, the reason they didn't enter the Promised Land is because of unbelief, because of a lack of faith, and because they were afraid to simply trust God and do what God said. What did God tell them to do?

Do you remember what happened when the children of Israel left Egypt and the Pharaoh and his armies began to pursue them? We've talked about this before. The Israelites were afraid, weren't they, when they realized that Pharaoh was after them again. Even though God had decimated the land of Egypt with plague after plague after plague, they were still afraid that God would not protect them, that God would not save them. The most powerful army on earth seemingly had the Israelites trapped at the Red Sea. So the people were frightened, and Moses told them to stand still and to see the salvation of the Lord. But what did God quickly tell Moses? Let's go to Exodus 14, because it's important that we follow what God says. Moses was a man of God, but he wasn't God. In fact, Moses was not even not allowed to go into the Promised Land, although he did see the Promised Land. He was not allowed to go in because of some of his sins. Exodus 14, if we notice in verse 13, Moses told them to not be afraid. So Moses was a good example of one who really did trust in God and have faith in God. He told them to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. But in verse 14, he also said, the Eternal will fight for you and you shall hold your peace. But notice verse 15, the Lord said to Moses, why do you cry to me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. God wanted them to keep moving. And to me, this means that, as God's people, God wants us to do our part. He doesn't want us just to stand around and expect him to do everything for us. He wants us to do our part. He wants us to apply his Holy Spirit in living godly lives. So God wants us to be doers of his law, not just hearers, but he wants us to move forward and do the things that God tells us to do. So he told Israel to go forward. He told Moses to lift up your rod and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground. Some of you have probably been watching the Bible. Which is a new series that's on the History Channel, I believe. And actually they said it was more popular than even... What's that show? The most popular show? Idol. American Idol. It was even more popular than American Idol. At least one night, I don't know for sure. Exactly what they said about that. But I know they compared it to American Idol. And I guess it was actually even more popular at one point or one night than American Idol.

I know they had some pictures of the parting of the Red Sea and that type of thing. And a lot of us have seen the Ten Commandments and Charlton Heston and all of that. But I'm sure this was even more miraculous what God did and how He delivered the children of Israel.

So, brethren, we too, as God's spiritual Israel today, are to go forward in faith. God wants you and I to go forward in faith, not fear. These days of Unleavened Bread, and of course this overall Passover season, will help us to learn the lessons that we need to learn to have living faith. So, God will allow us to go into His Promised Land, the ultimate Promised Land, so we can go forward into His Kingdom. You know, today there are many things that people are afraid of. People are afraid of thieves, burglars, murderers. They're afraid of rapists and thugs and bullies, and even bosses. In fact, in some cases, especially bosses, people are afraid when they go to work every day. People are afraid of bears and wolves and cougars and snakes and lions. People are even afraid of spiders. Some people have arachnophobia. People have lots of different types of phobias. In fact, the Greek word for fear, basically, is phobos or something like that. It's where we get the name phobia. Some are even afraid to come out of their homes. Some are afraid of the dark. Some are afraid of the light. Today's world is certainly not a world without fear, but it is a world filled with all sorts of fears. As we all know, the millennial reign of Christ will be a wonderful time, not of fear, but of faith. It will be a time of peace and prosperity. It will also be a time of great faithfulness where people are really looking to God and walking in faith. They will be moving forward in faith, learning God's ways, learning to live by every word of God. And as the millennium progresses, it will become a time without fear. Now, undoubtedly, there will be fear at the very beginning of the millennium. People will have to learn to trust God and to have faith in God. But imagine for a moment a time with no fear whatsoever. How wonderful is that going to be when there's no fear? God's kingdom is a kingdom without fear. So, I want you to think of this sermon. No fear. No fear. We need to have faith in God and not fear, even though we live in a world that is filled with all types of fear. Let's go to Micah chapter 4, where we see that God's kingdom truly will be a kingdom without fear. Micah chapter 4. This is something to look forward to because there are so many frightening things that go on in the world today.

So many frightening things. We just don't know what we're going to hear about next. When we watch the news, what frightening event is going on somewhere in the world? People being terrorized, people being oppressed. It still goes on today, even though we think we live in a civilized age. Really, there's an awful lot of fear in this world today. Micah chapter 4, verse 1. Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains. This is talking about God's government. And it shall be exalted above the hills, and people shall flow to it. Many nations shall come and say, Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, and we will walk in His paths. For out of Zion, the law shall go forth. And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem, He shall judge between many peoples and He will rebuke strong nations afar off. They shall beat their swords into plowshares, their spears into pruning hooks. Nations shall not lift up sword against nation. Neither shall they learn war anymore. But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid. Nobody will make them afraid at that time. It will be a time without fear. For the mouth of the Eternal of Hosts has spoken, For all people walk each in the name of his God, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.

So that is something surely to look forward to, a world without fear. In Jeremiah chapter 30, notice what it says here about God's kingdom. Jeremiah chapter 30, verse 10. Jeremiah 30 verse 10. Therefore, do not fear, O my servant Jacob, says the Lord, nor be dismayed, O Israel, for behold, I will save you from afar and your seed from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return, have rest, and be quiet, and no one shall make him afraid. No one is going to make anyone afraid in God's kingdom. Once Satan is bound for a thousand years, and the saints of God are ruling and reigning with Christ and keeping an eye on things, and telling people this is the way, walk you in it, and people are going to learn not to fear. They're going to realize that they're safe, that they have protectors. They have people, beings, born into the God family to look after them. So it's going to be a wonderful time again, a time without fear. No fear. So keep that in mind. You'll see that sign a few more times. I want you to realize that you have nothing to fear.

Okay, God's kingdom during the millennium will be, again, a time of peace and tranquility. In many respects, a stress-free environment. Now, how many of you have no stress today? No stress whatsoever. You'd have to be...

Well, wow! To be a teenager!

That would be nice.

Something tells me that even teens, maybe especially teens at times, have certain stresses. So it will be a time when we won't have to be so stressed out. What a world it will be when we are free from the fear of war. Right now, my son's in South Korea, and the North Koreans basically have said that they're in a state of war now with South Korea. So how hot is it going to get over there? We don't know, but we hope they tell everyone to hit the road before it gets too hot over there and send them out of that country. My son's teaching English as a second language to kindergartners, South Korean kindergarten children. He likes it. He enjoys it a lot. So I hope he'll be able to stay there. He only plans on staying there for a year. He signed a contract for a year. So pray for his safety. Pray for everyone's safety in South Korea. But that's the problem. We have despots and we have lunatics who actually head up governments. That's pretty scary, isn't it? When you have people like Amman Najinajad, you know who I'm talking about, and Iran. When you have people like him heading up countries and people like whatever his name is, Kim. I've forgotten the one in North Korea, but you know who he is. I vividly see his picture. He was pointing something at somebody had all his military people around him. I was looking at some news this morning on the internet. Anyway, there will be a time of peace in communities, in God's kingdom. We'll be free from the fear of crime. We won't have to lock our doors. I won't have to worry about that. There will be a peace in families and relationships. We will all be free from the fear of rejection and the fear of abuse. We'll have true inner peace and we'll have freedom from the inner turmoil that we all suffer from from one degree or another. It seems like there's traumatic things that do crop up on a fairly regular basis in today's world. So what are we going to do in the meantime? We see God's kingdom is going to be wonderful and tremendous, but what about where we live today? How can we be freed from some of the some, at least some of the turmoil caused by fear now? Do we just have to live with it until the kingdom of God is a reality? Well, yes, we do to some degree. But is there anything we can do to have an inner peace in this world in which we live? Do we have to be so fearful? How can we overcome fear and replace it with living faith? Brethren, are you now ready to go forward and to possess the Promised Land? Are you ready for that? Are you ready to inherit God's kingdom?

Now, I know that you guys like to play games. I've been around you long enough to know that. So let's play a very short game here. In fact, I think I played this game with you once before. At least I mentioned this. I can't remember for sure if I actually played the game or not, but we're going to play a game. And I know I've told you about this concept, what this game is going to be about. See, I have just one question for you. And if you get it right, you win the game. And if you don't know the answer, then you lose. It's that simple. We're going to have a bunch of winners, hopefully, but we may have some losers. It's just one simple question, and it's straight out of the Bible. Okay? And since you are all students of the Bible, this should be pretty easy, right? We hope. And again, since I think we've already played this game for some of you. Now, some of you here for the first time. So, you know, we don't necessarily expect you to get this right. But, you know, those of you who have already heard it.

All right. So here's the question. I want you to answer this one question. Who are Shamua, Shafat, Ilgal, Palti, Gaddiel, Gaddi, Amiel, Sather, Nabi, and Ghoul? I'm fasting from games.

Okay. No excuses. Yeah, I don't take any excuses. Does anyone know the answer? Who are they? Okay. Anyone else besides Mary Jo? Do you think you know the answer?

No, raise your hand if you think you know the answer. Who are these people that I just named? Okay. No one's... All right. Okay, Peyton, you can give the answer if you know it. All right. Yes, Mrs. Jackson.

The faithless spies. The 10 spies who did not go in and possess the land. Now, do you remember the names of the two faithful spies?

Okay, Mr. Martins.

That's right. Joshua and Caleb. Now, how many of you know the names Joshua and Caleb? Have you ever heard those names before? Joshua and Caleb. Yes. I think everyone's heard the name of Joshua and Caleb. But how many of you have heard the name of Shamua and Shafad and Ilgal and Pelti and Gadiel? Didn't I ever do this with you guys? Maybe I never did. You do remember it? See, that even brings my point. Even though I've done it with you, you still don't remember.

So, you see, that's...

Okay, so that is how you got it right. You did remember, at least we did this once upon a time.

Well, the funny thing is, I did this in Tulsa, too, and almost no one knew the answer there. We had about 80 or 90 people there, and hardly anyone knew the answer. Just a couple had remembered, and most had forgotten, and I know I did it with them. And I think I'd mentioned it to them at least twice, that I'd gone through these names. So, it's real easy to forget these names of the faithless spies. So, the point is, if you want to be remembered forever, you have to be faithful. And if you want to be forgotten for all eternity, be faithless. You don't remember the names of those spies that were unfaithful, but you do remember Joshua and Caleb. Pardon? Mary did? Well, Mary did.

She just knew that I had a bunch of names.

Okay, can you name all 10 of them for me, Mary? She doesn't really know the names either.

All right, so that's kind of a fun game, and I think it brought out a point.

I was going to give you guys some hints, and I forgot to do that. Yeah, I was going to tell you that, first of all, they're all men. All 10 of them. I was going to mention that there were 10. And you might have, someone might have remembered them. But anyway, these were the 10 fearful, faithless spies who were sent in to spy out the Promised Land. And again, we don't remember their names, but we do remember the courageous spies, Joshua and Caleb.

You see Shamua, Shafat, Ilgal. I'm going to mention it so you can get it into your mind here. Shamua, Shafat, Ilgal, Gatti, Patty, Gatti, Elle, Gamie, Amiel, Sethe, Navi, and Ghoul. They were all afraid of the people in the land. They said, this is what they said, they said, the land is very good, but the people are very big and very bad. Now, I'm paraphrasing. They said, we are like grasshoppers to them, and they will eat us up. They said, we are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we. But Caleb said, let us go up at once and take possession of the land, for we are well able to overcome it. And in Numbers 14, if you'll turn with me, and by the way, you can check up on me in Numbers 13, because it does have all the names listed of those faithless spies.

Numbers 13 lists the spies. Numbers 14 has the words of Joshua and Caleb. Numbers 14.

Notice in verse 6 of chapter 14, Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jafuna, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes when they heard that the people, the other spies, and the children of Israel, wanted to actually appoint a new leader. They wanted to get rid of Moses, because Moses also wanted them to go into the Promised Land. He wanted them to have faith in God, but they decided they wanted to select a new leader.

So Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes, and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying in verse 7, The land we pass through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land. Now, that's also a key. God needs to delight in us. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land. And give it to us. A land which flows with milk and honey. I guarantee if those 10 faithless spies would have had faith, they would have pleased God, and God would have allowed them into the Promised Land. He says, only do not rebel against the Lord, because faithlessness is rebellion. When we don't have faith in God, we are rebelling against Him. Do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land. And fear, obviously, is debilitating at times. Don't fear the people of the land, for they are bread. Their protection has departed from them, and the Eternal is with us. Do not fear them. So remember, do not fear. Do not fear them. No fear. That's what God tells us. To have no fear.

Now, no doubt, one of the very best examples of faith in God is that of Joshua and Caleb. The Israelites, you know, were on the very verge of entering the Promised Land. And actually, this is an excellent account to consider right now, because today parallels the time back then. We, too, are on the verge of entering the Promised Land. We are living in the last days. Now, we don't know exactly how many days it will be before Christ returns, but I think anyone that has his eyes open and his ears listening to the signs of the times. Now, there are certain prophecies such as that knowledge will be increased in the last days. People will go to and fro on the earth. I mean, that's a prophecy that I see being fulfilled more and more each day. Knowledge is increased. Now, we run around with cell phones called smartphones. Knowledge has increased. And no telling how much more technology will make our lives different in the future. So, we're living in the last days, and we're really just on the verge of entering the Promised Land, the return of Christ. The real Promised Land is the millennial reign of Jesus Christ here on earth. So, we're the firstfruits that God is calling now. God isn't calling everyone. There's very few people who are keeping the Sabbath. This is one little tiny group out of Fayetteville, Springdale, Bentonville, Rogers. For a hundred miles around here, there aren't many other groups like ours meeting today. There might be a few other small groups meeting in various places, but this is a very small group, comparatively, to the vast amount of people that live in the area.

So, God is surely not calling everyone, but He is calling some firstfruits, those who are called first to enter into His Kingdom at the return of Christ. So, we must be like the faithful spies because in a very real sense, we are even now spying out the land. We are here spying out the land. Do you have faith that God is going to deliver you from this land, from this earthly body, and bring you into His Kingdom? So, we are here observing these days of Passover and unleavened bread, and we have something in common with these 12 men. We're all on the verge of inheriting and taking possession of the real Promised Land, the Kingdom of God. So, again, we are spying out the Promised Land. Are we going to be faithful, and will we rule and reign with Christ here on this earth? Ask yourself, are you a lot more like Joshua and Caleb than you are the 10 unfaithful spies or the spies that were afraid?

Do you find yourselves feeling a bit more like the 10 men at times who are afraid? Since we're all human beings, let's be honest. We all get afraid sometimes, don't we?

Are you more courageous and faithful, or are you more fearful? These are good questions to ask ourselves this time of year. Again, are you ready to go in to inherit the Promised Land? Now, we know the Feast of Tabernacles pictures the Millennial reign of Christ here on earth. The Last Great Day pictures a time that goes on for eternity when God's Kingdom will expand throughout all eternity. So, it is easy, and it's real easy in some ways to be fearful and to lack faith in a world such as ours. Satan is truly the God of this world, and Satan has permeated all aspects of this world. The governments of this world, he's permeated the entertainment, certainly, of this world. And out of the billions of people on earth today, a very small number have living faith in the true God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Many don't even believe that God exists, and it's becoming more and more that way. And right now, we're having debates in the highest court of the land whether or not same-sex marriage should be allowed. You know, that's an abomination for this to be happening in this land. And in this country, to even consider it and debate it, and to, you know, rather than to go ahead and endorse it, which is likely what's going to happen.

So it is a frightening time that we live in. You know, these are not good times in many ways, and things are going to get even worse as we draw closer to Christ's return. So we need to be prepared, and we need to have courage. Be strong and courageous. That was what God told Joshua. Be strong and courageous, because Joshua was the one who led them into the Promised Land. So we have to be strong and courageous. Satan broadcasts in fearful moods and attitudes. He tries to discourage us. He desperately wants us to become discouraged and to give up. That's what he'd like to see. Some of us have been in the church a long time. Some for me for almost 40 years now. And some even longer.

I'm not the oldest guy, but I'm getting close, I guess. No, I'm not. There are some in Tulsa that have been around over 50 years, and maybe even 60. Mr. Kirk's been around over 60 years in the church, I think. Mr. and Mrs. Kirk from Oklahoma City. He's in his 90s now, so he's been around a long time in the church. God wants us to be faithful, Satan, however, wants us to become afraid and to throw in the towel and to give up and to stop fighting the good fight. Let's face it, not one of us is perfect in faith. We're still here in the flesh, and we still fall short of God's glory. We're not perfect.

So we are indeed saved by grace. We realize that. You know, we don't believe that we will ever earn our salvation by keeping the Sabbath or keeping God's commandments. We don't earn salvation. In fact, we've all proven that we're not really worthy of salvation because the wages of sin is death, and that's what we deserve. But the gift of God is eternal life, and that's in Christ Jesus. It's a fact that we are certainly saved by grace, and it is a gift that we would be saved. So, brethren, let me ask you, what are you doing now to actively build courage and faith in the true God and in our Savior Jesus Christ? What are you actively doing in your life to overcome fears and to have a faithful approach as we draw closer to God's kingdom? In Revelation 21, verse 8, it says that the fearful and unbelieving will not inherit the kingdom. Revelation chapter 21. Let's go there for a moment. Revelation chapter 21, verse 8.

This is a prophecy of what is going to take place at Christ's return. Revelation chapter 21, verse 8. In the New King James, it says, the cowardly. In the King James, it says, the fearful, the fearful and unbelieving.

So, the fearful and the unbelieving, the abominable, the murderers, the sexually immoral, the sorcerers, the idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

So, God is going to burn in a lake of fire those who will not repent. We all have to come to a time of repentance, and hopefully, most everyone will repent and be saved, ultimately. But how can we get ready now to take possession of the promised land and to enter God's kingdom?

Let's talk about taking possession of the promised land and going forward in faith, not fear. Not fear. Let's talk about that. Let's talk about three ways in which we can grow in faith. First of all, always remember that he who is with you and in you is much greater than anyone or anything that is against you. Always keep that uppermost in your minds because the children of Israel they did not have that uppermost in their minds. Number one, they weren't converted. They didn't have the Spirit of God. They didn't understand fully what was going on, and they were very afraid. But realize that fear is something that God's servants have had to deal with throughout the ages for actually millennia. All of God's servants were afraid at times. So if you're afraid at times, don't be fearful of being afraid because, you know, that happens. Notice 2 Samuel 22. David was a man after God's own heart. David was a king. David is going to inherit God's kingdom. David is going to actually rule over the tribes of Israel. In 2 Samuel 22, and David was far from perfect, notice in 2 Samuel 22 verse 5 what he says here. 2 Samuel chapter 22 verse 5.

David says, When the waves of death surrounded me, of course, David was hounded by King Saul. He was hounded by a number of enemies. So it's no wonder that he was afraid at times. When the waves of death surrounded me, the floods of ungodliness made me afraid. He lived in a perilous time as well. People were not godly people, all keeping God's commandments. There were many people who were ungodly. He says, They made me afraid. The sorrows of Sheol or the grave surrounded me. The snares of death confronted me. In my distress, I called upon the Lord, the Eternal, and I cried out to my God. He heard my voice from his temple, and my cry entered his ears. We have to have faith that God hears our prayers as well, and that God will help us deal with our fears.

Even David was afraid at times. He had to give himself pep talks about God and His love and His strength. I find myself giving myself pep talks at times. I usually try not to do that when other people are around. I think we all speak to ourselves at times. We give ourselves pep talks. That's okay. We should do that. Remember that He who is with you and in you is much greater than anyone who opposes you. And certainly, that would include Satan the devil. Satan is no match for the true God. In 2 Corinthians 7, verse 5, Paul, speaking about him and his group, those people with him, he said, For indeed when we were come to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. He said, Outside were conflicts, and inside were fears. 2 Corinthians 7, verse 5. There were things that made Paul and his group Silas and others with him. They made them afraid. No doubt. I mean, Paul even had a group of people who vowed to fast until he was dead. Do you remember that? They actually made a vow. A bunch of Jews made a vow that they would continue fasting until Paul was dead. Now, something tells me they broke that vow because Paul lived, I think, several years after this vow had been made. So, I think they gave up on that because God protected Paul and God kept him alive. But there were people who had actually stoned him and left him for dead. They thought he was dead, and perhaps he really was dead.

You know, you would think that they would be kind of careful about making sure he was dead because they really wanted him dead. If he was dead, God resurrected him. He got back up on his feet, and he went on for several years after that.

It is normal and human to be afraid at times, but the key is to overcome fear with living faith, trusting God. David and Paul remain faithful in spite of their fears, and we must remain faithful in spite of our fears. Our fears, you know, we're going to have them, but if we draw close to God, he will draw close to us. He will give us the strength that we need. In James, it tells us, draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. It says, resist Satan, and he will flee from you. In Deuteronomy chapter 7, verses 17 through 19, we are told not to be afraid, or these people were told not to be afraid. Let's go to Deuteronomy chapter 7. Deuteronomy 7, verse 17.

If you should say in your heart, these nations are greater than I. Now, this was instruction to the children of Israel when they were about to go into the Promised Land. It was after the 40 years that they wandered in the wilderness because of their sins, because of their disobedience, because of their lack of faith, because of their fears.

He said, if you should say in your heart, these nations are greater than I, how can I dispossess them? You shall not be afraid of them, but you shall remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt. Now, brethren, do you believe that these are true stories in the Bible? That these things really took place? I believe they did. I believe that God did rescue the children of Israel from Egypt. I believe that the plagues were poured out on Egypt. I believe they decimated that land. I believe that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were cast into a fiery furnace, and that it wasn't just some story, and that Daniel was thrown into a den of lions, and that Jonah was swallowed by a great fish. These are stories that we really need to have faith in, that we need to believe in these stories that are in the Bible. These things took place. They're real. The story of Gideon is not just a story, it's the truth. God was with Gideon and his army of 300 men. God did deliver them. He says, Remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh to all of Egypt, the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs and the wonders, the mighty hand and the outstressed arm by which the Lord your God brought you out. So shall the Lord your God do to all the people of whom you are afraid.

God says, I'll take care of anyone you're afraid of. Remember what Christ said? He said to pray for your enemies. You know, if you pray for your enemies, you're not going to be as afraid of them. You're not. You know, if you pray for your enemies, that's going to help right there. You're not going to be so afraid. You're going to put your trust in God. God, moreover, the Lord your God will send the hornet among them until those who are left who hide themselves from you are destroyed. You shall not be terrified of them for the Lord your God, the great and awesome God is among you. You know, God is with us today. Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. You know, we can trust in God to protect us. So remember how faithfully God has delivered his people. I gave a sermon called The God Who Delivers, and I went through many, many times when God delivered the children of Israel, and he delivered his faithful people. So God is the same today as he was yesterday. We can count on him. God will deliver us. He delivered King Saul from shipwreck, from being beaten a number of times, from being stoned, and from being cast into prison. And remember how God has delivered you in the past. I know God's delivered me from some accidents that probably should have taken my life. Car accidents. Remember hitting some black ice with my wife. Once upon a time, we were driving on the interstate. We were probably going 70 or 75 miles an hour. There were trucks whizzing by on both sides.

It was right before sunset, and it had started to freeze. And it was a beautiful sunny day all day long. There was very little ice anywhere, except there was this spot where it had melted and come across, and it was black ice. So we hit it without any warning, and immediately I started to lose control. But then we got out of the ice, and I started to get control. And then we hit a bigger patch of ice, of black ice. And I lost total control of the car. I mean, I just let go of the wheel. And I basically just instantly prayed, and I know my wife did too. I was out of control, but God was in control. And what happened was, at 70 miles an hour or so, we went up into this concrete embankment that was along the left side of the road. It was on the... it was between... It was an interstate, so it was in the median. There was an embankment, and there was another... On top, there was another road that came down on top. So we went up this embankment, and we turned around, and we stopped right before we would have gone back into traffic. And, you know, we didn't get hit. All I had was a flat tire. That was it. So I felt protected that God delivered me. And I'm sure that you have some instances like that. So remember those times when God delivered you, and don't fear what man can do to you. Have faith in what God will do for you.

God is all-powerful, and with Him on our side, we really have nothing to fear. In 1 John 4, verse 8, it shows us that God is love, and that perfect love casts out fear. 1 John 4, verse 8. 1 John 4, verse 8.

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. And we are to become like God, so we are to know how to love each other. For God is love. In this, the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation or to pay the penalty for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. As speaking of the Father here, of course, the God of the Old Testament was really the one who became Jesus Christ. That's another sermon. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. We have seen and testified that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in Him and He in God, and we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and He who abides in Him, I'm sorry, He who abides in love, abides in God, and God in Him. Verse 17, Love has been perfected among us in this, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment. You know, God does not want us to be afraid. He wants us to be bold in the day of judgment, because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But He who fears has not been made perfect in love. So we do need to have no fear. We need to learn perfect love, because perfect love casts out fear. So if we learn to love each other more, then we will not be so afraid.

Alright, so that's the first point. Always remember that He who is with you and in you is greater than anyone or anything that is against you. So, brethren, again, let's encourage one another to have faith and to trust in God.

Secondly, always face your fears and move forward as a doer of God's laws and God's ways. Always face your fears and move forward as a doer of God's laws. As an example, if your employer says, well, you've got to work on the Sabbath.

You've got to work on the Sabbath. You can't go to church. You've got to come here and work on the Sabbath.

So what are you going to do when you're faced with that kind of a trial? Are you going to have faith and trust God and do what He says? Move forward in faith. Do what He says. Keep the Sabbath. Let the other chips fall where they may. Put it in God's hands and have faith that God will take care of you. If you lose that job, God will give you another job and probably a better job. God will take care of you if you do the right thing. If you put your faith in Him, it might take months, but you won't starve. In fact, we have family here to make sure you don't starve. You know, we look out for each other. So we don't need to fear these things. We need to have faith in God. We need to trust Him and have love for each other. And then we'll take care of everyone, won't we? You know, we're not going to let somebody starve or someone go homeless. If they really are obeying God, you know, the Bible says, I think it was David who said, he never saw a righteous man begging bread. A righteous person, God protects and takes care of. We don't have to go begging if we are obedient and faithful. God provides. In fact, that's one of God's names. God, our provider, He provides for us. It's a Hebrew name for God, God, our provider. No one remembers exactly what it is, but I've read it. Okay, so it's okay to feel some fear and to be afraid. We already talked about that. That's natural. But fear must not immobilize us. Fear must not immobilize a person. Again, go forward doing the right thing in faith, keeping God's commandments and not allowing anyone to get in the way. Remember what the Bible says, obey God rather than men. Back in the 1990s, when our church leaders were beginning to tell us that we should obey them instead of God, we had to make a choice. We decided that we would obey God rather than men. We could no longer continue with an organization that would be unfaithful to God's truth. So that's how the United Church of God formed. There wouldn't be a United Church of God otherwise, because we'd all still be over there keeping the commandments. But when that happened and God allowed it to happen, God was testing us. We had to make a choice. Would we obey God? Or would we follow men?

So never let your fears immobilize you. Do the right thing. Nehemiah was another leader who understood the importance of doing his part to overcome fear and to develop greater faith. Remember, he had led the third and final group of Israelites from the house of Judah back from the Babylonian captivity to Jerusalem. And now he was coordinating the rebuilding of the shattered wall. Remember, he went back to build the wall around Jerusalem. If you remember, his task was met with great opposition from Tobiah, from Sanballat, and Gesham the Arab. Maybe I could have given you a quiz on Tobiah, Sanballat, and Gesham the Arab. You probably would have got that one. Maybe. Anyway, he, Nehemiah, had to take bold action and show great courage and faith against this opposition. Notice Nehemiah chapter 4. Nehemiah chapter 4, verse 14.

Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs. Okay, that's how I find things in the Bible.

I learned that when I was a Sunday school child, going to Sunday school and Bible school. I learned the books of the Bible, and it comes in handy. Nehemiah chapter 4, verse 14. Nehemiah chapter 4, verse 14. And I looked and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, to the Israelites there, to those who had come out of the house of Judah, do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses. There is a time when we have to stand up and be counted. This was a time during Nehemiah's day, when they had to fight for one another. Fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

So, this is an example, again, of faith. Nehemiah did not allow his fears to immobilize him, as he stepped out in faith and directed the others to also step out in faith, and do their part. Their battle was largely a physical one. In fact, you might remember, where in some cases they had a spear in one hand, and a shovel in the other, or they were protecting as they were working. As they were rebuilding the wall, they had to also have people on the lookout for Sanbal and Tobiah and Geshim the Arab, who was trying to keep them from building the wall. Our battles are largely spiritual today. We don't normally have to pick up a spear. You know, God's not expecting us to do that. In fact, there's a much better way.

But we must courageously face our battles with faith. So, that's the second point. Put sin out of your lives. Be a doer of God's law, and your faith will grow and be strengthened. The second point again, always face your fears and move forward as a doer of God's laws. Become unleavened. Keep God's commandments. Don't allow fear to immobilize you. Now, the third and final point. Always spread faith, not fear. Because faith and fear, both will spread.

So, make sure you're spreading faith and not fear. Be encouraging to each other. Lift up each other. Hold up each other's arms and hands. Fear is contagious, but so is faith. Notice Deuteronomy chapter 20.

Deuteronomy chapter 20.

Again, as we draw closer to Christ's return, Satan is going to be more and more angry. Satan is going to go after God's church. We know that. Revelation 12 clearly shows that Satan will go after God's church. Notice in Deuteronomy chapter 20 that there were certain principles governing warfare that were given. When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them for the Lord your God is with you who brought you up from the land of Egypt. So it shall be when you are on the verge of battle that the priest shall approach and speak to the people and he shall say to them, Hear, O Israel, today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint and do not be afraid and do not tremble or be terrified because of them. For the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to save you. God allowed them to go into the Promised Land and they had to fight some battles. But God promised to be with them and notice verse 8. The officers shall speak further to the people and say, What man is there who is fearful and faint-hearted? Let him go and return to his house. Lest the heart of his brethren faint like his heart. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. That's what we read in 1 Corinthians 5 verses 6 through 8. A little fear will spread like leaven. When we are afraid, it will spread. And so they sent people home who were fearful because they wanted those who were courageous to stand together and to fight together. So we need to be courageous. We need to encourage one another. Don't allow fear to spread like leaven. Remember, a little leaven will leaven the whole lump. We can't afford to leaven one another. Fear is contagious. So fight your fears. Don't give in to them and again encourage one another. Christ gave us some very good advice in Matthew chapter 10 verse 28. When he told us to fear not, fear not. Matthew chapter 10 verse 28. Christ himself told us to fear not. Matthew chapter 10 and verse 28.

Matthew 10 verse 28. Christ says, And do not fear those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul, but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell or in Hades in the grave. Let's see, I think that's... yeah, well, no, that's Gehenna. That's not actually talking about the that's talking about the lake of fire there. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna in hellfire the lake of fire. So what he's telling us here is fear not. And this is a phrase that's used 63 times, people, 63 times in the Bible. It says fear not. So don't fear.

Don't fear them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soul. So it's talking about don't worry about those who could kill this flesh but be concerned about God who can cast a person into the lake of fire. And that's when our lives are over when we're cast into the lake of fire. Man cannot kill the soul because God can give life again. He can resurrect anyone man or disease or accident can kill. Now we've had some deaths lately in the church but I have faith that God will resurrect each and every one of them and they will live again. And they will live forever because they were faithful people. Mr. Jarnigan is one that we really didn't get to know very well. He only attended on occasion. He came to the kingdom of God seminars but he was one who was certainly turning to God in his last days and actually had for in many respects long before that.

He's in good hands as he awaits a resurrection to life. And if he comes up in the first resurrection we'll see him there and if it's the second resurrection which you know he was not baptized and probably had not received God's Spirit of course God is the ultimate judge of that. But nevertheless we'll see Mr. Jarnigan again and that's encouraging. In Luke chapter 12 for a final scripture again it says, fear not, little flock. Luke chapter 12. And this again is what Christ tells us to fear not, little flock. For it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12 verse 32, fear not, little flock. It is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. That is what God wants to do. He is pleased to give you the kingdom. So brethren, again the third point is always spread faith, not fear. Don't worry, seek God's kingdom and always remember it is the Father's good pleasure to give you his kingdom. So now is the time to place our faith and trust in God the Father and in Jesus Christ our Savior. So as we continue to observe this Passover season, to keep these days of Unleavened Bread, let us also look to God's glorious kingdom in faith. A kingdom of peace, a kingdom again with no fear.