Includes courage, trusting, peace & fearing God

1. THE LORD TELLS YOU NOT TO FEAR:

Isa.7:4 – Be quiet, fear not, neither be fainthearted

A. God is with you; therefore you should not fear:

Josh.1:9 – Have not I commanded thee? Be strong & of a good courage; be not afraid…for the Lord is with thee
Psa.118:6 – The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do
Isa.12:2 – God is my salvation; I will trust, & not be afraid
Isa.41:10 – Fear thou not; for I am with thee…I will help thee
Lk.12:32 – Fear not, little flock
(See also Num.14:9; Psa.78:53; Mat.17:6,7.)

B. God is greater than your adversaries, & He will keep you:

1Jn.4:4 – Greater is He that is in you, than he…in the world
Lk.10:19 – I give you power…over all the power of the enemy
Psa.27:1 – The Lord is my light…whom shall I fear?
Pro.3:25,26 – Be not afraid of sudden fear…Lord shall keep [thee]

C. Don’t fear people’s faces or looks:

Jer.1:8 – Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee
Ezk.3:9 – Fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks

D. The Lord promises you peace:

Job 22:21 – Acquaint now thyself with Him, & be at peace
Psa.29:11 – The Lord will bless His people with peace
Pro.3:24 – When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid
Isa.26:3 – Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee
Jn.14:27 – My peace I give unto you…let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid
Jn.16:33 – In Me ye [can] have peace…I have overcome the world
Gal.5:22 – The fruit of the Spirit is…peace
Phi.4:7 – The peace of God…shall keep your hearts & minds

2. TRUSTING IN GOD OVERCOMES FEAR:

A. When you trust God, you don’t need to fear anything:

2Ki.6:14-17 – Fear not: for they (God’s angelic army) that be with us are more than they that be with them
2Ki.19:6,7 – Be not ye afraid of the words which thou hast heard
Neh.4:14 – Be not afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great & terrible, & fight
Psa.3:6 – I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about
Psa.27:1,3 – Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me
Psa.46:1,2 – God is our refuge…Therefore will not we fear, though the mountains be carried into the…sea
Isa.43:1-3a – Fear not…when thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee
Heb.13:6 – We may boldly say, “The Lord is my helper, & I will not fear what man shall do unto me”
Rev.2:10 – Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer…be faithful unto death, & I will give thee crown of life

B. Examples of courage & fearlessness in danger:

Josh.14:12-14 – [Caleb fearlessly conquered the giant Anakims See also Josh.15:13-15; Num.13:28,33; Deut.9:1,2.]
Neh.6:5-11 – [Nehemiah refused to be bluffed into fearing, or into fleeing into the temple in fright]
Dan.3:14-17 – [Three Hebrews fearlessly refused to worship the idol]
Dan.6:4-10 – [Knowing it could cost him his life, Daniel refused to compromise his faith in God]
Jn.19:9-11 – [Jesus refused to be put in fear of Pilate's power]
Phi.1:14 – Many brethren, waxing confident (because of) my bonds, are much more bold to speak the Word without fear
Heb.11:27 – (Moses) forsook Egypt, not fearing wrath of the king
(See also Ezr.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:

1Sam.14:1-14 – [Jonathan & armourbearer attacked Philistine garrison, while everyone else was terrified 1Sam.13:5-7]
1Sam.17:4-11,23-37,48 – [All the armies of Israel were "sore afraid" of Goliath, but David boldly attacked him]
2Sam.23:8-22 – [David's mighty men stood their ground & defeated their enemies despite overwhelming odds]

3. SOME CAUSES OF FEAR:

A. A lack of faith & trust in God & His Word:

Mat.8:26 – Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?
Mk.4:40 – Why are ye so fearful? How is it ye have no faith?
Isa.51:12,13 – Who art thou, that thou [art] afraid of a man…& forgettest the Lord thy maker?

B. Looking at circumstances & conditions:

Josh.17:14-18 – [Israelites fearful to attack the Canaanites because the Canaanites had powerful chariots of iron]
Psa.107:23-27 – [Storm at sea] Their soul is melted…at wit’s end
Mat.14:30 – [Peter, walking on the sea] saw the wind boisterous… was afraid; & (began) to sink
Mk.4:37-40 – [Storm on Sea of Galilee throws disciples into fear]
2Cor.7:5 – We were troubled on every side…within were fears
(See also Isa.7:1,2)

C. A lack of the Spirit & love of God:

1Jn.4:18 – He that feareth is not made perfect in [God's] love

D. Disobedience to God’s Word:

Deut.28:58,65-67 – If thou wilt not observe…the Lord shall give thee a trembling heart…& thou shalt fear day & night
Lev.26:15,17,36 – If ye despise My statutes…ye shall flee when none pursueth…sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them
Jer.6:19,22-25 – I will bring evil…because they have not hearkened unto My Words…fear is on every side

E. Punishment for unrepented sin:

2Chr.29:6,8 – Our fathers have trespassed…wherefore He hath delivered them to trouble (literally: trembling)
Job 18:5,11 – Terrors shall make (the wicked) afraid on every side
Isa.48:22 – There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked

F. Evil spirits:

1Sam.15:23, Thou (Saul) hast rejected the word of the Lord…an
16:14,15 – evil spirit from the Lord troubled (terrified) him

4. WHAT FEAR CAN RESULT IN:

A. It can cause you to become bound:

Pro.29:25 – The fear of man bringeth a snare
Heb.2:15 – Who through fear of death were…subject to bondage

B. It can cause weakness:

Job 4:14 – Fear came upon me, & trembling…all my bones shake
Isa.13:8 – They shall be afraid: pangs…shall take hold of them
Jer.6:24,25 – Our hands wax feeble…fear is on every side

C. It can sap your will to fight & cause defeat:

Lev.26:36,37 – Ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies
Josh.2:11 – As soon as we heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage
Josh.5:1 – Their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more
(See also 1Sam.13:6,7)

D. It hinders you from witnessing or standing up for your convictions:

Mat.26:56 – Then all the disciples forsook (Jesus), & fled
Mat.26:69-74 – [Peter, fearful, denied that he knew Jesus] (See also Mk.14:66-72; Lk.22:54-60; Jn.18:16,17, 25-27.)
Jn.7:13 – No man spake openly of Him for fear of the Jews
Jn.9:22 – These [evasive] words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews
Jn.12:42,43 – Many believed on Him; but did not confess Him…for they loved the praise of men more than praise of God
Jn.19:12-16 – [Pilate, fearing the Jews, gave in to their demands to have Jesus crucified]
Jn.19:38 – Joseph…a disciple, but secretly for fear of the Jews

E. It can cause you to disobey God:

Num.13:28,31-33 – [Jews refused to invade Canaan for fear of the giants] (See also Num.14:1-5; Deut.1:26-28.)
1Sam.15:24 – I have sinned…transgressed the commandment of the Lord…because I feared the people

F. It can cause mental torment & anguish:

1Jn.4:18 – Fear hath torment

G. Fear can even cause sickness & death:

Lk.21:26 – Men’s hearts failing them for fear
(See also 1Sam.14:15,16; 28:5.)

H. If not checked, fear can get a grip on you:

Psa.48:6 – Fear took hold of them, & pain, as a woman in travail
Psa.55:5 – Fearfulness & trembling are come upon me, horror hath overwhelmed me
Jer.6:22-25 – Anguish hath taken hold of us…fear is on every side

I. Unchecked fear can become extreme:

Lev.26:17,36 – Ye shall flee when none pursueth…sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them
Deut.28:66,67 – Thou shalt fear day & night, & 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
Psa.53:5 – There were they in great fear, where no fear was
Pro.28:1 – The wicked flee when no man pursueth

J. Fears can materialise & become real things:

Job 3:25 – The thing which I greatly feared is come upon me
Pro.10:24 – The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him
Isa.66:4 – I will choose their delusions…bring their fears upon them

K. Fear is contagious & can affect others:

Deut.20:8 – What man is fearful? Let him go…lest his brethren’s heart faint as well as his heart
Judg.7:3 – Whosoever is fearful & afraid, let him…depart
(See also Judg.7:19-22; 1Sam.14:12-16.)

5. HOW TO HAVE PEACE & FREEDOM FROM FEAR:

A. Trust in the Lord:

Psa.23:4 – Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me
Psa.31:13,14 – Fear was on every side…but I trusted in Thee
Psa.56:3,4 – What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee. I will not fear what flesh can do unto me
Psa.56:11 – In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid
Psa.91:2,5 – The Lord is my refuge…[I shall] not be afraid for the terror by night
Psa.112:7,8 – He shall not be afraid…heart (trusts) in the Lord
Isa.26:3 – Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee
Mat.10:28 – Fear not them which kill the body…but fear (God)
Jn.14:1 – Let not your heart be troubled…believe in Me
Phi.4:7 – The peace of God…shall keep your hearts & minds
1Jn.4:18 – There is no fear in love; love casteth out fear

B. Trust in God’s Word:

Psa.119:165 – Great peace have they which love Thy law: & nothing shall offend them
Pro.1:33 – Whoso hearkeneth unto Me…shall be quiet from fear
Pro.3:1,2 – Let thine heart keep My commandments…peace shall they add to thee
Isa.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 & will not fail you:

Deut.1:29,30 – Dread not, neither be afraid of them…God goeth before you, He shall fight for you
Deut.20:3,4 – Let not your hearts faint, fear not, & do not tremble, neither be ye terrified…for God goeth with you
Deut.31:6 – Fear not, nor be afraid…God… will not fail thee
Zech.8:13b – Fear not, but let your hands be strong
Mk.5:36b – Be not afraid, only believe

D. When others with you are afraid:

Isa.8:12b – Neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid
Isa.35:4 – Say to them that are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, fear not: behold, God…will come & save you”

E. Seek the Lord for deliverance from fear:

Psa.34:4 – I sought the Lord, & He heard me, & delivered me from all my fears
Psa.64:1 – O God…preserve my life from fear of the enemy

F. Forsake your sins:

Job 11:13-15 – [Pray to God &] put (iniquity) far away…Then shalt thou…be steadfast, & shalt not fear

G. Rebuke the devil & the spirit of fear:

Jam.4:7b – Resist the devil, & he will flee from you
1Jn.4:18 – There is no fear in love; perfect love casteth out fear

H. The solution the Holy Spirit & faith:

Acts 4:29,31 – Behold their threatenings…grant unto Thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak Thy Word
Heb.11:33a,34 – Who through faith…waxed valiant in fight

6. THE ONLY ONE YOU SHOULD FEAR IS GOD:

A. We are commanded to fear (reverence) God:

Josh.24:14a – Fear the Lord, & serve Him in sincerity & in truth
Psa.19:9 – The fear of the Lord is clean (Compare with Pro.29:25)
Pro.3:7 – Fear the Lord, & depart from evil
Eccl.12:13 – Fear God, & keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man
Isa.8:12,13 – Neither fear ye their fear…let Him (God) be your fear, & let Him be your dread (See also Isa.57:11)
Lk.12:4,5 – Be not afraid of them (men)…I will warn you Whom ye shall fear: Fear Him (God)…yea, I say, Fear Him
Heb.10:31 – It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of…God
(See also Mat.10:28)

B. God’s blessings on them that fear Him:

Psa.25:12 – He that feareth the Lord…shall He teach in the way
Psa.31:19 – How great is Thy goodness…for them that fear Thee
Psa.34:9 – There is no want (lack) to them that fear Him
Psa.103:13 – The Lord (has compassion on) them that fear Him
Psa.147:11 – The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear Him
Pro.1:7 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge
Pro.9:10 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
Pro.14:26 – In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence
Mal.4:2 – Unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings
Lk.1:50 – His mercy is on them that fear Him
Acts 10:35 – He that feareth Him…is accepted with Him
Rev.11:18 – Reward Thy servants, & them that fear Thy name

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