“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)
We are told many times by people that we are not supposed to fear. When we read 2 Timothy 1:7 we are told that fear is actually an evil spirit. But, whenever you are told by everyone not to fear, have you ever asked yourself–why not?
First, you must understand that all fear is not from the devil. Some fear is good, in that it will protect you from danger at times. Some fear may be irrational, but it doesn’t mean that it has to come from an evil spirit. And then some fear is actually a godly fear.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Psalm 111:10)
“The fear of the Lord prolongeth days.” (Proverbs 10:27)
“Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
Throughout both the Old Testament and the New Testament we are told to “fear not.” As a matter of fact, there are 75 times in the King James Version that tells God’s people not to fear. And did you know that each and every time that it tells us to “fear not,” it also tells us why we shouldn’t fear–thus answering our question–why not? Below are a few examples:
Genesis 15:1, “Fear not, Abram: (Why Not?) I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.”
Genesis 26:24, “Fear not, (Why Not?) for I am with thee, and will bless thee.”
Deuteronomy 3:2, “Fear him not: (Why Not?) or I will deliver him, and all his people, and his land, into thy hand.”
Deuteronomy 31:6, “Fear not, nor be afraid of them: (Why Not?) for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
Joshua 10:8, “Fear them not: (Why Not?) for I have delivered them into thine hand.”
1 Samuel 22:23, “Fear not: (Why Not?) for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.”
2 Kings 6:16, “Fear not: (Why Not?) for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.”
1 Chronicles 28:20, “Fear not, nor be dismayed: (Why Not?) for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
Isaiah 35:4, “Fear not: (Why Not?) behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.”
Isaiah 41:10, “Fear thou not; (Why 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 41:13, “Fear not; (Why Not?) I will help thee.”
Daniel 10:12, “Fear not, Daniel: (Why Not?) for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard.”
Joel 2:21, “Fear not, O land; (Why Not?) for the Lord will do great things.”
Matthew 10:31, “Fear ye not therefore, (Why Not?) ye are of more value than many sparrows.”
Luke 12:32, “Fear not, little flock; (Why Not?) for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
Revelation 1:17-18, “Fear not; (Why Not?) I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.