FEAR

The Bible Speaks

by Leroy Freeman

Get Other Great Books by Leroy Freeman

God’s Power Behind The Wire

Death And The Afterlife ~ The Bible Speaks

11 Evidences Of Eternal Salvation ~ Examine Yourself

HEAVEN and HELL ~ The Bible Speaks

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, including scanning, photocopying, or otherwise without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Copyright © 2012 Leroy Freeman -

P.O. Box 221076 – West Palm Beach, FL 33422 ~ www.mtcm.com

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Fear On The Sea

3. What Is Fear?

4. Healthy and Unhealthy Fears

5. End-Time Fears

6. Biblical Cases of Fear

7. Facing Our Fears

8. The Freeing Fear Of The Lord

9. My Personal Fear

10. Antidote For Fear

11. Scriptures For Times Of Fear

12. Prayer Of Faith For Times Of Fear

13. Quips & Quotes About Fear

14. Jesus ~ Lord Of The Storms

1. Introduction

I believe with all of my heart that we are living in the ‘last days.’ Jesus said that in the ‘last days’ many fearful and frightening things will come upon the earth. Paul said in the ‘last days’ there will be some very hard times.

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” II Timothy 3:1

According to Scripture, I believe that we are in the beginning of those times. Today, the dominant mood of the hour is fear. Many live in fear and worry due to an uncertain economy, inflation, higher taxes, and high unemployment. This has resulted in much fraud, thefts, assaults, injuries, and even deaths.

For each of us there will always be times of fear and worry that will attack our lives. God knew this before the foundation of the world.

Therefore, He sent us a Savior and Deliverer, the Lord Jesus Christ who has come and overcame the world, the flesh, the devil, death, hell, and the grave. Jesus died, but after three days and three nights, He arose with all power in His hands. He now sits at God’s right hand making intercession for us.

Because Jesus lives and watches over every believer, we need not fear or be afraid of any threat or danger. There is a Savior among us that loves us and cares for us. It’s great to know that God has given us His Word to help us deal with the issues of fear and worry. God’s Word is quick, powerful, and eternal. Faith in God’s Word is our shield that is designed to help us quench all the fiery darts of fear and worry.

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Ephesians 6:16

If God’s Word is a daily part of our lives, reliance upon His Word can help us meet and beat any challenge that the enemy of our soul throws at us. In these troubling times, our faith must be at optimum levels of trust in God, if we are to live victorious lives of joy and peace.

We believers are in intense spiritual warfare with the forces of Satan. Casual Christianity of just going to church only on Sunday and reading the Bible every now and then will not work in these ‘last days.’ We must strive to walk close to God and in the power of His Holy Spirit if we are to stand victorious in our profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

We must also:

        Practice holiness at all times

        Forsake not the assembling of ourselves together with other believers

Practicing holiness gives us confidence to believe God for great things, and where there is the unity of believers, there is strength.

We face dangerous and frightening situations every day. We are often troubled and worried about many things that threaten us or our loved ones with danger. We must remember that we have a Savior and Deliverer.

If we concentrate on the Savior and remind ourselves who He is, what He came to do, and what He can do, it should bring joy and peace to our hearts. Our Savior that is within us can handle any problem and help us overcome any situation.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me ... .” Psalm 23:4

The Lord did not promise to always take away the problem, but He did promise that He will take us through it. He is able to strengthen us and give us courage, peace, and joy in midst of whatever we are facing.

We can rest assured that no event or circumstance can come into our lives that will be more than our Savior can handle or can take us through.

The continuing word of God to us is - “Be not afraid.” That statement should give our hearts rest, peace, and joy all the days of our lives.

It is my prayer that this book will help you in your walk with the Lord as you strive to maintain the abundant life of joy, righteousness, and peace in the Holy Ghost.

“I Am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”  John 10:10.

To God be the glory for all the great things He has done and shall continue to do in the wonderful Name of Jesus through the awesome power of the Holy Spirit.              Amen

Pastor Leroy Freeman

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2. Fear On The Sea

“And the same day, when the even was come, He saith unto them, Let us pass

over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took Him even as He was in the ship. And there were also with Him other little ships.

And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And He was in the hinder part of the ship asleep on a pillow: and they awake Him, and say unto Him, Master, carest Thou not that we perish?

And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And He said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?

And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” Mark 4:35-41

After Jesus finished preaching by the Sea of Galilee, He said to His disciples and to some of the others who were following Him, “Let us pass over unto the other side.” After He sent the multitudes away, they all boarded ships. While crossing the sea, a great violent, ferocious storm rose up which produced heavy howling winds. Many mighty dashing waves began to beat upon the ship. The little ship seemed to be in great danger. It was being tossed to and fro and was filling up with water. This produced panic and cries as the disciples feared for their lives.

Then they remembered that Jesus was on board in the hinder part of the ship asleep on a pillow. They awakened Him out of His peaceful sleep crying, “Master, carest Thou not that we perish?” Immediately, Jesus arose and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, “Peace, Be Still!”

At the command of Jesus, the storm immediately subsided. The danger fled and there was a great calm. The ship then sailed smoothly on and they were all safe.

Jesus then said to His disciples, “Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?” In other words, He was saying, Didn’t I tell you that we were going over to the other side? Therefore, we were not going under. No matter how bad it seemed, there was no need for you to fear danger or death.

Even though there was water everywhere on the inside of this little ship, it could not sink because it was upheld by the Word of His Power. Just a little faith in the words of Jesus, about “going over” and making it to the other side, should have soothed all their doubts and calmed all their fears in the midst of the storm.

Beholding everything that had just happened on the sea, the disciples feared exceedingly (or were amazed), and said one to another, “What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

What an awesome display of the power of Jesus that was witnessed that day. This was irresistible proof of His Divinity.

From our text, there are two words that characterized the state of the disciples. These two words are - Fearful and Feared, which comes from the root word Fear.

In our text, Jesus let them know that the answer for their fears was Faith. Fear and Faith are the two things we shall look into as we discuss this remarkable subject.

In all things that we encounter in life, God wants our Faith on display and not our Fears. It has been well said, Fear and Faith cannot keep house together. When one enters, the other must depart.

God wants our Faith on display and not our Fears

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3. What Is Fear?

“.....fear hath torment.”  I John 4:18

Fear - is an emotion of alarm and agitation or mental disturbance caused by the expectation, realization, or perception of instant or future danger.

Someone has well said, “Fear is as old as sin.” I agree with that because before there was sin, there was no mention of fear. It was only after Adam and Eve sinned, by eating from the forbidden tree of the knowledge of good and of evil, that we first hear of fear.

“And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the Garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.

And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard Thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid ... .” Genesis 3:8-10

For mankind, this was the beginning of FEAR in the human race. This fear was caused by disobedience.

Fear Affects All

Every since then, fear has become universal and it comes into everyone’s life. We can’t outrun, outsmart, or successfully hide from it. For each of us there will be times of fear. We even share fear with all creatures.

I love nature. As I take my walks early in the morning, I am almost always by a body of water in the area. I often come across huge alligators minding their own business close to the banks. I love to rush toward them, as though I want to grab, cuddle, or even wrestle them. It’s amazing to see how quickly they can move. As quick as lightning, they disappear and head for deeper waters.

Even though I know how much distance to keep, and that I am no match for the alligators, it’s their God given internal fear that makes them run away.

“And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.” Genesis 9:2

In humans and in all animals, the purpose of fear is to promote survival. God created both man and animals with the capacity to be afraid for their own good. It is fear that alerts us to danger.

If we couldn’t be afraid, we wouldn’t survive long. Without fear we would constantly be putting ourselves into dangerous situations like walking into oncoming traffic, stepping off rooftops, trying to catch bullets, or carelessly trying to track down and pet ferocious animals. It’s fear that helps us to be careful and cautious.

Characteristics of Fear

We all experience fear every now and then. Listed below are some of the most common sensations associated with fears:

        Breathing speeds up

        The heart races

        Dry mouth

        Sinking feeling in the stomach

        Tightened muscles

        Trembling and faintness

These are some of the characteristics of being afraid. These physical responses are intended to help you survive a dangerous situation by preparing you to either run for your life or fight for your life. That’s what it means by either FIGHT or FLIGHT.

We all experience fear in different ways. Fear is a battle fought in the arena of the mind and it may be caused by a real danger or an imagined one. The danger may be immediate, as when a person fears an onrushing wild animal, or hears a loud bump or a bang in the darkness of the night; or fear can be distant, as when a test is to be taken, or there’s a court date appearance. This anticipated fear is often called anxiety.

Even though fear is a normal part of life, living with chronic fear can be both physically and emotionally distressing. Prolonged fear or anxiety can affect the physiological functions of the body, resulting in heart and digestive disorders.

This built in capacity for fear makes fools of two kinds of people:

1.     The one who is afraid of Nothing

2.   The one who is afraid of Everything

No-Fear

Only a fool is fearless. The attitude of many who pretend to be fearless, proudly display the No-Fear symbol. With the tough- guy attitude, they don’t seem to fear anything – danger, disease, death, hell, or the grave. They boldly say, “ I’m tough. I’m not scared.” Many even display a bumper sticker that says, “ Hell is afraid I’ll take over.” This mentality is a sad state of error.

Many foolishly feel that they don’t need Jesus and that they are alright all by themselves.

“Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.” Matthew 22:29

One day I was watching a television show featuring the great Houdini. He was one of the greatest escape artists that ever lived. I heard him say on that program to a group of people, “I have escaped from every bondage imaginable and I will escape death also. Somehow, I will find a way to get back from the grave.”

Houdini died and there hasn’t been a word from him since. He failed to realize that apart from Jesus Christ, there are no exit signs beyond death’s door.

A person with No-Fear doesn’t prepare for what’s ahead. When I was studying the Martial Arts, it was the fear of losing a match that caused me to prepare to be the best that I could be before I stepped into the ring for competition. Without that fear, I would not have trained as I should have and I would not have gotten far.

A wise student studies and prepares before taking an important exam.

“A prudent man forseeth the evil, and hideth (prepareth) himself: but the simple (unprepared) pass on, and are punished.” Proverbs 22:3

Constant Fear

There is also the person who is afraid of everything. They are held captive to extreme, persistent, and unreasonable fears that are often symptoms of mental disorders, demon possession, and demonic oppression. For these tough cases, medical science is doing all it can to keep these disorders under control.

In the Word of God, the disciples faced a father with a little boy who had a mental disorder. This disorder was caused by demon possession which often tried to kill the child. The disciples could not figure out why they could not help this distressed father who came to them for help. Even though the disciples could not help, Jesus was able to bring this child healing and deliverance.

“And when He was come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, Why could not we cast him out? And He said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.” Mark 9:29

I believe that seasons of prayer and fasting by us believers, dependent on the power of the Holy Spirit, will produce the same results as Jesus for those tough cases of demonic possession and oppression.

There are some who are so filled with fear that they go through life running from things that aren’t even after them. They become prisoners to their fears. This type of fear paralyzes and destroys one’s life. In the face of fear, they have a flight mentality. It’s easier for them to run from the fear, contemplate suicide, or other seemingly easier ungodly alternatives, than to face the fear or deal with it in the proper righteous way.

The man of Gadara was possessed by demons and was constantly being tormented. He lived in a graveyard naked. Day and night he was constantly crying and cutting himself with stones. Those around him tried to help this man, but all of their efforts failed.

“… immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:

Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.”  Mark 5:2-4

One day Jesus came by, filled with power and the Holy Ghost, and cast the demons out of this man. Jesus set him free. This man was then found sitting, clothed, and in his right mind (Mark 5:1-20).

After this encounter with Jesus, there were no more extreme, persistent, unreasonable fears, and outbreaks of violence. Jesus changed his life. The man then wanted to follow Jesus, but Jesus said:

“Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.” Mark 5:19

Jesus is still a deliverer today. He still sets the captives (fearful and tormented) free (Luke 4:18). Jesus is the answer for every fear and torment of the devil.

“How God Anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him.” Acts 10:38

Fear Paralyzes Potential

Fear can also paralyze one’s potential. Because of fear, many miss doing useful things. The attitude is: What will others think? What if I fail? What if I mess up?

Fear even causes many Christians to do nothing for the Kingdom of God. There was a man who buried his God given talent in the ground. When questioned by the Master, this is what he said,

“… I was afraid, and went and hid Thy talent in the earth… .” Matt. 25:25

What was his excuse? He said, “I was afraid!” His talent was taken away from him and he was called a wicked and slothful servant.

Don’t cover up fear with excuses, apologies, self-judgment, or with mood-altering chemicals. These are not good hiding places for times of fear. The one thing worse than a quitter, is a person that is afraid to start. It’s better to start and fail, than to never start at all.

Don’t let fear paralyze you into uselessness. Sure, there are things you face that are frightening, but don’t run and hide from your fear. Turn and face it. Even if it’s a slow walk, walk toward it.

There are things you can’t change.              There are things you will not agree with or like, but don’t let that stop or control you. Vow to trust God, face the fear, and seek to overcome it. Even if you should fail, God can turn failure around for your good and His glory.

Fear of the Future is a waste of the Present.

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4. Healthy and UnHealthy Fears

“.....within were fears.”  2 Corinthians 7:5

Fear is a small word with very large consequences. As we have seen, the capacity for fear is within us for self-preservation, which activates our bodies and minds to prepare us to deal with threats. Fear is double-edged - it can save and it can destroy. There are unhealthy and healthy fears.

Unhealthy Fear

Unhealthy fears serve only to make us unhappy and to paralyze us. Everyone knows what it is like to be afraid. We all have things that we are afraid of. As young children, most of us had one or some of these fears:

        Fear of Harmless Insects and Reptiles

        Fear of Darkness

        Fear of Being Alone

        Fear of Strangers

        Fear of Heights

        Fear of Closed Spaces

        Fear of Bodies of Water

I remember as a little boy I was terrified of going to a place called Juno Beach, Florida. I loved the ocean, but in order to get to the park area for the picnic, we had to cross a little wooden bridge. I was terrified that I would fall through the little cracks in the bridge and into the water below. For many years as a child, before going to the beach, the fear of this little bridge paralyzed me and kept me up most of the night and robbed me of my joy of going to the beach. It took much persuading each time, for me to cross that bridge.

I shed many tears as family members and friends laughed at me for my fear of this little bridge. It was a happy day in my life when I finally conquered my fear. Years later as I have gone back to that little bridge, I laugh to think how terrified I was of it.

Unhealthy fear is being afraid of something that cannot actually harm us. If we let them, these unhealthy fears will work around the clock, inventing and even magnifying dangers in our minds. As we mature, most of our childhood fears disappear or become dormant, but we acquire new unhealthy fears, even ones we can do nothing to avoid.

Such as:

        Fear of What Others Think About Us

        Fear of Rejection

        Fear of Speaking In Front of Others

        Fear of Getting Older

        Fear of Losing Loved Ones

        Fear of Disease or Terminal Illness

        Fear of Death

        Fear of God

We must refuse to let unhealthy fears control and consume us. We must refuse to let them rob us of our joy and the abundant life of peace.

Healthy fear

Healthy fear is an awareness and respect for that which is dangerous in life. Healthy fears stand guard to inform us of real dangers and offer us guidance and constructive steps in order to avoid the fear.

Fire is useful for good, but it is to be feared, because it can burn, destroy, and even kill.

Drugs and alcohol in certain instances are useful and good, but they are to be feared, because they can result in dependence, disease, and destroyed lives.

Smoking is to be feared, because the use of tobacco could result in emphysema, lung cancer, and premature death.

Speeding is to be feared, because it could result in traffic tickets, accidents, or even death.

Violence is to be feared, because it breeds more violence and also causes punishment and even death.

Promiscuous sex is to be feared, because it violates God’s law of marriage and causes, guilt, shame, sexually transmitted diseases, and even death.

We must be mindful of healthy fears and let them help us. We must avoid those unhealthy fears which can ruin and even destroy us.

“I sought the Lord and He heard me, and delivered me from ALL my FEARS.” Psalm 34:4

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

♦

5. End-Time Fears

“Men’s hearts failing them for FEAR, and looking

after those things which are coming on the earth…”  Luke 21:26

Jesus said that in the last days, because of the signs of the times and the things that would be coming upon this earth, there will be much fear.

An article shows the relationship between fear and heart failure.

“Study: Intense Fear and Panic Attacks -- Really Can Make Your Blood Clot

Sayings about FEAR like, ‘The blood froze in my veins’ or ‘My blood curdled’ really are more than just common figures of speech, say researchers who have found that intense fear and panic attacks really can make your blood clot.

These blood samples were then measured, based on that which the researchers concluded - that anxiety patients showed a much more highly activated coagulation system than the healthy control group.

The increased coagulation tendency could, said Franziska G., be the ‘missing link’ that explains why anxiety patients have a statistically higher risk of dying from heart disease by a factor of 3 or 4.” Source-ANI

The financial crisis or recession of 2008 caught many people by surprise and was global in its effect. It caused much fear and panic throughout the world. Fear took a tremendous toll psychologically, economically, domestically, physically, and politically, both nationally and world-wide.

Some of the negative results of this financial crisis included the following:

        Loss of Jobs

        Loss of Medical Benefits

        Loss of Homes and Declining Values

        Loss or Evaporated Retirement Funds

With things slipping out of control, the governments of the world had summits in an effort to try and sort it all out. They were at their “ wits end” (all wisdom is swallowed up) in trying to find a solution. It was said among them, “It will not be a quick fix.”

“... at their wit’s end.”  Psalm 107:27

With the fear and panic of the 2008 financial crisis, and especially with the loss of much that had been accumulated, many were physically sick. In addition to physical sickness, fear began to create overwhelming anxiety, causing many to take their lives and the lives of others as well.

World Headlines and Articles

To illustrate the heavy fear hanging in the air because of the 2008 financial crisis, here are a few Headlines and Articles from different Newspapers and Web sites.

        Last Updated: October 12, 2008: 6:40 PM ET - Week of Fear - World rushes to a fix - World leaders scramble for solutions.

        Last Updated: October 13, 2008: 5:50 PM ETAs - Economy Drop, Violence and Fear Soar

        An out-of-work money manager loses a fortune and wipes out his family in a murder-suicide.

        A 90-year-old widow shoots herself in the chest as authorities arrive to evict her from her home of 38 years.

        In Massachusetts, a housewife who had hidden her family's mounting financial crisis from her husband sends a note to the mortgage company warning: "By the time you foreclose on my house, I'll be dead." Then Carlene B. shot herself to death, leaving an insurance policy and a suicide note on a table.

        In Los Angeles, California, last week, a former money manager fatally shot his wife, three sons, and his mother-in- law before killing himself.

        Karthik R., 45, left a suicide note saying he was in financial trouble and contemplated killing just himself. But he said he decided to kill his entire family because that was morehonorable, police said.

        Across the country, authorities are becoming concerned and they are urging people to get help. In some places, mental- health hot lines are jammed, counseling services are in high demand, and domestic-violence shelters are full. With nowhere else to turn, many people are calling suicide-prevention hot lines. The Samaritans of New York have seen calls rise more than 16 percent in the past year, many of them money-related. The Switchboard of Miami has recorded more than 500 foreclosure- related calls this year.

        "A lot of people are telling us they are losing everything. They're losing their homes, they're going into foreclosure, they've lost their jobs," said Virginia C., Executive director of a suicide resource center in southwest Florida's Lee County.

PANIC IN THE STREETS, FEAR IN THE AIR!

Recession fears deepen global rout – Japan’s Nikkei plunges 9.6% to hit five-year low. European shares, U.S. futures tumble. Fear and panic trump good economic news as loonie markets pounded. “This is now about market psychology. There’s extreme fear and panic out there.” Right now, said Burleton, “the focus is on the doom and gloom and nobody can predict a bottom to this. We may see further bouts of panic before we get to somewhat more stable ground.”

ANALYSTS: Markets stuck between fear and panic - PARIS -- Emerging from the wreckage of a historically bad week of trading, dealers from Tokyo to London and New York say the financial turmoil has left markets in an irrational state of fear. Some dealers buried their faces in their hands, unable to watch as index indicators steadily fell Friday morning in scenes that were replayed around the world as each market opened.

"I have never seen anything like this and I hope I never go through anything like this again," said Valerie P., commenting on the clash of the stock fall and the credit freeze. "It’s been a long week in the history of the financial markets," said Joshua R. a strategist for City Index in London. "What is happening now is not just history repeating. If you map out every single event along the way, we are setting a whole new precedent."

I believe that these present days in which we are living are just as Jesus said, “the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:8). We may as well brace ourselves, because I believe that once one crisis is over, there will be another and then another of greater sorrow. This world has much more to go through for rejecting the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the Lord Jesus Christ.

God Is In Control

As bad as things may seem, God is still in control. He is upholding all things by the Word of His power and working all things after the counsel of His own will. As He has taken care of Israel throughout the centuries, He will take care of His body of believers in this twenty-first century. Therefore, we need not fear end-time fears. God will come through for us and meet our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come…; ... But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” II Timothy 3:1,13

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

♦

6. Biblical Cases of Fear

“When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction

cometh as a whirlwind ... for that they hated knowledge,

and did not choose the fear of the Lord.” Proverbs 1:27,29

There are many words that are associated with fear. Let’s look at five.

1. FRIGHT – sudden, intense fear, as of something immediately threatening.

When the three ladies came to the tomb early Sunday morning after the Crucifixion of Jesus, they saw that the stone was rolled away. And upon entering the sepulcher, they saw a young man (an angel) sitting and clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

“And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: He is risen; He is not here: behold the place where they laid Him.

And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulcher; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they anything to any man; for they were afraid.“ Mark 16:5,6,8

Their sight of the angel, caused sudden intense fear.

2. STARTLE – fear that shocks momentarily and causes a quick involuntary movement or start.

Prayer was made without ceasing to get Peter released from jail. When the prayer was answered and Peter was miraculously released, he appeared at the door of the Prayer Meeting and they were astonished or startled. Peter had to tell them to hold their peace, to calm them down.

“But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.

But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison.” Acts 12:1-17

3. PANIC – strong, sudden fear, often groundless and frequently results in loss of self control, and mindless actions.

A great host of Syrians came up against God’s people in Samaria and besieged it. Just before the Syrians attacked the city, the Lord made them hear a great noise.

“For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.

Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.”  2 Kings 7:7

Instead of the Syrians checking it out to see if it really was a legitimate army coming against them, panic took over and off they sped leaving everything. They left their tents, horses, donkeys, silver, gold, weapons, and even pots on the fire. What panic! What mindless action for a well trained army!

4. DISMAY – a sudden or complete loss of courage or confidence in the face of trouble or danger.

The Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel. They came with thirty thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and with people as many as the sand which is on the sea shore.

“When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed), then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.

And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.” 1 Samuel 13:6,7

With such a multitude against them, Israel was without hope or courage. They were dismayed.

5. TERROR – violent, paralyzing fear, usually in the presence of great danger.

Highly trained soldiers were stationed at the tomb of Jesus to make sure that nobody would disturb His dead body. All was well for two days, but suddenly on that third day things changed. Terror overtook those soldiers.

“And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.” Matthew 28:2-4

Other Descriptions of Fear

There are many other words that describe fear. Some of them are – phobia, timidity, care, apprehension, alarm, trepidation, dread, horror, and consternation.

There are also many phrases or slangs that describe fear. Some of them are:

        Heebie-jeebies

        Cold Sweat

        The Creeps

        Jumping out of one’s skin

        Shivering in one’s boots

        Throwing up one’s hands

        Scaring the daylights out of

        Trembling like a leaf

        Making one’s teeth chatter

        Making one’s heart stand still

The Word of God says,

“… Fear hath torment.” 1 John 4:18

Elijah’s Fearful Experience

Fear comes to every life. Elijah was one of the most powerful prophets that lived. He was a man of great courage and was mighty in prayer. On one occasion, Elijah was used of God to call fire down from heaven.

“And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that Thou art God in Israel, and that I am Thy servant, and that I have done all these things at Thy Word.

Hear me, O Lord, hear me that this people may know that Thou art the Lord God, and that Thou has turned their heart back again.

Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.” 1 Kings 18:36-38

On another occasion Elijah was used to raise the dead.

“And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.” 1 Kings 17:22

As great as this man of God was, fear still drove him to despair. When he was threatened by Jezebel for having killed her prophets, he ran for his life. Under a juniper tree Elijah was so filled with fear, he moaned and requested to die.

“But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.” 1 Kings 19:4

It was not Elijah’s time to die, because His earthly ministry was not over. God still had much work for him to do, but God could not use him in that fearful state. Therefore, the Lord came to him, reassured him, strengthened him, and renewed his faith.

God calmed every fear that he had. Then Elijah was able to get up, run on, and finish his ministry in triumph and victory.

“And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” 2 Kings 2:11

God knows our frame. He remembers that we are but dust. In times of fear, He will come to us and say,

“FEAR NOT. For I Am with you!”

In the midst of all our fears, we must not panic, but trust God to either fix us or fix the situation we are facing.

“Fear Not” ~ the most often repeated phrase in the Bible.

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7. Facing Our Fears

“Man that is born of a woman is of a few days and full of trouble.” Job 14:1

In each life, there will always be problems, stress, dissatisfaction, discomfort, and pain. These troubles often produce fears. To help overcome fear, you must first look at the fear and listen to what it is saying and what it is threatening you with. Call it out and be determined to face it.

Our response in the presence of fear is very important. We can’t control many of the things that produce fear, but we are in charge of our responses.

As we go through life, there will be many unhealthy fears that come against our lives with the sole intention of driving us to panic. These fears must be mastered, because fears have a way of producing the thing that it is afraid of.

For example, even though Job was a perfect, and an upright man, one that feared God and avoided evil, he still carried certain fears around with him. It seems that what troubled him was the fear of having all of his livestock gone, his children killed, his body diseased beyond recognition, his wife telling him to give up “curse God and die”, and then having his best friends accuse Him of being a hypocrite. I know this is so because Job said it himself.

“For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.” Job 3:25

Job’s fears came to pass. He was forced to face them. In facing them, he got to experience the hand of God like he had never known before. At the end of his many months of trial, God commended Job and brought him out with more than what he had before his terrible ordeal.

“I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee. And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” Job 42:5,10

I too have had many fears in my life that I have been forced to face. If I could have, I would have avoided them all. But God allowed them to come and challenge my life so that they might be conquered. God wants His Power to reign supreme in our lives and not our fears. When there is a certain fear, God often allows circumstances to be arranged so that we can face the fear and learn to fear only Him.

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed: for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10

There are many unreal, imagined, and unreasonable fears that plague us all. We must reject these fears and be determined to face them. We must sort out our thoughts and allow only those that are sane, sensible, wholesome, and truthful to stay in our minds, if we are to enjoy good mental health and peace of mind.

We must learn the Word of God, strive to keep our minds stayed on Him, and cast out everything else that is contrary to what God says.

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” II Corinthians 10:5

”Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For Thou art with me ... .” Psalm 23:4

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8. The Freeing Fear Of The Lord

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Proverbs 9:10

There are many definitions for Fear. The most important definition is the one which helps us overcome all other types of fear.

Fear - extreme reverence or awe, as toward a supreme power.

This is the type of fear which acknowledges the power of God and bows in awe and reverence before Him.

At one time in my life, I feared God with the fear of bondage. All I saw in Him was a mean God that wanted to cramp my style and take all the fun out of my life. Therefore, I tried to stay at a distance from Him. I was doing a good job at keeping my distance, but somehow He would not leave me alone. The Lord kept showing up in my life by sending me messages through His followers that He loved me.

One day His great love penetrated my sinful heart. I saw for the first time that what Jesus did on Calvary’s Cross was on my behalf. The precious blood that He shed was for me, so that I might be saved and have a right relationship with God. Yes, Jesus loved me and wanted me to spend all eternity with Him.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

One day I could not hold out any longer. I repented and received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Amazingly, when the Lord walked into my life, He cast out all my fear of being in His presence, and of one day going to Hell.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus...” Romans 8:1

Now, I love walking and talking daily with Him. Because I now know He lives and He lives in me, I can face tomorrow. Now, I rejoice in having the righteousness of Jesus Christ and the hope of Heaven. His great love has conquered the fear of Hell and the Lake of Fire that tormented me for years.

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear.”  1 John 4:18

One of life’s greatest discoveries is a thing called the “freeing fear of the Lord.” This is the spiritual place of seeing only God, His awesome power, and knowing that He has everything under control. This freeing fear of the Lord is a powerful thing in the

life of a believer. This freeing fear of the Lord controlled Paul’s attitude as he faced prison, hardships, and even death.

“None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy… .

For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the Name of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 20:24; 21:13

The fear of bondage and even the fear of death had to take a backseat to Paul’s faith in God. The fear and reverence of God teaches us that He is the only One whom we should fear.

“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him (God)… .” Matthew 10:28

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”  2 Timothy 1:7

Solomon said,

“Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13

Our fear of God and reverence for God invites us to choose what is right, not because we are terrified of His wrath, but it’s deeper than that. Our fear of Him includes the love covenant relationship that we have with Him. This love relationship should cause us to want to always please the One we’ve come to love.

“For the love of Christ constraineth us … .”  2 Corinthians 5:14

It’s not my fear of Him, but my love for Him, that constrains or holds me back from the wrong that I am constantly tempted to do. Because I have been made a partaker of His divine nature, my constant desire is to please the One that has done so much for me. This is proof that I have been changed internally. This freeing fear of the Lord has done more for me than I could have ever imagined.

At one time I didn’t understand this freeing fear of the Lord, but now I cherish it. Through an understanding of His great love for me, my life now is sweet and my joy is complete in Him. It provides great comfort to know that nothing will ever separate me from God’s great love.

“… for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Hebrews 13:5,6

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1

I have been delivered from the fear of death, because of the freeing fear of the Lord.

“... He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Hebrews 2:14,15

When we experience the freeing fear of the Lord, we are immediately led to life’s great discovery, that the only One whom we need to fear comes to us in love, and tells us not to be afraid. Therefore, when fear comes with its torment, the realization and the awareness of God’s perfect love for us should cast out all fears.

Knowing God’s great love for us should cause us to trust Him and help relieve our fears.

“… as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” Joshua 1:5, 9

“Then had the churches rest...and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost ... .” Acts 9:31

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9. My Personal Fear

“And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.” I Corinthians 2:3

Phobia – a persistent, abnormal, or illogical fear of a specific thing or situation. A strong fear or dislike.

Growing up I was a middle child in a family of eight. I was addicted to sugar and suffered with severe acne. This caused me to became very reclusive and as a result I became a shy loner and as often as I could, I withdrew from others.

In those times, in my little world of solitude and seclusion, I felt so much comfort and peace. All I needed was a book and silence and I was happy.

Even though I loved people and was liked by many, I did not enjoy social encounters. In social settings, somehow I would experience brain freeze and have nothing to say. I tried and tried, but my brain would not function in the art of conversation. Once the “how are you doing” was said, I was done with conversation.

When I was forced to attend social settings you could always find me, I was the one in the back, over in the corner trying to hide. In order to function socially, I would drink a fifth of wine just to be able to communicate and feel comfortable about speaking.

When I met my girlfriend Patricia, whom I later married, she was very popular and outgoing. We were total opposites. I was shy and she was a great communicator. A few minutes with her and she would have your whole life story. When we met, she was too young to realize the seriousness of my social phobia. We survived the dating years with most of those years being away from the crowd. Later, we were married.

Called to Preach

The Lord saved me at twenty-one years of age. Six months later I felt the call to preach the Gospel. I was excited at first, but quickly dismissed the thought because I was terrified of public speaking. I said, “Preach? Not me Lord! Stand before people? Not me! There must be some type of mistake, Father.” It was no mistake, it was the Spirit of God. The Lord had spoken. He wanted me to go in His Name, stand before people, and preach the Gospel.

It’s amazing how God can take foolish things to confound the wise, and how He can take weak things and use them to confound the things that are mighty. I know it’s true, because it happened in my life.

Many don’t believe me and are shocked when I tell my testimony of shyness, especially when I let them know that deep down on the inside, much of the shyness remains. To do what I do and have done over the years in ministry is an awesome testimony to the power of God.

This social phobia that I thought would be my biggest hindrance in carrying the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, has actually turned out to be one of my biggest blessings in ministry. It’s the fear or the phobia of social shyness that makes me much more dependent on the Spirit of God. This phobia that I have makes me prepare, prepare, and over prepare in order to face my fear each time.

Because of Jesus and the power of His Holy Spirit, I have been able to face my fear each time He has called me to deliver His Word. When the phone rings or I’m invited to preach, it would be so easy to say, “No thanks. My schedule won’t allow it.” But over and over again (when I’m led of God), it’s always, “Yes, I’ll be there, I’ll stand and speak. I’ll say a few words for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

As a result of my willingness to forego the fear of my social phobia, God continues to empower me to stand and speak in public, sit and counsel others, lead meetings, and even relax at social functions.

One of my biggest challenges was being asked to lead a KAIROS International Prison Ministry team of twenty-six men (clergy and laymen) from many different denominations into a maximum security prison for a weekend of ministry. I feared all of the social contact that would be involved in putting this all together. I tried to get out of it and said, “No” six times before finally saying “Yes.” My answer of “Yes” was followed by the continuous urging of the Lord. I could hear Him say, “What’s the problem? It’s a work of the Holy Spirit. I just need a vessel to work through. Do it.”

I faced my fear and it was amazing what the Spirit of God accomplished in all of our lives that glorious weekend of ministry. I’ll never be the same.

When I am led to go and share God’s Word, I prepare to the best of my ability. Then I rely upon the strength of the Lord God and leave the results with Him.

“I will go in the strength of the Lord God.”  Psalm 71:16

When I stand, I stand in His Name and through His power, all these years He has never failed me.

“… as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid; neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” Joshua 1:5,9

God has no respect of persons. Whatever fear that you are faced with, the Lord can help you to overcome it. If you are willing, He can and will use your fear, and even help you to defeat your fear in order to make you a blessing to others. Through the power of God, there is no fear that can’t be faced and overcome.

What He’s done for me, He can and will do for any and all who will trust Him.

“For there is no respect of persons with God.”  Romans 2:11

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10. The Antidote For Fear

“So then Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Romans 10:17

We can rest assured that any fear we may have is covered by one or more of the promises of God. The promises given in the Word of God are the best antidote for fear. Exposure to the Word of God builds faith, and when faith comes, fear must leave.

Fear and faith are opposites. They cannot keep house together. When one enters, the other must depart.

The battleground is the mind. We must keep our minds stayed on the Lord, remembering that with Jesus we are safe.

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.” Isaiah 26:3

The storms of life will come. At times, fierce winds are going to be howling all around us. The gates of hell will constantly threaten to engulf us. It’s okay to come trembling to the Savior. He has bidden us to come and call on His great Name.

“Let us therefore come boldly to the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in the time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

God knows all about our troubles. He cares and He understands.

“O Lord, Thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thoughts afar off. Thou compasseth my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.” Psalm 139:1-3

Jesus has been through all that we go through.

“For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”  Hebrews 4:15

When we call on Him, He will hear our faintest cry and He will answer by and by. He will rebuke the fear that is threatening us and comfort us on every side.

Through Him:

        We can face foes and danger

        We have power to bear up under trials

        We can triumph in persecutions

        We have power to withstand sickness and disease

This is the mighty message and plan of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Not one word of His promises has ever failed.

“…..according to all that He promised: there hath not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised….” I Kings 8:56

“For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” 2 Corinthians 1:20

This knowledge of Him and His Word should calm our fears and inspire our hearts, minds, and souls with boldness and holy courage.

“…the righteous are as bold as a lion.” Proverbs 28:1

There will be fears, but we must give our fears to the Lord in prayer. This is what the Psalmist did when he was troubled, and it worked.

“I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4

As a Child of God, why should we fear? God has been good to us. He has done so much (for us not to trust Him). His will for our lives is awesome. Jesus came to deliver us from a lifetime of bondage to the spirit of fear.

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

If we stand in awe of Him and walk close to Him, the fears that have bombarded our minds will be brought unto subjection of His Mighty Power. We have been given power to cast down troubling thoughts and fears, but we must use it.

“Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ ... .”  2 Corinthians 10:5

There are many mysteries in life that we do not understand. Still we must trust God. Through it all, He always has our best interest at heart. Time and time again I have seen dreaded evils and fears pass away as I trusted and depended on the power of God.

The song says, “ Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.”

The song also says, “Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares I have already come; ‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home!”

If we are acquainted with God, we can be at peace, and thereby good will come to us. Those who fear are the ones who look only at their circumstances, and not unto God. Someone has well said, “Glance at the problems, but stare at the promises.”

None of us will ever outgrow the spiritual warfare against fear. We must simply learn to fight the good fight of faith. According to Scripture, the devil is a defeated foe who knows who we are and Who we have on the inside.

“And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy Name.” Luke 10:17

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He (JESUS) that is in you, than he (the forces of Satan) that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4

The truth of the matter is – it’s the devil who should be trembling because of us believers, and not the other way around.

Remember when the children of Israel were walking in obedience to God and on the move toward the Promise Land, it was the enemy that was trembling and afraid.

Rahab said, “I know that the Lord hath given you the land and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.

And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain anymore courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, He is God in Heaven above, and in earth beneath.” Joshua 2:9,11

The same is true today. Concerning our God, “the devil (demons) fear and tremble.” James 2:19

That’s why Paul said,

“And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” Philippians 1:28,29

We are King’s kids. We have nothing to fear but fear itself. Let us REST on the promises of    God.

“Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us … .” Ephesians 3:20

Let us prepare ourselves spiritually by praying and feeding on the Word of God. Let’s be determined to put every fear under our feet. If we don’t, we will be forced to face the fear in order to show that God is well able to bring us through it.

If we stand in awe of God, aware of His presence and aware of His power, this should release us from the bondage of the terror of our fears.

“And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear Him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear Him.“ Luke 12:4,5

Trust is meaningless if there is nothing to fear. That’s why fears are allowed to challenge us, because they are a part of our growth process into His image. Watching His power in the midst of fear teaches us deeper trust in God. As He provided reassurance to the Psalmists, He will do the same for us.

“I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and He delivered me from ALL my fears.” Psalm 34:4

The song says, “What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms. I have blessed peace with my Lord so dear, leaning on the everlasting arms. Leaning on Jesus - Leaning on Jesus - Safe and secure from all alarms.”

God wants us to express our fears and then TRUST Him.

“What time I am afraid, I will Trust in Thee.”  Psalm 56:3

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11. Scriptures For Times Of Fear

The cure for fear is faith. Let’s fill our hearts and minds with the Word of God so that we will be ready in the times of trouble and fear. Here are some verses that will help you to trust God in times of fear.

“Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the Lord shall be thy confidence….” Proverbs 3:25,26

“Ye are of God little children and have overcome them because greater is He (Jesus) that is within you, than he (the devil) that is within the world.” 1 John 4:4

“The Lord is my Light and my Salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the Strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.” Psalm 27:1,3

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: For Thou art with me.” Psalm 23:4

“I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from All my fears.” Psalm 34:4

“When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” Isaiah 59:19

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18

“God is with us. ... neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.” Isaiah 8:10,12

“Fear thou not: for I am with thee: be not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee: yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth,

give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” Proverbs 29:25

“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” Joshua 1:9

“By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honor, and life.” Proverbs 22:4

“In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge.” Proverbs 14:26

“The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.” Psalm 34:3

“...fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life. But I trusted in Thee, O Lord:I said, Thou art my God.”  Psalm 31:13,14

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12. Prayer Of Faith For Times Of Fear

“Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great

and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3

Father in the precious Name of Jesus Christ, I thank You for Your great love. Forgive me for the wrong that I have done and the sin knowingly or unknowingly that I have committed.

Lord, I realize that we are not to be fearful or afraid, but that we are to trust You. At this time, I confess that I am fearful of what I am facing. I ask that You take this fear out of my mind, heart, and life right now. Strengthen me and help me to trust You and be ALL that You would have me to be.

I rebuke the hand of the enemy that comes to make me afraid. I come against him through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, who loves me and lives within me. For truly Greater is He (Jesus) that is within me, than he that is in the world. This is what I believe and Lord help me continue to confess this in the times of all my fears.

Now Lord, You have not given me the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. Therefore, I thank You for victory, deliverance, and power. I refuse to wait until the battle is over, but I shall shout right now!

Victory today is mine. Victory today is mine. Hallelujah! In Jesus Name!              Amen

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13. Quips & Quotes About Fear

“Both fear and faith sail into the harbor of your mind, but only faith should be allowed to Anchor.” 1

“Fear tends to produce the thing that it’s afraid of.” 1

“The greatness of our fears shows us the littleness of our faith.” 1

“While fear slows down our thinking process, it greatly improves our footwork.” 1

Babe Ruth said, “Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.”

You gain strength, courage, and confidence with each fear that you face and overcome. Each victory will help you to win other victories.

“It is easy to be brave from a safe distance.” 1

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but doing what you are afraid to do.”

What an amazing verse by Mrs. C. D. Martin as she penned the words of His Eye Is On The Sparrow.

“Let not your heart be troubled, His tender word I hear, And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears; Tho’ by the path He leadeth, But one step I may see: His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me.”

F-E-A-R

F -- False

E -- Evidence

A -- Appearing

R -- Real

1MAC’S Giant Book Of Quips & Quotes, E.C. McKenzie, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Copyright 1980

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14. Jesus ~ Lord of The Storms

“When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take Him by force, to make Him a king, He departed again into a mountain Himself alone.

And when even was now come, His disciples went down unto the sea, And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.

And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid. But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid. Then they willingly received Him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.”              John 6:15-21

The thing that God truly desires to have from each of us is a relationship. Adam and Eve in the beginning had a close relationship with God.

Their relationship was severed when they disobeyed God and ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and of Evil. The fall of man in the Garden of Eden put a great distance between God and man.

When the sin gap was created by man, there was no way that man in his own self or power could get back what he had lost. If it had not been for the compassion and the grace of God, mankind would have been lost forever.

God came to man’s rescue after man’s fall, and gave man a way to once again find favor with Himself. That way was through sacrifice. Not just any type of covering or sacrifice would do. Adam and Eve tried to cover themselves with fig leaves, but that would not do. It had to be a blood sacrifice. God gave them coats of skin that came from innocent animals blood (Genesis 3:21).

The blood of those innocent animals, pointed to the supreme sacrifice that Jesus Christ would one day make on Calvary’s Cross.

“But now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” Hebrews 9:26

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Hebrews 9:12

God’s love for us and His desire to have a close relationship with us caused Him to give His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ on our behalf. God gave Jesus even while we were yet in our sins.

“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:8

Once we receive Jesus as Savior, our sins are forgiven and we are then, born-again. We are born into the family of God, which restores our relationship with God through Christ.

“For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” II Corinthians 5:21

All our sins are then cast into the sea of God’s forgetfulness, and we are given a brand new start.

After we come to faith in Christ, God wants us to grow in our relationship with Him. We are commanded to “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18

As we begin to grow in Him, life takes on a new meaning. The new meaning should be one of getting to know Jesus more and then setting out to make Him known. This process of knowing the Lord more comes about in many different ways. One of the ways that God uses to cause us to know Him more is through lessons or trials.

These lessons or trials are something that we don’t like to hear, but it is the truth. The Scriptures point out over and over again that God uses trials to deepen our faith in Him.

A series of miracles took place to give the disciples a closer look at Jesus and who He really was.

In John chapter 6, there was a multitude following Jesus around. They had seen Him work physical miracles on those that were sick. Now, they had just seen Him feed five thousand men, not counting the women and children, with five barley loaves and two little fish.

This made such an impression on the mob, that they said, this is what we need, a Prophet like Moses. He’ll heal us and feed us. Let’s make Him a king and no doubt He can mobilize us, lead us, and eventually, we can then overtake the Romans.

Their thoughts were only on the physical. Jesus did not come here to set up a physical kingdom the first time that He was here. He came to set up a spiritual kingdom, and they had missed what Jesus was really trying to do.

To get his disciples away from that type of thinking and the error of this mob mentality, Jesus constrained them or strongly urged them to go to Capernaum.

“And straightway Jesus constrained His disciples to get into a ship, and to go before Him unto the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.”  Matthew 14:22

Now, Capernaum was about six to seven miles away. The disciples got in the little ship and off they went.

After the multitude was gone, Jesus departed into the mountain alone to commune with His Father, by spending time in prayer. Nothing got in the way of the prayer life of Jesus - not preaching, not teaching, nor serving. He was often alone in secret prayer with the Father.

He said, “Men ought always to pray…” Luke 18:1

The Disciples on the sea

The disciples obeyed. They manned the oars, and started to row. At first, all was well out on the sea. Then it got dark. They encountered a storm and the sea became very rough. The wind was howling and the waves were crashing against them. They were seemingly in big trouble.

I read that even today on the Lake of Galilee, when those winds and waves kick up, they keep the motor boats at the dock. They dare not go out there in that sea in the time of a storm. Can you imagine being in that little boat in a storm like that?

I’ve been in rough waters at night in a little boat, and it was not fun. A few years before my salvation, I went out into the ocean one night with my boss for a boat ride in his little boat. It got dark and it seemed like we were the only ones in the ocean. The winds picked up and the water became very choppy.

To get back to the shore we had to come through the inlet. The waters were so rough and treacherous that I didn’t think we were going to make it. We were the only ones out there and there was no help in sight.

Being unsaved at the time, I was terrified and afraid of death. I said to myself, “ What was I thinking, by getting in this little boat!” I prayed that night and made all kinds of promises to God. I thank God we made it. Then I quickly forgot my promises I made to God.

Now, back to the disciples. They had been rowing the boat for hours, yet they had made very little progress against the fierce storm. Their limbs were bone tired. They were no farther than the middle of the lake and still they were about three miles from shore. The disciples were tired and frustrated. They were having a difficult time.

I’m sure there were questions such as - Where is Jesus? Is He sleeping somewhere, while we are out here rowing? Why would He send us out here like this?

The disciples were right about their assessment of the situation. Indeed, it was Jesus that had put them in that situation. It was Jesus that told them to go to Capernaum. It was Jesus who orchestrated this whole event.

However, the question is, why did Jesus send them into the sea like that? I believe that Jesus deliberately sent them into the sea to face that storm to teach them an important lesson.

Through this event of the storm and the sea, God would give them a clearer picture of Who Jesus really was and is. Jesus was more than a man. They had to know His divinity in order to carry out His mission of evangelism.

As we also go forth in daily missions of evangelism, we too must know who Jesus really is. God still uses stormy encounters of life in order to give us clearer pictures of Himself and His ways. Therefore, there will be storms in our lives.

Life’s Storms

There are some myths in our day about life’s storms. Many believe that obedience to God produces smooth sailing. Yes, obedience does bring blessings into our lives, but obedience does not necessarily produce smooth sailing. We believers will still have our storms.

There are two types of storms.

1.     Storms of Correction

2.   Storms of Perfection.

Storms of Correction

Some storms happen as a result of our personal sins. When we yield to temptation, it gets us in trouble with God and this can cause storms. These storms come to help cleanse us from the error of our ways. These are storms of Correction.

Remember the man who was lame for thirty eight years?

Jesus said, “Behold thou art made whole, sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”  John 5:14

This man’s infirmity seems to have happened because of something he had done - some personal sin or disobedience. This was a storm of correction.

Storms of Perfection

There are some storms which we are called to go through which are not a result of something that one has done wrong. These are storms of Perfection.

Remember in John 9:1-3, the man that was blind from birth? The disciples asked, “Master who did sin that this man was born blind?” Jesus said, “Neither hath this man sinned nor his parents.” The reason was so that the works of God might be made manifest in his life. This man’s blindness would be used to bring God glory. This was a storm of Perfection.

There will also be some that think the storms of life are there because one’s faith is not strong enough to move or end it. Beloved, that is not always the case.

The Word of God reveals that the Apostle Paul had great faith. Yet, he was in many storms (II Corinthians 11:23-28). For one particular storm Paul sought the Lord three times to get him out of it and deliver him.

But God said, “My grace is sufficient for thee. My strength is made perfect in your weakness.” II Corinthians 12:7-10

Once this was made known to Paul by God, Paul gladly accepted the will of God and rejoiced in all that he was called to suffer for the cause of Christ.

“Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”  II Corinthians 12:9,10

Beloved, attached to the Christian life is persecution, suffering, and spiritual warfare. It’s all a part of the Christian call. That’s what taking up the Cross and following Jesus is all about. What they did to the Master, they will also do to His servants.

Now, the disciples sea trip was Jesus’ idea. The Bible says, “ He constrained” or sent them. Notice, this storm came because they were IN the will of God.

Storms of life

All of us will face storms. Sometimes life gets tough, sometimes things can get messy fast, and sometimes there seems to be no end as to how bad it can get.

We can’t forget the recession of 2008 and how it brought with it many worldwide crises. It brought many crises such as housing, energy, rising oil prices, cutbacks, downsizing, disappearing paychecks, and faded American Dreams for many.

There are also other storms that we have to contend with. There is:

        Disease

        Disability

        Collapse of loving relationships

        Loved ones taken over by addictions and evil habits

        Growing older and all the complications it brings

There are winds of change on every turn. In our own strength, we seem powerless to make any headway against these storms.

When the seas are raging, and it looks like the ship of our lives are about to sink in the midst of the storms, oftentimes it causes fear and worry as life seems to be unraveling.

Then there is the cry, “Where are You Jesus? Don’t You care? Can’t You see what I’m going through?”

Let’s look at the hand of God in this text. Did Jesus really leave the disciples? The answer is NO. His eyes were on them all the time. Miles away, in the black darkness, He saw them struggling with the storm that He had raised up for them. In the midst of their fear, confusion, and even terror, they didn’t realize that Jesus was interceding and praying for them. His eyes were on them all the time (Mark 6:48).

In the fourth watch of the night, it was not too early and it was not a moment too late. Here comes Jesus walking on the water. Suddenly, out of the darkness they see Someone. It’s a faint figure in the distance, effortlessly approaching them. How could a man walk on the surface of the water as if it was dry ground? Would he not sink and drown?

Suddenly someone cried out, “It is a ghost.” The disciples were terrified, and every trace of courage vanished. They were filled with so much fear that it made them forget about the wind and the waves.

Often times God shows up in unexpected ways. The thing we think is a curse can turn out to be our biggest and best blessing.

The disciples, after seeing what appeared to be a ghost, heard a voice saying, “It is I, be not afraid.” It was Jesus. It was Jesus. He had not abandoned them. He had come to them.

Right in front of them, they witnessed the miracle of Jesus exerting His full power over nature. He exercised power over the law of gravity and power over the law of liquidity. These forces were fully subject unto Him. Jesus had created these laws of the universe, and of course He could override and overrule them anytime He wanted to.

Jesus identified Himself as I Am, in a sense the very name of God. This encounter strengthened their faith. The disciples saw Jesus like they had never seen Him before.

When Jesus got into the boat the wind ceased. Not only that, but they were at their destination immediately. What an amazing night, the disciples had that night.

The next day, I don’t think it was the storm that stuck out in their minds, nor their heroic effort to get to other side. But I think it was Jesus and Who He really was that filled their thoughts. The encounter they had in the midst of the storm, pointed them in the right direction as to Who Jesus really was.

Jesus often demonstrates the reality of His claims. He piles signs upon signs to prove who He claims to be. He is the Lord of all storms. He rules over all creation, time, and space. I’ve seen His mighty hand time and time again in my life.

We all encounter frequent storms in life. God is sovereign over all that happens in our lives. We are not alone at any time in our Christian lives. The Lord is always with us through His Spirit.

“… for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5

If you are currently experiencing some difficulties or troubles in your life, there is no need to fear or worry. Jesus has His eyes on you. He is actively praying for you. He is interceding on your behalf right now. Do you know that?

“... He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25

“Jesus Christ is entered into “Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” Hebrews 9:24

For each storm of life that you encounter, perhaps there is something you need to learn. Remember, it’s God who sets up the classroom. It is God who sends the lesson.

Then, He prays for your success of the lesson and for your Christian perseverance through that lesson.

Jesus told Peter, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee; that thou faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Luke 22:31

After the arrest of Jesus, Peter failed by denying Jesus three times. This was the result of that denial.

“And he went out and wept bitterly.”                 Matthew 26:75

God did not leave him in that state. Jesus came to him and restored him.

“He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me? And Peter said unto Him, Lord, Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.” John 21:17

On the Day of Pentecost Peter did just that, he fed the sheep as Jesus had commanded. God used him mightily as he preached the Word of God and three thousand lives were changed from death to life.

“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” Acts 2:41

Jesus is actively praying for us in every situation that we face, that our faith will not fail, that we will stand firm, and that we will endure and persevere to the end.

In order to be effective in our walk and witness, we need to be rock solid as to Who Jesus is. We must know that He loves us, that each and every event that occurs in our lives is allowed by the hands of an All-Wise providence, and that the events allowed are good for us.

When facing our trials and tribulations, we must say to ourselves, if God brings an event or storm to me, and it bear upon me, He has a purpose for me in it. Not only is He watching over me in it, but He’s praying for me in it. What a Great Deliverer God is. God cares not only for my salvation, but for everything about me.

Of all the promises Jesus gave to us about Heaven, Eternal Life, the Rapture, etc., probably among the most meaningful are those where He says,

“I will never leave thee.” Hebrews 13:5

“Lo I am with you always.” Matthew 28:20

“I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you.” John 14:18

There is never a need to fear or worry because we are never alone at any moment of the trial or difficulty. God does not promise that we can avoid the storms and that He will prevent unfair or terrible things from happening to us. But He does provide assurance that when the worst does happen, we are not alone. He will help us and guide us through each event.

David said of the Lord, “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For Thou art with me.”

Psalm 23:4

My counsel to those in the midst of a storm is -- God knows the load you bear. God knows what opposition you are fighting against right now.

“Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thoughts afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.” Psalm 139:2,3

The Lord of Storms

In our text, Jesus calmed the storm. At His command, the waves and the winds lay down at His feet like little puppies.

What is your storm today? Jesus can handle it. He can calm your storm. He is the Lord of all storms.

God knows what He is doing. He never makes mistakes. Call on Him and in His time, the winds will cease, and there will be peace. Sometimes He calms the storm and sometimes He let the storm continue to rage, but He calms us in the storm.

The Lord can bring peace to the storm that’s raging in your mind and heart right now. Jesus says, “ It is I, do not be afraid. My eyes are upon you. I Am praying for you. You are going to make it through this. I will provide.”

There are no pointless trials. If Jesus sent us into a storm, His authority is reigning over it even though it may be raining on us.

Your storm may be caused by your sin or your failure, but God is still able to make something positive out of it. He can walk right over the top of the storm. He is bigger than any of our problems. We can face any enemy on the outside, because Jesus is on the inside.

“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.”  I John 4:4

When the going gets rough and the love of God seems furthest away, do not be fearful. Do not be afraid. The love of Christ rides with you. His love will bear you up and sustain you through each and every circumstance.

God is sovereign and He controls all. He’s the Master of the sea. Billows His will obey. He rules over the winds, the sea, storms, nations, kings, rulers, wicked men and over all their schemes. If you’re unsaved, He wants to be your Savior. Be saved today.

Remember: If you are born again, God does not always use the sunshine to teach us, often times He uses storms. None of us can dodge storms. We will all have our times on life’s stormy seas. These trials or storms are not designed to sink our boat, but they are to enhance our navigation skills. As children of God, we are never alone. No matter what the test, we are to REJOICE. God is up to something. He’s doing something special in our lives.

There is no need to fear or worry. There is One who stands by us and will never leave us. His Name is Jesus. He has already proved His love for us. For while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Now that He arose and lives again, there is nothing that He won’t do for us. He is our Salvation and our Mighty Deliverer. When we come to Him and Him alone, He will help us overcome the insurmountable circumstances that test our lives.

“Those that come to God must believe that He IS, and that He is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6

“In our lives there is bound to come some pain, surely as there are storms and falling rain; Just believe that the One who holds storms will bring the sun.”  Unknown

“God left the world unfinished for man to work his skill upon. He left electricity still in the cloud, the oil still in the earth. How often we look upon God as our last and feeblest resource. We go to Him because we have nowhere else to go. And then we learn that the storms of life have driven us, not upon the rocks, but into the desired haven.”              George MacDonald

May God Richly Bless You.  Amen

♦

Email & Contact Information

More Than Conquerors Life Center

Pastor Leroy Freeman

P.O. Box 221076

West Palm Beach, FL 33422

Email: leroyfreeman@mtcm.com

Go forth and enjoy your SALVATION.

God bless you in your walk with Him!

♦

Get Other Great Books by Leroy Freeman

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WORRY ~ The Bible Speaks

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God’s Power Behind The Wire

11 Evidences Of Eternal Salvation

HEAVEN and HELL ~ The Bible Speaks

Public Domain Titles Edited by Leroy Freeman

Lord Teach Us To Pray

The Pursuit Of God

As A Man Thinketh

The Chocolate Soldier

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Table of Contents

Copyright

1. Introduction

2. Fear On The Sea

3. What Is Fear?

4. Healthy and Unhealthy Fears

5. End-Time Fears

6. Biblical Cases of Fear

7. Facing Our Fears

8. The Freeing Fear Of The Lord

9. My Personal Fear

10. Antidote For Fear

11. Scriptures For Times Of Fear

12. Prayer Of Faith For Times Of Fear

13. Quips & Quotes About Fear

14. Jesus ~ Lord Of The Storms

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