These are perilous times, says the Bible. I had a friend that visited California during an earthquake who commented, ‘I’ve never felt so helpless in my life.’ Experience a tornado, or a hurricane, or watch the lighting and hear the thunder, and can you not feel fear rise up within you? God alone can control the elements. I’m sure you all watched the movie, ‘Twister’ and saw that nothing the intelligent people could figure out, really could stop a tornado. Well God has revealed himself in these elements.

2Ki 2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

Job 38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

Ps 77:18 The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.

Pr 1:27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

Isa 29:6 Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.

Isa 66:15 For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.

Jer 4:13 Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are spoiled.

Na 1:3 The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

But Jesus could calm a storm:

Mr 4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

So when the heathen fear, we have nothing to fear. For God is above all. Jesus slept in the midst of a storm, because He had faith in His Father’s protection.

Lu 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Why are people going around wearing shirts that say no fear, and putting signs on their vehicles that say, ‘No Fear’, if they weren’t trying to convince people that they are not afraid of these things?

Fear brings on strokes, heart attacks, and mental illness. But God says this:

2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

When I was in the midst of anxiety attacks and fear about all the possible things that could hurt my children or me, I was literally crazy with fear. The anxiety attacks were something that I wasn’t even sure what I was afraid of. And the above verse is the first one I clung to. As I gave in to the attacks of the enemy, trying to kill myself, despairing, I knew I was coming unglued, I did not know of the saving power of God, but I clung to that verse saying God had given me a sound mind. I was clutching at straws then, but God had given me that measure of faith, as a mustard seed. I also knew, that the step from neurotic to psychotic, for me was a choice, and my children were too important to me to take that step. I would cry out in anguish, desiring to take that step into a catatonic state, where I would totally withdraw from reality and the pain my poor choices had brought me. But the God whom I had accepted as a child, was still there, waiting for me to cry out to Him in my helpless state, as Peter called out when his faith failed him. During one of the storms, Jesus was on the mountain watching over the disciples.

Mr 6:48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.

People, we have nothing to fear. Those who don’t accept Jesus as their Savior do, however. And at this time, there is much fear. Fear brings hatred. And we, those who want to serve God are strange, and are both feared and hated. But God is there, watching, who never slumbers nor sleeps, waiting to help us, at the last moment snatching us from the hands of our enemies, as He did for Shadrach, Mechach and Abednego, and Daniel. Even Paul when the snake came out of the fire and bit him. And why do you think that Stephen was able to smile as He was being stoned, even asking God to forgive those who did so. Don’t you know this verse:

Ps 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

Ec 7:1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

Some people have problems and it drives them crazy, others have problems and it drives them to their knees. Which will you be? God doesn’t change, what He did for them, He’ll do for you. Perilous times? Precious time, for it tells us we will soon be going to be with Our Father.

Lu 21:18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

Ac 27:34 Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.

Homework folks. Read Psalms 91. It’s time you began to see what all God has for you. Tempted to fear? Read Psalms 91. Put your trust TOTALLY in God, and these promises will apply to you.

Isa 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

2Ch 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.