Biblical Fear

To Fear or Not To Fear

Text:118:1-9 

for his steadfast love endures forever!

2  Let Israel say,

“His steadfast love endures forever.”

3  Let the house of Aaron say,

“His steadfast love endures forever.”

4  Let those who fear the LORD say,

“His steadfast love endures forever.”

5  Out of my distress I called on the LORD;

the LORD answered me and set me free.

6  The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.

What can man do to me?

7  The LORD is on my side as my helper;

I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

8  It is better to take refuge in the LORD

than to trust in man.

9  It is better to take refuge in the LORD

than to trust in princes.

What are you afraid of? What keeps you awake at night? What would be your worse nightmare? Call me a wimp if you like, but I hate being scared.

Every October Hollywood tries to scare us more than they did last October with new gory, violent, nightmarish movies. Call me a wimp if you like, but I hate being scared.

Fear affects all of us, but some some more than others. Some experience what is known as phobias. A phobia is an irrational fear of something. A website I visited on the subject of fear said that all fears usually fall into four different categories; fears of the natural environment, fears related to animals, fear related to medical treatments or issues, and fears related to specific situations. It also said it is useless to try and provide a detail list of fears, for any object or situation can become a phobia.

I’ve reduced it down even further. There’s the fear of God and then there’s the fear of everything else.

They are fears of the natural environment, fears related to animals, fear related to medical treatments or issues, and fears related to specific situations. It also said it is useless to try and provide a detail list of fears, for any object or situation can become a phobia.

Well, regardless of how we label our fears, fear is something we can all relate to. The Bible tells us that fear can be a blessing and a curse.

In our series on “What does the Bible say?” we want to look at what the Bible says about fear.

One particular passage gives us a good picture of fear is found in .

READ TEXT:

King David is believed to be the author of our text. In it he instructs us to focus on the goodness and love of God, and then to give thanks for Him. He then instructs us to say that His (God’s) steadfast love endures forever. And in verse 4 we are told, that those who fear God should say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”

Our text tell us that on the one hand, those who know God and love Him, should also fear Him. While on the other hand, because of our fear of God, we should not fear others as he ask the question “What can man do to us? in verse 6.

To know God is to know His love, which is steadfast. But knowing God will also bring about knowledge of power and holiness. Just as we should respect the power of electricity, the dangers of household poisons, and the authority of law officials, so should we respect and even fear the power of God, whenever we violate the holiness of God.

A person who has a personal relationship with God, through His Son, Jesus, is someone who has the Lord on their side. If God is on your side, you don’t need to fear anyone in this world. The Lord can be your refuge, a pleasant help in times of trouble.

To know God is to know His love, which is steadfast. But knowing God will also bring about knowledge of power and holiness. Just as we should respect the power of electricity, the dangers of household poisons, and the authority of law officials, so should we respect and even fear the power of God, whenever we violate the holiness of God.

Consequently, God’s power works two ways. It can and should put fear in us when we are facing temptations. But it can, does, and should provide a great degree of confidence and security when we are walking in obedience to Him and His Word.

In saying this, we need to look at what fears are harmful to us and which ones are a blessing to us.

We begin by looking at fear’s foundation. In other words, why did God instill in us the ability and the need to experience the emotion known as fear? It’s all about love. Fear’s foundation is the love of God.

I. Fear’s Foundation is Love

God is the God of love. He loved us enough to send His only-begotten Son into a world filled with sin and hurt. Jesus loved sinners enough to die on the cross for them.

So don’t ever doubt the love of God. His love is steadfast. His love is unfailing. His love is unconditional. But so is His holiness. He will not look the other way concerning our sin. He will not ignore our sin, or excuse our sin. So don’t let anyone convince you that because God is a God of love, we should never fear Him. To remove fear from our relationship with God would show our ignorance of the Scriptures and of God.

It is His love that demands that we respect His authority and fear His wrath. For by dong so, we can avoid a lot of sin, be protected from much hurt and many heartaches.

When it comes to the fear of God, its foundation is the love of God.

A. God Loves Us

God loves us just like a good father loves his child. His love is so great, we can never escape it. The apostle Paul put it this way in , “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

It is because of His great love for us that He reminds us of His wrath and holiness. The Bible says, “For we know him who said, ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God’” ().

God hates sin because He knows what it will do to us and to those near to us. Therefore He wants us to fear sin and the One who punishes sin.

For those who think they can sin whenever it’s convenient and then seek forgiveness at the drop of a hat, will one day experience the wrath of God. But if we fear the wrath of God today, we will most likely be protected from many sins and heartaches tomorrow.

Although you may not know it, I’m an animal lover. My childhood days were filled with pets. We had horses, dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, tropical fish, turtles, birds, a pet squirrel, a pet skunk, and even a pet squirrel monkey. Unfortunately, since we lived so close to the highway, anything that wasn’t kept in our house or in a pen would soon meet its death.

As a child

Consequently, whenever I let our house dogs out to use the bathroom, fear gripped me. On some occasions, I caught my poodle across the highway. When this happened, I would take my belt off, later on my rolled up newspaper, and teach him to fear the highway by teaching him to fear my wrath whenever he wandered onto the highway. Thus, unlike our outside dogs that eventually were run over, our two poodles died of old age.

This is why God wants us to fear Him. By fearing His power, He can teach us to fear sin. God’s love for us brings with it His protection.

B. God Protects Us

The fear of God helps us to run from sin, but the love of God motivates us to run to God.

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 88 Duke’s Fear Which Is Not Cowardice

No one had more courage than the Duke of Wellington, a man who brought more luster on the flag of England than any other man who has ever lived, and yet he was afraid of drink. On one occasion, when he was marching his victorious army across the Peninsula, he halted the whole army. Why? Simply because news had been brought to him that an immense store of Spanish wine lay directly in his line of march. He halted the whole victorious British Army until he had sent on his sappers to blow every single barrel to pieces.

According to verses 7-9 we need not fear others because God is our refuge. “The LORD is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. 8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.”

He feared the power of alcoholic beverages because he feared what God might do, should he get drunk.The right kind of fear can protect us and save us.

A person who has a personal relationship with God, through His Son, Jesus, is someone who has the Lord on their side. If God is on our side, we need not fear anyone in this world. The Lord can be our refuge, a pleasant help in times of trouble.

What temptations have the greatest pull in our lives? Those that are the most powerful should be feared the most because of what they can do to our relationship with God.

II. Fear’s Power is Real

The two most powerful emotions are love and fear. They will both motivate us to action. Fear will cause us to kick into our fight or flight response. Love will send a father or mother into a burning house in an effort to save their child.

and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.

II. Fear’s Power is Real

English Standard Version Chapter 9

10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,

and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

I know the power of fear all too well. In grade school, the idea of standing in front of class to give a report paralyzed me with fear. On the day I was supposed to give such a report I largely faked being sick so I wouldn’t have to go. I say largely because to some degree I was sick, for fear can make you physically sick.

II. Fear’s Power is Real

According to a well-known American internist as expressed in a round-table discussion on psychosomatic medicine, 90% of the chronic patients who see today’s physicians have one common symptom. Their trouble did not start with a cough or chest pain or hyper-acidity. In 90% of the cases, the first symptom was fear.

In spite of what they say, 90% of the chronic patients who see today’s physicians have one common symptom. Their trouble did not start with cough or chest pain or hyperacidity. In 90% of the cases, the first symptom was fear.

Fear of losing a job, of old age, of being exposed—sooner or later this fear manifests itself as “a clinical symptom.”

Sometimes the fear is nothing more than a superficial anxiety; sometimes it is so deep-seated that the patient himself denies its existence and makes the round of doctor to doctor, taking injections, hormones, tranquilizers and medicines in an endless search for relief.

Fear’s power can also be harnessed for good. For it can motivate us to live holy lives.

A. The Fear of God Motivates Us

It can help us avoid sin. states, “By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.”

  By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,

and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.

English Standard Version Chapter 8

13  The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil.

Pride and arrogance and the way of evil

and perverted speech I hate.

I recently read an illustration concerning the Duke of Wellington. It was said that the Duke was a very brave man. In fact, no one had more courage than the Duke of Wellington, a man who brought more luster on the flag of England than any other man who has ever lived, and yet he was afraid of alcoholic drinks. On one occasion, when he was marching his victorious army across the Peninsula, he halted the whole army. Why? Simply because news had been brought to him that an immense store of Spanish wine lay directly in his line of march. He halted the whole victorious British Army until he had sent on his sappers (militarily demolition experts), to blow every single barrel to pieces.

He feared the power of alcoholic beverages because he feared what they could do to his relationship with God.

What temptations have the greatest pull in your life? Those that are the most powerful should be feared the most because of what they can do to your faith.

Fear can also motivate us to action, positive action. Our fear of God can motivate us, not just to avoid sin, but also to do right, to do good. says, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

James

Do we understand that the sin of omission is just as bad as the sin of commission? Not doing what God instructs us to do is just as bad as doing what God forbids us to do.

The fear of God helps us to avoid sin, as well as do righteous deeds for God and others.

Unfortunately, the power of fear can also be used by others to control us.

B. The Fear of Others Can Control Us

Evil rulers use fear to control their people. It’s how Pharoah made slaves out of the Jewish people. It how the Romans kept order in the countries they conquered. It’s how Stalin, maintained his rule and implemented socialism in Russia from the 1920s until his death in 1953.

It’s how Pharoah made slaves out of the Jewish people. It how the Romans kept order in the countries they conquered. It’s how Stalin, maintained his rule and implemented socialism in Russia from the 1920s until his death in 1953.

In the 1930s Stalin had 750,000 members of the military or the Communist Party who he thought might oppose him executed. Three million were exiled – imprisoned in gulags where they became slave labour.

Estimates of the death toll under his rule vary widely, from 3.5-8 million (G Ponton) at the low end to 60 million (A Solzhenitsyn).

Today, most historians seem to have settled on a total of about 20 million.

Sadly, many of our young people, especially college age, are ignorant of this fact.

Sadly, many of our young people, especially college age, are ignorant of this fact.

According to a recent poll, a majority of millennials would prefer to live in a socialist, communist or fascist nation rather than a capitalistic one.

58 percent of the up-and-coming generation opted for one of the three systems, compared to 42 percent who said they were in favor of capitalism.

The most popular was socialism with 44 percent support. Communism and fascism received 7 percent support each.

Marion Smith, executive director of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, states, “This troubling turn highlights widespread historical illiteracy in American society regarding socialism and the systemic failure of our education system to teach students about the genocide, destruction, and misery caused by communism since the Bolshevik Revolution one hundred years ago.”

“This troubling turn highlights widespread historical illiteracy in American society regarding socialism and the systemic failure of our education system to teach students about the genocide, destruction, and misery caused by communism since the Bolshevik Revolution one hundred years ago,” Mr. Smith said in a statement.

Dictators and totalitarian governments use fear to control their people, and so does Satan.

Satan uses the fear of death to control us. He whispers in our ears, death is coming, so live it up. Get all the gusto you can get. Don’t worry about the laws. Don’t worry about what others will think. Don’t worry about the consequences. Don’t listen to God, don’t listen to your parents, instead, enjoy life before death comes knocking.

Do they not know how Stalin, who died in 1952, implemented Socialism in Russia in the 1920s and by doing so

But this need not be. We don’t have to be controlled and manipulated by fear. We can be free. We can be more than conquerors.

His route to this goal was forced labour, a reign of terror and the ruthless extermination of all who opposed him.

Throughout the Scriptures we hear God telling Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, prophets, and apostles to fear not. God doesn’t want to live in fear.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

, states, “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

states, “I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”

states, “I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”

Increasingly paranoid,

4  I sought the LORD, and he answered me

and delivered me from all my fears.

Estimates of the death toll vary widely, from 3.5-8 million (G Ponton) at the low end to 60 million (A Solzhenitsyn).

says, “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”

Today, most historians seem to have settled on a total of about 20 million.

As strong as fear is, it is no match for faith in God. Fear’s weakness is faith.

III. Fear’s Weakness is Faith

III. Fear’s Weakness is Faith

David says in verses 5- 6, “Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. 6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

His faith in the Lord is why He turned to the Lord in prayer. His faith in the Lord enabled him to say, The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

When our faith is strong enough, God’s presence will be real enough to dispel any fears we may have.

David didn’t fear the lion or the bear when they attacked his sheep, but stood firm and killed them. And when Goliath challenged the soldiers of Israel and made God look bad, He faced Goliath with courage and confidence, and killed him.

Conclusion: In conclusion, I want to ask: To fear or not to fear, which will it be? The answer is simple. We should fear God, but we should fear no one else. If we’ll do this, we will discover what Jesus meant in , in which He spoke of the abundant life.

Conclusion:

In Jesus said, “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!”