1. W E L C O M E T O T H E
J A C K S O N S T R E E T C H U R C H O F C H R I S T
P L E A S E T U R N O F F C E L L P H O N E S

2. Isaiah 41:8-10 "But you, Israel, are My
servant, Jacob whom I have chosen,
The descendants of Abraham My friend.
(9) You whom I have taken from the
ends of the earth, And called from its
farthest regions, And said to you, 'You
are My servant, I have chosen you and
have not cast you away: (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
righteous right hand.'

3. TO BE OR NOT TO BE?

4. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE…
A. To be or not to be? Hamlet contemplating
suicide.
B. Life is filled with choices.
C. Our choices in life determine our happiness or
lack thereof.
D. This is a powerful verse given to Isaiah during
a time of trouble for the nation of Israel.
E. The same promises are ours today to through
our New Covenant.
F. There are five things that “you don’t have to
be” that we see in this verse and let’s anchor
these things in our New Covenant relationship
with God through Jesus Christ.

5. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE…

6. I. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE AFRAID
A. Why? Because you are not alone.
B. 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 righteous right hand.’
C. Over 80+ times in the Bible, the Lord tells us
not to be afraid.
D. Fear is one of the chief weapons of the enemy
and causes us torment.
E. FEAR: False Evidence Appearing Real
F. Faith in God’s presence with us is the antidote
to the fear the enemy releases against us.

7. I. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE AFRAID
G. 1 John 4:17-18 Love has been perfected
among us in this: that we may have boldness
in the day of judgment; because as He is, so
are we in this world. (18) There is no fear in
love; but perfect love casts out fear, because
fear involves torment. But he who fears has
not been made perfect in love.
H. Hebrews 13:5-6 Let your conduct be without
covetousness; be content with such things as
you have. For He Himself has said, "I will
never leave you nor forsake you." (6) So we
may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will
not fear. What can man do to me?"

8. II. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE DISMAYED
A.Why? Because THE God is YOUR God
B.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 righteous right hand.’
C.Here is what the Free Online Dictionary
gives as the definition of dismay. This will
help us more fully understand what it looks
like when it shows up:
D.Dismay - To destroy the courage or
resolution of by exciting dread or
apprehension.

9. II. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE DISMAYED
E. Dismay is always a companion of fear.
1. Your courage is targeted, so there is great
discouragement that comes.
2. Your inspiration and excitement for life is
drained.
3. You find yourself living life in alarm mode, so
your peace is targeted and upset.
F. Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these
things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
G. 1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and
have overcome them, because He who is in you is
greater than he who is in the world.

10. III. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE WEAK
A. Why? Because YOUR all powerful God said He
would strengthen you.
B. 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
righteous right hand.’
C. Remember the strength you have in Christ when
you are overcome with tiredness and depletion.
D. You have a source of unending strength in your
position in Christ.
E. Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in
the Lord and in the power of His might.
F. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ
who strengthens me.

11. IV. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE HELPLESS
A. Why? Because YOUR all powerful and ever present
God said He would help you.
B. 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
righteous right hand.’
C. God has promised to help us in time of need.
D. Christians should never feel helpless.
E. Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the
throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find
grace to help in time of need.
F. Hebrews 13:5-6 (5) Let your conduct be without
covetousness; be content with such things as you
have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you
nor forsake you." (6) So we may boldly say: "The
LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to
me?"

12. V. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE DOWN
A.Why? Because YOUR all powerful and ever
present God said He would hold you up
with His righteous right hand.
B.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 righteous right hand.’
C.The right hand is the hand of power and
authority.
D.There is the old television commercial of
the dear lady who has fallen and she is
saying, “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!”

13. V. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE DOWN
E. The child of God never has to say that. You
may stumble momentarily and began to fall
down but your Father is there to uphold you
by His right hand.
F. Jude 1:24 Now to Him who is able to keep
you from stumbling, And to present you
faultless Before the presence of His glory
with exceeding joy,
G.James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight
of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

14. CONCLUSION
A. The next time you are feeling afraid.
B. The next time you are feeling dismayed or
discouraged,
C. The next time you are feeling weak or helpless
D. The next time you are feeling low and downtrodden,
E. Remember this verse: Isa 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 righteous right hand.'
F. And remember that we even have better promises
resting on a better covenant. - Hebrews 8:6 But now
He has obtained a more excellent ministry,
inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better
covenant, which was established on better
promises.

15. WE SHOULD NOT BE…
A. Afraid But Fearless
B. Dismayed But Courageous
C. Weak But Strong
D. Down But Confident
E. The Choice Is Ours
F. Our Happiness Is Determined By Our
Choices.

17. HAVE A COURAGEOUS WEEK