Be Not Dismayed, For I Am Your God
Text: Isaiah 41
25 November 2012
(I) THE PROBLEM OF DISMAY
“Fear not,…be not dismayed…” Isaiah 41:10
1. Struggling with the fear of enemies
a) Fear and dismay go together ( 2 Chronicles 32:7 )
b) Fearing the words of the Rabshakeh ( Isaiah 37:5 )
c) The Lord had to tell Israel three times not to fear.
2. Struggling with health (Isaiah 38:1-2)
a) Sickness
b) Death
3. Struggling with weakness (Isaiah 38:14)
(II) DEALING WITH DISMAY THROUGH A GREATER ASSURANCE OF GOD AS OUR GOD
“Be not dismayed for I am your God” Isaiah 41:10
1. The Lord’s performing His words (Isaiah 41:4)
2. The Lord’s great promises to His people (Isaiah 41:10)
a) The promise of His great presence
b) The promise of His great strength
c) The promise of His great help
d) The promise of His great upholding
3. The Lord’s power contrasted against the powerlessness of the Idols (Isaiah 41:17-24)
a) Idols
i) Idols unable to show what is to come
ii) Idol’s works are nothing
b) God
i) The Lord hearing the prayers of the poor and needy ( Psalm 113:5-7 )
ii) The hand of the Lord has done this
(III) RESPONSES TO GOD AS OUR GOD
1. Greater Appreciation of God as our God (Isaiah 41:20)
2. Greater Trust in the Lord and His promises
3. Greater Joy in the Lord (Isaiah 41:16)
4. Greater commitment to glory only in the Lord (Isaiah 41:16)