I.

Introduction:
God told Abram not to be afraid - -
which means he knew Abram
was afraid of something . . . . .
Bible Text: Genesis 15:1

“After this, Abram had a vision and

heard the LORD say to him,
“Do not be afraid, Abram. I will be
your SHIELD from danger and give
you an exceeding great REWARD.”
A New year full of
possibilities and opportunities.
A. Fear Will Spoil the New
Year for Many

1. Fear is common to all, the

first evidence of the Fall
(Genesis 3:10)
2. Fear robs life of adventure
and joy, bringing gloom
instead of gladness.
B. Note the First “Fear Not” in
the Bible

1. It was given to Abram, the

man of faith.(Gen.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.”
2. Fear and faith are
opposites; as faith
increases, fear
decreases.

3. Sometimes, like Abram,

we experience fear
after a great victory.
C. A Promise Was Given to
Abram to Overcome His Fears

(Genesis15:1b)

“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am

your shield from danger,
and I will give you a great
reward.”
II. Body

A. Note the Person Making

This Promise:

1. A promise is only as
good as the person
making it.
2. This promise is from the Lord.

a. He is the One who made

heaven and earth.
(Psalm 121:2)
b. He is the One who cannot lie.
(Titus 1:2)
c. He is the One who can do
anything.
(Jeremiah32:17 & Luke 1:37)
3. We can stand securely on
the promises of God.
a. God’s promises will hold
when troubles comes.

b. Let the promises of God

drive your fears away.
4. Every problem we’ll face
this year is covered by
the promises of God.

5. We can enter this year with

confidence in our unfailing
God.
B. Note the Protection
Accompanying This Promise.

1.“I am thy shield”

2. Moses told Israel they had

been saved by the Lord,
their shield.(Deut. 33:29)
3. David called the Lord
his shield.
a. “Our help and our
shield”
(Psalm 33:20)

b. “The LORD God is

a sun and shield.”
(Psalm 84:11)
4. “The Christian still finds light
and shelter in the Lord his
God, a sun for happy days and a
shield for dangerous ones.”
(Spurgeon)

5. Faith in God shield us from

Satan’s attacks. (Ephesians 6:16)

6. Solomon said God is a shield to

those who trust in Him.
(Proverbs 30:5)
C. Note the Prospects
Resulting from This
Promise:

1. Fear not, Abram: “I

am thy exceeding
great reward.”
2. Abram had refused the
rewards of the king of
Sodom.

a. Abram with 318 servants had

rescued Lot and others from
Chedorlaomer (Genesis14)
b. He could have had
great rewards for
this rescue but
turned them down.

c. Could he now have

been having second
thoughts about this?
3. The Lord would be a
greater reward to him
than anything he could
have receive.

4. Do you see the Lord as your

reward, more valuable than
all earthly gains...?
Challenges of the New
Year 2019:
A. God Meets us Where We
Are, Offering Salvation.
(John 6:37)
B. God’s Promise of Peace Is to
All Who Come to Jesus.

(Matthew 11:28-30)
C. God’s Protection Is Given
to Those Who Belong to
Him. (Isaiah 41:10)

“Fear not; for I am with you:

be not dismayed, for I am your
God: I will strengthen you, I
will help you, yes, I will uphold
you with the right hand of my
righteousness.”
D. The Lord Himself Is the
Reward of Those Who
Believe.
(Genesis 15:1)
But How We are Going To
To Obtain This Promises?

According To Apostle Paul….

Philippians 3:12-14
 Philippians 3:12-14

v.12, “Not that I have already

attained, or already perfected;
but I press on, that I may lay
hold of that for which Christ
Jesus has also laid hold of me.
V.13,Brethren, I do not count
myself to have apprehended;
but one thing I do, forgetting
those things which are
behind and reaching forward
to those things which are
ahead, . . . .
v.14, I press toward the
goal for the prize of the
upward call of God in
Christ Jesus.”
1. Paul said that his
goal was:
a. To know Christ.
b. To be like Christ.
c. To be all Christ
had in mind for
him.
2. He devoted all his energies
to accomplishing that ….
…An so should we.
Three great challenges goal
for the New year:

1. Be a disciple of Jesus.
(John 12:21& Acts 4:13)
&(Romans 10:9,10)
2. Be a peacemaker for
Jesus.
(Matthew 5:9,Ephesian 4:1-3)
3. Be a servant of
Jesus.
(Luke 17:7-10)
3. Be a servant of
Jesus.
(Luke 17:7)
“And which of you, having a
servant plowing or tending sheep,
will he say to him when he has
come in from the field, ‘Come
at once and sit down eat’?
v.8 But we will he not rather say
to him, ‘Prepare something for
my supper, and gird yourself and
serve me till I have eaten and
drunk, and afterward you will
eat and drink’?
v.9 Does he thank that servant
because he did the things that
were commanded him? I think not.
v.10 So likewise you, when you
have done all those things which
you are commanded, say, ‘We are
unprofitable servants. We have
done what was our duty to do.’”
 Question:
1. Do you sometimes feel that
you deserve extra credit for
serving God?
2.Obedience is not something
“extra” we do It is our duty.
3. Faithfulness is not something
“extra” we do . . . It is our
duty.
What not to expect as a
servant . . . Not goals for
the servant.

1. Popularity
2. Power
3. Respect
4. Ego
5. Thanks
What to expect as a
servant.

1. An opportunity to develop
Christ-likeness.

2. An opportunity to leave
a godly heritage for
one’s family.
What to expect as a
servant.

3. An opportunity for a
great reward in Heaven.

4. An opportunity to save souls

and help in the spiritual
development of others.
What to expect as a
servant.

5. An opportunity to
please God as never
before.
CONCLUSION :
A. Brethren, you are . . .
Challenged you to,

1. Be a disciple of Jesus.
2. Be a peacemaker.
3. Be a servant.
B. If we will step up and
meet these challenges in
this New Year of 2019. . .

1. God Meets us Where

Are ; Offering Salvation
(John 6:37)
2. God’s Promise of Peace Is to
All Who Come to Jesus.
(Mat.11:28-30) 28“Come to me, all
of you who are tired from carrying
heavy loads, and I will give
you rest. 29 Take my yoke and put
it on you, and learn from me,
because I am gentle and humble in
spirit; and you will find rest.30 For
the yoke I will give you is easy, and
the load I will put on you is light.”
3. God’s Protection Is given
to Those Who Belong to
Him.
(Isaiah 41:10)
“Fear not; for I am with you:
be not dismayed; For I am your
God: I will strengthen you; yes,
I will help you; I will uphold
you with my righteousness.”
4. The Lord Himself Is The
Reward Of Those Who
Believe.(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.”
After these things the Word
of the LORD came unto
me in a vision saying,
“Fear not, _____(your name)
I Am thy shield; and thy
exceeding great reward.”
 After these things the Word of the
LORD came unto me in a vision
saying, “Fear not,_____(your name)
I Am thy shield; and thy
exceeding great reward.”
(Genesis 15:1)
“Human niini, nakakita ako ug pan-
awon ug nadungog ko ang GINOO nga
miingon kanako, Anak ako ang imong
imong panalipod. Hatagan ko Ikaw ug
dako nga ganti.”
The Lord Jesus is our great
reward, because we believe in
Him, and we believe that He is
our help, our shield. Whatever
comes our way still we will “not
fear” because , we finds light and
shelter in the Lord our God,……..
…. A sun for happy days and a
“shield” for dangerous time.
 To
God
Be All The
Glory!