DCLM Higher Everyday 2 April 2024 — Fear Not, Christ’s Friend
Topic: Fear Not, Christ’s Friend
Text: Isaiah 41:8-14
8But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.
10Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
11Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.
12Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.
13For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
14Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
Key Verse: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (Isaiah 41:10).
Message
Robert Murray McCheyne once remarked this: “If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me.” This is assurance for every child of God. Charles Spurgeon also stated, “The past you need not fear, it is forgiven you; the present you need not fear, it is provided for; the future also is secured by the living power of Jesus.” “Because I live,” saith He, “ye shall live also.” So why should a believer be afraid when Jesus is still in charge and will always be?
We may confront dangerous circumstances in life by believing Isaiah 41:10. The promise of God’s presence is our source of strength and consolation that can help us conquer our fears. You need not worry about suffering, disappointment, loneliness, misery, ridicule, failure, or death. Life’s difficulties might seem insurmountable, yet God can assist us in overcoming them. All you have to do is to surrender your life to Christ, trust in His plan, grow in faith, and seek His help.
Quote: Jesus is still in charge
Challenge: Resolve to trust God and rely on His assistance.
Prayer for today: Dear Lord, strengthen my faith and reliance on You. Amen.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
