Thou Shalt Not Be Afraid for the Terror by Night
Believers should not be afraid because God is always present and in control, and we are saved from fear through rich mercy.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes that believers need not fear the various terrors that may arise during the night, such as sickness, death, or other anxieties, because God is always present as a protective and watchful guardian. He reassures that nothing happens outside of God's control, and while the world may be filled with fear, those who trust in Jesus are shielded by His mercy and love. Spurgeon warns against allowing fear to undermine faith, as it can lead to dishonoring one's profession of faith and causing doubt in others. He encourages believers to reject baseless fears and to remember that God's grace and compassion are ever-present, even in the darkest times. Ultimately, he reminds us that children of light can walk through darkness without being forsaken, as they are called to trust in their heavenly Father.
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What is this terror? It may be the cry of fire, or the noise of thieves, or fancied appearances, or the shriek of sudden sickness or death. We live in the world of death and sorrow, we may therefore look for ills as well in the night-watches as beneath the glare of he broiling sun. Nor should this alarm us, for be the terror what it may, the promise is that the believer shall not be afraid. Why should he? Let us put it more closely, why should we? God our Father is here, and will be here all through the lonely hours; He is an almighty Watcher, a sleepless Guardian, a faithful Friend. Nothing can happen without His direction, for even hell itself is under His control. Darkness is not dark to Him.
He has promised to be a wall of fire around His people--and who can break through such a barrier? Worldlings may well be afraid, for they have an angry God above them, a guilty conscience within them, and a yawning hell beneath them; but we who rest in Jesus are saved from all these through rich mercy. If we give way to foolish fear we shall dishonour our profession, and lead others to doubt the reality of godliness. We ought to be afraid of being afraid, lest we should vex the Holy Spirit by foolish distrust. Down, then, ye dismal forebodings and groundless apprehensions, God has not forgotten to be gracious, nor shut up His tender mercies, it may be night in the soul, but there need be no terror, for the God of love changes not.
Children of light may walk in darkness, but they are not therefore cast away, nay, they are now enabled to prove their adoption by trusting in their heavenly Father as hypocrites cannot do.
"Though the night be dark and dreary, Darkness cannot hide from Thee; Thou art He, who, never weary, Watchest where Thy people be."
Sermon Outline
- The Nature of Fear
- The Promise of God
- The Security of Believers
- The Dangers of Fear
- Dishonoring our profession
- Vexing the Holy Spirit
Key Quotes
“God our Father is here, and will be here all through the lonely hours; He is an almighty Watcher, a sleepless Guardian, a faithful Friend.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Nothing can happen without His direction, for even hell itself is under His control.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Though the night be dark and dreary, Darkness cannot hide from Thee; Thou art He, who, never weary, Watchest where Thy people be.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- We should trust in God's presence and guidance, even in the darkest of times.
- Giving in to fear dishonors our profession and may vex the Holy Spirit.
- We can prove our adoption as children of God by trusting in our heavenly Father, even in darkness.