Fear - an unpleasant emotion
caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause
pain, or a threat. [terror, fright,
horror, alarm, panic, agitation, trepidation, dread, consternation, dismay,
distress, anxiety, worry, angst, unease, apprehension, nervousness,
perturbation, foreboding]
Fear - regard (God) with reverence and awe [revere, reverence, venerate, respect]
God gave us the emotion of
fear as (1) a warning signal to keep us safe and (2) a way to experience a
healthy boundary with, and view of, our Holy and Almighty Father. But when we allow fear to go beyond these
purposes created by God, we are falling prey to one of the devil’s greatest lies.
One that he loves to use on us Christians because it paralyzes us, renders us
useless, and holds us back from obeying Jesus.
What does the Bible have to say about fear?
You will find the command “fear not” in variations in Scripture nearly 150 times, most often accompanied by a loving reassurance from God.
Consider just the following samples:
Genesis 15:1 - “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield.”
Genesis 26:24 - “I am the God
of Abraham your father. Fear not, I am
with you.”
Genesis 28:15 - “I am with
you.”
Exodus 33:14 - “My presence
will go with you.”
Psalm 23:4 - “Even though I
walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you
are with me.”
2 Chronicles 20:17 - “Do not
be afraid and do not be dismayed.
Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”
Isaiah 41:14 - “Fear not, you
worm Jacob….I am the one who helps you.”
Jeremiah 1:8 - “Do not be
afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you.”
Consider the following
samples about fearing God:
Psalm 111:10 - “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!”
1 Peter 2:17 - “Honor
everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God.
Honor the emperor.”
Proverbs 19:23 - “The fear of
the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be
visited by harm.”
Proverbs 14:27 - “The fear of
the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of
death.”
Proverbs 8:13 - “The fear of
the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and
arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.”
How do we combat sinful fear?
Prayer. It’s your 24/7 hotline straight to God. Your Father, the Creator of the Universe, has access to unlimited resources and longs to pour out His peace and blessings on you, if you will only seek Him through prayer.
God’s Word. It’s your sword and shield in the battle against the devil‘s lies. Hide it in your heart by memorizing verses to use when you feel afraid. Verses that empower you and remind you of His sovereign and wholly good character.
The Church. Not the building. The people. The fellowship of believers. Foster strong relationships with His people and reach out to them in times of distress.
When we do these things, it will remind us that our human view is limited and faulty and will encourage us to trust the One who knows it all. Instead of losing hope for the future, we will begin to see a future with Him in it, actively helping us. Instead of worrying, it will help us stop predicting things that may not - and most likely will not - come to pass. But we must surrender control of our lives to Him daily.
Because we live in a sinful, fallen world, sinful fear permeates our lives but that doesn’t mean we have to succumb to it. Instead, we should engage ourselves in an intentional battle of spiritual warfare against this force that threatens to disarm us and render us useless for Christ.
We can draw comfort from the promise Jesus made to his disciples, which is still true for us today - “I am with you always to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20
Taken in part from “4 Reasons Why We Fear” by Pastor Mark Driscoll, May 9, 2012 <http://pastormark.tv/2012/05/09/4-reasons-why-we-fear>
My “go-to” verses in dealing
with fear:
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.“ Philippians 4:6 (NLT)
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)
“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28 (NLT)
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 (NLT)
“ Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. . . . And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? . . . For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.” Luke 12:22-31
Questions
for thought/discussion:
What fears have you paralyzed today? How are you dealing with those fears? Is your method of battling fears working? Why or why not?
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