Fear Not
Includes courage, trusting, peace, and fearing God
1. GOD TELLS US NOT TO FEAR:
Isaiah 7:4 Be quiet, fear not, neither be fainthearted
A. God is with us; therefore we should not fear:
Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid … for the Lord is with thee
Psalm 118:6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do
Isaiah 12:2 God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid
Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee … I will help thee
Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock
(See also Numbers 14:9; Psalm 78:53; Matthew 17:6–7.)
B. God is greater than any adversary, and He will keep us:
Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light … whom shall I fear?
Proverbs 3:25–26 Be not afraid of sudden fear … Lord shall keep [thee]
Luke 10:19 I give you power … over all the power of the enemy
1 John 4:4 Greater is he that is in you, than he … in the world
C. Don’t fear people:
Jeremiah 1:8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee
Ezekiel 3:9 Fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks
D. God promises peace:
Job 22:21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace
Psalm 29:11 The Lord will bless his people with peace
Proverbs 3:24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee
John 14:27 My peace I give unto you … let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid
John 16:33 In me ye [can] have peace … I have overcome the world
Galatians 5:22 The fruit of the Spirit is … peace
Philippians 4:7 The peace of God … shall keep your hearts and minds
2. TRUSTING IN GOD OVERCOMES FEAR:
A. When we trust God, we don’t need to fear anything:
2 Kings 6:14–17 Fear not: for they [God’s angelic army] that be with us are more than they that be with them
2 Kings 19:6–7 Be not ye afraid of the words which thou hast heard
Nehemiah 4:14 Be not afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight
Psalm 3:6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about
Psalm 27:1,3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me
Psalm 46:1–2 God is our refuge … Therefore will not we fear, though the mountains be carried into the … sea
Isaiah 43:1–3 Fear not … when thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee
Hebrews 13:6 We may boldly say, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me”
Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer … be faithful unto death, and I will give thee crown of life
B. Examples of courage and fearlessness in danger:
Joshua 14:12–14 [Caleb fearlessly conquered the giant Anakim] (See also
Numbers 13:28,33; Deuteronomy 9:1–2; Joshua 15:13–15.)
Nehemiah 6:5–11 [Nehemiah refused to be bluffed into fearing, or fleeing into the temple in fright]
Daniel 3:14–17 [Three Hebrews fearlessly refused to worship the idol]
Daniel 6:4–10 [Knowing it could cost him his life, Daniel refused to compromise his faith in God]
John 19:9–11 [Jesus refused to fear Pilate’s power]
Philippians 1:14 Many brethren, waxing confident [because of] my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear
Hebrews 11:27 [Moses] forsook Egypt, not fearing wrath of the king
(See also Ezra 8:21–23,31; Acts 4:17–18,29,33; 7:54–60.)
C. Examples of men who refused to fear, though all others did:
1 Samuel 14:1–14 [Jonathan and armourbearer attacked Philistine garrison, while everyone else was terrified] (See also 1 Samuel 13:5–7.)
1 Samuel 17:4–11, 23–37,48 [All the armies of Israel were “sore afraid” of Goliath, but
David boldly attacked him]
2 Samuel 23:8–22 [David’s mighty men stood their ground and defeated their enemies despite overwhelming odds]
3. SOME CAUSES OF FEAR:
A. A lack of faith and trust in God and His Word:
Isaiah 51:12–13 Who art thou, that thou [art] afraid of a man … and forgettest the Lord thy maker?
Matthew 8:26 Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?
Mark 4:40 Why are ye so fearful? How is it ye have no faith?
B. Looking at circumstances and conditions:
Joshua 17:14–18 [Israelites fearful to attack the Canaanites because the Canaanites had powerful chariots of iron]
Psalm 107:23–27 [Storm at sea] Their soul is melted … at wit’s end
Matthew 14:30 [Peter, walking on the sea] saw the wind boisterous … was afraid; and [began] to sink
Mark 4:37–40 [Storm on Sea of Galilee throws disciples into fear]
2 Corinthians 7:5 We were troubled on every side … within were fears
(See also Isaiah 7:1–2.)
C. Disregarding God’s Word:
Leviticus 26:15,17 If ye despise my statutes … ye shall flee when none pursueth
Deuteronomy 28:58, 65–67 If thou wilt not observe … the Lord shall give thee a trembling heart … and thou shalt fear day and night
Jeremiah 6:19,22–25 I will bring evil … because they have not hearkened unto my words … fear is on every side
D. Unrepented sin:
2 Chronicles 29:6,8 Our fathers have trespassed … wherefore he hath delivered them to trouble
Job 18:5,11 Terrors shall make [the wicked] afraid on every side
Isaiah 48:22 There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked
E. Evil spirits:
1 Samuel 15:23; 16:14–15 Thou [Saul] hast rejected the word of the Lord … an evil spirit from the Lord troubled [terrified] him
4. WHAT FEAR CAN RESULT IN:
A. It can bind:
Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare
Hebrews 2:15 Who through fear of death were … subject to bondage
B. It can cause weakness:
Job 4:14 Fear came upon me, and trembling … all my bones shake
Isaiah 13:8 They shall be afraid: pangs … shall take hold of them
Jeremiah 6:24–25 Our hands wax feeble … fear is on every side
C. It can sap your will to fight:
Leviticus 26:36–37 Ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies
Joshua 2:11 As soon as we heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage
Joshua 5:1 Their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more (See also 1 Samuel 13:6–7.)
D. It hinders us from witnessing or standing up for our convictions:
Matthew 26:56 Then all the disciples forsook [Jesus], and fled
Matthew 26:69–74 [Peter, fearful, denied that he knew Jesus] (See also Mark 14:66–72; Luke 22:54–60; John 18:16–17,25–27.)
John 7:13 No man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews
John 9:22 These [evasive] words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews
John 12:42–43 Many believed on him; but did not confess him … for they loved the praise of men more than praise of God
John 19:12–16 [Pilate, fearing the Jews, gave in to their demands to have Jesus crucified]
John 19:38 Joseph … a disciple, but secretly for fear of the Jews
E. It can cause us to disobey God:
Numbers 13:28,31–33 [Israelites refused to invade Canaan for fear of the giants] (See also Numbers 14:1–5; Deuteronomy 1:26–28.)
1 Samuel 15:24 I have sinned … transgressed the commandment of the Lord … because I feared the people
F. It can cause mental torment and anguish:
1 John 4:18 Fear hath torment
G. Fear can even cause sickness and death:
Luke 21:26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear
(See also 1 Samuel 14:15–16; 28:5.)
H. If not checked, fear can get a grip on you:
Psalm 48:6 Fear took hold of them, and pain, as a woman in travail
Psalm 55:5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, horror hath overwhelmed me
Jeremiah 6:22–25 Anguish hath taken hold of us … fear is on every side
I. Unchecked fear can become extreme:
Leviticus 26:17,36 Ye shall flee when none pursueth … sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them
Deuteronomy 28:66–67 Thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life
Job 18:11,14 Terrors shall make him afraid on every side … shall bring him to the king of terrors
Psalm 53:5 There were they in great fear, where no fear was
Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth
J. Fears can materialise and become real things:
Job 3:25 The thing which I greatly feared is come upon me
Proverbs 10:24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him
Isaiah 66:4 I will choose their delusions … bring their fears upon them
K. Fear is contagious and can affect others:
Deuteronomy 20:8 What man is fearful? Let him go … lest his brethren’s heart faint as well as his heart
Judges 7:3 Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him … depart
(See also Judges 7:19–22; 1 Samuel 14:12–16.)
5. HOW TO HAVE PEACE AND FREEDOM FROM FEAR:
A. Trust in God:
Psalm 23:4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me
Psalm 31:13–14 Fear was on every side … but I trusted in thee
Psalm 56:3–4 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. I will not fear what flesh can do unto me
Psalm 91:2,5 The Lord is my refuge … [I shall] not be afraid for the terror by night
Psalm 112:7–8 He shall not be afraid … heart [trusts] in the Lord
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee
Matthew 10:28 Fear not them which kill the body … but fear [God]
John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled … believe in me
Philippians 4:7 The peace of God … shall keep your hearts and minds
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; love casteth out fear
B. Trust in God’s Word:
Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them
Proverbs 1:33 Whoso hearkeneth unto me … shall be quiet from fear
Proverbs 3:1–2 Let thine heart keep my commandments … peace shall they add to thee
Isaiah 48:18 O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! Then had thy peace been as a river
C. Remember that God is with you and will not fail you:
Deuteronomy 1:29–30 Dread not, neither be afraid of them … God goeth before you, he shall fight for you
Deuteronomy 20:3–4 Let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified … for God goeth with you
Deuteronomy 31:6 Fear not, nor be afraid … God … will not fail thee
Zechariah 8:13 Fear not, but let your hands be strong
Mark 5:36 Be not afraid, only believe
D. When others with you are afraid:
Isaiah 8:12 Neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid
Isaiah 35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, fear not: behold, God … will come and save you”
E. Seek God for deliverance from fear:
Psalm 34:4 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears
Psalm 64:1 O God … preserve my life from fear of the enemy
F. Forsake your sins:
Job 11:13–15 [Pray to God and] put [iniquity] far away … Then shalt thou … be steadfast, and shalt not fear
G. Rebuke the Devil and the spirit of fear:
James 4:7 Resist the devil, and he will flee from you
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; perfect love casteth out fear
H. The solution—the Holy Spirit and faith:
Acts 4:29,31 Behold their threatenings … grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word
Hebrews 11:33–34 Who through faith … waxed valiant in fight
6. THE FEAR OF GOD:
(The “Fear of God” is a feeling of reverence, awe, and respect, not the unpleasant emotion of terror or dread.)
A. The Bible tells us to fear God:
Joshua 24:14 Fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth
Psalm 19:9 The fear of the Lord is clean (Compare with Proverbs 29:25.)
Proverbs 3:7 Fear the Lord, and depart from evil
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man
Isaiah 8:12–13 Neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid … Let him [God] be your fear
Luke 12:4–5 Be not afraid of [men] … I will warn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him [God] … yea, I say, Fear him
Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of … God
(See also Matthew 10:28.)
B. God blesses those who fear Him:
Psalm 25:12 He that feareth the Lord … shall he teach in the way
Psalm 31:19 How great is thy goodness … for them that fear thee
Psalm 34:9 There is no want [lack] to them that fear him
Psalm 103:13 The Lord [has compassion on] them that fear him
Psalm 147:11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence
Malachi 4:2 Unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings
Acts 10:35 He that feareth him … is accepted with him
Revelation 11:18 Reward thy servants, and them that fear thy name