Told not to Fear

Don’t be afraid, “yeah” easier said than done. My wife, Connie, told me that the command to “fear not” appears 365 times in the Bible. That’s one per day. I’m not sure how accurate that is but I do know the Bible mentions fear over 500 times. Fear must be a part of life and all of us can attest that it is. I see a lot of fear in people’s eyes lately and I am sad. Some are calling it a “new normal” but deep down we all know, fear should never be a normal. We have all seen pictures of it, concentration camps, gulags, oppressed peoples; this type of normal is unacceptable. There is a price to pay for being “at peace”. The price is trust which creates courage. God tells us things will be difficult but “trust” that I have this. If you don’t trust, then you will fear.  (Proverbs 3, Jeremiah 17, John 16, James 1)

Isaiah 35:4   4 say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”

John 14:27   27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Isaiah 43:1  1 But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine”.

Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for “nothing” but by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

God keeps from fear

What is the value of a prayer? What is the value of a promise? A prayer is our acting on a promise from God. God promises that “He” will work everything out for us. He said that He hears every single prayer we pray and that He knows how to give us good gifts. When we fear our greatest desire is to feel safe, to be relaxed, content. God promises to provide us with a peace the world cannot know in the midst of a chaotic world. Our prayers have the value of God’s promises. (Romans 8, Psalm 46, Psalm 121, Philippians 4)

Psalm 23:4  4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 34:4  4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 94:19  19 When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.

Romans 8:38-39  38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Don’t worry about the future/provisions

We worry about things we have no control over. How sad if all we have is science, financial accounts or the government to supply us with security. There is a great gulf between what the wisdom of man (intelligence) can provide and the calamities of life. What do hypothetical models do to quell the anxious spirit? How will a fat bank account solve the questions of life and death? Can government create utopia?  If Christ is real, rose from the dead and sits at the Father’s right hand (a place of authority and counsel) and He has promised to never leave us or change, just maybe we have found something that all the things of man cannot provide. Just maybe. (Hebrews 13, Romans 8)

Matthew 6:34  34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 8:25-26  “The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.”

Luke 12:25  “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?”

In God is our peace, what can men do.

This is the basis for our ability, as followers of Christ, to avoid being fearful and helpless. We have one who created the entire universe, He holds everything in His hand, and He loves us so much that He gave His only son so He could spend eternity with us if we only believe. (Colossians 1, John 3)

Psalm 27:1  1 The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 118:6  6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

Psalm 56:3-4  3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 4 In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

Hebrews 13:5-6  5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

God gives help/peace/encouragement

What happens when the news has offered all it can? You can only take so much before you are inundated, overwhelmed and the saturation of information becomes part of the problem. Everyone has an opinion so who can you trust, what can we rely upon? God doesn’t offer opinions or suggestions, He offers solutions. He offers a place of shelter (not a shelter in place) in times of trouble. He offers you peace. HEADLINE: “GOD WILL HELP”. Just ask! (James 1, Matthew 7, Psalm 18, Psalm 91)

1 Peter 5:6-7  6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Isaiah 41:13  13 For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

Romans 8:15  15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to son-ship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Psalm 46:1-3 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”

Fear of the Lord

God is telling us to refocus. Fear Him who can destroy body & soul (God). Too many of us fear what men will do/say more than we fear the Lord. That is what destroyed Judah and Israel. Their kings feared men more than God. That’s what sin is, I don’t care what God says or thinks. I wonder if God wants me to do this or that, come on! (Proverbs 29)

Psalm 103:17 17 But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—

Psalm 112:1 1 Praise the LORD.  Blessed are those who fear the LORD, who find great delight in his commands.

Matthew 10:28  28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Psalm 111:1 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Psalm 115:11  11 You who fear him, trust in the LORD— he is their help and shield.

Fear of others, physical, emotional, not being accepted or valued.

When will it end? If our value is tied to the stuff we own, the job we have, the house we live in, our education, our social economic status our legacy will not last beyond 2 generations. Connie and I went to visit the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, NC. It was an amazing place for its time but by today’s standards, it’s a relic. A couple days later we visited the Billy Graham museum and I was looking at the dinner table in the Graham home which was modest by Vanderbilt standards. The Vanderbilt dinner table seated over 20 but comparing the two, which table represented the greater legacy? A quote from Billy Graham, “Someday you will hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will have just changed addresses”.  We all will one day change addresses. Our wealth will be in what we invested in. (Deuteronomy 6, Matthew 6, Matthew 7)

Deuteronomy 31:6  6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Isaiah 54:4 4 “Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.

1 Peter 3:13-14 13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”

Acts 5:29 “We must obey God rather than men”.

Proverbs 29:25 25 The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.

Fear & discouragement

God’s rear view mirror, “Things may appear to be more discouraging than they actually are”. In case you haven’t noticed, life can throw you some curve balls. Wouldn’t it be nice to have the creator of the universe, someone who has not only the power to control things but also has the “want to” to control these things available for counsel and relief? God said life would be challenging but when life gets what seems to be out of control, there is one who is always in control. He can be your source of strength, your source of peace, your source of control.  (John 14)

1 Chronicles 28:20  20 David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.

Isaiah 41:10  10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Joshua 1:9   9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Fear in judgement/punishment:

Go on the internet and type in “end times” and see what pops up. Although we may not verbalize it, many of us are wondering, could it be? We may not make it until global warming or some other man made catastrophe annihilates the entire world. Man has never had a greater ability to destroy the entire earth than he has at this very moment, yet the entire planet has been brought to its knees by a microscopic virus that no one can see or cure. What? Many do not believe in God until they need to blame Him for something. Is this a judgement? I think even those who do not believe, can see why it might be. Are we being punished? God holds all things in His hands. There is not anything that happens He is not aware of and that He could not stop if He chooses to do so.  God is not slow to anger, He is patient. He is waiting for you. Trust Him. Get to know Him. (Colossians 1, Isaiah 45, Matthew 10, 2 Peter 3)

Judges 7 God sent a dream which caused them to turn against each other.

1 John 4:18  18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Exodus 12:12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD.

2 Thessalonians 2:11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,

Fear is a poor Counselor

Fear chases down and overcomes rational thought.

Fear Blinds.