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TRUSTING GOD IN TIMES OF FEAR

Text: Psalm 56
4 March 2007

(I) CAUSES OF FEAR

1. External – Fact of Enemies

a) Constant oppression

“…Fighting all day he oppresses me. My enemies would hound me all day…” Psalm 56:1-2

b) Many

“…For there are many who fight against me, O Most High.” Psalm 56:2

2. Internal – the mind

“All day they twist my words; All their thoughts are against me for evil. They gather together, They hide, they mark my steps, When they lie in wait for my life. Shall they escape by iniquity?…” Psalm 56:5-7

a) Thinking constantly about acts of evil

i) Twisting of words

ii) Gathering people together

iii) Looking for our downfall

b) Fear of them escaping with sin

(II) MEANS TO FIGHTING FEAR – TRUSTING GOD

1. By determining to trust in God

“Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.” Psalm 56:3

2. By developing trust in God

a) Through dwelling on His word

“In God (I will praise His word)…” Psalm 56:4

“In God (I will praise His word),

In the Lord (I will praise His word)” Psalm 56:10

b) Through a deeper knowledge of Him

i) God knows us what we go through

“You number my wanderings; Put my tears into your bottle; Are they not in your book?” Psalm 56:8

ii) God hears our prayer

“When I cry out to You, Then my enemies will turn back…” Psalm 56:9

iii) Knowing God is for us

“…This I know, because God is for me.” Psalm 56:9

3. By dispelling fear with depth of trust in God

“…In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?” Psalm 56:4
“In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Psalm 56:11

(III) THE RESULT OF TRUSTING GOD – PRAISING GOD

1. Praising God and His word

“In God (I will praise His word),
In the Lord (I will praise His word)” Psalm 56:10

2. Praising God for the fact of being there for us

“…O God; I will render praises to You, For You have delivered my soul from death. Have You not kept my feet from falling, That I may walk before God In the light of the living?” Psalm 56:12-13