Overcoming Anxiety and Fear By Special Mother in Israel E. Sopein

 Texts: Psalm 23:1–6; Philippians 4:4–7

1. Introduction

• Fear and anxiety surround us in our towns and across the nation.

• The only one who can truly deliver us from fear and anxiety is Jesus Christ.

• Psalm 23:1 — “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.”

• The question is: have we surrendered our lives to Him as our Shepherd?

2. Jesus as the True Shepherd

• No other shepherd can lead us safely except Jesus.

• As our Shepherd, He does not want us to live in fear or anxiety.

• He loves us deeply — but do we love Him, or do we love ourselves more?

• Jeremiah 29:11 — “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you… thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

• God keeps His promises, but we must remain under His authority.

3. The Right Fear

• Our fear must be directed only toward God, not toward men.

• Proverbs 29:25 — “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.”

• Reverence for God removes the grip of worldly fear and anxiety.

4. Steps to Overcome Fear and Anxiety

1. Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior

   • John 14:6 — “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

2. Do the Will of God - Psalm 32:8 shows He will guide us.

   • Psalm 32:8 — “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.”

3. Run Away from Sin - sin separates us from the Shepherd.

   • Isaiah 59:2 — “Your iniquities have separated you from your God.”

4. Have Faith in God - Job held on to faith until the end

   • Job 13:15 — “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”

   • Reading and meditating on Scripture strengthens our faith (Romans 10:17).

5. Be Prayerful - we cannot overcome by ourselves; prayer connects us to God’s help

   • 1 Thessalonians 5:17 — “Pray without ceasing.”

   • Prayer connects us to God’s help in times of fear.

6. Read and Believe the Word - let Scripture guide your thoughts.

   • Joshua 1:8 — “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth… then you will make your way prosperous.”

7. Praise God in All Things - like Paul and Silas, praise brings breakthrough even in trials.

   • Acts 16:25–26 — Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns, and God opened prison doors.

5. Encouragement

• God does not want us to live in anxiety and fear.

• He knows the beginning and the end; our role is to keep faith in Him.

• Philippians 4:4–7 — “Rejoice in the Lord always… be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

• Philippians 4:8 — calls us to focus on what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy.

6. Conclusion

• Christ is our Shepherd, always available to take away our fears and anxieties.

• Let us love Him, trust Him, and focus only on Him.

• Remember: Christ is the only Friend who can truly remove fear and anxiety from our lives.

Happy Sunday