By Pastor William Y. K. Brown Ph.D
(Resident Pastor)
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Osu-Bethel.
Tel: 0244165628/0243310773.
wykbrown@gmail.com
TUESDAY
THEME: “BE STRONG, DO NOT FEAR”
SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 35:4
“Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.”
REFLECTIONS
Millions of people are scared to the bone due to many things happening in their lives. Confused faces, minds, and manners are all you see among those without hope. The hopeful are those who have taken God’s word and expressed trust in Him. God’s intention is always to assure His people they are never alone; their battles are the Lord’s – they must strengthen their hands because God will uphold them with His righteous right hand. Like Robert H. Schuller wrote: “Tough Times Never Last But Tough People Do” – in Christ, you can endure because He strengthens you. Indeed, in His power, you are a conqueror.
Isaiah 35:4 states – “Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.” This passage comes in the context of a glorious future for Zion. The verse contains everything about our salvation, restoration, and glorification. By nature, sin has depraved us and put a code of fear in our DNA. Fear, anxiety, doubt, and unbelief are the companions that afflict the sinner, weaken any desire to aspire higher, and potentially destroy the relationship we have with God. Constantly, God is keen to give us hope – this is a challenge He resolves for the sinner daily. To be hopeful, fear must be uprooted completely.
Fear does not make us depict the power of God and His character well. Fear makes us forget that God is present everywhere. Paul, therefore, posits in Romans 8:31, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” So, God assures His people: “Be strong, do not fear.” Fear, timidity, and bashfulness are inimical to our ability to make God known. God’s judgment of those who make life unbearable for His people will eventually be unleashed. If you behold your God, you will have no reason to fear (Isaiah 40:9). “Be strong, do not fear” is meant to assure the believer that God is on their side. Therefore, awake and put on your strength (Isaiah 52:1)
This message to the fearful-hearted is to teach us the following lessons: i) God cares about His people and will want to save them from the fundamental cause of fear – sin or separation from God; ii) there is no reason to fear when God is your maker, and He remains your focus; iii) “Be strong, do not fear” are divine pronouncements and therefore divine imperatives; iv) the assurance that God will stand one day to avenge those who mistreat His people; v) God is prepared to save, and repay those who delight in His counsel. Therefore, “Strengthen the weak hands, And make firm the feeble knees.” Isaiah 35:3. “Be strong, do not fear” is your inspiration for victory in Jesus.
MY SONG OF COMMITMENT
SDAH 187 – “Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners” – rendered by Don Moen
LET US PRAY
– Praise and thank God always for His love for you; thank God for being your strength and hope; pray for the Holy Spirit to make you strong and fearless in the Lord;
– Pray for Christians who, because of fear, cannot stand for the truth; pray for those who get discouraged easily; pray for believers who are under persecution for sharing their faith;
– Pray for enhanced relationships – love for God and human beings; pray for boldness for evangelists; pray for asylum seekers, refugees, and displaced people;
– Pray for families with financial challenges, God’s guidance for those looking for life partners, and success for students who diligently seek God’s help; pray for hope for our citizens and healing for the sick.
