2 Timothy 1:7 NLT For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Definition of fear
noun
1 an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger
2 profound reverence and awe especially toward God
verb
1 to be afraid of : expect with alarm
2: to have a reverential awe of
Matthew 10:28 NLT “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Proverbs 29:25 (NLT2)25 Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety.
Jeremiah 1:8 (NLT2)8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the LORD, have spoken!”
Jeremiah 1:17-19 (NLT2)17 “Get up and prepare for action. Go out and tell them everything I tell you to say. Do not be afraid of them, or I will make you look foolish in front of them.18 For see, today I have made you strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured, like an iron pillar or a bronze wall. You will stand against the whole land— the kings, officials, priests, and people of Judah.19 They will fight you, but they will fail. For I am with you, and I will take care of you. I, the LORD, have spoken!”
This was important for Jeremiah to hear because he was saying some very unpopular things and he was going against the leading religious as well as the government folk. He was saying that God said this great nation was going to be destroyed and many of us are going into exile.
Throughout his long ministry of more than forty years, his preaching reflected this theme of judgment. He went through years of rejection and persecution. He was imprisoned. He was thrown into a cistern. He had it rough. So, God’s telling him that he would protect and keep him is what kept him going.
Ezekiel 2:6-8 (NLT2)6 “Son of man, do not fear them or their words. Don’t be afraid even though their threats surround you like nettles and briers and stinging scorpions. Do not be dismayed by their dark scowls, even though they are rebels.7 You must give them my messages whether they listen or not. But they won’t listen, for they are completely rebellious!8 Son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not join them in their rebellion. Open your mouth, and eat what I give you.”
Ezekiel 3:9 (NLT2)9 I have made your forehead as hard as the hardest rock! So don’t be afraid of them or fear their angry looks, even though they are rebels.”
Ezekiel was in exile and God had him do some weird things in his prophecies.
To what can we attribute behavior such as lying on his left side for 390 days and then on his right side for 40 days.
Ezekiel 4:4-8 NKJV “Lie also on your left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it. According to the number of the days that you lie on it, you shall bear their iniquity. For I have laid on you the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days; so you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. And when you have completed them, lie again on your right side; then you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days. I have laid on you a day for each year. “Therefore you shall set your face toward the siege of Jerusalem; your arm shall be uncovered, and you shall prophesy against it. And surely I will restrain you so that you cannot turn from one side to another till you have ended the days of your siege.
For a period of time, he packed his belongings on his back in the mornings and acted as if he were moving, while at night he began digging through a wall
Ezekiel 12:4-7 NKJV By day you shall bring out your belongings in their sight, as though going into captivity; and at evening you shall go in their sight, like those who go into captivity. Dig through the wall in their sight, and carry your belongings out through it. In their sight you shall bear them on your shoulders and carry them out at twilight; you shall cover your face, so that you cannot see the ground, for I have made you a sign to the house of Israel.” So I did as I was commanded. I brought out my belongings by day, as though going into captivity, and at evening I dug through the wall with my hand. I brought them out at twilight, and I bore them on my shoulder in their sight.
There's more if you read the book of Ezekiel. The people would have thought he was nuts.
Yet God said don't be afraid of them, "I've got your back", so speak.
These scriptures have a depth of meaning and a lot to teach us because they describe a problem - 'the fear of man'... but they all conclude with God’s 'grace and protection.
The outcome for the fear of man is a snare that traps us. However, the opposite of fear is faith - which ironically is sometimes called ' the fear of the Lord.
There is a world of difference between the ungodly 'fear of man' and godly 'fear of the Lord'. Reverence for the Lord brings with it wisdom and strength, hope and joy... while esteem for fallen man is often accompanied by anxiety and worry. So that verse in Proverbs is especially important. In case you forgot it is
Proverbs 29:25 (NLT2)25 Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety.
As the fear of man and dread of circumstances increases, so faith in the Lord decreases. Faith stands firm on the promises of God. When faith in God is practiced, fear is snuffed out.
Placing trust in anyone other than the Lord often brings problems and pain, disappointments, and despair. However, 'honoring the Lord or fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
Proverbs 9:10 NLT Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.
We have the assurance that the person who trusts in Him will be lifted up and receive many blessings.
The fear of man often comes when trying to be a 'people pleaser' instead of honoring the Lord and pleasing Him. The Bible teaches that you cannot reverence God and man at the same time.
Galatians 1:10 (NLT2)10 Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.
And in Psalm 56, the writer shows that fear of man evaporates when we place our trust and confidence in the Lord.
Psalm 56:4 (NLT2)4 I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?
In every situation in which we find ourselves and, in each life, problem we meet, we have irrefutable assurance in God's Word that He is able and willing to deliver those that trust in Jesus.
Fear is a dangerous emotion that entangles man in deep, dark problems, and fear is also a favorite tool that is used by the enemy to bring despair, and which can cause a believer to doubt God's Word and the truth of Scripture.
Never allow any fear that is being conceived in your mind to be birthed into a terror that destroys the inner peace that God gives to those that love Him. Rather, be quick to abort any evil brooding, as soon as they come to mind, by setting the eyes of your heart on the face of the Lord Jesus and taking those thoughts captive to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:4-6 (NKJV)4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
Definition of fear
noun
1 an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger
2 profound reverence and awe especially toward God
verb
1 to be afraid of : expect with alarm
2: to have a reverential awe of
Matthew 10:28 NLT “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Proverbs 29:25 (NLT2)25 Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety.
Jeremiah 1:8 (NLT2)8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the LORD, have spoken!”
Jeremiah 1:17-19 (NLT2)17 “Get up and prepare for action. Go out and tell them everything I tell you to say. Do not be afraid of them, or I will make you look foolish in front of them.18 For see, today I have made you strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured, like an iron pillar or a bronze wall. You will stand against the whole land— the kings, officials, priests, and people of Judah.19 They will fight you, but they will fail. For I am with you, and I will take care of you. I, the LORD, have spoken!”
This was important for Jeremiah to hear because he was saying some very unpopular things and he was going against the leading religious as well as the government folk. He was saying that God said this great nation was going to be destroyed and many of us are going into exile.
Throughout his long ministry of more than forty years, his preaching reflected this theme of judgment. He went through years of rejection and persecution. He was imprisoned. He was thrown into a cistern. He had it rough. So, God’s telling him that he would protect and keep him is what kept him going.
Ezekiel 2:6-8 (NLT2)6 “Son of man, do not fear them or their words. Don’t be afraid even though their threats surround you like nettles and briers and stinging scorpions. Do not be dismayed by their dark scowls, even though they are rebels.7 You must give them my messages whether they listen or not. But they won’t listen, for they are completely rebellious!8 Son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not join them in their rebellion. Open your mouth, and eat what I give you.”
Ezekiel 3:9 (NLT2)9 I have made your forehead as hard as the hardest rock! So don’t be afraid of them or fear their angry looks, even though they are rebels.”
Ezekiel was in exile and God had him do some weird things in his prophecies.
To what can we attribute behavior such as lying on his left side for 390 days and then on his right side for 40 days.
Ezekiel 4:4-8 NKJV “Lie also on your left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it. According to the number of the days that you lie on it, you shall bear their iniquity. For I have laid on you the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days; so you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. And when you have completed them, lie again on your right side; then you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days. I have laid on you a day for each year. “Therefore you shall set your face toward the siege of Jerusalem; your arm shall be uncovered, and you shall prophesy against it. And surely I will restrain you so that you cannot turn from one side to another till you have ended the days of your siege.
For a period of time, he packed his belongings on his back in the mornings and acted as if he were moving, while at night he began digging through a wall
Ezekiel 12:4-7 NKJV By day you shall bring out your belongings in their sight, as though going into captivity; and at evening you shall go in their sight, like those who go into captivity. Dig through the wall in their sight, and carry your belongings out through it. In their sight you shall bear them on your shoulders and carry them out at twilight; you shall cover your face, so that you cannot see the ground, for I have made you a sign to the house of Israel.” So I did as I was commanded. I brought out my belongings by day, as though going into captivity, and at evening I dug through the wall with my hand. I brought them out at twilight, and I bore them on my shoulder in their sight.
There's more if you read the book of Ezekiel. The people would have thought he was nuts.
Yet God said don't be afraid of them, "I've got your back", so speak.
These scriptures have a depth of meaning and a lot to teach us because they describe a problem - 'the fear of man'... but they all conclude with God’s 'grace and protection.
The outcome for the fear of man is a snare that traps us. However, the opposite of fear is faith - which ironically is sometimes called ' the fear of the Lord.
There is a world of difference between the ungodly 'fear of man' and godly 'fear of the Lord'. Reverence for the Lord brings with it wisdom and strength, hope and joy... while esteem for fallen man is often accompanied by anxiety and worry. So that verse in Proverbs is especially important. In case you forgot it is
Proverbs 29:25 (NLT2)25 Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety.
As the fear of man and dread of circumstances increases, so faith in the Lord decreases. Faith stands firm on the promises of God. When faith in God is practiced, fear is snuffed out.
Placing trust in anyone other than the Lord often brings problems and pain, disappointments, and despair. However, 'honoring the Lord or fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
Proverbs 9:10 NLT Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.
We have the assurance that the person who trusts in Him will be lifted up and receive many blessings.
The fear of man often comes when trying to be a 'people pleaser' instead of honoring the Lord and pleasing Him. The Bible teaches that you cannot reverence God and man at the same time.
Galatians 1:10 (NLT2)10 Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.
And in Psalm 56, the writer shows that fear of man evaporates when we place our trust and confidence in the Lord.
Psalm 56:4 (NLT2)4 I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?
In every situation in which we find ourselves and, in each life, problem we meet, we have irrefutable assurance in God's Word that He is able and willing to deliver those that trust in Jesus.
Fear is a dangerous emotion that entangles man in deep, dark problems, and fear is also a favorite tool that is used by the enemy to bring despair, and which can cause a believer to doubt God's Word and the truth of Scripture.
Never allow any fear that is being conceived in your mind to be birthed into a terror that destroys the inner peace that God gives to those that love Him. Rather, be quick to abort any evil brooding, as soon as they come to mind, by setting the eyes of your heart on the face of the Lord Jesus and taking those thoughts captive to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:4-6 (NKJV)4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
Sometimes we allow our fear to block our fellowship with God. Fear can hold us back and accentuate the obstacles in life. It can overwhelm us.
We may have a fear of change—like moving, or losing a job. Or maybe there’s a fear of failure, being alone, or death. There may even be anxiety from cultural events that we can’t control.
I can think back to the times fear caused me to be ineffective and powerless? Fear is a problem of self-reliance and we find ourselves saying, “I can handle it myself.”
God does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. This is the way of victory.
There may be something that is burdening us just now. We don’t see a way of dealing with it. We can cast our fears and anxieties on the Lord.
1 Peter 5:7 NLT Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
Someone wisely said, “Worrying prayer defeats its own answer; rejoicing prayer gets through.”
It’s okay to be concerned, but you don’t have to be fearful.
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment… (1 John 4:18)
2 Timothy 1:7 NLT For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
1. God gives us power. We have the power to choose to stop listening to fear and start trusting God.
2. God gives us love. We can come alongside those who are struggling. God doesn’t just give us enough for us—He always gives us enough to help others, too.
3. God gives us a sound mind. He empowers us to make wise decisions about the next steps in our lives.
Fear of God is what drives us to successful living in the world. Proverbs and Psalms two of the books described as Wisdom literature make it clear that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, a fear equated with the "knowledge of the Holy One"
Proverbs 1:7 (NKJV)7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 9:10 (NKJV)10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Psalm 111:10 (NKJV)10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.
To fear God is to know him and to know him is to fear him. This healthy fear is what enables you to praise God.
Psalm 22:23 (NKJV)23 You who fear the LORD, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel!
Revelation 14:6-7 (NKJV)6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth--to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people--7 saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water."
Healthy fear of God enables us to enjoy His benefits and blessings at his hand.
Psalm 34:9 (NKJV)9 Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:11 (NKJV)11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
Psalm 103:13 (NKJV)13 As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:17 (NKJV)17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children,
Healthy fear of God enables us to rest in peace and security
Psalm 112:7-8 (NKJV)7 He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.8 His heart is established; He will not be afraid, Until he sees his desire upon his enemies.
Healthy fear of God enables us to experience length of days long life.
Proverbs 19:23 (NKJV)23 The fear of the LORD leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.
But always remember fear of God also produces fear of wrath and judgment in those who do not know him or who refuse to serve him. There are, thus, two sides of the fear of the Lord — that which produces awe, reverence, and obedience, and that which causes one to cower in dread and terror in anticipation of his displeasure. But we are to never fear man because man does not have the final say. As Jesus said
Matthew 10:28 NLT “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
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