In his sermon on Psalm 27, Pete Horn addresses the issue of fear in the lives of believers, offering guidance on how to overcome it. He emphasizes four key actions: trusting in the Lord, seeking God in worship, praying earnestly, and waiting patiently for God's timing. Horn illustrates the life of David, who despite experiencing numerous trials and betrayals, placed his trust in God rather than in worldly or familial assurances. The sermon highlights that fear arises when believers doubt God's promises and care, urging listeners to ground their confidence in God's unchanging love and presence. Prayer is portrayed as a means to align with God's will, rather than dictating terms to Him. Ultimately, the sermon encourages believers to focus on God's promises and presence to overcome fears and anxieties.

With Brother Lewis and Pat's daughter and we were talking and she said my daddy preached a good sermon about why the heathen rage. So I, Doug Newell was sitting there with us. I said well how many good sermons does your daddy have? She looked at me and said, that one. Then Doug Newell asked her, well, how long have you been listening to your dad?

She said, 11 years. Well, this sister, I think she's got one more you can add to that list. I really appreciate that message, brother. I just want to say thank you to this church. I have enjoyed myself and been blessed.

I've sat back there and wept. The time of the time. It's a blessing to be here with you all. It's a blessing to be here with our brothers and sisters that we don't see too often. It's good that God's people can meet together and be in a quarry.

We can laugh and we can have a good time. In the world, thanks for a crazy for meeting together for two or three days straight just to hear her preaching and singing and praising and praying. Would you want it any other way as a child God? I don't think we should. It's good to be in the Lord's house.

Psalm 27 and verse 1. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 27 was assigned to me with the subject being the fearful saint, the fearful child of God. One thing that we must remember as God's people is that we are not to be fearful. We are not to be fretful. We are not to be worried. We are commanded.

We are instructed. We are admonished not to allow the world with its trials to cause us to doubt our will. And whether we think about it that way or not, when we are fearful, when we allow ourselves to become fearful and worried, we are doubting the ability of our Lord to care for us as He has promised. Jesus said in the book of Matthew, in Matthew chapter 10 and in verse 29, are not two sparrows sold for a party, and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Fear ye not therefore ye are of more value than many spirits." Jesus said, fear not. Now as we look at Psalm 27 we see that it's written by David and if you study the life of David you'll find that David had many occasions to become fearful. His enemies were many. His own family betrayed him and sought his throne and even sought his lot. A mighty king sought to kill him when he was but a young man with little or no resources of his own.

Yet he writes this song. He writes this song about not being fearful, not to be worried, not to be overcome with our fear. As I look at this Psalm, you can just hold your place here, it will be referred to several times, there's four things that stand out to me as I study for this message. First of all, as we look at this psalm, it speaks of trusting the Lord. Secondly, it says, seek the Lord.

Thirdly, it speaks of prayer. And fourthly, it speaks of waiting. So let's notice this psalm together. First of all it speaks of trusting the Lord. David's psalm is really the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, so we could say it's the Holy Spirit's instruction to us.

So it shows us that Even though David was in the midst of sorrow, in the midst of being attacked, in the midst of persecution, he was not fearful. It says in verse 9 of Psalm 27, hide not thy face far from me, put not thy servant away in anger, thou hast been my help, leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. He cries out to the God of his salvation. We must remember that our trust is not in ourselves. I'm thankful that our salvation is not in ourselves.

Our trust is in the God of our salvation. David said the God of my salvation. Our trust should not be in our wealth. Our trust should not be in our friends or our family. David said in verse 10, when my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.

When his father or mother failed him, his confidence is in the Lord. We don't like to think about these things I want to tell you something it's been my experience sometimes your friends will fail you. Sometimes your family will fail you. Sometimes your family will turn against you. And if your confidence and your trust is in any of these things, you're gonna be overwhelmed.

Your confidence should be in the Lord, the God of my salvation. That's who David tells us to trust in when we are becoming fearful. I'd just like to ask you a question this afternoon. Think about it. What has God promised to His people?

Think about that. I want you to really think about what has God promised to His people? What does God tell us in His Word? We've already read in Matthew where Jesus said that he knows us. He knows our frame, the very hairs of our head, our number.

Do you think God is concerned about you? He knows our very being. He knows our very being. He places great value upon His children. We're called the apple of His eye.

Psalm 17 and verse 7. Psalm 17 and verse 7, Show thy marvelous loving kindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand, them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of the eye. Hide me under the shadow of thy wings." Look back in the book of Deuteronomy in chapter 32. Deuteronomy 32 and verses 9 and 10.

For the Lord's portion is his people. Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. He found him in a desert land and in the waste howling wilderness. He led him about. He instructed him.

He kept him as the apple of his eye. Folks, we are precious in God's sight. We, you and I, sinners though we are, those who trust in Christ, He views us as precious. He loves us with a very special, enduring, unchangeable love. Special, enduring, unchangeable love.

Do we have to read Romans 8? 28? All things? Let's just turn over and read it. Romans chapter 8.

Verse 28, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose, for whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, then he also called, and whom he called, then he also justified, and whom he justified, then he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Time and time and time again, God's Word tells us that we are His.

Time and time again, God's Word tells us that He loves us. It tells us that He is working all things for our good and for His glory. Do we believe God or do we not? Do we doubt His promises to us? When fear begins to creep into our hearts, when we begin to doubt, when we become frightened, STOP!

Stop! Just remember who it is that we are trusting. Remember what he has promised. Remember that he loves you with an everlasting love that will never fade, that will never grow weak, that will never change. I think we've got to do exactly what Psalm 27 tells us to do.

Trust the Lord. Secondly, Let's go back to Psalm 27 and look at verse 4 and verse 8. It says, One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple." Look at verse 8. When thou sayest, Seek ye my face, my heart sent unto thee, thy face Lord will I seek. What does the psalmist tell us in Psalm 27 to do when fear begins to overcome us, when fear begins to creep into our hearts and our lives, it tells us to seek the Lord.

Too many times we are seeking many other things in this world. Don't we? We seek pleasure. We seek worldly acceptance. We seek wealth.

We seek popularity. And I want to tell you, if these things are what you are pursuing after, it will hinder our closeness to the Lord. We become fearful when our minds are drawn away from our God. From our God. David said he would seek the Lord in his house.

At that time I believe he sought the Lord in worship, in the house of the Lord, in the Tavern Apple. And I want to tell you something here, and I know I'm preaching to the choir for a Saturday afternoon to have all of you here, but folks, you need to be in the Lord's house seeking Him in praise. You need to be in the Lord's house seeking Him in worship. You need to be in the Lord's house seeking Him in worship. You need to be in the Lord's house focusing your mind on Him.

Seek Him in His place of worship. And I know that you can worship God anywhere. You can worship God at home. You can worship God at work. You can worship God in other places.

I think we need to listen to what God's word tells us. Here in His house, He receives His glory when his people gather together in his name to worship him. You can't worship God anywhere else like you can in God's house with God's people. I don't understand God's people that don't want to come to the meeting house. I don't understand that!

What are they seeking after? Are they seeking the face of the Lord? I can worship God on the riverbank. I've been told that a few times. Of course, when he's on the riverbank, he's got his fishing pole or his bash boat or whatever.

Ephesians chapter 3, verse 17. Ephesians chapter 3 verse 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that ye being rooted in grounded love may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask for thing according to the power that worketh in us. Now listen, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages world without end.

Amen. Folks, you want to seek God's face, seek Him in the Lord's house. In worship with his people. And I'll tell you something, when we seek him, we will not be as prone to fear or worry. Seek the Lord and find His rest and His peace.

Now go back to Psalm 27. Let's look at verse 7. We see our third thing to do when we feel fear. Verse 7, hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice. Have mercy also upon me and answer me.

You know what a child of God must do when they see that they are becoming fearful? We must pray. We must pray earnestly. Not We must pray earnestly, not for our will to be accomplished, but that His will for us will be accomplished. Will be accomplished.

We should seek the Lord in prayer. In the book of James chapter 5 verse 13, Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Does any married? Let him sing psalms.

Does any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up. And if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another and pray one for another that he may be healed.

The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." Folks, we need to cry out to God in prayer when we become fearful. We need to cry out earnestly to God when we become fearful. We need to pray with the right heart for the right reasons. I know you're thinking, often times I don't get what I want when I pray. James says something about that in chapter 4.

Verse 2, look what he says, Ye lust and have not, ye kill and desire to have and cannot obtain, ye fight and war yet ye have not, because ye ask not, ye ask and receive not, because ye ask to miss, that ye may consume in on your loads." Sometimes I'm afraid that our prayer Life is like a shopping list and we just go down and mark the boxes. Health, wealth, money, whatever. Folks, that's not what it meant when it says to pray earnestly. Pray earnestly. When we are fearful, when we are concerned, we should pray and pray for wisdom.

We should pray for understanding. Too many times we go to God in prayer and we're gonna tell Him what He's gonna do to pour out. Isn't that the height? Isn't that the height of man's will thinking that he can tell God what God should do. I pray that way.

I don't know about you all, I'll tell you. Brother Kyra, it seems to be the day for preachers to stand and confess. I pray, Lord, I want this, I want this, and Lord, I just need for you to do this. You know what? God knows far better than what we do.

And God's ways are far better than our ways. And sometimes all we should do is pray, Lord, Help me to understand what your will is. Prayer does not change God. I tell you this, true prayer, earnestly seeking God in prayer, will change you. You know what?

As you pray, as God works his work in your heart, you will learn to trust more and you will learn to fear less. You will become confident not in yourself but in God who is in control. Are you fearful? Are you worried? Are you anxious?

Child of God, pray. Lastly, look in Psalm 27 and verse 14. Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord." One of the hardest things that we have to learn as a child of God is waiting.

Waiting is not easy. It's not easy for our impatient natures, is it? We tend to want an answer now. Lord, I prayed, I've seen your face. Now give me what I want now.

You may not be so bold as to put it in those terms, but how many times Have we prayed and then nothing happened and oh, it's better wait. How many times have we run ahead of the Lord and paid a price for not waiting? Amen. We're in a difficult situation and I'm like you, we want it to be over with right now. Lord, take care of this right now.

But you know what? I've learned sometimes that's not what's best for us. Sometimes patiently enduring is what the Lord is teaching us. Look in Psalm 37, verse 6, And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the new day. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him.

Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass." What does it say? Rest in the Lord. Wait patiently for him. God is working. His plan according to His design and according to His purpose and His time is not to be questioned by God's people.

We need to remember that our God is never early and He is never late, but He is accomplishing His will according to His plan, according to His time. He knows what's best. And what did Romans say? He's working all things out for our good and His glory. Sometimes as hard as it is, we just need to wait.

We just need to wait. Psalm 27 is really an instruction manual for the fearful saint. God's Word is always the best answer for our problems. Amen. When you are fearful, trust the Lord.

When you are fearful, seek the Lord. When you are fearful, communicate or pray to the Lord. When you are fearful, wait patiently for the Lord. In other words, child of God, you know what we need to do? We need to focus ourselves on that big cure for our fears.