DON’T BE AFRAID—I AM HERE.
Deut. 31:1-8


INTRODUCTION:

  1. Do you remember as a little child waking up from having a nightmare, the first thing you probably it did was call out to your parents. One or both of them would come to your room and after you told them of your bad dream that would say, "Don’t be afraid I am here."
  1. Deuteronomy 31:1-8
  1. The word "fear" as found in the Bible has two different meanings.
  1. Respect—Eccl. 12:13; Heb. 12:28
  2. Being afraid
    1. "Fear not" is a theme found throughout the Bible (Gen. 15:1-Rev. 1:17)
    2. In our modern vernacular it would be translated, "Don’t be afraid."
  1. In our text Moses set forth three reasons why Joshua and nation Israel should not be afraid.
  1. These same three reasons found in this verse should be applied by us as Christians so we will not be afraid.

 

Don’t be afraid, because:

 I.  "I will be with thee…"— FELLOWSHIP

A.  The Bible sets forth two fundamental facts concerning fellowship with God.

1. Fellowship with God can be obtained.

a. Jesus Christ has made fellowship with God possible.

1. I Timothy 2:6-8

2. John 14:6

b. One enters into fellowship with God through obedience to the Gospel.

1. II Thessalonians 2:13,14

2. Romans 1:16

3. One must:

    1. Hear the Gospel. Acts 8:5
    2. Believe the Gospel. Acts 8:12
    3. Repent of sins. Acts 2:38
    4. Confess Christ. Acts 8:37
    5. Be baptized for remission of sins. Acts 2:38
2. Fellowship with God must be maintained.

a. John 8:31,32

b. I John 1:5-7
B.  What is the only conclusion that can drawn from these two facts?

1. Fact one—Fellowship with God can be obtained.

a. We have either obtained fellowship with God through obeying the Gospel or we have not obtained fellowship with because we have not obeyed the Gospel.

b. John 12:48; II Thessalonians 1:7-9

2. Fact two—Fellowship with God must be maintained.

a. We are either maintaining our fellowship with God through our continued obedience to the Gospel or we or not maintaining our fellowship with God because we are continuing to obey the Gospel.

b. John 12:48; Matthew 7:21-23

 

II.  "I will go before thee"— GUIDANCE

A.  Man can not guide himself. Jeremiah 10:23

1. What are the results when man tries to guide himself?

a. When man tries to guide himself he is headed for sure failure. Proverbs 14:23

b. When tries to guide himself he is seeking to exalt self rather than God. I Timothy 1:17; Jude 23,24.

2. As Christians we must go to God’s Word for guidance.

a. II Timothy 3:16,17

b. II Peter 1:3

c. Psalm 119:105

d. II Timothy 2:15

 

III.  "I will not fail thee, neither forsake thee"— ASSURANCE

A.  As we go through this life people will sometimes lie to us, sometimes they will let us down and sometimes that will abandon us.

B.  We have God’s assurance they He will never abandon us.

1. I Peter 1:16

2. Hebrew 6:18

C.  God’s promise to not abandon us is conditional.

1. God will never abandons us; but we can abandon Him. However the Bible informs the Christian he can return to God though repentance. I John 1:7-9

2. Romans 8:35-39

 

CONCLUSION:

  1. Fellowship, guidance and assurance all are offered to us by God so we will not be afraid.
  2. Obey the Gospel and live faithfully.

 

Mike Gurganus
PO Box. 916
Henderson, NC 27536

 

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