“But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” <Is 43:1-2>

Several years ago there was a logo that appeared, it seemed, everywhere. It was “No Fear.” To me it seemed to make the statement, “I am in control, I am stronger, I will not fear you.” In our text today God says, “Fear not.” This command is based upon who God is and not what man thinks he (man) is.

God is creator and fashioner. It is he who designed and fabricated you. He knows what you were designed for and what your design can take.

God is your redeemer. It is he, in Christ, who paid the price of your sin and purchased you from the slave market of sin to be his own. That is why he can say, “Thou are mine.” You are his precious possession, the apple of his eye. He is infinitely concerned about you.

God also has called you by name. This means that he knows you. He knows you through and through: your thoughts, desires, hopes, ambitions, sins, and pains. And he truly cares.

God is always near, “I will be with you.” No matter how deep the water seems, he is there to help you and encourage you.

Finally, God is your victory and protector. Nothing that is planned against you will ultimately overcome you. This is why Paul could write in Romans 8:

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. <Ro 8:31-39>

It is because of who God is, that you can truly say, “No Fear.”

- Pastor Stevens

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