There are times in our lives when things happen that are totally out of our control. During these times, fear of the unknown can set in, and we become paralyzed with the “What Ifs “. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon. We all have experienced fear to some degree. God knew that doubts and fears would be the tools that Satan would use, to make us not trust His word, promises, and power. They are merely distractions used to make us take our eyes off of God. When we live with these fears too long, we are in bondage. We are being held hostage by Satan. This strips us of the confidence that we should have as God’s children.
Today I would like to share some scriptures with you that speak to the character of God. When we are clear about God’s character, we realize that as His children we have nothing to fear. I hope that learning more about God’s character helps you to fully understand why God commands us to “Fear Not”.
Psalm 46:2 (NIV)
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
Genesis 15:1-6
After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:
“Do not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield,[a]
your very great reward.[b]”
2 But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit[c] my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” 4 Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring[d] be.” 6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
Luke 12:32
32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
UNDERSTANDING THE CHARACTER OF GOD
F
FAITHFUL FATHER
1st John 3:1
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
2nd Thessalonians 3:3
3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.
Deuteronomy 32:4
He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright, and just is he.
Deuteronomy 7:9
9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.
FORGIVING
Psalm 65:3
When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave[a] our transgressions.
FORTRESS
Psalm 18:2
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield[a] and the horn[b] of my salvation, my stronghold.
FRIEND
John 15:13
13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
E
ETHICAL
Luke 18:19
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.
Psalm 34:8
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
A
ABBA FATHER
Romans 8:15
15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[a] And by him we cry, “Abba,[b] Father.”
ALMIGHTY
Revelations 1:8
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
ABUNDANT
Psalm 50:10-12
10 for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine.
12 If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
AWESOME
Psalm 68:35
You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!
Romans 8:38-39
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
ACCURATE
R
RELIABLE
RIGHTEOUS
Deuteronomy 32:4
He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright, and just is he.
RESPONSIBLE
RESTORES
Psalm 23:3 KJV
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
REDEEMER
Psalm 78:35
They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer.
Isaiah 63:16
But you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us or Israel acknowledge us;
you, Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.
N
NEAR
Psalm 145:18
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[a] I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
O
OMNISCIENT
Psalm 147:5
Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.
OMNIPRESENT
Jeremiah 23:24
Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the Lord. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord.
Psalm 139:7-10
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
Omnipotent
Hebrew 1:3
3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
T
TRUTHFUL
Numbers 23:19
God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
TRUSTWORTHY
Psalm 19:7
The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
2 Samuel 7:28
28 Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.
Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
UNHEALTHY FEAR
Romans 8:15
15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[a] And by him we cry, “Abba,[b] Father.”
2 Timothy 1:7
7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
HEALTHY FEAR
HOLY FEAR / RESPECT/ REVERENCE FOR GOD
Proverbs 14:27
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.
Psalm 145:19
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
Isaiah 6:5
5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”
Luke 5:8
8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”
If you have an unhealthy fear of the Lord, remember these three things from Author Kelly Balarie.
1. God doesn’t speak like an accuser.
2. Condemnation is not the sound of his voice.
3. Conviction is his method, but the truth spoken in love is always his manner.
