Or maybe it is that we should love others and treat others the way we wanted to be treated. Humility. Affected by fear; feeling pain in expectation of evil; apprehensive with solicitude; afraid. As parents, this verse gives us confidence that God provides good ways to handle the things that make them feel afraid. Having been justified by God, we need not fear divine condemnation (Romans 8:1). WORDS OF GOD IN RED. We are constantly controlled and at odds with this “thing” known as fear. So do not fear, for I am with you. "For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. Why did God stress the importance of avoiding fear, Warren asks, "Because our hurts and hang-ups can often cause us to think that God is out to get us, that all He wants to do is condemn us and punish us. Although Job was a righteous man and would not speak evil, he open the door through thoughts of fear for the enemy to work in his life. Fear can be irrational, but our kids don’t realize that. First of all, can I just say, I think it is awesome that you are looking for tips on how to study the Bible! Copyright © 2021 Lavender Vines | All Rights Reserved, Surely the most frequent command is something like do not sin, do not steal, do not kill others, or something else along those lines. We are, This is where God wants us to be. Instead, God commands us to not be discouraged. 5 Surprising Things the Bible Says About Fear 1. We are all gonna face fear, right? What does this verse mean for our children? ", "You'll never overcome your fear of failure until you fully accept the reality that you're not perfect," the pastor says. Your email address will not be published. Many Christians like to soften this up by taking away the fear God can instill by casting people into hell and replacing this with fear meaning “respect”. Back in the day I used to go l, I’ve seen you move the mountains, and I believe, I want to remind you that God’s love casts out f, Women empowerment challenge accepted from @brittan, Prev: 8 Simple Steps to Creating a Savings Plan (even when you know nothing about budgeting), Next: 50 Realistic Ways to Save Money for Travel NOW, How to Understand Your Identity in Christ. - 1 John 4:18 ESV “This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. Godly fear isn’t the same as fear of a tyrant, or a dictator. Do you want award-winning journalism with a, Feeling politically powerless, black Christians find more comfort in black church: study, Kamala Harris to use Bible owned by first black Supreme Court justice at swearing-in ceremony, 750 killed at Ethiopian Orthodox church said to contain Ark of the Covenant: report, 'Liberal churches' are potential targets during inauguration protests, UCC warns. Warren says God obviously wanted Christians to "get the message" to stop worrying, as there are 365 mentions of "fear not" in the Bible. False Evidence Appearing Real ( Rather like looking at the Greek makes it clear why “lusting” in Matthew 5:27-28 doesn’t make all men adulterers ) The fact that “do not be afraid” is repeated again and again tells me that we as humans heavily battle fear. No, Jesus-loving evangelicals didn't vandalize the Capitol, Robert Jeffress: Church must 'be prepared' for increasing 'persecution' under Biden, This week in Christian history: ‘Mother of Methodism’ born; Edict of St. Germain; Book of Common Prayer, Fewer pastors now willing to preach sermons on race, study shows, Andy Stanley's megachurch begins 'phased approach' to reopening in-person services. God is not like, “there, there my sweet child, it’ll be okay, don’t be afraid.” Instead, God is actually quite forcefully telling us do not be afraid. While everone experiences failure at some point in their life, those who are successful persevere despite their setbacks. These distinctions can be helpful, but they can also be a little dangerous. It’s kinda amazing. Apprehended or expected with painful solicitude; reverenced. Usually fear means reverential awe or respect, but it can mean fear as in afraid. This means that fear is not rooted in truth, but rather a lie either from the enemy or ourselves. However, that’s not what the Bible means by the “fear of the Lord”. Expanding the search to look at verses encouraging us to receive God’s peace and strength when we’re worried or anxious would add many, many more “Fear not” Scriptures. Furthermore, in addition to the “Fear nots” many times the Bible teaches us to “Fear God,” which really means reverence God alone and do not fear anyone or anything else. The Bible actually tells us to not be afraid 70 times in the NIV! He paid for it on the cross," the pastor writes. We don’t need to fear His anger, unless we fear punishment due to a bad conscience and impenitent heart because of sin. You have to understand that ancient Hebrew is a very “word poor” language. It is all over the Bible. Sometimes we are fearful, and this fear overcomes people. It's not just a 'you problem;' it's a human problem," he explains, adding, "not only have you made mistakes in the past, but you'll also make more in the future. John 15:1-27 ESV / 16 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Godly fear is obedience, not a fear of God striking someone dead because they disobeyed. We are not to be people of panic. This type of fear does not necessarily mean to be afraid of something. Verses 8 and 9 are either jarring or amusing, depending on your mood. When Luther struggled with that, he made this distinction, which has since become somewhat famous: He distinguished between what he called a servile fear and a filial fear. God's encouragement is especially evident in Psalm 23:4 (NLT), which reads: "Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. But the Bible uses the word fear at least 300 times in reference to God, so we make a mistake when we downplay it. Join our mailing list & stay up to date on all things Lavender Vines! He said, “do you know what the most frequent command in the Bible is?”. So what does it mean to fear God? What does it mean to “fear” God? But God…He is with us always! Fear of God is a combination of awe, fear that one may have in the presence of an angel, deep reverence, honor, and respect. But that simply isn't true. Instead the most frequent command in the Bible is “do not be afraid”. Therefore, if you want to understand what it means, you need to look at what the Hebrews say it means, specifically what their words mean. 1. This is why God repeatedly commands us “do not be afraid”. Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? For example, we become discouraged that we won’t make enough money. God is aware of this, which is why He is constantly encouraging us that we have, What’s beautiful about this command is God doesn’t just say, “do not be afraid” and then end of sentence. Their minds are still processing life, so what we see as a small thing can seem so big to our little people! The Bible actually tells us to not be afraid 70 times in the NIV! Now let’s think about this for a second, what happens when we are discouraged? If you have lived at all, you know there are, The fact that “do not be afraid” is repeated again and again tells me that we as humans heavily battle fear. If fear is spoken of God, it does mean a reverential awe (or worship), but it probably also has the connotation of understanding our place as insignificant before God (and that has a slight tinge of what we mean by fear). Hence, Be strong. This empowering scripture encourages us to work through the power of God as our protector and source of strength. <3, So glad you wrote about this! God wants to encourage us to stand tall and be brave. And that’s not even including similar commands such as “fear not” and “do not fear”. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Explanation and Commentary of Isaiah 41:10. Some may be of the opinion that the word “fear,” as it appears in the Bible, does not really mean what it says. The fear of God keeps us from sin; the fear of man leads to sin, and that is what we are to avoid: “The fear of man brings a snare” (Proverbs 29:25, NKJV). Then we begin to fear what will happen to us and our family. There can be many different meanings to one word. Resurfacing and Repurposing it! People gather around them teachers which say what their itching ears want to hear. I’m Tiffany, a travel lover, small business owner, and expert-level cat cuddler. We begin to doubt, and then we begin to fear. However, it is also a proper respect for His wrath and … You're a failure in some area of your life right now. 25 Bible Verses About Fear That Will Fill You With Courage, 7 Completely Logical Reasons to Believe in the Resurrection (one of my most popular posts! Not to mention, I have also heard a promo on the Wally Show on WayFM, them mentioning some acronyms for fear, but never giving them. The second type of fear is the spirit of fear spoken of in 2 Timothy 1:7. The second kind of fear the Bible talks about is a "spirit of fear" (see 2 Timothy 1:7), which is a … This helps us understand that the fear of the Lord primarily means to in fear of the Lord. It’s not like He’s saying it in a sweet, comforting way. To “fear him” means to stand in awe of him: “Let all the earth FEAR the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world STAND IN AWE OF HIM!” (Ps 33.8). Why did God stress the importance of avoiding fear, Warren asks, "Because our hurts and hang-ups can often cause us to think that God is out to get us, that all He wants to do is condemn us and punish us. The Bible often says things like, “Do not fear,” “Do not be afraid,” and “Fear not.” Of course, these commands do not contradict the command to “fear God” (1 Peter 2:17). Surely the most frequent command is something like do not sin, do not steal, do not kill others, or something else along those lines. When you obey God and His Word, you are already wise, not just beginning to be. Charges dropped against deacon arrested for singing hymns outdoors. Sharing the love of Jesus is one of my favorite things ever, hence why I started this blog! Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Instead, Christians must work through their faith and relationship with God to take away fear's control over them, the megachurch pastor adds. Please click here to learn how. You’re gonna find loads of goodies on this site, but one of my fav’s is my brand spankin’ new free ebook on your identity in Christ. In other words, fearing God does not mean being afraid of something, but being for what God is for and against what He is against. 8 Podcasts You’ll Want to Binge: ‘The Bachelor’ Star Ben Higgins, Surviving 2021, a Chaotic Culture, the Election and More, Online Seminary Tackles the Epidemic of Biblical Illiteracy Head On, Five New Year’s Resolutions to Help Reverse Error in the Church, A Different Perspective on Pain and Suffering, Mr. T says there are vaccines for COVID-19 and antidote to hatred, urges fans to seek after God. The fear that we feel is not of God and therefore does not have a place in our lives. In What Does It Mean to Fear the Lord, Michael Reeves calls believers to see God as the object of their fear -- a fear marked not by anxiety but by reverence and awe. Not in use. Rick Warren Answers the Question: How Do You Forgive? The first kind of fear is the fear of the Lord, which is healthy and to be encouraged. But the Bible uses the word fear at least 300 times in reference to God, so we make a mistake when we downplay it. To enjoy our website, you'll need to enable JavaScript in your web browser. It turns out, it wasn’t any of those. When Christians form a healthy relationship with God and understand His eternal grace and mercy, they will realize that there is no real need for fear, the megachurch pastor adds. Instead we need to know and understand the truth that we truly have. Instead, God commands us to, What happens when we aren’t discouraged? So that made me go and make some memes and update this blog post. Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. Genesis 15:1, NLT : "Some time later, the LORD spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, 'Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.'" Warren says God obviously wanted Christians to "get the message" to stop worrying, as there are 365 mentions of "fear not" in the Bible. The main Hebrew and Greek words translated fear in the Bible can have several shades of meaning, but in the context of the fear of the Lord, they convey a positive reverence. Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, speaks at the Pastors' Conference 2014, ahead of the Southern Baptist Convention's Annual Meeting, on Monday, June 9, 2014, in Baltimore, Md. When the Bible refers to the “fear of the Lord,” it means having a deep respect, reverence and awe for God’s power and authority. ISAIAH 41:10 “ Fear not, I am with you ” KING JAMES VERSION (KJV) TRANSLATION, MEANING, CONTEXT. When the Bible tells us, “Do not fear,” it means we are not to allow anxiety or fretfulness to rule our lives or take root in our hearts. In a hurry? I don’t mean that as an insult (it’s not) but the Hebrew language has relatively few words. In the original language, it can mean something quite different. We are a child of God. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.". I was accused of being an accomplice to murder. What happens when we aren’t discouraged? Warren has previously connected fear to failure, writing in March that there is no point in fearing failure, because failure is an inevitable part of life. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind”. 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12, On the other hand, maybe there’s a reason angels have to say, “Fear not!” (10/24/13) Paul was frequently stern, but he wasn’t normally mean-spirited. I mean, seriously, this is very intriguing. Which brings me to my next point. The second type is a detriment and is to be overcome. Instead, God typically finishes this command with what He will do for us. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love." FEAR, n. A companion. fearful. And it's true. Now let’s think about this for a second, what happens when we are discouraged? When we are encouraged we have hope, trust, and faith that with God all things are possible! He paused for a moment allowing us time to think about it. I must remind you that the Old Testament was written by Hebrews, to Hebrews, in a Hebrew culture, and in the Hebrew language. The Bible’s commands to “fear not” are plentiful and occur in a variety of contexts. In a hurry? For more examples, read 25 Bible Verses About Fear. I guarantee it. "God isn't trying to get even with you. We are encouraged. Warren says God obviously wanted Christians to "get the message" to stop worrying, as there are 365 mentions of "fear not" in the Bible. "We've all made mistakes. They just keep on going. Oh no. God is aware of our tendency to fear. Instead, God typically finishes this command with. I had never thought too much about it until my pastor brought it to my attention. Here’s a simple definition of the fear of the Lord: The “fear of God” that brings God pleasure is not our being afraid of him, but our having a high and exalted, reverential view of him. See Peer. Keep in mind that the bible was not written in English, so things don't always translate well. Ten times throughout the Bible “do not be afraid” is immediately followed by “do not be discouraged”. The Hebrew verb yare can mean “to fear, to respect, to reverence” and the Hebrew noun yirah “usually refers to the fear of God and is viewed as a positive quality. Don’t fall victim to this downward spiral. 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 … The Saddleback pastor has also addressed the topic of fear in his book, The Purpose Driven Life, writing that people can allow fear to control their lives, thus missing out on important opportunities. I am fearful of the consequences of rash conduct. Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and courageous. Even playing it safe and refusing to take risks is a mistake. I have heard different definitions of what this means to fear God as a believer.” I would say this is a very important topic. FE'ARED, pp. Oh no. The fear of the Lord is the fountain and life ( Proverbs 14:27) and provides security and safety for the people of God. We are constantly controlled and at odds with this “thing” known as fear. This … “Do Not Be Afraid” is the Most Frequent Command in the Bible, The Bible actually tells us to not be afraid, I mean, seriously, this is very intriguing. Verses 8 and 9 are either jarring or amusing, depending on your mood. The first type is beneficial and is to be encouraged. Rick Warren: Why God Encourages Christians to 'Fear Not' 365 Times in the Bible. Instead the most frequent command in the Bible is “do not be afraid”. Or maybe it is that we should love others and treat others the way we wanted to be treated. It’s interesting what the Bible says about fear. Fear has often been labeled as an acronym meaning: False Expectations Appearing Real. Instead we need to know and understand the truth that we truly have nothing to fear as children of God. Do you want award-winning journalism with a Christian worldview, delivered to your inbox? Did white evangelical support for Trump drop in the 2020 election? We begin to doubt whether God will provide for us. "You've already failed many, many times in life. ❤, I love that as well! I often hear people explain the fear of the Lord as a mere respect or reverence. And you'll fail a lot more in the future.". Jesus has taken the penalty for everything you've ever done wrong or will do wrong. What does it mean to fear the Lord? "Great people are simply ordinary people who have an extraordinary amount of determination. A spirit of fearfulness and timidity does not come from God. Join us for Prayerline Bible Study 424-203-8400 – Passcode:648568 then # Monday Evenings – 6:00 p.m. PST Lesson # 37 – 05/18/2011 The Lord’s Prayerline Bible Lesson – What Does The Bible Say About Fear … The two go hand in hand and I love that God recognizes this and tells us to not be discouraged or afraid. Be courageous. Almost every book in the Bible has a "fear not" in it. We begin to doubt, and then we begin to fear. Strong's Definitions: 01481 guwr goor He doesn’t want us to be discouraged, but instead to be encouraged. This is the kind of fear that love casts out and the kind of fear that is a snare. Things happen all the time that are completely outside of our control. Instead, Christians must accept failure and seek to redefine it, therefore causing it to lose its control over one's life. You have plane crashes, diseases, natural disasters, unstable economics, I could go on and on. And that’s not even including similar commands such as “fear not” and “do not fear”. One [Sun]day I was sitting in church listening to the sermon. What Does It Mean To Fear God? Want to save this post? ✨ despite the state of the w, IDEAS IDEAS IDEAS!! "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. I mean, seriously, this is very intriguing. It’s almost like God wants us to stand tall and firm and recognize who we are. We should really examine the way God is telling us to not be afraid. The first type of fear is fear of the Lord. We need to make some important distinctions about the biblical meaning of "fearing" God. It turns out, it wasn’t any of those. While it’s true these are commandments from God, none of them is the most frequent command in the Bible. But God…, Yes, exactly! If you have lived at all, you know there are A LOT of things we have to fear in this world. Then we begin to fear what will happen to us and our family. God is aware of this, which is why He is constantly encouraging us that we have nothing to fear and that He will be with us. Fearing God is obeying God, living for God, and witnessing for God. They are doing a Bible Study on Fear for 15 days at the World’s Biggest Small Group. “Do Not Be Afraid” is the Most Frequent Command in the Bible. Proverbs 8:13 says, "The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. God encourages his followers to fear not 365 times in the Bible, one for each day of the year, Pastor Rick Warren says, emphasizing that He didn't intend for Christians to spend their days preoccupied with anxiety and worry. And yet, God actually repeatedly commands us to not be afraid. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate." Satan deceives the whole world. I knew it was there 365 times, not about the seventy commands, thanks. That’s not the fear of the Lord the Bible teaches us about. Why did God stress the importance of avoiding fear, Warren asks, "Because our hurts and hang-ups can often cause us to think that God is out to get us, that all He wants to do is condemn us and punish us. So have I. What’s beautiful about this command is God doesn’t just say, “do not be afraid” and then end of sentence. There’s a lot of things that give people plenty of reason to be afraid of in this life. God isn’t simply trying to make us feel good. It is not marginal. But that simply isn't true. 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12, On the other hand, maybe there’s a reason angels have to say, “Fear not!” (10/24/13) Paul was frequently stern, but he wasn’t normally mean-spirited. feared. You know how when y, First post of 2021. Don’t fall victim to this downward spiral. God wants you to know that you truly have nothing to fear, for God is with you wherever you go! While it’s true these, 1. In the Bible, the word, fear, can also mean a destructive fear, as of the fear of men or events. We are a child of God. ), 5 Reasons Why Tithing Actually Blesses YOU, Everything You Need to Know About the Daniel Fast (plus free meals & recipes!). The fear of the Lord is like a cleaning agent. Gen. 15. We are to be people of faith. Want to save this post? Wisdom is obedience to God’s Word and His Law. Be strong and be courageous. In fact, of the forty-four times the Hebrew word for fear, yira, is used, thirty-eight times it is translated as “fear, frightened or feared.” That is, it means to be afraid. This is where God wants us to be. There’s usually some sort of way God plans on providing or comforting us from, or during, our fears. Rather, it is a reverential awe of God, a reverence for His power and glory. With Christ as our … FE'ARFUL, a. Other nations fear disaster and their response is to band together to produce idols to worship with their own hands (Is 41:5-7). Jesus is the proof of that.". For example, we become discouraged that we won’t make enough money. We begin to doubt whether God will provide for us. God isn’t simply trying to make us feel good. Having been chosen by God, we need not fear His rejection (Ephesians 1:4–6; Luke 12:32; Jude 1:24). Bible verses about Fear Of Man. In the case of the word “fear” it can mean “to be afraid, have a feeling of terror,” etc. Genesis 15:1, NASB: "After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, 'Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.'" To “fear him” means … (Romans 2:5-9) To fear God is absolute reverence and awe for an Almighty God, the Creator of all things. I love the pairing of “do not be discouraged” with do not be afraid. They realize they're never a failure until they quit," Warren asserts. The enemy uses fear, but God would have us to have faith in Him. . It motivates us to not sin. Cut to the chase – Jesus thinks you’re pretty cool – but my ebook explains just how cool you really are. Answer: The Bible mentions two specific types of fear. I often hear people explain the fear of the Lord as a mere respect or reverence. We should really examine the way God is telling us to, It’s almost like God wants us to stand tall and firm and recognize who we are. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. He doesn’t want us to be discouraged, but instead, 7 Completely Logical Reasons to Believe in the Resurrection, sometimes I day dream of walking the streets of Ba, Thankful & grateful to live in this beautiful city, Spend more time in the Word this year by using th, • p e r s p e c t i v e • Warren, who heads Saddleback Church in Orange County, California, wrote in a post this week that God's repeated mentioning of the phrase "don't be afraid" is clear evidence that he didn't want humans' minds clouded by fear. A search for community over chaos: Finding inspiration from Martin Luther King Jr. Raising black voices in mainstream Christianity, Rick Warren: Bible Is 'Owner's Manual' for Healthy Body Management, Rick Warren: Give God This if You Want to Improve Your Health, Pastor Rick Warren: You Can Forgive, But It's Impossible to Forget. The Bible certainly does not contradict itself. Join over 250,000 others to get the top stories curated daily, plus special offers! Halfway through the sermon, my pastor said something very interesting. How does the Bible address fear? The “fear” that brings God pleasure is not our being afraid of him, but our having a high and exalted, reverential view of him. And He cares about every fear we face. Such an encouraging post! There are at least two kinds of fear mentioned in the Bible. Rather than causing someone to be afraid of God, a proper “fear of the Lord” leads one to love Him.
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