Peace Presbyterian Church

“Choosing Faith, Not Fear”

As we have been working through the book of Joshua, one thing has stood out for me: the importance of choosing faith over fear. As we go about our daily lives, what is it that consumes us: fear or faith?

God wants us to have faith and to trust in Him. God tells us in Joshua 1:7-9,

“Be strong and very courageous. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written on it... Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go..”

We can have strength and courage in the Lord is we are rooted and grounded in His Word. Psalm 1:2 tells us of the life we can have if we delight in and meditate on God’s Word. We will be like “a tree planted by streams of water, which yield its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.” Life then flows from being rooted in God’s Word, and from drinking from God’s Living Word and Living Water who is Jesus Christ (John 4:13-4). If we learn to delight in the Word of God, we will see that our God is a God of power, a God who can be trusted, a God who is with us.

“What does it mean to fear the Lord?”

God wants us to trust in Him instead of being fearful or terrified. It is important to point out, however, that Scripture does speak positively of us fearing God. For example, Proverbs 1:7, we learn, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” What does it mean to fear the Lord? Fearing the Lord means having a deep reverence and love for God that includes a willing submission to His Lordship and His sovereignty and a willingness to be obedient to all of His command. As believers then we should fear God alone.

“A key question for us then is this: what do our fears tell us about our faith, or lack thereof, in God?”

We are, however, more accustomed to experiencing an unhealthy fear, a fear which can drain us of all of our joy, hope and peace, a fear that is rooted in self-absorption, rather than being rooted in Christ. This human fear robs us of our ability to trust and depend upon God. Basil King, in his book, The Conquest of Fear, says that although we are not sick or sinning all the time, most of us are afraid of something or someone all the time. Fear can literally take over our lives, squeezing the life and health out of our souls and lives. We become fearful when we question whether God is powerful enough or even loving enough to help us handle our fears. A key question for us then is this: what do our fears tell us about our faith, or lack thereof, in God?

God wants to encourage us. God wants us to know that He is with us. When we wrestle with discouragement, we are wrestling with issues that either are not ours to wrestle with, or we are actually listening to voices other than God’s. Just as our God is a God of encouragement, Satan is the master of discouragement. Satan wants us to think we can make it on our own. Satan wants us to believe that God cannot be trusted. Who are we listening to? God or Satan? May we engage in faith-filled and faithful listening, so that God can remind us of who He is and who we are. Let us affirm 1 John 3:1, where John says, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”

In the month of November, let us be thankful to God for the gift of love we have received in Jesus. Let us be encouraged that God is with us, in Jesus, our Emmanuel. Let us fear God alone and let us trust and believe in His promises to always be with us and to always take care of us.

Love in Christ,
Pastor Brian

Sermons for November 2006
Joshua: Enjoying God’s Promises

05:  Joshua 9
Be Careful What You Promise - Communion Sunday

12  Joshua 10
The Sun Stands Still - changed to: Whose Side are We on?

19  Joshua 23
Holding Fast to God

26  Joshua 24
Choosing Today Who We Will Serve

During the Fall we will be studying the book of Joshua and we will be pondering how we as a church can experience God’s promises for us. When provided, please read and reflect on the Scriptures ahead of time in preparation for hearing and responding to God’s Word as it is read and proclaimed.

Archive of Pastor’s Pages: links to Pastor Brian’s newsletters and now his sermons, too.
View Pastor Brian’s Personal Statement of Faith.