Every Christian believer is given the command to “Fear Not”. This is because fear is the opposite of faith. When fear comes in, faith goes out. It’s been said that there are 366 “Fear nots” in the Bible. So, that means that there is a “fear not” for each day of the year and an extra “fear not” to have and use for the extra day in a Leap year!
There are different types of fears that a person may encounter. Sometimes, it’s the fear of the unknown, fear of tomorrow, fear about finances, welfare, relationships etc.
Fear is actually a spirit. That is why the Bible says in 2 Timothy 1:7:
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. “NKJV
Since God has given us the command to “Fear not”, it actually amounts to a sin, if we fail to obey this command. In Revelation 21:7-8, we read of a strange scripture that actually lists the fearful as amongst those that will be punished by God.
It says:
“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” KJV
Satan is the father of fear, and this is his favorite weapon of intimidation. Our enemies, who are his children, are expert “Fear mongers”. They always want to ensure that those that they oppress and attack are living in constant fear. We should not fear their weapons and tactics, for the Bible says in 1 John 4:4:
“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” KJV
Fear can rob a man of his peace of mind and sleep. It can make a person to be very anxious and afraid. There are several examples of those who experienced fear and the physical manifestation of fear in the Bible. For example, in Daniel 5:1-9:
“Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand. While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave the command to bring the gold and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple which had been in Jerusalem, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple of the house of God which had been in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone. In the same hour the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. Then the king’s countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked against each other. The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke, saying to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing, and tells me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck; and he shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.” Now all the king’s wise men came, but they could not read the writing, or make known to the king its interpretation. Then King Belshazzar was greatly troubled, his countenance was changed, and his lords were astonished.” NKJV
The spirit of fear can paralyze a whole army and make them live in fear and dread of their enemies. Fo example, Goliath boasted against the armies of King Saul for forty days and forty nights! This account is found in 1 Samuel 17:4-11:
“And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. And he had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him. Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.” When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.” NKJV
A whole nation can be afraid of an uncertain situation. For example, the children of Israel at the Red Sea. They had just left the slavery of Egypt where they had served for 430 years. Now, they were in a dilemma, because Pharaoh had changed his mind and wanted them back as slaves! Before them was the Red Sea and behind them was Pharoah and his armies in hot pursuit.
In Exodus 14:10-14:
“And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord. Then they said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.” And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” NKJV
One king can threaten another, bringing fear and discouragement to a kingdom. In Isaiah 37:1-7:
“And so it was, when King Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the Lord. Then he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz. And they said to him, “Thus says Hezekiah: ‘This day is a day of trouble and rebuke and blasphemy; for the children have come to birth, but there is no strength to bring them forth. It may be that the Lord your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to reproach the living God, and will rebuke the words which the Lord your God has heard. Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.’ ” So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah. And Isaiah said to them, “Thus you shall say to your master, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Do not be afraid of the words which you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me. Surely I will send a spirit upon him, and he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.” NKJV
Fear can make a race of people afraid for their lives, especially when faced by an enemy that sought to destroy a race because of one man. So it was in the Book of Esther, where Haman, the Agagite sought to kill all Jews living in the kingdom of King Ahasuerus because Mordecai the Jew refused to bow down to him. Haman convinced the King to allow him issue a decree to kill all Jews living in his kingdom. A date was set and letters were sent out to inform the Jews of this horrible decree. In Esther 4:1-3:
“When Mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city. He cried out with a loud and bitter cry. He went as far as the front of the king’s gate, for no one might enter the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth. And in every province where the king’s command and decree arrived, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.” NKJV
We do not know what situation you are facing today that is making you so fearful and afraid. Are you being threatened by an enemy? Are your neighbors aggressive, nasty and hostile? Have the enemies built a siege against you and your family? Are you facing persecution and injustice because you are a Christian or because of your race? Are your rights being violated, just because the enemies are more powerful and more connected than you?
Are you watching as those taxed with enforcing the laws are using the apparatus of government to fight and oppress you and your family? Is the truth in your case being suppressed and lies are being concorted and told against you daily? Has someone given or taken a bribe to oppress you? Are you watching as corruption in high places, nepotism, “buddy system” and injustice prevail? Have you cried out to the appropriate authorities and met with a deafening silence with nothing done to bring you justice? Are your mails and telephone lines tampered with? Have your enemies laughed and mocked your prayers and clearly told you that you will not get justice?
When faced with a situation that makes you afraid remember, ‘faith in,fear out”. One with God is a majority. Keep on praying and believing God. Also, meditate on the word of God, and encourage yourself.
The Bible is filled with several verses that should encourage us. For example, in Isaiah 41:13-14:
“For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’ “Fear not, you worm Jacob, You men of Israel! I will help you,” says the Lord And your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.” NKJV
In 2 Chronicles 20:17:
“You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.” NKJV
In Isaiah 35:4:
“Say to those who are fearful-hearted,“Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.” NKJV
In Psalm 56:3-4:
“Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?” NKJV
In Isaiah 43:1-5:
“But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob,And He who formed you, O Israel:“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;I have called you by your name;You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you; Therefore, I will give men for you, And people for your life. Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east And gather you from the west;” NKJV.
We close today in the words of Psalm 20:7-9:
“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They have bowed down and fallen; But we have risen and stand upright. Save, Lord! May the King answer us when we call.” NKJV
To that we say a big “AMEN!”
