Reasons Believers in Christ Need Not to Be Afraid
From Gospel Translations
By John Piper
About Fear & Anxiety
Part of the series Taste & See
We will not die apart from God's gracious decree for his children.
James 4:14-15
"If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."
Matthew 10:29-30
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."
Deuteronomy 32:39
"See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand." (See Job 1:21;1 Samuel 2:6; 2 Kings 5:7)
Curses and divination do not hold sway against God's people.
Numbers 23:23
"There is no enchantment against Jacob, no divination against Israel."
The plans of terrorists and hostile nations do not succeed apart from our gracious God.
Psalm 33:10
"The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples."
Isaiah 8:9-10
"Take counsel together [you peoples], but it will come to nothing; speak a word, but it will not stand, for God is with us." (See 2 Samuel 7:14; Nehemiah 4:15)
Man cannot harm us beyond God's gracious will for us.
Psalm 118:6
"The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"
Psalm 56:11
"In God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
God promises to protect his own from all that is not finally good for them.
Psalm 91:14
"Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name."
God promises to give us all we need to obey, enjoy, and honor him forever.
Matthew 6:31
"Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' . . . Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Philippians 4:19
"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
God is never taken off guard.
Psalm 121:4
"Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep."
God will be with us, help us, and uphold us in trouble.
Isaiah 41:10
"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Isaiah 41:13
"For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, 'Fear not, I am the one who helps you.'"
Terrors will come, some of us will die, but not a hair of our heads will perish.
Luke 21:10-11, 18
"Then [Jesus] said to them, '. . . there will be terrors (!) and great signs from heaven. . . . and some of you they will put to death. . . . But not a hair of your head will perish.'"
Nothing befalls God's own but in its appointed hour.
John 7:30
"So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come." (See John 8:20; 10:18)
When God Almighty is your helper, none can harm you beyond what he decrees.
Hebrews 13:6
"So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'"
Romans 8:31
"If God is for us, who can be against us?"
God's faithfulness is based on the firm value of his name, not the fickle measure of our obedience.
1 Samuel 12:20-22
"And Samuel said to the people, 'Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. . . . For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake.'"
The Lord, our protector, is great and awesome.
Nehemiah 4:14
"Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome."
Trusting firm promises with you in fragile times,
Pastor John