Fear Not
I. Introduction
A. Which is the most often repeated command in the Bible?
1. What would you think it would be?
2. To love God, or love your neighbor, perhaps
3. To believe in God, or trust in Him
B. It is none of these
C. The most repeated command in the Bible is "do not fear"!
1. Hundreds of times, in both the Old and New Testaments, God
charges His people to not be afraid
2. What is going on?
D. Why is it that God commands us to fear not more often than any
other command?
1. Perhaps it has something to say about us and fear
2. Maybe, whether we recognize it or not, fear is one of our
major difficulties!
E. Let us consider what the Scriptures teach
II. Understanding Fear
A. There may be protest-- did not God say that people should fear
Him?
1. There are passages that teach that we should "fear" God
2. Matthew 10:28, Hebrews 10:31
3. Luke 1:50, Acts 9:31, Acts 13:26, 2 Corinthians 5:11
B. What are we to make of these?
C. Two types of fear under discussion!
1. Matthew 10:28 and Hebrews 10:31 talk about the "terror" type
of fear, and it is something that unbelievers or sinning
believers are to feel when considering their state before God
2. Passages like Luke 1:50, Acts 9:31, et al speak of fear in
terms of reverence or respect-- giving honor to God in His
majesty
D. When God tells us to "not fear", He is not speaking in these
senses
1. Unbelievers and sinning Christians have much to fear!
2. All should respect and revere God!
E. What does God mean when He tells us to "not fear"?
F. Occasionally, He indicates that He does not want people to be
startled
1. Matthew 17:7, Matthew 14:27
2. Mostly used when God or Jesus presents themselves to someone
G. Most often, God means that we should not give into feelings of
doubt, apprehension, insecurity, or other such things
1. Matthew 10:26, 28
2. Luke 1:13, 30
3. Many other examples could be provided!
H. Why is it that God does not want us to fear?
III. The Consequences of Fear
A. Whether we like to admit it or not, fear is a major motivator of
how we act!
B. Human beings have all kinds of fears
C. Many fears involve some kind of object or situation
1. The "phobias"
2. Acrophobia, agoraphobia, claustrophobia, arachnophobia,
triskaidekaphobia
3. It's astounding to see people act so fearful of little
creatures and other such things!
D. Some of those fears can hinder people from life, but many are
harmless
E. There are many fears that are quite debilitating!
1. We shrink back because of various fears
2. Fear of rejection, hostility, or harm
3. Lack of confidence in oneself or one's abilities
4. Lack of confidence in others
F. These are the fears that lead us into sin!
G. How much sin is motivated by fear (Galatians 5:19-21, etc.)?
1. How much sexual immorality exists because of fear of being
rejected or from a lack of confidence in oneself?
2. How many present themselves in lascivious ways to be
accepted?
3. How much conflict exists because of lack of trust?
4. How much lying and cheating exists because people are afraid
to tell the truth or to be rejected?
5. We could go on and on!
H. While fear is not the only cause of sin, it is one of the more
significant ones!
I. Fear also hinders us from doing what is right
(Galatians 5:22-24)!
1. James 4:17: to not do what is right is as bad as doing the
evil
2. How many times do we fail to show love, compassion, or mercy
because we are afraid of bad things happening to us?
3. How many times do we close up and not allow brethren to bear
our burdens because we are afraid and do not trust them
(Galatians 6:2)?
4. How many times do we fail to present the Gospel because we
are afraid of being rejected, derided, injured, or afraid
that we will say the wrong thing or make a mistake
(Romans 1:16)?
J. Fear paralyzes and debilitates us, compelling us to choose the
wrong and reject the good!
IV. Overcoming Fear
A. What is to be done about fear?
B. We must learn the power of love
1. 1 John 4:18
2. Perfect love casts out fear!
3. When we recognize the great love with which God has loved us,
we will not be terrified before Him
4. If we are not terrified before God, why be fearful before
those less powerful than God?
C. We must grow in faith (2 Peter 3:18)!
1. It is interesting that Jesus identifies fear with a lack of
faith (Matthew 8:26)
2. When one does not have full confidence in God or himself, one
will be full of fear!
3. That is why we can grow in confidence when we grow in faith!
4. Hebrews 5:14, Ephesians 4:11-15
D. Taking courage
1. Jesus told His disciples to not fear but to take courage
(Matthew 14:27)
2. Courage is the opposite of fear
3. When we encourage our brethren, we seek for them to take
courage and to not be afraid (Hebrews 10:24-25)!
E. We have every reason for confidence!
1. Hebrews 10:18-20: we have confidence to enter the holy places
through Jesus!
2. Romans 8:31, 33-34: if God is for us, who can condemn us?
If we are not afraid of God, why should we be afraid of anyone
else?
3. Romans 8:32: do we trust that God will give us what we need?
4. Romans 8:35-39: we have the victory in Christ Jesus, and the
love of God is with us
F. Let God's love cast out fear!
V. Conclusion
A. Fear is a strong motivator for human conduct
B. Unfortunately, it too often paralyzes and debilitates us,
compelling us to choose the wrong and reject the good
C. It is no wonder that God's most oft-repeated command is,
"do not fear"!
D. We can overcome fear through love, faith, and encouragement
E. Let us take courage, and not fear!
F. Invitation/songbook