Going Forward in Faith, Not Fear!

You know, brethren, it is really a great blessing, a very special privilege to be able to keep these Holy Days, these days of unleavened bread. Along with the 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. They were rescued from harsh bondage in Egypt by the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, by the great I AM.

The plan was for them to cross the Red Sea and keep moving right on in to 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, those who are the firstfruits.

And that includes all of us, those who are faithful and true and have God's Spirit at Christ's return, whether dead or alive. So the Kingdom of God will be established on earth, where Christ and the saints of God will rule and reign for a millennium, for a thousand years. And, of course, the Kingdom of God will expand for all eternity from that point on. But, you know, something God in the way of ancient Israel, it got in the way big time! Because they didn't go into the land immediately, did they?

In fact, they wandered in the wilderness for 40 long years, and the vast majority of them died in the wilderness. They never went into the Promised Land. They never got to enjoy the promise that God had given them. So something got in the way.

It got in the way big time. What was it that kept the Israelites from possessing the Promised Land immediately? Let's go to Hebrews 4, where we find the answer. Hebrews chapter 4. I'm sure many of you are ahead of me. You know what we're going to talk about.

Hebrews chapter 4 verse 7. Let's read along together. Hebrews chapter 4 verse 7. Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, and of course, this is quoting from the Old Testament, today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. In the days of trial in the wilderness where your fathers tested me, tried me, and saw my works 40 years.

You know, God was working with the children of Israel for 40 years. He was there with them each and every day. He sent them manna on every day except the Sabbath, showing them which day to keep, which day to rest upon. He says, Therefore, I was angry with that generation, because again, they rebelled against Him, and said, They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways.

So I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter my rest. God did become angry, even though God is a loving and a merciful God. He's also a just and equitable God, and He can become angry in a godly way, in a righteous way. He hates evil. He doesn't tolerate it, because it hurts His people whom He loves so greatly. Verse 12, Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.

If we have an evil heart of unbelief, we will depart from the living God. Eventually, it's going to happen, unless we repent, of course. But exhort one another daily while it is called today. He says, Exhort one another. Brethren, we are all in this together, and we should be exhorting one another daily or as often as we possibly can about issues like this, things that have happened in the Bible, things that we should be learning from.

Exhort one another daily while it is called today, while we're still alive, while we're still here on this earth. But must any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin? Sin is very deceitful, and the children of Israel were deceived, because there is a great deceiver, the God of this world, who is working against the true God.

God was allowing this because God is so much more powerful than Satan, but he was testing his people. 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. God says we need to examine our hearts. We need to have soft and malleable hearts that God can work with. We need to have hearts of repentance. Verse 16, for who, having heard, rebelled?

Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? Well, it was almost everyone. Verse 17, now with whom was he angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest?

But to those who did not obey? Obedience is important, isn't it? God does expect us to obey. During these days of Unleavened Bread, we are to put sin out of our lives. Sin is the transgression of God's holy and righteous and perfect law. We are to learn to hate sin. We are to learn to put it out of our lives. Verse 19, so we see that they could not enter in because of what?

Because of unbelief. Because of a lack of faith. They would not enter in because of unbelief. They didn't have faith in God. They didn't trust in God. God is the anchor that always holds. God will never leave us. God will never forsake us. We can count on Him. But the Israelites did not have great faith.

Do you remember what happened when the children of Israel left Egypt and the Pharaoh and his armies began to pursue them? The most powerful army on earth seemingly had the Israelites trapped at the Red Sea. The people became frightened. They were afraid. Moses told them to stand still and to see the salvation of the Eternal. But what did God quickly tell Moses? Let's go to Exodus 14. I've gone over this a number of times because I really strongly believe that we need to grasp this lesson during these days of Unleavened Bread. Exodus 14. We see in verse 10 that when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes and behold the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid. It seems that they forgot that God had delivered them out of Egypt. That God had sent decimating and devastating plagues upon Pharaoh and Egypt because they would not let God's people go. They seemed to forget that as they became very afraid. And the children of Israel cried out to the Eternal. Well, that was a good thing. They looked to God at least, at least some of them, but notice what others said in verse 11. Then they said to Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? So that was real supportive, wasn't it? Of poor Moses who was trying to lead these people out. Why have you so dealt with us to bring us out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians because we have it so wonderful here? We serve in harsh bondage here. And yet they were so afraid because they were used to bondage. They were used to being taken care of to some degree, even though they were oppressed. We get used to a lot of things that we shouldn't. For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness. Okay, where's the faith? And Moses said to the people, Do not be afraid. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. Now, Moses did have faith. And undoubtedly, that's why God selected him because he did have faith. The Lord will fight for you and you shall hold your peace. But the Eternal said to Moses, Why do you cry to me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. Get them moving. That's the important thing. Get them moving. Tell them to go forward. Then 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 through the midst of the sea. And that's exactly what happened. God delivered them on the dry ground and He drowned the Egyptians in the sea.

In a way, kind of a cruel lesson because it's also referred to as a baptism. You might remember that in the Scriptures. Well, they were baptized to their death. Of course, we surrender our lives in a watery grave when we are baptized. And we are resurrected and come out of that grave to walk in newness of life. So, brethren, we too, as God's spiritual Israel today, we are to go forward in faith, not fear. So, I want you to remember no fear.

Remember no fear. Go forward in faith, not fear in faith. These days of Unleavened Bread and the Passover will help us to learn the lessons that we need to learn to have living faith. So, God will allow us to go in and possess the Promised Land so that we can go forward into God's Kingdom. So, let's talk about possessing the Promised Land. Let's talk about inheriting the Kingdom. Let's talk about going forward in living faith, not fear. Today, there are so many things that people are afraid of. Every time you turn on the TV or a radio to listen to the news, it's no wonder people are afraid because this is a frightening world. Many fearful things happen. People are afraid of thieves, of murderers, of rapists, of thugs, of bullies, and oftentimes even their own bosses. People they work for, maybe especially their bosses to some degree. People are afraid of bears. They're afraid of wolves and cougars and snakes and lions People are even afraid of spiders, little tiny spiders. People are afraid of scorpions here in Oklahoma. Some people have phobias, don't they? They have arachnophobia or Scorpio-phobia. That's a new one I coined just now. People have lots of different types of phobias, don't they? Some are even afraid to come out of their homes. They really are. They're afraid to come out of their homes. Some are afraid of the dark. Others 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 fear. As we all know, the millennial reign of Jesus Christ will be a wonderful time of peace and prosperity. It will also be a time of great faithfulness. There will be greater faith in God's kingdom. It will also be a time to draw close to God as people have never done in the past. What a wonderful time. A time of great prosperity, of great peace. A time without fear. Imagine for a moment a time with no fear. No fear. That's God's kingdom. God will be there for us to give us courage to strengthen us.

In Micah chapter 4, let's consider what it says here. Micah chapter 4 will begin reading in verse 1. Micah chapter 4 verse 1. 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 and shall be exalted above the hills. And people shall flow to it, and many nations shall come and say, Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Eternal, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, and we shall walk in his paths, for out of Zion the law shall go forth. See, the law isn't done away, is it? The law is going to be kept. During the millennial reign of Christ, the law will go forth in the word of the Eternal from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and he shall rebuke strong nations afar off. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and 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, yes, no one, shall make them afraid. No one shall make them afraid. In God's kingdom, no one shall make them afraid. There will be no fear in God's kingdom. Not until the very end, after the thousand years is finished, when Satan is loosed, what a different world we will have for a thousand years. In Jeremiah 30, let's go to Jeremiah 30.

Jeremiah 30, let's read verse 10. Jeremiah 30, verse 10. Therefore do not fear, O my servant Jacob, says the Eternal, 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, shall have rest, and be quiet, and no one, yes, no one, shall make him afraid. No one. No one shall make him afraid. These are promises that God grants us as His people. So we have a lot to look forward to.

God's kingdom during the millennium will be one of peace and tranquility. In many respects, it will be a stress-free environment. Do you feel that you live in a stress-free environment today? Does it seem stress-free? No, it's far from stress-free. It's a very, very stressful environment. In fact, I have a sign at home that's very similar to this one, but it has the word stress. No stress! It hasn't come true yet.

What a world it will be when we will be free from the fear of war.

There will be peace among nations. There will also be peace in communities. We will be free from the fear of crime and hostility. There will be peace in families and relationships. We will all be free from the fear of rejection and the fear of abuse. We will have true inner peace and freedom from the inner turmoil all of us suffer from from one degree or another. But what are we going to do in the meantime? We're still here in the flesh and we live in a very stressful environment. What shall we do in the meantime? How can we be freed from the turmoil caused by fear today? Do we just have to live with it until the kingdom of God is a reality in the fullest sense? How can we have inner peace in this world with so many reasons to be fearful? How can we overcome fear and replace it with living faith? Are you now ready to go forward and possess the Promised Land? Are you ready to inherit the kingdom of God? Now, I know that you all like to play games, so we're going to play a very short game. Actually, I've played this game with you in the past and I'm just curious how many of you remember. I think probably a lot of you will. I know the first time we played it, very few of you knew the answer. So, we're going to play a short game and I have just one question for you. And if you get it right, you win the game. And if you don't, you lose. Now, some of you may have not been around when I first played this game and I may have played it two or three times or at least mentioned this a few times. So, it's just one simple question straight out of the Bible. And since you're all students of the Bible, it should be pretty easy. Again, it wasn't very easy the first time. Let's see how it goes today. So, who are Shamua, Shafat, Egal, Palti, Gadiel, Gaddy, Amiel, Sather, Nabi, and Ghoul? Okay, how many of you know the answer? Who are these people? Raise your hands high. Don't be bashful. If you know the answer, let me see your hands. Okay, a lot of you still don't know the answer, so you either weren't listening or you don't remember or you weren't here. Some of you know the answer. All right, interesting. My wife said, oh, they know all about that. You don't need to do that again. Said, well, I wouldn't be too sure.

For those of you who don't already know the answer, I will give you a couple hints. First of all, they are all men. Is that enough? Do you know now? The people that I just mentioned are all men. That helped a great deal, didn't it? Secondly, all 10 men were Israelites, and they all have something very important in common. Now, we don't remember who these 10 men are, even though they all have something in common and even though they are mentioned in the Bible. I didn't make up the names. They are in the Bible. Now, why don't we remember these names? 10 names.

Thirdly, another hint. These 10 men have something in common with two other men, whom you do know and who you do remember very well, and their names are Joshua and Caleb. So, how many of you now think you know who these 10 men are? Let me see your hands. Okay, some of you still don't know. All right. Well, they are indeed 10 fearful, faithless spies.

They were the spies who were sent into the Promised Land. Moses sent them in to spy out the land.

What report did those 10 faithless people that we don't remember...

What kind of a report did they give?

Well, they all went in there and they were very afraid of the people in the land. Shemua, Shethad, Ilgal, Palti, Gadiel, Gaddy, Amiel, Souther, Nabi, and Gul. We're all afraid of the people in the land. They said, the land is very good. It is a wonderful land. It's a land that's flowing with milk and honey. It's a gorgeous land, but the people there are very big and they're very bad. 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.

Now, what did Joshua and Caleb say? And by the way, we still remember their names, don't we? What did they say? They said, let us go up at once. Let us go up at once and let us take possession of the land, for we are well able to overcome it. That's what the faithful man said. We are well able to overcome it. And why are why were they so well able to overcome it? Because they knew who was on their side.

And a very important lesson for us to learn, lest we are never remembered in the annals of history and throughout all eternity, your name will be lost. If you do not learn the lesson that we're talking about today, the lesson of faith, the lesson of no fear.

We need to learn this lesson, brethren. No doubt, one of the very best examples of faith in God is that of Joshua and Caleb, as the Israelites were on the very verge of entering the Promised Land. They were supposed to go in immediately. They were supposed to go into the land. They didn't have to wander in the wilderness for 40 years, but they rebelled against God. They didn't trust God. They didn't have faith in God. They murmured against God. They murmured against Moses. They said they were nothing but little grasshoppers in the sight of all those giants that lived in the land. So this is an excellent account to consider because it parallels the time that we live in today. We live in a time today, just before the first fruits, God's called out ones, will enter the Promised Land. We are living in the last days. So we are living in a parallel time.

We will inherit God's kingdom. Now, maybe not every last one of us will be alive, but it wouldn't surprise me that some of us will be alive at Christ's return. I mean, we don't know for sure. We're certainly getting much closer to the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the kingdom, so it's very likely that at least a good number of us will be alive. And we'll go through some very difficult times, some very trying times in the future. So this is an account that we really need to learn from today. We are all here observing these days of the Passover and Unleavened Bread. And again, we have something in common with these 12 men, the 10 unfaithful spies and the two that were faithful. We are all on the verge of inheriting and taking possession of the real promised land, the kingdom of God. But the question is, who are you more like? Are you more like Joshua and Caleb? Or are you more like those faithless spies who were not allowed to enter into the land? Now, I believe that you are more like Joshua and Caleb. I really do believe that. In my heart, I believe that. And you need to believe it, too. So in a very real sense, we're all here spying out the promised land. Right now, we're all here spying out the promised land. We're being tested. We are being tried. We are talking a lot about God's kingdom today and what it will be like. We've been talking about it, some of us, for 50-60 years. We are anticipating ruling and reigning as kings and priests in the kingdom of God. Now ask yourself again, are you a lot like Joshua and Caleb? Are you willing to walk not by sight but by faith? Because they were giants. I mean, it did look like no way can we go in and take the land from a human perspective. That's how it looked. But who were they forgetting? They were forgetting the one that brought them out of Egypt. Let us never forget the one who's bringing us out of sin. These days, pictures coming out of sin. God will give us victory over sin, but we have to have faith. We have to trust Him. We have to know that His promises are true and that He is faithful. Because if you don't believe His promises, you won't enter the promised land. You've got to believe His promises. You've got to have faith. You've got to trust in God and His promises.

At times, do you find yourself feeling a bit more like the 10 men whose names we don't remember?

Are you more courageous and faithful, or are you more fearful as a person? Some of us, I think, are more naturally fearful than others.

We have different temperaments. We're tested in different ways, and God does test us all in different ways. But the Bible does say that the fearful will not inherit the Kingdom of God. So we do have to draw close to God, and we have to overcome our fears. We have to draw close to God and put our trust in Him.

So do you need to have more faith during these days of Unleavened Bread? So you can make it to the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day, which really picture an entrance into God's Kingdom and into eternity, God's Kingdom forever. The Millennial Reign of Christ pictured by the Feast of Tabernacles, the Last Great Day, which goes on and pictures eternity.

You've got to learn the lessons of the Spring Holy Days. If you're going to be around for the fulfillment of the Fall Holy Days, I've said that before. I hope we're getting it. I'm a little concerned when so many don't know the names. But I've gone through this before, brethren, so if we ever do this again, I'm expecting a little bit better response. All right? If I just run off a bunch of names, you can probably... I could fool you by throwing in some other names that no one knows, and you'd probably all raise your hand and think it was... I won't do that to you, though. I wouldn't do that.

It is easy to be fearful and to lack faith in a world such as ours today. Satan is the God of this world, and he has truly deceived the whole world. 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. The Great I AM. We talked about the Great I AM and how this wretched I AM wants to become like the Great I AM. We all are certain wretched people in various ways, and we have to accept that, and we have to admit that if we go on further and become like God Himself. Many today don't even believe God exists. It's a very godless, faithless generation that we're living in today, and it's getting worse. I was watching the news this morning, and they were talking about same-sex marriage, and I guess it's coming before the Supreme Court.

I think it was out in California. There was a law that was first passed that said it was okay to have same-sex marriage, and then the people got up in arms and voted it down, and that's going before the Supreme Court. Let us pray that these men have enough wisdom and judgment at this time to strike that down, because if they don't, we are ever closer to Christ's return, which, you know, maybe we should hope they don't. We want Christ's return, but nevertheless, you know, it's a sad state of affairs when we come to this. Now, Satan broadcasts in fearful moods and attitudes. He makes us afraid. He wants us to be afraid. He wants us to doubt. He wants us to be discouraged, and frankly, there are a lot of things going on that could make us discouraged. We have to fight that natural tendency to be discouraged. God says, be strong and of good courage. Remember, Joshua was the one that brought him into the Promised Land. Even Moses had to be disciplined for his unfaithfulness in certain ways, and he was allowed to look at the Promised Land. He was not allowed to enter the physical Promised Land. Brethren, I believe he'll be in the spiritual Promised Land. You know, Moses was a faithful man. But God wants us to see that he is no respecter of persons. Even Moses paid a price for some of the sins that he committed. So, brethren, again, it's easy to be fearful and to have a lack of faith in a world such as ours today. 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. The great I AM. Many don't even believe, as I said, that God even exists. Satan, again, he broadcasts in these fearful moods and attitudes, and he tries to get us very, very discouraged by trials and tribulations in our earthly life. Let's face it, not a single one of us has perfect faith. We're all subject to becoming discouraged. We're all subject to being fearful and afraid.

So, we don't have perfect faith, and thankfully we don't have to have perfect faith to enter God's kingdom, because we are indeed saved by grace, by God's grace, and by his faithfulness, God's faithfulness. We just have to surrender to Him, put it into His hands, and learn to lean on Him, learn to have faith in Him. That's what unconditional surrender is all about, is trusting God and having faith in Him and letting Him take care of whatever it is. We can't, but we have to be moving forward. Only the overcomers will be in God's kingdom. We have to be moving forward. We do need to be making progress, brethren, and we need to stay faithful and continue to fight the good fight. Never throw in the towel. Never give up.

So, what are you doing now to actively build courage and faith in the true God and our Savior, Jesus Christ? What are you actively doing in your life to overcome a fearful approach to God and His kingdom? Again, the Bible says in Revelation that the fearful and the unbelieving will not inherit the kingdom of God. So, how can we all be ready to take possession of the promised land and to inherit the kingdom of God? I'd like to share with you three ways in which we can become prepared to enter God's kingdom. Three ways in which we can go forward in faith, not fear. And the first one is, always remember, He who is with you and in you is much greater than anyone or anything that is against you. Always remember that. That's the starting point. He who is with you and in you is much greater than anyone or anything that is against you. So, God must be number one in your life. You must worship the true God. Realize that fear is something that God's servants have had to deal with for millennia or nearly 6,000 years now. And all of God's servants were afraid at times. All of God's servants have been afraid at times. We all have. In 2 Samuel 22, 2 Samuel 22, verse 5, David says, When the ways of death surrounded me, the floods of ungodliness made me afraid, or they overwhelmed me. There is a great flood of ungodliness around all of us. It's no wonder that we are sometimes afraid, sometimes fearful. Even David was afraid at times. He had to give himself pep talks. And I think we have to give ourselves pep talks. I have a habit of talking to myself, and I think it's a good habit as long as it doesn't go too far. So, let's give ourselves some good pep talks and always realize that God is on our side. That He will never leave us nor forsake us, that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. That all things work together for good for those who love God and are the called according to His purpose. Let's remember so many scriptures in the Bible that encourage us. Whenever we begin to fear or to doubt or to become discouraged, so God will give us more of His love and more of His strength if we seek Him and if we put Him first in our lives. It is normal and human to be afraid, but the key is to overcome fear with faith. And faith is a gift. Ask God for more faith. Do it daily. Ask Him for more faith and believe that He's going to give it to you. David and Paul remain faithful in spite of their peers. Let's go to 2 Corinthians 7 where we see an example by Paul of the kind of attitude that he had. 2 Corinthians 7, verse 5.

2 Corinthians 7, verse 5. For indeed, when we, speaking of Paul and his group, the people that were with him, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest. Do you ever get tired?

Sure you do. Your body needs rest, but this was the time when Paul and his group were really, really tired. Our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Every side we were troubled. Outside were conflicts, and inside were fears. That's normal. That's natural. It's natural to get discouraged sometimes, but you just can't stay in that discouraged state. You have to seek God with all of your heart and soul and might. And you have to get on your knees, and you have to keep praying until you get strength. There is power in prayer. Some things don't happen except by prayer and by fasting. Two very, very powerful tools, prayer and fasting. If you lack faith, pray more and fast more. No doubt you will have more strength and more faith. So David and Paul remain faithful in spite of their fears. And that's because they always remember that he who was with them was much greater than anyone or anything that came against them. In Deuteronomy chapter 7, let's briefly go to Deuteronomy 7. Deuteronomy chapter 7, we'll start reading in verse 17. Deuteronomy chapter 7 verse 17. If you should say in your heart, these nations are greater than I, how can I dispossess them? Of course, this was God in talking to the children of Israel about what they would encounter when they went into the Promised Land. So 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. So read your Bible and believe it and reflect on it and think about it and meditate on it and remember what the Bible says. God is a great God who delivers, and God will deliver you into His Kingdom if you have faith in Him. So remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt. Verse 19, the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs and the wonders. There were miracles, signs and wonders. The mighty hand and the outstressed arm by which the Eternal your God brought you out. So shall the Lord your God do to all the people of whom you are afraid. God will take care of them. He's greater than them. In some ways it's much more difficult today because God isn't pouring out miraculous signs and wonders. I gave a sermon some time ago about, I guess it was last Pentecost, about we don't really need to look for signs because we have them. They're in the Bible. We just have to believe them. We just have to have faith and trust that the Bible is true and that this is an actual accurate account of things that really did happen and that we serve the same God that is revealed in the pages of your Bible. So let us not seek after a sign but let us seek to obey and follow the God who has revealed Himself already to us.

So the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs, the wonders, the mighty hand, and the outstressed arm by which the Eternal your God brought you out. So shall the Lord your God do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid. 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. The great and awesome God is here today. The great and awesome God is speaking to all of us today. During these days of 11 bread we should go this whole week drawing close to God each and every day and not allowing ourselves to get choked out by the cares of this world. To have our godly thoughts choked out by the cares of this world because certainly Satan will try to do that. Again, remember how God has always faithfully delivered His people. Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Daniel in the lion's den, King Daniel when he was I'm sorry, King Daniel. King David. I didn't think Daniel was a king. King David when he was being chased by King Saul and later the Philistines, the Apostle Paul when he was beaten and shipwrecked and in prison. Remember these people that the Bible speaks of. They are your brothers and sisters as well in Christ. The Bible speaks of women who were faithful and true and I know that you've been going through a lot of that in your women's discussion group and you know very well that there are many, many faithful women in the Bible as well as men.

So remember how God has also personally delivered you in the past and have faith that He will truly never leave you nor forsake you no matter what happens. God will allow you to go through trials. God is allowing some of our loved ones to go through great trials right now. But let us not be discouraged by this. Instead, let us just draw closer to God and beseech God for the help that these people need, for the strength that we all need.

That is the important thing that God wants us to learn because frankly the answers aren't here on this earth. The answers aren't here in the flesh. What happens to our physical body is not nearly as important what happens to us spiritually for eternity. And I believe that is one of the greatest lessons that we can learn and I believe God does allow people to die and to suffer here on earth.

Those we love because God wants us to see a bigger picture. He wants us to long for His kingdom. He wants us to pray, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. God wants us to sincerely pray those words and believe them. God is all-powerful and with Him on our side we really do have nothing to fear. In 1 John chapter 4 verse 8, 1 John chapter 4 verse 8, it shows that God is love.

1 John chapter 4 verse 8. Let's look there briefly. 1 John chapter 4 verse 8. He who does not love does not know God for God is love. God is love and in verse 16 he says, and we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love and He who abides in love abides in God and God in Him. Remember, too, the Bible says that if you love me, keep my commandments.

During these days of Unleavened Bread we need to keep God's commandments and show our love toward God by doing so. Verse 17, love has been perfected among us in this, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment because as He is, so are we in this world. 1 John chapter 4 verse 18. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.

2 John chapter 4 verse 18. Perfect love casts out fear. Remember, perfect love casts out fear. So we all need to have perfect love. We need to draw closer to God so that we can have greater love and learn the perfect love of God. 1 John chapter 4 verse 18. He who fears has not been made perfect in love. So none of us are perfect in love yet, are we?

Because we still have fears. We're still not God. God is love, and none of us are God yet. None of us have been fully born into the family of God. We still lack. We're still lacking. We still fall short of God's glory, but that is our goal to become like God and to be glorified with Christ at Christ's return. So, brethren, the first point. Always remember, he who is with you and in you is greater than anyone or anything that is against you. Secondly, always face your fears and move forward as a doer of God's laws and ways.

Face your fears. Don't run from them. Face them as a doer of God's laws. It's okay to feel some fear and to be afraid, but fear must not immobilize us. See, that's what was happening with the children of Israel. They were, even Moses told them to stand still. But God doesn't want us to be immobilized.

God wants us to go forward in faith. He wants us to move forward. He wants us to do our part. Now, Nehemiah was another leader who understood the importance of doing his part to overcome fear and develop greater faith. Remember that he led the third and final group of Israelites from the house of Judah back from the Babylonian captivity. He led them back into Jerusalem. And then he began to coordinate the rebuilding of the shattered wall around Jerusalem. His task was met with great opposition from the likes of Tobiah, Sanballat, and Geshim the Arab.

He had to take bold action and show great courage and faith. In Nehemiah chapter 4 verse 14, Nehemiah says, Nehemiah and those with him had to stand up and fight for their families. They had to fight for God's way of life. We have to do the same today. Nehemiah did not allow his fears to immobilize him as he stepped out in faith himself and as he directed the others to also step out in faith and do their part.

It's a fascinating story. You might want to review that story during these days of Unleavened Bread. There were times when they had a shovel in one hand and a spear in the other. You might remember that. Those were physical times. Today our battle is more a spiritual one. We don't have to have a spear in one hand and a shovel in the other as we're rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. There was more of a physical trial, although in some ways it was spiritual as well.

Ours are indeed more spiritual. We must courageously face our battles with faith as we move forward doing what we're reasonably able to do ourselves. God expects us to put sin out of our lives, to be a doer of God's law, and to have faith in Him, and to know that your faith will grow and be strengthened if you draw closer to God, if you put Him first in your life.

So brethren, always face your fears and move forward as a doer of God's laws. Some people get fearful about their jobs, so they go back to working on the Sabbath. Is that faithful? Is that showing faith? Of course not. We have to move forward in faith. Face your fears and move forward as a doer of God's laws. Don't allow fear to immobilize you. Number three, the last point. Brethren, always spread faith, not fear.

Because both will spread if you allow them to. Always spread faith, not fear. As we draw ever closer to Christ's return, times will become more and more difficult. This world will become more and more frightening. Satan will be angry and he will make war with God's people. It is vital that we all learn to spread faith and not fear as these days approach.

In Deuteronomy 20, it shows that fear is contagious. Fear is contagious. Let's go there briefly. Deuteronomy 20. And we'll see that the Bible shows that fear is contagious. If you are fearful, then those around you will have to struggle a bit more. They will likely become more faithful. Of course, if they're strong, then they can help you.

Deuteronomy 20. We need to stand up for each other. We need to fight for our wives, our husbands, our children. If our wife is weak, then we need to be strong, man. If we are weak sometimes, then our wives need to be strong and bolster our courage. Deuteronomy 20. When you go out to battle against your enemies and you 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 priests shall approach and speak to the people and shall say to them, Here, O Israel, today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint. Do not be afraid. Do not tremble or be terrified because of them, because of your enemies. For the Lord your God is He who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies and to save you. God will surely give us salvation, but we must allow faith to spread, not fear. So, as we draw ever closer to Christ's return, let us seek more and more faith. Notice verse 8, chapter 20. 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 the house, lest the heart of his brethren faint like his heart. When people are afraid, in battle it's better to send them home and fight with fewer people who are not afraid. So, let us rise to the occasion. Let us be faithful. Let us not spread fear, but let us spread faith. In 1 Corinthians chapter 5, verse 6, it shows that a little leaven also spreads. 1 Corinthians chapter 5, verse 6.

Your glorying is not good. The church at Corinth was putting up with immorality, and their glorying was not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? A little leaven therefore purges out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened, for indeed Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us. Let us therefore keep the feast, this feast of unleavened bread, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but let us keep the feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. So Jesus Christ now gives us some very good advice.

He says in Matthew 10, and we don't have the time to actually go to it, but it says, Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Fear not is a phrase found 63 times in the Bible. Fear not those who kill the body, the soma, the flesh, but are not able to kill the soul, which is referring here to the Greek word suke, which is referring to our lives. I also believe that the word means breathe. It's talking about the spirit in man. They're not able to kill the spirit in man. Only God can destroy the spirit in man. So we're not able to fear mankind. Don't fear those who might take your job away. Don't fear your boss. Keep the Sabbath. Keep it holy, regardless of what your boss may say. And as Mr. Redline said in Luke 12 verse 32, fear not, little flock. It is the Father's good pleasure to give you His kingdom. It is the Father's good pleasure. That's what He wants. He is very pleased to give you His kingdom. So man cannot kill the soul because God can give life again. So if people die and they will die in the flesh, it's sad. We hate to see it happen. It grieves us. It hurts us. But remember, God can resurrect anyone at any time as He chooses. He can resurrect any man or disease that any disease or accident can kill. Any disease or accident or person that can kill another person, God can resurrect them. It doesn't matter how they die. What's important is how they live. How they live their lives and how they will live for all eternity. That's what's really important. So brethren, always spread faith and 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 brethren, now is the time to place our faith and trust in God the Father and in Jesus Christ our Savior. As we continue to keep this pass overseas and let us be vigilant to keep the physical leaven out of our homes and out of our lives and out of our bodies, but more importantly, let's keep the spiritual level out of our lives, out of our homes, and out of the bodies, which are the temple of God's Spirit. Brethren, during these days of unleavened bread, let us look to God's glorious kingdom in faith. Remember, it is a kingdom of peace and it is a kingdom with no fear.