Facing the Future Unafraid

 

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 29 JUNE 2025

2 KINGS 19 VERSES 14 TO 19, 32 TO 37 AND PSALM 46

About 930 BC the nation of Israel was divided. There were 10 tribes in the North and 2 tribes in the South. The 10 tribes were based in the city of Samaria and the 2 tribes were based in Jerusalem. The 10 tribes went into captivity to Assyria while the 2 tribes went into captivity in Babylon. After 70 years they came back and rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. Sennacherib was the ancient, ruthless ruler that took Israel, the northern kingdom, the 10 tribes into Assyria. He was now surrounding Judah and Jerusalem in particular and the godly King Hezekiah. He proceeds, wants to expand his kingdom, much like the present day rulers of our world. Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem were surrounded. They were filled with fear and desperation. They were facing the future. That is the title of this sermon - facing the future unafraid. Hezekiah has received a menacing letter from Sennacherib that strikes him with fear. Isn't it wonderful to know that our God is still on the throne today - both globally, nationally and personally.

Sennacherib and his host have surrounded the host of Jerusalem and the people are full of fear and trepidation.

PSALM 46

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

 

Beethoven at the age of 42 was told that he was going deaf and courageously replied "then I will take life by the throat". General William Booth the founder of the Salvation Army was told that he was going blind. His courageous reply was " I have used my sight for the glory of God, now I will use my blindness for the glory of God." John Bunyan, the author of Pilgrims Progress, was thrown into prison for preaching the gospel said "I will stay in this prison until the moss grows in my eyes." Down through the centuries Christian believers have faced the future unafraid. No believer knows the future but we know who holds the future and thank God we can face the future unafraid. Facing the future unafraid. I wonder is that how these Jews in Hezekiah's day felt? The year is 701 BC. The king of Assyria's name strikes terror in the hearts in the people of the Mediterranean world. His name is Sennacherib. He is intent on extending his kingdom. He has already taken the northern kingdom Israel into Assyria and his troops are surrounding the walls of Jerusalem. They hurl their abuse at the citizens of Jerusalem. They say "we have heard about the God you serve, we want to know how special he is, why don't you send your God out to defend you, we have destroyed many nations and none of their gods were able to protect them." Then they send a menacing letter which Hezekiah takes and spreads before the Lord. He leaves it all with God and he waits. The ominous moments tick by and then God intervenes. In one night 185,000 Assyrian soldiers are slain. The daybreak comes, the men of Judah cannot believe their eyes. They are looking over the walls of Jerusalem, the battlements of the city. It is a scene of death. The bible says "behold they were all dead corpses." It is a red letter day in the nation of Jerusalem. It is a red letter psalm that is written to commemorate it.

Psalm 46 is a beautiful and interesting psalm. It is divided into 3 parts - the first part, verses 1 to 3 tells of the presence of God, verses 6 and 7 describe the presence of God and in verses 8 to 11 it reminds us of the power of God. God is on our side, God is by our side, with God there is none beside and with him we can have peace inside. Do you need to be reminded of that? Are you facing trouble today? The Hebrew language contains 30 words that describe different kinds of trouble. What kind of trouble are you in today? Financial, domestic, trouble to do with your business, health problem, some kind of personal trouble that is keeping you awake at night. We can face the future unafraid. How? By reminding ourselves of 3 precious truths from this Psalm.

Don't fear we have a refuge - "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear," What fear is gripping you today? Is it the fear of COVID 19, unemployment, going out into the community again, declining health, fear of the future? These 2 words describe us perfectly today - we fear. The need for this refuge is obvious. We fear tight places. "Trouble" - means that, to be backed into a tight corner where escape seems impossible. Are you in a tight place? Pressed in on every side? Are your options limited? Is your freedom restricted? Is your progress arrested? The Lord will still make his presence known to you and he will make his presence known to you if only you will trust him. We not only fear tight places we fear change. We fear the innovations of life. "Earth" can be translated land and "remove" or change hands. Therefore will we not fear though the land change hands. Is that not exactly what was happening Judah. Sennacherib was surrounding Jerusalem and threatening Judah. The people were fearful. We are living in uncertain days because everything around us is constantly changing. Although earthly things change the eternal God never changes. Though secular things changes the sovereign Lord never changes. Though the government changes the godhead never changes. Though the kingdom changes the king never changes. He is the immutable, unchanging God. The same yesterday, the same today and forever. We fear tight places. We fear the innovations of life. We fear change, we fear the impossibilities of life. Verse 2 - we fear insecurity. The Psalmist says "though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah." Most people consider mountains to be the strongest dependable, lasting things on earth. They are secure surely. If the mountains were to sink into the oceans and the oceans were to respond by sending up those massive tides and angry waves we can still depend on the Lord. 

H G Spafford was a well known Chicago businessman, a dedicated Christian and a very loyal friend and supporter of D L Moody and the evangelists of his day. He had suffered some serious financial reversals all starting with the great Chicago fire of 1871 in which he had lost his home.  Spafford decided to lift the spirits of his family by taking them on a vacation to England where he would also help Moody in one of his gospel crusades. On 9 November 1873 he was detained by urgent business so he sent his wife and 4 daughters as scheduled on the ship, planning to join them as soon as he could. However, half way across the Atlantic ocean that ship was struck by an English vessel and within 12 minutes 226 lives were lost in the icy waters including Horatio Spafford's 4 daughters. Mrs Spafford was among those who miraculously saved. She sent a telegram immediately back to her husband with 2 words - "saved alone". Spafford immediately boarded another ship to join his wife in Cardiff Wales. He stood hour after hour on the deck of that ship. He came to that approximate place where his 4 precious daughters had drowned. At that moment he said that all the pain, all of the grief and hurt he felt was replaced with the peace and comfort of God. He cried out "it is well, it is well with my soul." A short time later he wrote that immortal hymn:

When peace like a river, attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul

Do these 2 words describe you - "we fear." The need for this refuge is obvious. The nature of this refuge is glorious - the Psalmist tells us 3 things about this refuge - it is personal "God is my refuge and strength". He is my refuge and strength. Is that not what King Hezekiah discovered? Hezekiah received this poison pen letter and it was full of threats and details of how the people would be slain. He carries the letter into the temple and spreads it before the Lord and says "read this Lord." Is that what you need to do? Run to the Lord, spread it before the Lord and say "look at what I am facing." This refuge is protective - God is our refuge. Refuge means a place to which to go to for protection. It is a military term. It describes a place of shelter. Hezekiah goes into the temple and finds his refuge there. It is not a place for leaving his problem outside. He brings his problem in, spreads it before the Lord, revealing every detail. "The eternal God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms." "I will say of the Lord he is my refuge and my fortress, my God in him will I trust." "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God my strength in whom I will trust." Is God your refuge? We try all the alternatives. At the first sign of trouble we rely on our own resources. If we fail we will try to solve the problem, maybe we will call a family friend, a trusted confident. The ultimate answer is not to be found in these options, it is to be found in the midst of us - Elohim, God is our refuge and strength.

How oft in the conflict, when pressed by the foe,
I've fled to my Refuge and breathed out my woe
How often, when trials like sea billows roll,
I've hidden in Thee, O Thou Rock of my soul

Do you realise you have a place in which you can hide. You have a person to whom you can hold. You have a protection that you can have in the times of danger. It was this psalm that inspired Martin Luther to write the triumphant hymn "A mighty fortress is our God." He faced numerous threats on his life from the pope and his cohorts. He spent 12 months in hiding in central Germany and in spite of opposition and ex-communication and pressure from every side he stood for the doctrine - salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. When he had occasion to fear, to become discouraged he would say "come let us sing the 46th psalm." They would lift up their voices in worship to God. It is also practical - he is our strength. That word strength is used throughout the psalms to describe the omnipotence of God. It conveys the idea of might, of force, of power. He is our refuge, he hides me. He is my strength, he helps me. Does life seem to be tumbling all around you. Is the storm blowing? Do you need to hide in the shelter of the rock? The Lord hides you that he might help you. In your time of danger he is your refuge. In the time of demand he is your strength.

Don't faint we have a river. "There is a river the streams whereof shall make the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High." The psalmist is saying 2 things here - we have a secret power within. "There is a river" - it means a constant flowing river. Throughout history rivers have played an important part in the location of major cities. People settled near a river so that they would have a regular source of supply. Cities began to spring up around rivers Babylon, Iraq built on Euphrates, Nineveh located by Tigris, Rome located on Tiber, London was located on Thames, Belfast located on Lagan, Coleraine on the Bann. People  realised how important it was to have a river flowing through the city. If the enemy circled that city they needed to have a constant source of supply. The enemy knew if they could cut off the people's food, if they cut off the water supply it would not be long before the people capitulated and surrendered. Jerusalem was one of the few cities that had no river.  It was not until Hezekiah built his tunnel in Jerusalem that it had a water supply within its walls. He covered up the spring so that no-one could see where the supply was. It did not matter how long the siege was they had an unfailing water supply. The symbolism of water in the bible is very instructive. The Father is set before us as the fountain of living water. The Son is set before us as the well of living water. The Holy Spirit is set before us as the river of living water. "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake he of the Holy Spirit." We have a secret power today. Do you recognise that? Have you drawn from God's supply? Are you asking the Lord to revive you? To refresh you? To restore you? We have also a sovereign person without - "God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early." God did help her. The angel of the Lord stepped in to the situation and dealt with the Assyrian army. Just like that mysterious person in Nebuchadnezzar's furnace. Do you remember Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into the furnace and it was heated intensely. They were marched into the flames. Who was the fourth person in the flames. The Lord occupied a place in the fire with his children. Are you in the fire today? Are you in the flames? The Lord is with you to give you stability. We shall not be moved. Sure the road gets bumpy and rocky. Sure there are times of peril and persecution. We can draw from the sufficiency of God. Do you fear that you are in the darkened shadows of despair? He is there. Do you feel you are all alone? He is there. That you are forsaken and alone. God is in the midst of her. She shall not be moved.

Don't fret we have a ruler. The most high rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. The God whose power is unlimited "Come behold the works of the Lord." Sennacherib and Assyrian forces had surrounded Jerusalem. The situation looked desperate. God sent 1 angel to deal with the situation. 1 angel in 1 night and the besieging Assyrian army was no more. The psalmist was looking down from the battlements of the walls and he sees the dead corpses and he says "come behold the works of the Lord; what desolations he hath made in the earth." We are not in a battle with Sennacherib but with Satan and his host. He is out to destroy our lives, our homes, our testimony but greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world.

John Paton a missionary to the New Hebrides islands. One night hostile natives surrounded the mission station determined to burn the Paton's out of their home and killing them. Paton and his wife were praying all through that terror filled night that God would protect them and deliver them. When daylight came they were surprised to look out, all the natives were gone. A year later to the very day the chief of that tribe was converted. Remembering what happened Paton asked him what stopped them from burning down the mission station and killing them. The chief said  "who were all those men that surrounded your house?" The chief was afraid to attack because he had seen hundreds of shining men in shining clothes with drawn swords encircling and protecting the mission station.

Do you feel that you have a great need for God to help you with? A problem too complex to sort out? Have you forgotten that God is for you and if God is for you who can be against you. His power is unlimited and one day that power will be unleashed when our God comes to destroy the armies at Armageddon and then it will be said "he maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth."  The one whose purpose is undisguised. If you will be still and take your hands off the situation and let me be God I will solve the problem. When life tumbles in around me how do you get help from God? We must be still. In the Hebrew it means take your hands off it. The word means to cease striving, to stop working out, to relax. Have you released your cares into the hands of God. Trust him. The Lord of hosts is with is. The God of Jacob is our refuge. The one whose person is unequal. "I am God." The Psalm begins "God is". No attempt is made to water it down. To apologise to a sceptical generation, to prove that God is. The Holy Spirit deems certain truths to be self evident. God is. The Hebrew name is Elohim. It denotes the one who is strong, mighty, who keeps his covenant. The one mentioned in Genesis 1 as the creator of all. The testimony of God - "I am God". The testimony of the Psalmist - verse 11 "The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge."  He did not say the God of Abraham is our refuge. Abraham was a great man of faith. We would expect God to help him. Jacob was something else. He was a schemer, a manipulator, a failure. Often I act more like Jacob than Abraham. When I fail God, the Lord promises to be with me and help me. The Lord of hosts is with me. The Lord of all the armies of heaven is with us. The mighty Jehovah God is our strength. One angel in one night could strike Sennacherib host, all the angels of God are mustered around the throne. They are sent to minister to us who are the heirs of salvation. God is with me in my domestic need, in my loneliness, in my declining strength, in all the ups and downs of life, in unprecented times, when the world seems to be falling apart. The Lord of host is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge.

Don't fear you have a refuge

Don't faint you have a river

Don't fret you have a ruler

The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge today.