SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 41:8-10 “But as for you, Israel My servant, Jacob My chosen one, descended from Abraham My friend, I have called you back from the ends of the earth, saying, ‘You are My servant.’ For I have chosen you and will not throw you away. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with My victorious right hand.

INTRODUCTION

How many of you have never been through conflicts in your life?

If you go through conflicts, remember that your God is a God of promises. God has given you exceeding great and precious promises as a gift. He has promised to be with you, to strengthen you, to help you and to uphold you. God encourages his faithful ones like you to trust in Him, with an assurance that He would fight against your enemies, make you victorious.

When you consider a promise, it means nothing to you, unless you have full confidence that it will be kept. For example, when someone makes a promise to you, you value the promise according to that person’s ability to keep true to that promise. In Isaiah 41:10 you will see a well-guaranteed promise. God who made you, knows all about you and has given this beautiful promise to you. This promise is for

• God’s chosen one that is you (Isaiah 41:8).
• All those who are called by God (Isaiah 41:9).
• God’s servants, who are doing His will and have not, rejected serving Him, in spite of their imperfections and their battles and conflicts. (Isaiah 41:8-9).

Let us meditate on the promises in Isaiah 41:10 that it may prove beneficial to you.

A. DON’T BE AFRAID

Isaiah 41:10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you

Fear is a common disease which came into man’s heart because of sin (Genesis 3:8-10). Fear continues in every one including good people, because sin continues in them. In certain instances fear has become a habit in mankind. Even the strongest of God’s people are sometimes subjects of fear (example Elijah – 1Kings 19:4).

1. Fear Cause By Sin Should Not Be Found In Us

Genesis 3:10 (NLT) He replied, “I heard You walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”

From the time man sinned, the Glory of God that was covering him left, he became naked and exposed to sin. Man came in bondage to fear of death. God loved man soo much, that He sent His Son Jesus, Who came to deliver mankind from this fear.

Hebrew 2:14-15 (KJV) … that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

2. The Fear Of God Which We All Should Have

In Genesis 15:1, it was to Abraham that the Lord first said “Fear not”. What should you do to be fearless? The Word of God tells us that perfect love casts out fear. God dearly loves you.

Romans 5:5 He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love

I John 4:18 Perfect love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear

If the love of the world increases in you, fear also increases. But if you are filled with the love of God, you will be delivered from strange fears and the fear of death. Dear friend, cleanse yourself from everything that can defile your body or spirit and work towards complete holiness with much fear of God. (II Corinthians 7:1)

When God says Fear not, then it is absolute and you are not to fear at any cost.

When God is with you why do you have to fear. Jesus said “Lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world”.

• If God is with you, you are with God. Word of the Lord came to King Asa – The LORD will stay with you as long as you stay with Him. Whenever you seek Him, you will find Him. (II Chronicles18:2).
• The Lord was with Joseph (Genesis 39:2,3,21,23). Joseph’s brothers hated and despised him, but Joseph never possessed these natures. He was fruitful and prospered. The Lord was with Joseph and performed all things for him.
• God is with you too. God has saved you through Christ and seated you with Him in the heavenly places because you are united with Christ (Ephesians 2:7).

So there is nothing for you to fear. God has promised; fear not for I am with you.

B. BE ENCOURAGED

Isaiah 41:10 Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God

When battles and conflicts come in your life, sometime it is only natural to be discouraged. But the faith and the confession that the battle is the Lord’s should proceed from us.

• God spoke to king Jehoshaphat saying, “… Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s (II Chronicles 20:15).
• God spoke to Joshua “.. be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed …” (Joshua 1:9).
• Young David who was anointed of the Lord was not discouraged, but overcame Goliath, delivering Israel and declaring that there is a living God in Israel.
• The fire could not harm the bodies of the youth who yielded their bodies without being discouraged, to Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace of fire. Witnessing that, the king and his counsellors who cast them into the furnace, were dismayed.

Everyday keep confessing “the battle is the Lord’s”. Put to use the ‘praise’ given in our mouths and the two-edged sword in our hands and defeat wicked powers and give Glory and Honour to your Lord.

C. GOD IS YOUR GOD

God Himself is saying “I am your God”. He is your redeemer and your Saviour. That means He is your only God and there is no other god. He will do anything for you, because He dearly loves you.

1. God Will Strengthen You

God is telling you, I will strengthen you, to perform duties, to exercise grace, to withstand corruptions, to resist temptations, to bear afflictions, and to suffer persecutions. If God is the strength of His people, they need not be afraid of any person or anything Psalms 27:1,

You need strength to sustain you on your day to day journey. God Who is your God will strengthen you, you will not be weary and you will not faint in your Christian journey.

Isaiah 40:31 “…they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint”.

Many are becoming faint and weary in their spiritual race. Strength is a blessing. Esau despised his birthright when he was faint. If you surrender your strength to God, you will receive strength and peace from God, because the Lord is the strength of His people (Psalm 28:8).

2. God Will Help You

God will help you out of all your afflictions and your temptations, and out of the hands of all your enemies. He will help you in your ministry, in bearing your cross, and in fighting your battles. God’s help is timely and has promised to help his people. God is faithful in His promise towards you (Hebrew 13:5).

Psalm 121:1-2 From whence cometh my help?” “My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth”

God is watchful to help those who call upon Him in truth. Hagar wandered with her child, with no water to drink. Weary and desperate Hagar began to weep. The God of all help provided a well of water. They drank and were comforted.

Psalm 91:14-15 “Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble: I will deliver him, and honour him”

Where should we go to receive help? Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need”

Your will have boldness in you, to become strong in faith. Your hearts will be sprinkled with good conscience. With praise, thanksgiving and prayer from the depths of your broken heart, receive help from the throne of grace.

God is your best helper

• Because God is always near to help. God is always near when you are in trouble.
• Because God is always able to help.
• Because God is always willing to help.
• Because God is always kind in helping. God is always able and willing to help in a kind and loving manner.

Illustration: A minister was one day bringing his books upstairs to study on the first floor, and his little boy wanted to help father carry some books. “Now,” said the father, “I know you could not do it, but as you wanted to be doing something, to please you and encourage you, bring a book and carry it up.” So away the little boy went, and picked one of the biggest book and climbed a step or two up the stairs. He could not carry the big book any further, so he sat down disappointed and began to cry. Immediately his father came to the rescue, and carried both the big book and the little boy. When the Lord gives you a work to do, you are glad to do it with your strength. When your strength is not equal to the work load, we sit down disappointed and cry. Your blessed Father comes and carries the work load and carries you too, and then it is all done and done gloriously. (C. H. Spurgeon)

3. God Will Hold You Up With His Victorious Right Hand

God will sustain you with His right hand either by His almighty power, or by His Son Jesus, who is sitting on the right hand of God. Justice will abound in us as we obey the Word of God. God has promised to hold us with His victorious Right hand that He may lead us and make us live victoriously. If you are held by such a Hand you’re blessed and privileged.

CONCLUSION

Thanks be unto God, the Father of promises for the exceeding great and precious promises

• 2 Peter 1:4 (NLT) And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
• 2 Corinthians 1:20 (NLT) For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for His glory.

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