Through The Hymnbook

Guest (Male): The happy chimes are ringing, and we welcome you to the organ loft to enjoy a special time of music. This is going to be very, very helpful through the hymnbook. Do you ever have any concerns or fears about the future? Or maybe some decisions that you have to make? Or maybe you have concerns about your children?

Oh, there are just so many things that we can be fearful about these days, and Bert's going to give you some music to help. We are glad to welcome you to the organ loft to enjoy some beautiful music.

Bert Jones: One of the greatest problems of these days is the problem of fear. Fear that is faced by many. Sometimes the fear is very, very real. Sometimes it may well be imagined, but it is fear nevertheless. Fear can be a terrible, terrible thing as it causes defeat in one's spirit and as it causes anxiety as one looks ahead. Fear, fear, fear.

Well, some of the great hymns of the church and the gospel songs that are so meaningful can be helpful in overcoming your fears. Recently, a man said to me, a mature Christian, a man who has served the Lord for many years, he's just about 60 years of age, but he said, "Bert, the greatest problem I have is the problem of fear. The devil tries to defeat me by fears one way or the other. Fears, fears, fears. He brings fears. He couldn't possibly get me to go back into sin, but he can defeat me by my fears."

Well, here's a great hymn to help defeat your fears. "O God, Our Help in Ages Past," and our hope for all the years to come. Based on the 90th Psalm. Know this hymn in your heart and your mind and sing it often, and it will help defeat your fears.

Here's a great song to help in your time of fear. "God Will Take Care of You." Be not dismayed whate'er betide. Just remember God will take care of you. This song was written out of fear. The pastor's wife was ill and the pastor had to go away on an evangelistic crusade. He didn't know whether he should go or not. He was fearful of the thought of leaving his sick wife alone, and she wrote these words for him to allay his fears. God will take care. Across the years, it has been a blessing to so many. Written by a pastor's wife and the pastor then set it to music. May it help someone right now. Don't be dismayed, no matter what betide. God will take care of you. Trust the promise.

Here's a great song to remember often as it says very, very simply in great reality, God is still on the throne. There are times in life, times in the world in which you and I live, when we need to remind ourselves God is still on the throne. In spite of all that has happened, therefore I put my faith and trust in Him, and to do so will cast out our fears.

God is still on the throne. He has never forgotten His own. No burden's too heavy. He'll never leave you alone. His promise is true. He will not forget you. God is still on the throne. If you can't remember the words and you can't remember the music, just remember Singspiration, that little canary singing along with the organ as I played it, that God is on that throne.

Here's a beautiful song that will help in a time of fear. It's called "I Will Pilot Thee." After talking of the pilot, the Lord Jesus, the song then says so beautifully, giving the words of the good pilot, "Fear thou not, for I am with thee. Fear thou not." Sometimes I'm almost shipwrecked, the songwriter says, but then comes the word of the good pilot. "Fear thou not."

"Fear thou not, for I'll be with thee. I will still thy pilot be. Never mind the raging tempest. Take My hand and trust in Me." Of course, if these hymns and gospel songs are to help you and are to help you overcome fear in your life and the fears that the old enemy would bring, some of them actual and real, some of them factual, some of them perhaps imagined sometimes, but if the Lord is to be able to help you through these hymns, then you have to know the hymns and you have to have them in your mind and heart so that they can come spontaneously to mind in an hour of need.

For instance, I hope you know the great hymn "How Firm a Foundation" is placed and found in His excellent word. Then the hymn goes on to give areas of God's word where our fears are overcome by His word. "Fear not, for I am with thee," the scripture says. We need to put it into practice. I wish all of you could memorize every stanza of this hymn.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go, I assure thee they shall not overflow.

Guest (Male): Just pausing to let you know that you are enjoying Through The Hymnbook, some special music in the organ loft. You know, you could be a special blessing as you take time to write. Let us know that the music is of help and inspiration to you. When you're writing, the address is Post Office Box 575, Erie, Pennsylvania, zip code 16512. These hymns that Bert has been playing in this edition of Through The Hymnbook have been of special help, I think, to all of us. Hymns to help overcome fear, and I hope that you sing along, but mostly that they will be of spiritual inspiration to you.

Bert Jones: Well, here's another one based on scripture. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace because his mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee."

Great hymns and gospel songs to help overcome the fears of life. Of course, fears do come to all people. Fear is a very natural reaction to the life which is lived today. Lots of fears, but I'll tell you there's lots of help available through our God. So I hope you know some of these great hymns as they reflect the message of scripture and remind us over and over and over again. Simply trusting as the moments go by. Trusting as the day is, and the hours flee by. I'm simply trusting, and that means I leave my fears with Him. Pretty hard to trust at the same time you're full of fear. If you're trusting, it's pretty hard to be full of fear. Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Another song to help overcome fear. "He Leadeth Me, Oh Blessed Thought." Why should I be fearful when He leadeth all the way?

The great gospel songwriter by the famed Chicago evangelist, Dr. Paul Rader, of another generation, begins with "Fear Not, Little Flock," and then concludes with the chorus saying, "Only believe, only believe. All things are possible if you only believe."

You need some help in the middle of the storms of life. From every stormy wind that blows, there is a calm and a safe and a sure retreat. 'Tis found beneath the blessed mercy seat. Here's help in time of fear.

The mercy seat is a symbol of prayer in the Bible. The place where Earth touches Heaven, where Heaven touches Earth. There's a calm and a safe and a sure retreat found beneath the blessed mercy seat, the place of prayer. Go often to that place of prayer and have your fears cast away.

It's been a joy playing the songs and I hope they've been a help to you. I hope you've found some songs that will help you when the old devil sends fear your way. Until next time, you keep singing.