Differences in Faith and Fear

Differences in Faith and Fear

I try to constantly learn more to increase my Spiritual relationship with the Lord. Anything that really touches my heart makes me study the topic even more.

Last week, Stan Clines, my good friend and fellow church member, brought a super devotion on Fear and Faith. He pointed out that they are totally unalike. Faith is from God; Fear is from Satan.

Definition of FAITH : Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Definition of Fear:

an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger

anxious concern

reason for alarm

caused by listening to liars

We all have heard the words Faith and Fear all our lives. However, I had never realized that the two words are polar opposites. They are 180 degrees apart. If Faith is the north pole, then fear is the south pole.

How many verses do you think the word “fear” appears in the bible? 385 verses. “Feareth” is in an additional 20 verses, while “faith” is found in 231 verses. God’s desire for his people is to spurn fear and turn in trust by faith to him when we face weak times.

God does not want us to be people of fear. In every instance when God or an angel appeared to men in the Old and New Testaments, some of the first words they spoke were “Fear Not.”

Here are some verses from the Old Testament

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_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.

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.

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:

Same Words Found in the New Testament

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_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.

When you look at the men and women of faith in the bible, you see people that exhibited little fear.

Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Heb 11:11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

Heb 11:12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

Time does not allow us to review the dozens of examples of faith in the bible. Chapter 11 of Hebrews covers many men and women who God commended for their faith.

You look at young David facing Goliath on the battlefield with a sling and a rock. You see men like Daniel thrown in a den of lions but by faith coming out unhurt the following morning.

What sets these people apart from others? Undying faith in the omnipotent Jehovah God.

Let’s all get rid of fear in our lives. Let’s get up each day, look to the Savior of our souls, Jesus Christ, and seek help each day so that we too can live without fear. Fear is from Satan and is not for the child of God.

1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

1Jn 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

So, if fear is overtaking us, we need to develop a higher level of faith in God. Read your bible. Be in constant prayer on a daily basis with the Lord.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.