We have a beautiful, friendly dog named Sammy. My wife and I love him. He is a blue heeler/border collie mix. He’s very sensitive. We believe he may have been mistreated when he was a pup. But if you’ve ever had a border collie, they are terrified by storms, and for Sammy, fireworks too.
He really doesn’t like loud noises and he will climb up on top of you and try to climb inside your skin, for protection during a storm.
When we lived in Gary, Indiana, we’d walk him around the neighborhood during summer, and if he heard a firework go off, he would freeze in place, and we’d have to coax him to keep going.
Now we recently moved here to northern Michigan, and we live right by a very busy road, where vehicles catch a high speed, either trying to climb the hill or shoot down it. And it sometimes produces noises in our home.
And its meant that Sammy shakes from these noises. It leads him to a state of fear, not because there is any real danger, but because it reminds him of dangers in the past. All from things he went through when he was younger.
Thankfully, he’s slowly getting used to the noises from the road, and we’re hopeful he wont shake as much anymore.
Why do I bring this up today? Well, today as we continue the healing journey, we’re talking about the topic of fear.
For Sammy, our dog, there were real fears in the past that affect the present and caused a state of fear.
Have you dealt with something similar? Do you battle with fear or anxiety in your life? I think many of us do.
This is no surprise to God, because in His word he constantly addresses this issue of fear and commands us, do not be afraid, be strong and courageous. He understands the battle with fear. And he understands how to inspire us toward courage.
When we’ve faced life on it’s own terms, it leads to fear. Particularly, if many us lived much of our lives without a strong relationship with God, we often felt on our own in the world, trying to manipulate events in our lives to go the way we wanted them to.
Many function this way today, trying desperately to control things in their lives, in a cloud of anxiety and fear. In fact, many Christians continue to live that way, even though they have a powerful God who wants to set them free from that.
So here’s the goal today: To identify what fear is, where it came from, and how to embrace a new heart position, which positions God as our Lord, over our lives, in such a way, that it eliminates the need for fear, and it also eliminates a need to try to hyper-control our lives.
Let’s look at two mindsets, two bases for stability in life. One is healthy, one is not.
First, the family as basis for stability. This is the way most non-believers would live their lives, their basis for stability is their family, their parents, siblings, their wife or husband, their family structure. This is a good God given basis for stability, it provides stability for children. But it’s missing something.
Without God as the basis underneath the family, if a problem occurs in the family, the foundation is cracked, and it causes rapid instability. Not to mention, the family can’t provide all the needs for the people in it, it’s a firm foundation, but it’s not the eternal foundation. Children of divorced families who have as the basis their family only, without God, it’s like being tossed into a sea of confusion.
Many Christians practically live this way. They don’t really rely on stability from God.
Second is the correct model. We have the family as the nest and protection for the children, for the parents, but, that nest rests on the firm foundation of reliance on God.
There are numerous attitudes that lead to a fear state. These are often decisions we made at a very young age, often to respond to something in the world, maybe to gain our parents approval, or compete with fellow students or a sibling, or after a family crisis, we made some decision that made us feel safe.
Many Christians practically live this way. They don’t really rely on stability from God.
Second is the correct model. We have the family as the nest and protection for the children, for the parents, but, that nest rests on the firm foundation of reliance on God.
There are numerous attitudes that lead to a fear state. These are often decisions we made at a very young age, often to respond to something in the world, maybe to gain our parents approval, or compete with fellow students or a sibling, or after a family crisis, we made some decision that made us feel safe.
Here are five possible sources for a fear state in our lives, a heart position that doesn't depend on God:
One attitude is control. If I can just figure out the right thing to say, the right promotion to get, if I can manipulate these events, then I’ll be happy. It's all on me, thus, fear. Basis is self + ability to control.
Second one is perfectionism, if I can just be perfect in everything I do, then my life will work out the way I want it. Basis is self + perfect effort. The problem is we can't produce perfect effort. We always fall short.
A third, is if I can just follow all the rules God wants me to follow my life will be what it’s supposed to be. Basis is self + God's rules. It's not built on a firm love relationship with God.
Fourth, with the help of this substance (anger, drinking, sex, pride, drugs) I can finally be myself and get what I want out of life. Basis is self + substance/emotional high. Doomed approach, the substance/emotion will always fail us in the long term.
Fifth, if I can just get a lot of money, nice house, good marriage, insurance, car, I can protect myself with my resources. Basis is self + wealth. Wealth can't provide the security only God can provide.
All of these attempts will fail for one reason: They rely on human effort to achieve a successful life.
The correct road to take, is true surrender to God. He’s in charge, and I’m in love with Him. I learn to love Jesus and love like Jesus with the Spirit’s help. Then God will lead my life in the right direction. In this view, the only fear is the fear of God, which is clean, any other fear is diminished/eliminated.
One attitude is control. If I can just figure out the right thing to say, the right promotion to get, if I can manipulate these events, then I’ll be happy. It's all on me, thus, fear. Basis is self + ability to control.
Second one is perfectionism, if I can just be perfect in everything I do, then my life will work out the way I want it. Basis is self + perfect effort. The problem is we can't produce perfect effort. We always fall short.
A third, is if I can just follow all the rules God wants me to follow my life will be what it’s supposed to be. Basis is self + God's rules. It's not built on a firm love relationship with God.
Fourth, with the help of this substance (anger, drinking, sex, pride, drugs) I can finally be myself and get what I want out of life. Basis is self + substance/emotional high. Doomed approach, the substance/emotion will always fail us in the long term.
Fifth, if I can just get a lot of money, nice house, good marriage, insurance, car, I can protect myself with my resources. Basis is self + wealth. Wealth can't provide the security only God can provide.
All of these attempts will fail for one reason: They rely on human effort to achieve a successful life.
The correct road to take, is true surrender to God. He’s in charge, and I’m in love with Him. I learn to love Jesus and love like Jesus with the Spirit’s help. Then God will lead my life in the right direction. In this view, the only fear is the fear of God, which is clean, any other fear is diminished/eliminated.
The correct basis is: God + Spirit inspired self effort. We still have a part to play, but God is the foundation. He is the King of our lives. Our part is to follow the direction of God, His leading, not alone, but with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.
Before we go any further, I want to offer an opportunity to pray, and ask God to be the firm foundation. Maybe you’re thinking to yourself, I do kinda rely on my family, I don’t really see God as my foundation, as my true stability. I try to run my own life, and it fills me with anxiety. Let God run your life. Let God be your stability.
Prayer: Father, please forgive us for treating ourselves or our family or our money or our own craftiness, as the stability in our lives. We repent of this attitude, for God it has given us anxiety and fear. Lord, set us free. We name you Lord God almighty as our firm foundation, as the power in our lives, to lead our lives. Lord we turn to you, and we make you our foundation, in Jesus name, amen.
Why does this eliminate fear? Because it’s not on you anymore. God’s in charge of your life, your just his agent following his will.
Now, to learn this path, we’re going to focus in on Psalm 27:1-6.
Verse 1 says this, “The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?”
Light symbolized guidance. This is exactly what we need in an uncertain world. As we pray, and study his word, the light appears over our path, and we know instinctually the right way to go.
It also says, salvation, God provides the covering for our sins, through the blood of His son.
Third, it also says God is a stronghold. That means safety. We are safe in Him.
Three things there to help begin to dispel fear: Guidance, Covering, and a Safe place.
Who should I fear? Of what should I be afraid? I have guidance through life, covering of my sins, and a stronghold for protection. That’s a powerful trio right there.
Yet life still happens, and we can face it with God. Verses 2-3 say this: "2 When the wicked advance against me
to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.”
We live in an uncertain world, full of difficulties and problems. World events affect us, like the COVID pandemic, or middle eastern conflicts, or economic downturns. Personal incidents in our lives affect us.
Yet we’re told, just like David, when the wicked advance against us, and they do advance, it is our enemies that will stumble and fall as they approach. Even if enemies besiege the city, my heart will not fear. Here we get a clue, we see fear occurs in the heart. It is not primarily the mind.
David writes, even if war breaks out against me, I will be confident. Two keys here: My heart will not fear. And I will be confident. We choose to reject fear, block it from our heart. And we choose to embrace confidence, a positive good.
That Hebrew word for confident is bāṭaḥ (baw’tahk.) It can mean trust, boldness, to feel safe, even to be careless.
We can have this strong confidence because we know God is in control, despite all that is going on in the world.
I remember during COVID, when it first started, the streets were empty. Each day I would drive to the Salvation Army, and the city felt like a ghost town. I remember feeling a fear everywhere. Everyone was so afraid. They were panicked. And I remember one day, it was like God spoke to me, and said you have to make a choice. Either you trust me or you live in fear. Which is it? I chose to trust God. And the fear began to fade away.
What is your choice today? Will you let God be in control. Or will you continue to try to control things in a cloud of fear?
We have so much in our country. Back in ancient times, in David’s time, you could be attacked on the road by bandits, there was no guarantee you would have food on the table, enemy nations routinely attack and destroyed entire cities. They had no choice but to trust in God, there was no other option. It was kind of like that during COVID, there was no control, because how do you control a virus? People who did try to control became obsessed and afraid.
But here's the problem in the west: We have incredible material abundance. We think we don’t need to rely on God. We have safety in the USA from our enemies. We have money, plentiful food, resources, technology, and medicine. It’s led many to think they don’t have to rely on God, and the result is anxiety.
Before we go any further, I want to offer an opportunity to pray, and ask God to be the firm foundation. Maybe you’re thinking to yourself, I do kinda rely on my family, I don’t really see God as my foundation, as my true stability. I try to run my own life, and it fills me with anxiety. Let God run your life. Let God be your stability.
Prayer: Father, please forgive us for treating ourselves or our family or our money or our own craftiness, as the stability in our lives. We repent of this attitude, for God it has given us anxiety and fear. Lord, set us free. We name you Lord God almighty as our firm foundation, as the power in our lives, to lead our lives. Lord we turn to you, and we make you our foundation, in Jesus name, amen.
Why does this eliminate fear? Because it’s not on you anymore. God’s in charge of your life, your just his agent following his will.
Now, to learn this path, we’re going to focus in on Psalm 27:1-6.
Verse 1 says this, “The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?”
Light symbolized guidance. This is exactly what we need in an uncertain world. As we pray, and study his word, the light appears over our path, and we know instinctually the right way to go.
It also says, salvation, God provides the covering for our sins, through the blood of His son.
Third, it also says God is a stronghold. That means safety. We are safe in Him.
Three things there to help begin to dispel fear: Guidance, Covering, and a Safe place.
Who should I fear? Of what should I be afraid? I have guidance through life, covering of my sins, and a stronghold for protection. That’s a powerful trio right there.
Yet life still happens, and we can face it with God. Verses 2-3 say this: "2 When the wicked advance against me
to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.”
We live in an uncertain world, full of difficulties and problems. World events affect us, like the COVID pandemic, or middle eastern conflicts, or economic downturns. Personal incidents in our lives affect us.
Yet we’re told, just like David, when the wicked advance against us, and they do advance, it is our enemies that will stumble and fall as they approach. Even if enemies besiege the city, my heart will not fear. Here we get a clue, we see fear occurs in the heart. It is not primarily the mind.
David writes, even if war breaks out against me, I will be confident. Two keys here: My heart will not fear. And I will be confident. We choose to reject fear, block it from our heart. And we choose to embrace confidence, a positive good.
That Hebrew word for confident is bāṭaḥ (baw’tahk.) It can mean trust, boldness, to feel safe, even to be careless.
We can have this strong confidence because we know God is in control, despite all that is going on in the world.
I remember during COVID, when it first started, the streets were empty. Each day I would drive to the Salvation Army, and the city felt like a ghost town. I remember feeling a fear everywhere. Everyone was so afraid. They were panicked. And I remember one day, it was like God spoke to me, and said you have to make a choice. Either you trust me or you live in fear. Which is it? I chose to trust God. And the fear began to fade away.
What is your choice today? Will you let God be in control. Or will you continue to try to control things in a cloud of fear?
We have so much in our country. Back in ancient times, in David’s time, you could be attacked on the road by bandits, there was no guarantee you would have food on the table, enemy nations routinely attack and destroyed entire cities. They had no choice but to trust in God, there was no other option. It was kind of like that during COVID, there was no control, because how do you control a virus? People who did try to control became obsessed and afraid.
But here's the problem in the west: We have incredible material abundance. We think we don’t need to rely on God. We have safety in the USA from our enemies. We have money, plentiful food, resources, technology, and medicine. It’s led many to think they don’t have to rely on God, and the result is anxiety.
We're so good at pathologizing these issues in the USA. Did you about 20% of American claim an anxiety disorder of some kind? And did you know about 18% of Americans claim depression of some kind? I wonder how many of those cases, about 90 million people in these two categories, are actually based on the simple fact that they don't have a firm reliance on God in their lives? Now I'm the first to say that I've battled these issues as a Christian. I know many of these issues are real. But I wonder how many in those two categories are really hearts and minds longing for the stability of a rock-solid faith built relationship with Jesus Christ the king of the universe? I would bet, more than we might realize.
Again, if that’s you today, and you’re realizing, I don’t really rely on God, I rely on my stuff, and my cash, repent right now. Declare to the Lord, "You are my safety, I lean on you God! Not on my stuff."
Fear and controlling tendencies comes from relying on our resources. Peace and confidence come from resting in the arms of God.
Next, verse 4: “One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.”
We’ve made our beginning by committing to God to trust in Him and rely on Him for our security and safety. Now it’s time to lock it into place.
Many of my sermons you hear me repeat this theme, and I’m going to do it again today. The challenge here, to secure our commitment to God, is to go deeper in our relationship with Him.
That’s what it’s all about. The more firm we are in our practices with God, in prayer and the word, the more fear will flee and peace and confidence will replace it.
King David’s one desire is to “dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his(my) life.” We often think of dwelling in God’s house as heaven. But that isn’t what this refers to.
It was said of Moses, that Moses would go into the tent of meeting to meet with God face to face. But it was said of Joshua, Moses assistant, that Moses would leave, but Joshua would stay (Exodus 33:11).
Joshua was so amazed by God’s presence, he would stay in the tent and bask in God’s presence. And this pleased God. Have you learned to bask? To dwell in God’s house, is to be so often in prayer, talking to God, that we bask in His presence throughout our days. You may think well, that’s for super spiritual types, pastors, elders, no, it’s for everyday, average believers, who decide they want to go deeper.
Cultivate an intimacy with God, and you will see that fear is driven away by His presence.
Jesus Christ, the king of the universe, can be your best friend. Yes, your Lord, your savior, but also a dear, close friend. Do you see Him that way? Alive in your life, with you, close to you? That is who he wants to be to you if you’ll see Him that way, and allow Him into your heart, not just as savior, but also as intimate friend.
Next, David speaks of the day of trouble. Verse 5: “For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.”
The day of trouble will come. I’ve always found that in the Christian life. It’s not constant. But it does come.
We see even in that situation, God will keep us safe in His presence. Not only that, it references the most holy place here, the shelter of the sacred tent, the place of total protection. The KJV calls it the secret place. It’s not a physical place, but something that occurs in the heart, when we draw very close to God in times of trouble. He provides a spiritual safe room, you might call it, a place of peace and protection.
A heart change occurs there, and we’re delivered from fear. And it says he sets us high upon a rock.
The times of trouble we go through, are like storm clouds along a plain. And as we pray, it’s like we rise up like an eagle through the layers of the storm. And we’re praying and we’re seeking God, and we’re reading the word, and it feels like we’re not finding relief. But we’re rising, level by level. And as we continue and we go into that secret place of extended communion with God, at this moment we break through, above the storm. And we find a rock there, high above the problems. We get this wide view, a high God given view and we look down and say, wow, I see the storm, but God has placed me above it.
I admit many times, I don’t focus enough to make it up above the storm, I get upset, I give up, and I allow the storm to rain upon me, but the word here tells us, if we seek God, he will provide a rock, above the fray. Firm, safe, with a wide view showing us the truth.
Lastly, verse 6: “Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the Lord.”
The idea of David’s head being exalted, it means lifted. For a man to have his head bowed down indicated defeat. David goes from crouching in fear, to standing firm, head lifted up, looking to God. Above his enemies.
Notice also, that David, though he was a man after God’s own heart, at the beginning of the psalm, he had to fight back the fear. So, it doesn’t mean we suddenly don’t have any fear. Or if we’re afraid from time to time, that we’ve failed God, that’s not true. Fear and anxiety will still occur, but, we do not have to be ruled by it. It does not have to control us. We can control it. And we can have victory.
All is well once again, as David gathers with his people. The crisis has passed. God has delivered him. They gather at the temple, and make sacrifices to God, with shouts of joy!
They sing and make music to God. It’s a celebration. God has delivered his servant from fear. David has chosen trust. And this trust has paid off. God is the firm foundation for David.
Fear and controlling tendencies comes from relying on our resources. Peace and confidence come from resting in the arms of God.
Next, verse 4: “One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.”
We’ve made our beginning by committing to God to trust in Him and rely on Him for our security and safety. Now it’s time to lock it into place.
Many of my sermons you hear me repeat this theme, and I’m going to do it again today. The challenge here, to secure our commitment to God, is to go deeper in our relationship with Him.
That’s what it’s all about. The more firm we are in our practices with God, in prayer and the word, the more fear will flee and peace and confidence will replace it.
King David’s one desire is to “dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his(my) life.” We often think of dwelling in God’s house as heaven. But that isn’t what this refers to.
It was said of Moses, that Moses would go into the tent of meeting to meet with God face to face. But it was said of Joshua, Moses assistant, that Moses would leave, but Joshua would stay (Exodus 33:11).
Joshua was so amazed by God’s presence, he would stay in the tent and bask in God’s presence. And this pleased God. Have you learned to bask? To dwell in God’s house, is to be so often in prayer, talking to God, that we bask in His presence throughout our days. You may think well, that’s for super spiritual types, pastors, elders, no, it’s for everyday, average believers, who decide they want to go deeper.
Cultivate an intimacy with God, and you will see that fear is driven away by His presence.
Jesus Christ, the king of the universe, can be your best friend. Yes, your Lord, your savior, but also a dear, close friend. Do you see Him that way? Alive in your life, with you, close to you? That is who he wants to be to you if you’ll see Him that way, and allow Him into your heart, not just as savior, but also as intimate friend.
Next, David speaks of the day of trouble. Verse 5: “For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.”
The day of trouble will come. I’ve always found that in the Christian life. It’s not constant. But it does come.
We see even in that situation, God will keep us safe in His presence. Not only that, it references the most holy place here, the shelter of the sacred tent, the place of total protection. The KJV calls it the secret place. It’s not a physical place, but something that occurs in the heart, when we draw very close to God in times of trouble. He provides a spiritual safe room, you might call it, a place of peace and protection.
A heart change occurs there, and we’re delivered from fear. And it says he sets us high upon a rock.
I admit many times, I don’t focus enough to make it up above the storm, I get upset, I give up, and I allow the storm to rain upon me, but the word here tells us, if we seek God, he will provide a rock, above the fray. Firm, safe, with a wide view showing us the truth.
Lastly, verse 6: “Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the Lord.”
The idea of David’s head being exalted, it means lifted. For a man to have his head bowed down indicated defeat. David goes from crouching in fear, to standing firm, head lifted up, looking to God. Above his enemies.
Notice also, that David, though he was a man after God’s own heart, at the beginning of the psalm, he had to fight back the fear. So, it doesn’t mean we suddenly don’t have any fear. Or if we’re afraid from time to time, that we’ve failed God, that’s not true. Fear and anxiety will still occur, but, we do not have to be ruled by it. It does not have to control us. We can control it. And we can have victory.
All is well once again, as David gathers with his people. The crisis has passed. God has delivered him. They gather at the temple, and make sacrifices to God, with shouts of joy!
They sing and make music to God. It’s a celebration. God has delivered his servant from fear. David has chosen trust. And this trust has paid off. God is the firm foundation for David.
I’d like to pray one more time, and we’re going to ask God to bring deliverance from a spirit of fear. Sometimes we have a heavy spirit upon. Sometimes, not always, but sometimes this can be an unclean spirit, a demonic power that is causing us to feel fearful and heavy and anxious. So we’re going to pray, to caste that off, and replace it with a spirit of praise.
Prayer: Father, we stand before you, asking you to search our hearts. We confess that we’ve allowed at times a spirit of fear, of heaviness, of anxiety to keep us down. Lord we cast off the spirit of fear, be cast off in Jesus name, and we replace it with a garment of praise to our God. We renounce fear. We choose trust. We choose confidence. We choose courage. Lord, deliver us, in Jesus name, amen.
Prayer: Father, we stand before you, asking you to search our hearts. We confess that we’ve allowed at times a spirit of fear, of heaviness, of anxiety to keep us down. Lord we cast off the spirit of fear, be cast off in Jesus name, and we replace it with a garment of praise to our God. We renounce fear. We choose trust. We choose confidence. We choose courage. Lord, deliver us, in Jesus name, amen.
