Sermon Tone Analysis

*THE SHIELD OF FAITH*

*Genesis 15*

 

*Thomas** S. Myers*

 

Two explorers were on a jungle safari when suddenly a ferocious lion jumped in front of them.

"Keep calm" the first explorer whispered.

"Remember what we read in that book on wild animals?

If you stand perfectly still and look the lion in the eye, he will turn and run."

"Sure," replied his companion.

"You've read the book, and I've read the book.

But has the lion read the book?"

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University reported that 30 years ago, the greatest fears of grade school children were: 1) Animals, 2) Being in a dark room, 3) High places, 4) Strangers, 5) Loud noises.

Today, kids are afraid of the following: 1) Divorce, 2) Nuclear war, 3) Cancer, 4) Pollution, 5) Being mugged.

It is said that the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin so feared for his safety that his residence in Moscow contained eight bedrooms.

Each night Stalin chose a bedroom at random to ensure that no one knew exactly where he was sleeping.

Louis Pasteur is reported to have had such an irrational fear of dirt and infection he refused to shake hands.

President and Mrs. Benjamin Harrison were so intimidated by the newfangled electricity installed in the White House they didn't dare touch the switches.

If there were no servants around to turn off the lights when the Harrisons went to bed, they slept with them on.

During his years as premier of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev denounced many of the policies and atrocities of Joseph Stalin.

Once, as he censured Stalin in a public meeting, Khrushchev was interrupted by a shout from a heckler in the audience.

"You were one of Stalin's colleagues.

Why didn't you stop him?"

"Who said that?" roared Khrushchev.

An agonizing silence followed as nobody in the room dared move a muscle.

Then Khrushchev replied quietly, "Now you know why."

What are you fearing?

What will happen if the divorce does go through?

Fear of loss of employment?

Fear of losing you're reputation?

Fear of losing your home?

Fear of the dark?

Fear of not being able to pay your bills?

Fear of leaving your home?

Fear of the unknown?

Fear of speaking in public?

Fear of dying?

Fear of meeting new people?

Fear of being turned down.

Fear of failure.

Fear:  is overestimating the strength of Satan.

Everyone at several points in their life goes through fears.

If you are struggling with fear, you are not alone.

The Bible says:

 

*1** Corinthians 10:13*

*13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

NASV*

*                *

            Everyone goes through fears.

Even the great hero of faith went through several different periods of fear.

Look at Genesis 15:1 and notice that Abraham battled fear.

*Genesis 15:1*

*After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I /am/ thy shield, /and/ thy exceeding great reward.

NASV*

 

            Now what could possible shake Abraham?

What cold make Abraham legs buckle with fear?

Did you notice the phrase in verse 1, *"**AFTER THESE THINGS...?"  *What things?

Well the things that happened in chapter 14.

What happened was this.

Four powerful kings had swarmed down to the Dead Sea area and had defeated every village, town and city.

And Abraham had heard that his nephew Lot was taken captive.

So Abraham with his small army of 318 men, gave the 4 kings a surprise attack and defeated them.

I think that Abraham is now afraid that the 4 kings will regroup and make an all out frontal attack against him.

And now he is living in fear.

And this is God's giant of faith.

If you were to turn to the book of Hebrews you will find chapter 11 and in chapter 11 are God's hero's of faith.

Abraham is a hero of faith.

Something transformed Abraham's life.

Something made Abraham stand on a firm foundation.

Abraham got a hold of something that transformed his life.

And I want to share that with you.

*FIRST -- GOD IS YOUR SHIELD OF PROTECTION.*

Look again at Genesis 15:1

 

*Genesis 15:1*

*After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I /am/ thy shield... NASV*

 

            The Hebrew word *"SHIELD" *is Megan.

This is not the normal shield that you hold.

It refers to a shield that is used to defend, cover, or surround.

That's the kind of shield that I need.

I don't want a shield that I have to hold.

I want a shield that God holds and covers and surrounds me.

When I was in boot camp, the military taught us how to shoot a rifle.

But you don't just shoot a rifle.

I found out you have to carry a rifle.

After carrying a rifle around you find out that it begins to feel heavy.

After a while that rifle gets to be so heavy that you want to throw it way.

But not God's shield.

God is carrying the shield.

God has a shield that surrounds you.

Let me tell you how God's shield works.

When you have a fear, don't focus on the fear.

Focus on God.

Imagine seeing God's invisible shield surrounding you.

Let me illustrate it.

In the city of Portland, there was a lady who was afflicted by what is called agrafofera.

What that means is that she was afraid to go outside her house.

I mean she was afraid to get her mail.

She was afraid to walk down the side walk.

She was afraid to go to McDonalds.

She had a fear of walking in her own back yard.

Do you know why?

She was afraid that something terrible was going to happen.

Someone shared with her Genesis 15:1