And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. (Luk 21:25-26)
In these last days, where the "powers of heaven shall be shaken", the body of Christ is ill-prepared for what is to come.
Now I do mot make this statement in a spirit of judgment or condemnation rather one of genuine concern for the church. And this because the pharisaic spirit has again shut off the kingdom of heaven to many of God's children just as it did in the time of Christ.
Many people, myself included, subscribe to the idea that the more often something appears in scriptures the more importance it carries along with it. The word "fear" appears in the bible some 400 times (84 times in KJV NT and 316 times in the OT).
Of those 84 times we see the word fear in the NT, fourteen of those occasions include the word "NOT", which means that the word fear is actually mentioned in the NT scriptures 70 times in the NT not four hundred times. ( we see the same thing happening 48 times within the old) So the bible actually has the word "fear" within its pages some 282 times. Still significant, but not 400 times.
Within the Hebrew texts there are four Hebrew words translated into the English word fear, and within the Greek scriptures of the NT two Greek words translated:
First we have the word φοβέω phobeō. This word is a primary φέβομαι phebomai (to be put in fear); alarm or fright: - be afraid, exceedingly, fear, terror.
Then we have the word φόβος phobos, which carries the same meaning as phobeō with the edition of honor, respect, and reverence.
What is "Fear of The Lord"?
The fear (yir'âh - reverend) of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: (yir'âh - reverend) (Psa 19:9)
The fear (yir'âh) of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. (Psa 111:10)
The fear (yir'âh) of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. (Pro 8:13)
In the fear (yir'âh) of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge The fear (yir'âh) of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. (Pro 14: 26-27)
The fear ((yir'âh) of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility. (Pro 15:33)
FEAR NOT
Gen_15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
Gen_21:17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
Gen_26:24 And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake.
Gen_35:17 And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.
Gen_43:23 And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.
Gen_46:3 And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:
Gen_50:19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
Exo_20:20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
Deu_1:21 Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.
Deu_20:3 And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them;
Deu_31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Deu_31:8 And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
Jos_8:1 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land:
Jos_10:25 And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.
Jdg_4:18 And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle.
Jdg_6:10 And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.
Jdg_6:23 And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.
Rth_3:11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.
1Sa_4:20 And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it.
1Sa_12:20 And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;
1Sa_22:23 Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.
1Sa_23:17 And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.
2Sa_9:7 And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.
2Sa_13:28 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.
1Ki_17:13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
2Ki_6:16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
2Ki_17:34 Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the LORD, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel;
2Ki_25:24 And Gedaliah sware to them, and to their men, and said unto them, Fear not to be the servants of the Chaldees: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon; and it shall be well with you.
1Ch_28:20 And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.
2Ch_20:17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.
Psa_55:19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
Psa_64:4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
Isa_7:4 And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.
Isa_35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you. Isa_41:13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
Isa_41:14 Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
Isa_43:1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
Isa_43:5 Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
Isa_44:2 Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.
Isa_54:4 Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.
Jer_40:9 And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.
Jer_46:27 But fear not thou, O my servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel: for, behold, I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and be in rest and at ease, and none shall make him afraid.
Lam_3:57 Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.
Dan_10:12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
Dan_10:19 And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.
Joe_2:21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.
Zec_8:13 And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.
Mal_3:5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.
Mat_1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
Mat_10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Mat_28:5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
Luk_1:13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
Luk_1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
Luk_2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Luk_5:10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
Luk_8:50 But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.
Luk_12:7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Luk_12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Luk_18:4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
Joh_12:15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.
Act_27:24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
Rev_1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me,
Fear not; I am the first and the last:
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind and He has sent both His word and Spirit through the ministry of our Lord Jesus onto us to dwell within us to guide us onto ALL Truth and to teach us ALL Things!
Now I have written all of the above to ask one simple question:
It seems to me as if the idea of not letting fear into the doorways of our lives is a biblical precept which goes back to the beginning of the world, as was not mingling that which is not of its like and kind,
Yet we do them both and attempt to justify it through the doctrines of men.
End Part 1
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