VICTORY OVER FEARSpeaker: Dr. Paul Dhinakaran Gist: My presence shall go with you and I will give you rest. You need not struggle, strain or be in great agony. I will come and do everything for you. God went with him and he had a mighty victory. Today is a day of victory in your life. It is going to bring victory throughout your life. Rejoice always. The Scripture says in Proverbs 21:31, "The horse is prepared for the battle but the victory comes from the Lord." The battle is ready before the students even as they are about to face the public exams. It is a battle for life and the students are getting ready. They are studying, preparing, and also gaining confidence. Others also face various challenges in life. Let us thank God for He promises to give us the victory.
Most of you would have seen the picture titled "The Ten Commandments". Moses got the command from God to deliver and lead hundred thousands of people from the hands of Pharaoh. He was one man against the mighty army of the Pharaoh. A big battle faced Moses but he relied on the Lord. He said, "Lord! I just cannot do anything." The Scripture says in Exodus 33:15-16, he cried out to the Lord, "Oh Lord! If you do not come with me, I shall not go" God said, "Moses, do not be afraid. I will surely come with you. I am the Almighty God and I know you by your name. I am pleased with you Moses. My presence shall go with you and I will give you rest." You need not struggle, strain or be in great agony. God will do everything for you. God went with him and he had a mighty victory. The same Lord says, "My child, I will come with you." Fear is terrible, it always torments and kills us. Today fear should disappear from us.
Some time ago, there was a mighty baseball player who was very popular worldwide. One day just before going for a very important international tournament, he received a death threat wherein it was stated, "Don't venture to attend this match, you will be shot if you do so. Therefore refrain from playing this particular match". The reason being, if he batted without any say surely his team would triumph. On the one side, he had had to fulfil the contract while on the other side he stood trembling with the death threat. When the time for batting came, he searched the ground with fear thinking, "Who would shoot me?" Suddenly he saw a person in the crowd. It was his beloved father. His father showed the thumb up as a sign for victory and cheered him up from where he was. He also shouted, "Go ahead son. Your daddy is here" His father, a well-known police official along with his team was patrolling the ground. He said, "Son, I will take over. You go and fight the battle" Great joy filled the player. With this great joy he entered the midfield and played his best and won the game for his team. His father's presence removed all fear inherent in him until then and gave him the greatest victory.
Even today, you have come to see your Heavenly Father. He knows and says, "My dear son/daughter, I know that you have to face your public exams." Fear is tormenting and paralyzing you. You may be saying, "Alas! I am finished. I cannot fight the battle. Fear is tormenting me. Will I pass, score very high marks, get the state rank, which I desire for, have good health and write the exams without making silly mistakes? Will my handwriting be alright, would the examiner understand my handwriting? Will I be able to complete the paper and go through all the questions? Will I be able to cover all the portions? Will the correction be liberal? Will the questions that I study come for the exam? Or will some other questions be asked?" Fear concerning all these things may be lurking in your minds. A similar situation wherein a lot of questions begin to loom in the deep-seated invisible rooms of your heart is true for other challenges in life.
But today, your Father is showing you the thumbs up sign to you. Your heavenly Father says, "I know you by name. You are mine." Today you are becoming the child of God. Dearly beloved, the Lord says I will walk with you when you walk through the waters. As you walk through the fire I will see that you do not get burnt. We may have the waters and the fires before us but the Lord is showing the thumbs up sign. I know you by name and therefore I will lift you up. The waters shall not overflow nor the fires burn you.32
Do not be afraid. Today God is becoming a partner with you in writing the exams. Your parents cannot come to your examination hall but the Lord says, "I will come and help you because I know each one of you by name". He is going to give you victory. Your name shall not be forgotten and you shall not be lost in the crowd. It is because this great God has experienced the pangs of fear. If you read the Scripture in Matthew 26:38, Luke 22:44, he cried out being in the fear of death. Hardly a few moments were left for Him to face the cross. Being a young man, he could not bear the fear of death. He cried out and his sweat came out as blood. The Bible says in Hebrews 2:18, Jesus overcame that fear and rose up from the dead. Yes, death was swallowed up in victory. Today He will help you rise up over the fear and grant you the greatest victory.
Prayer
Loving heavenly Father,
I praise You for alone are the One who overcame the power of death and lives now and forever. Unworthy as I am, I come to Your throne of grace pleading for You to remove all the fear that is tormenting me. Help me to face the challenges in life with boldness and emerge out with a great victory. I seek for Your presence to go before me at all times and to grant me the success without any struggle, strain or agony.
In Jesus' name I pray
Amen |