The KJV Bible tells us 63 times to "fear not," and 31 times to "be not afraid" or "not be afraid." Obviously, God is trying to tell us something very important! Fear is the opposite of Bible hope. Bible hope is a positive expectation based on and supported by a belief in God's Word. Fear is a negative expectation based on and supported by a belief in something bad. Both involve the imagination, the seeing part of our thinking, the ability to visualize something before it happens.
Fear results from the absence of faith in God. Fear is fed by faith in the devil. Fear is the opposite of trusting in God. Faith in God produces Bible hope -- expecting good to happen. Faith in bad things produces fear -- expecting bad to happen. Faith is the support, the foundation, the underlying thing under both hope and fear. You cannot have hope (which is a positive vision) without faith (which is a choice to believe) in something. You cannot have fear (which is a negative vision) without faith (which is a choice to believe) in something bad.
It is your belief that supports, undergirds, and provides the basis for your hope or fear. The belief was a choice you made. Then it became part of your belief system. That provides the basis for your hopes or your fears. Fear is the cause of all worry, for worry is meditation on fear. Some may think some fear is healthy, but no true fear is good. We don't have to fear something to have a healthy respect for it, and thus to act wisely. Fear makes people do irrational things. Reverence for God, sometimes called the "fear of God" is healthy, but has nothing to do with actually being afraid of God.
2 KINGS 6:15-17 NKJ 15 And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" 16 So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, "Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
DEUTERONOMY 31:6 NKJ 6 "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." When you remember that the Almighty God is ALWAYS with you (and in you!) why should you be afraid? LUKE 12:7 NKJ 7 "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. One way to understand how valuable you are to God is to consider the great price He paid to set you free -- the life of Jesus Christ Himself! Not even a good earthly parent would allow his child who trusted in him to be harmed. God loves you more than any earthly parent ever loved their child -- and God has the power to fully protect you. So you can trust in Him.
But when we act in fear, we run from the protection of our wonderful Father God and open the door to our enemy. We should be free from fear because God is for us and watches out for us. The worst that can happen to us (from a worldly perspective) is to die, but even then we will go to be with Jesus. With God on your side, there is really nothing to fear. Knowing God loves you should drive out all fear!
1 JOHN 4:18 NET 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in love. Yes, there will be struggles. There will be trials. But these are just opportunities to overcome and gain eternal rewards. In all we face in life, God has promised to be with us, and to help us. So what is there to fear?
JOSHUA 1:9 NET 9 I repeat, be strong and brave! Don't be afraid and don't panic, for I, the LORD your God, am with you in all you do."
SAY THIS: I will not fear! Jesus is Lord!
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