Be Still and know I am God

Had a great word from God today at church. Was delivered by Jason Ong. Awesome man of God Jason is! Here's the notes I took,

Title: Fear Factor

Psalm 46
¹ God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah
⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.
⁵ God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.
⁶ Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
⁷ The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
⁸ Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth.
⁹ He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire.
¹⁰ "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
¹¹ The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

What is Fear - emotional response caused by imminent or forthcoming danger
What do you fear?
- people fear sicknesses, terrorism, failure, making mistakes, mans opinion, losing face
- sometimes fear spurs us on and can be good ie. fear of failure causing us to study
- but there are negative aspects
Conditions: agarophobia, panic attacks, post-traumatic stress
disorder, paranoia, schizophrenia, hypochondriac

Negative aspects/effects of fear
- BURDEN: takes your energy away. The fear that causes anxiety. Weighs you down.
- BLINDS: stops you seeing reality as it is, can't see the way out. Fear makes you give up just before you reach the goal. Fear warps your perception. Don't see things the way they actually are - tend to exaggerate things. Many times the fear before an event is worse than the even itself (ie. fear before an interview, all the worries, anxiety is worse than the actual interview itself)
- BINDS: oppresses you, stops you become who you are, breaks your resolve.

As a follower of Christ you do not have to fear.

Biblical truths to set you free from fear:

John 16:33: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
- Everyone will face trouble, will face fear.

Key to freedom from fear:
Psalm 46:10 - "be still and know that I am God"
- when you truly understand that he is God, you won't fear
- have to know God

3 things to know when you face fear
1. Be still and know that God is in control
Psalm 139:16 - "your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."
Romans 8:28 - "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,who have been called according to his purpose."

Everyday when you wake up, know that God is in control
"the Lord gives and takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord"

2. Be still and know that God is with you
- Daniel 3 - Story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego being thrown into the furnace
- King Nebuchadnezzar saw 4 people in the fire
- God is with you in the fire

- 2nd Kings 6 - Elisha - was able to predict where the enemies were. Armies came surrounded them, the servant was fearful.
2 Kings 6: ^"15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked. ¹⁶ "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." ¹⁷ And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."
- Elisha prayed, open the eyes of my servant
- Gods army was protecting Elisha and bid servant
- Even if your eyes can't see, God is with you

- Hebrewes 13:5 - Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you
- Psalm 23:4 - "shadow of death"... It is a reflection, it can't harm you
- God has conquered death, the devil can only play these shadow games
- Psalm 121 - ¹ I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? ² My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
- Isaiah 43:2 - ² When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

3. Be still and know that God will provide
Matthew 6:25-34 - "do not worry.."

Conclusions
1 Corinthians 10:13 - "¹³No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

- He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear
- The meaning of the word temptation in greek is the same word as trials
- Temptations are from the devil, trials are from God
- God will always give you the abilty to conquer your trials, but not beyond what you can bear... He will always provide a way out if you cannot bear it any longer.
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When there are things that are causing you to fear, whether it be the future, finance, death, sicknesses, relationships, uncertainty... Be still and know He is God... !!
Do not let fear bind you from reaching the potential that God has called you to be.... so many of us are bound by fear these days. Fear of rejection, of hurt, of losing face, of being in debt... fear of failures...... God is GOD... He is greater and He will not leave you or forsake you. Trouble WILL come... but take heart - put your hope in Jesus Christ, who overcame it all!

aLio