INTRODUCTION:

    1. Fear is probably the greatest tool Satan uses against us today -- fear and laziness.
        a. There is the fear of failure.
            1) Afraid to witness (or try) because we fear we might fail.
            2) Philippians 4:13.
        b. There is the fear of security -- of what might happen to us (if we do witness).
            1) TEXT -- "Fear thou not; for I am with thee."
            2) Psalm 23:5 ; Philippians 4:19.
        c. There is the fear of the future.
            1) Sometimes we fail to serve because we're afraid of what tomorrow might bring.
            2) Matt. 6:25-34 -- "Take no thought . . . "
                a) TAKE NO THOUGHT = don't be filled with anxiety, or anxious care.
                b) Psalm 23:6 ; Matt. 28:20 ; Romans 8:31.
    2. Notice what God says to His people in Isaiah 41:10.  "Fear thou not . . . " (also, vv. 13-14).
        a. FEAR = to fear from an apprehension of danger and a sense of our own weakness, joined,
            therefore, with trembling.
        b. God says not to fear, because He is with us.
            1) II Timothy 1:7.
            2) Hebrews 13:5.
        c. This is the promise of His presence.
    3. He also says, "Be not dismayed . . . "
        a. DISMAYED = to be perplexed; to have to look around for help.
        b. The reason we are not to be perplexed -- He is our God.
        c. We need no other reason to refuse to be dismayed than because God is our God.
            1) Psalm 96:4-6.
            2) Hebrews 12:28-29.
        d. This is the peace of His power.
    4. If these were the only reasons not to fear, they would be sufficient. However, God gives us more
        reasons in our text.
        a. He will strengthen us.
        b. He will succor us.
        c. He will sustain us. He says:

  I. I WILL STRENGTHEN YOU.

    A. There Is Strength To Serve.
        1. Isaiah 40:31 -- Isaiah is speaking of service of Godd in this verse.
        2. So often we try to serve God in our own strength. That's when we fail!
            a. "I'm trying to serve God in my weak way."
            b. Well, stop and serve Him in His strong way!
        3. What did Jesus tell His church?
            a. Luke 24:46-49 -- The first thing He said do was to wait.
            b. Acts 1:8 -- You shall receive power; you shall be strengthened to do the work.
        4. The work of serving God is spiritual work and can only be performed in spiritual power.
            a. I Cor. 2:4-5.
            b. I Thess. 1:5.
        5. God promises to strengthen us to His service.

    B. There Is The Strength To Stand.
        1. Colossians 1:11 -- "strengthened . . . unto all patiience and longsuffering."
            a. PATIENCE = endurance; bearing up under.
            b. LONGSUFFERING = forbearance.
        2. Why do we need patience and longsuffering?  II Tim. 3:12-13.
            a. The world is going to oppose us in our stand for and service of the Lord.
            b. We need His strength if we are not going to be like Demas or John Mark.
            c. (Incidently, John Mark in Acts & in II Tim.shows the difference between serving God in our strength
                and in His strength.)
        3. God promises to give us strength to stand for Him.

    C. There Is The Strength To Sustain.
        1. Ephesians 3:16-19.
        2. When we are serving and standing for the Lord we can know that He loves us.
        3. It is the love of Christ that sustains us when we are persecuted for His sake.
            a. II Corinthians 5:14.
            b. II Thessalonians 2:15-17.

  II.  I WILL SUCCOR YOU.

        "I will help thee . . . "
        HELP = aid; assist; one who succors the destitute and the miserable.

    A. He Helped Us In The Day Of Salvation.
        1. II Cor. 6:1-2 -- "in the day of salvation have> I succored thee."
        2. When we came to God for salvation, we came in our weakness and inability.
            a. "God resists the proud . . . "
            b. "In my hand no price I bring. Simply to thy cross I cling."
        3. Romans 5:6 -- "For when we were yet without strrength, in due time Christ died for the . . ."
            a. Eph. 2:1-3 -- Describes our condition.
            b. Titus 3:3 -- Also describes that condition.
        4. Titus 3:4-5 -- But by God's mercy He saved us.
    B. He Will Help Us In The Time Of Temptation.
        1. Hebrews 2:16-18.
        2. Hebrews 4:14-16.
        3. I Cor. 10:13.

III.  I WILL SUPPORT THEE.

    1. "I will uphold thee."
        UPHOLD = to hold up; to support.
    2. Where do we look when we need support, when we need strength? To God.
    3. I am convinced may "fall by the way" because they have tried to "do it themselves."
        a. Have failed in serving God in their own strength.
        b. Thus, they have given up.
    4. How does He uphold us? "By the right hand of my righteousness." (Speaks of strength.)
    5. Galatians 2:20 -- How to live for Christ.

  CONCLUSION:

    1. Truly, the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
    2. It is fear that keeps us from living the faithful, full life that God intended us to live.
        a. Fear of failing.
        b. Fear of the future.
        c. Fear of falling.
    3. However, let us be reminded once again of II Timothy 1:7.
        a. FEAR = moral cowardice; timidity.
        b. This does not come from God but from Satan.
        c. Notice what God gives us:
            1) POWER = dynamic ability.
            2) LOVE = self-sacrificing love for Him and for the brethren (as well as for the souls of lost men).
            3) SOUND MIND = self-restraint; temperance.
    4. If we are to live w/o fear in these last days, we must remember: He is our God, and He is with us.