No Fear In This New Year

Pastor James C. Ward

January 4, 2026

Sunday Morning

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.

Introduction

This title may be an insult to the super brave individuals, who are not afraid of “man, beasts, or evil spirits.” For the rest of us, it gives divine assurance as we enter the New Year. This Scripture is unique in at least two ways. It is the first use of more than one hundred phrases that says, “Fear not.” (Some say the Bible has the thought of not being afraid in more than three hundred sixty-five times - that’s at least one for each day of the year.)

Secondly, it was expressed to Abram, who would become the father of the faithful. He was the one who you would think would need it the least. He was not some wimp. Why would God tell this man, “Be not afraid?” He was not a teenager or young adult. He was no “spring chicken.” He was a “mature rooster.” He was between seventy-five and eight-six years old.

The key is “after these things.” What things? What events? What situations? He went to Egypt to find food during a famine, and there in fear of Pharaoh, lied and said his wife was his sister. He and Lot split up because their hired hands disagreed on land usage. He then had to rescue Lot from Sodom. Then, he was drawn into a war with the local kings of the vicinity. He was supposed to be the ancestor of many, but did not yet have a child of his own. God had promised him a homeland, but had not revealed the identity or location of that land. Perhaps, he was second-guessing his decision to leave his family and friends of Ur. From a human standpoint, he had replaced certainty for uncertainty. He had replaced stability with instability. He was afraid. God met Abram at his point of need. God will meet each of us at our points of need. I said “points of need.” That’s plural!

Let’s face it, a lot of folks are afraid. Not just the young folks. I mean grown folks. I mean senior citizens. People are afraid AI may replace them at work, even though they are well educated. Some are afraid their medical insurance may become unaffordable. Some parents are afraid every time their teenage children drive their cars to band practice or football practice. Some senior citizens are afraid their pensions and their financial nest eggs may not be adequate for a comfortable or dignified retirement.

The result of fear is worry. So, we have to step back mentally and spiritually and see what God’s Word has to say about our predicament. Then, we must not beat ourselves up for a momentary weakening of our faith. Just as Abram needed reassurance, so do we.

In a sense, our predicament is similar to Abram’s situation. Many things in our society are uncertain. Sometimes, it seems as if God is moving too slowly. Yet, God has promised us that we can do more than survive – we can thrive! Yes, thrive!

If you will have only one New Year’s resolution, I suggest it should be, “I will not fear in this New Year, and I will trust God totally and give Him total praise.”

Exposition

1. Note The Person Making The Promise.

(A Promise Is Only As Good As The Person Making It.)

(The Promise Is From The Lord.)

2. Note The Protection Of This Promise.

(I Am Thy Shield.)

(A Shield Is Primarily A Defensive Weapon.)

3. Note The Prosperity Resulting From This Promise.

(I Am Thy Exceeding Great Reward.)

(Prosperity Is More Than Material Possessions.)

Closing Thoughts

I will close by quoting 1^st Corinthians 2:9. Some theologians believe it only refers to our eternal life in heaven. I believe it refers to our walk here on earth as well as our rewards in our heavenly home.

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” To put it another way, “God has blessings for each of us that are beyond our wildest dreams.”

As we celebrate Holy Communion on this first Sunday of 2026, let us remember that God loves us, and He is still in the blessing business. He led us through 2025, and He will lead us through 2026 and beyond.

Give God Glory! Give God All The Glory!

Related Scripture

Isaiah 41:10

End Note

The Hebrew phrase which the King James Version translates as “great reward,” loses much of its meaning and impact in the English language. It refers to compensation or a gift that sounds too good to be true, but it is true. It is compensation or payback that you would have never imagined. Today, it would be like a waiter or waitress at a local restaurant receiving a tip from one customer in the amount of ten thousand dollars. That would be an unsuspected pleasant surprise. If that were to happen, I hope the server would survive the joyful heart attack.