Dealing with fear: Scripture uses fear as an example of the feeling of a slave. So, it is the awful anxiety that comes from expecting to get what is due.

Created: Thursday, December 21, 2023

Dealing With Fear: You’ll Overcome It With Spiritual Growth

STM Bible Snack

There are 30 different words used for ‘fear’ in the KJV Bible. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: From this list it is apparent that the notion of fear ranges from terror, which may be evidenced by shaking or trembling, to awe or reverence, which induces love or worship rather than terror.

Dealing with fear

The type of fear in the following refers to people who are or seem to be ‘on edge’ frequently or always. HPD (histrionic personality disorder) is often the diagnosis for this condition.
Proverbs 3:25 [read Proverbs 3:21-26 (25)]: So don’t be afraid of sudden disasters or storms that strike those who are evil. (CEV); KJV: Be not afraid of sudden fear^H6343, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
Pachad – fear: H6343 פַּחַד pachad (pach’-ad) n-m. the feeling of alarm. The object that causes terror or fear.; This is an example of people who often worry about what could happen. With spiritual growth, the person knows that when things go wrong, they should not be afraid.

From terror to awe and reverence

Romans 8:15 [read Romans 8:12-17 (15)]: You didn’t receive a spirit of slavery to lead you back again into fear [of God’s judgment], you received a Spirit that shows you are adopted as his children. With this Spirit, we cry, “Abba! Father!” (CEB); KJV: For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear^G5401; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

All that I am afraid of

Psalms 34:4 [read Psalms 34:4-7 (4)]: I went to the Lord for help. He answered me and rescued me from all my fears. (GW); KJV: I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears^H4035.; H4035 מְגוּרָה mguwrah (meg-oo-raw’) n-f. a fright.

You’ll Overcome It With Spiritual Growth

The spiritually grown attitude is represented in Psalms 27:1-3 [read Psalms 27:1-3 (1-3).

Fearing no one or ‘no thing’

Psalms 27:1: The Lord is my light and my salvation! How could anyone scare me? The Lord is my life’s fortress! How could anyone terrify me? (FBV); KJV: 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?
Note: yare’ is in verses 1 and 3.: H3372 יָרֵא yare’ (yaw-ray’) v. absolute fear, be afraid.

The fear of God

Psalms 27:2: Evil people may try to destroy my body. My enemies and those who hate me attack me. But they are overwhelmed and defeated. (ICB); KJV: When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
Matthew 10:28 [read Matthew 10:27-31 (28)]: And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him (God) which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (KJV)

Psalms 27:3: Even if a whole army comes to fight against me, I will not be afraid. Even if they attack me in war, I will continue to trust God. (EASY); KJV: Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

Wise fear

Proverbs 1:7 [read Proverbs 1:1-7 (7)]: Knowledge begins with respect [fear; awe] for the Lord, but fools hate [despise] wisdom and discipline [self-control; instruction]. (EXB); KJV: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.; H3374 יִראָה yir’ah (yir-aw’) n-f. fear of God, reverence, piety, and knowledge.

Fear of God’s anger

God’s obedient children need not fear judgment day. This knowledge comes with spiritual growth (maturity).
1 John 4:18 [read 1 John 4:19 (18)]: Where God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love takes away fear. It is his punishment that makes a person fear. So his love is not made perfect in the one who has fear. (ERV); KJV: There is no fear^G5401 in love; but perfect love casteth out fear^G5401: because fear^G5401 hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Phobos – fear: G5401 φόβος phobos (fo’-ɓos) n. dread, terror (occurs 47 times). FYI, Phobos is the god of fear in Greek mythology.

Fear of evil

Hebrews 12:28 [read Hebrews 12:28 (28)]: We are receiving a kingdom that can’t be shaken. So let us be thankful. Then we can worship God in a way that pleases him. Let us worship him with deep respect and wonder (awe). (NIRV); KJV: Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Eulabei – fearsu: G2124 εὐλάβεια eulabeia (ev-la’-ɓei-a) n. simply reverence toward God, godly fear, piety. FYI, Eulabeia (εὐλάβεια) is a feminine Greek word that means caution, circumspection, discretion, avoidance, reverence, veneration, or fear.

So learn to let your fear grow from terror to respect and awe for God. When you allow His perfect love to take away the terror of fear, you will then know that you have overcome fear through spiritual growth. So now you can love and worship Him with godly fear. Thank you for taking the time to read this Bible snack. I urge you to make full use of it. Blessings to you and your loved ones—♥ Tim. ☺