Genesis 15:1-7

After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

Abrahamic Covenant:

God says 3 things to Abram
Fear Not: - Do not be afraid. Do not be terrified. (This is the fear that is wrong.) God tells us not to be afraid of anything other than Him who can kill the body and soul, which is God.  However, this is a reverence, honor, respect.  
God tells Abram not to be afraid or terrified of Him.

I am your shield:
From גָּנַן (H1598)
a protector; also the scaly hide of the crocodile:--× armed, buckler, defence, ruler, scale, shield.

Your reward will be great:
From שָׂכַר (H7936)
 hire (9x), reward (9x), wages (6x), price (2x), fare (1x), worth (1x).

BUT - here comes the doubt.  Abram doesn't think it could happen because he is childless, so Abram provides God with a solution.  
Say what?

Abrahamic Covenant - God's promise to Abraham.  God is the one fulfilling.
God says, no Abram your very own son will be your in heir...  just look at the stars, you will have as many descendants as the stars!

This time Abram believed.  His faith made Abram righteous in the eyes of God.  

Consistently from Genesis to Revelation God requires FAITH to become righteous before Him.  Believe my friend.  Believe in the promises of God.  He speaks to you through His Word, and the Word will remain forever.

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
Isaiah 40:8

Genesis 15:1

After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:

“Do not be afraid, Abram.

I am your shield,

your very great reward. 

I started this bible study with the whole chapter.  I prayed and I then split it down to half.  I prayed and could hear nothing from the Lord.  All I could think about was the struggles I've had over the last month, recovering from the pacemaker surgery. Feeling helpless was extremely hard. It was a very difficult recovery and I had settled into a deep depression.

So I left the study alone until I could hear God's voice.  

I could sum up the last month right after my pacemaker surgery in one word...

"Scared"

Scared? Me scared to die? Since becoming a Christian I've always been fearless about dying. I have been confident in my destiny, as my eternal life is secure in Christ.  I have always taught my children fear nothing other than your Almighty God. I tell Matt, if you are afraid, then the enemy is trying to keep you from the blessing behind it.  But I was...

scared.

I have felt like I have left my Bible Study group hanging and it broke my heart that you waited so long for the next study. And now I leave you with one verse.  

"Do not be afraid, Abram"

"Do not be afraid, Sarah"

Do not be afraid, _______"

If you are scared right now and it's not fearing God, then I cast it out in Jesus Name.  Fear is from the devil and having authority over him, you can tell him to leave and he has to.

God tells us why we should not fear:

"I am your shield,"

He is your protector, 

your very great reward. 

We are heirs with Christ.  He is our very great reward.

I recognized this fear to be of the enemy because fear does not come from the Lord. Scripture tells us that fear is not from God, so I was able to discern being scared was not from Him.
"for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." - 2 Timothy 1:7

I urge you to stand bold before your awesome God with spirit that is powerful, loving and with self-discipline. Come boldly to the throne of grace. 
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

I was in great need as I was suffering and fearful of death, and I needed God to take it away.  I prayed and prayed and He didn't.  But when my friend Amber stood with me against the schemes of the enemy and she commanded him to leave, he did.  I believe that in this battle, 2 or more had to stand together on God's Word of truth against the devil.  

Thank you friends for being patient with me.  I had a hard recovery, but God is here.  And I'm moving forward well.  Praise His Holy Name!