FEAR NOT

--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