Study 7: No fear

Proverbs 31:21. “She fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet.”
“The Joyful Woman”, because she knows she has considered the poor and needy (Proverbs 31:20, previous lesson) has no doubt that God will supply her own needs, Isaiah 58:10. She has no fear as she thinks ahead, has her priorities in order and budgets accordingly. She knows roughly when the car needs an MOT, the house needs a coat of paint, the children need new uniform and she plans for them. Then frustration, worry, and doubt do not need to take hold of her. She knows she is supplying the very best for her family and they are satisfied.

What is fear?

1. Fear is the counterfeit of faith, and a counterfeit is never as powerful as the real thing.
2. Jesus came to completely destroy the Devil, who has bound every person with fear since the time of Adam. This is his chief weapon as Satan can do what he wants to do when we receive fear, and he has a free reign to cause us a lot of trouble.
3. Fear is totally destructive, it cripples the mind, stops the heart, and changes the colour of your hair.
4. Fear is a spiritual force directly opposite to faith, and it works against you at every opportunity, giving nothing but hurt and torment. 1 John 4:18.
5. Fear says Jesus’ sacrifice was not enough.
6. Fear questions the promises of God and tries to make it look as if they don’t work.
7. Fear is always negative, we talk fear most of the time without realising it and it grows in us, encouraging unbelief and worry.
8. Fear tries to remove you from your calling.
9. Fear produces results. By acting on the fear of disease, you can expect to be sick.

Different fears

Fear of Death. Hebrews 2:14,15: Romans 8:2.

Fear of the Future. Romans 8:28-32:

Fear of Shortage. Romans 8:32.

Fear of Sickness. Mark 16:17,18.

Fear of Men. Proverbs 29:25.

Fear of Rejection. John 6:37.

Fear of Violence. 2 Timothy 1:7; 1 Samuel 17:24

Fear is not part of God’s plan for our lives, it brings no good with it, so we must determine to cast it down before it takes hold of our lives and the things we fear the most come on us, Job 3:25.

“Do not fear” is a command in about 60 places in the Maker’s Instructions, God does not give us a command without giving us the power to obey it.

 

People who were told not to fear

Abraham. Genesis 15:1.
Moses. Numbers 21:34: Deuteronomy 3:1-2.
Joshua. Joshua 8:1-2.
Jeremiah. Lamentations 3:57.
Daniel. Daniel 10:12-19.
Zacharias. Luke 1:13.
Mary. Luke 1:30
Shepherds. Luke 2:9-10.
Peter. Luke 5:8-10.
Paul. Acts 27:23-24.
John. Revelation 1:17-18.

People in the Bible who were confronted by God or His angels all had one consistent response – fear. To each of them, God’s response was always the same, “don’t be afraid”. As soon as they sensed that God accepted them and wanted to communicate with them, then fear subsided. He had given them freedom to be His friends. He has given you the same freedom! Meditate on that instead of worry.

The Answer

Only one thing sets us free from fear; THE TRUTH OF GOD.

Jesus says to us, “You are truly My disciples if you live as I tell you, and you will know the Truth and the Truth will make you free”. John 8:31-32.

Overcome fear with the weapons God has made available to us.

1. Recognise the fear you have a problem with and confront it, do not try to hide from it. Stand firm! Ephesians 6:13-14.
 2. Put on the full armour of God and keep it on! Ephesians 6:11.
 3. Always give thanks in all circumstances, as the thing you fear will be turned around to good. 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Romans 8:28. Philippians 4:6-7.
 4. Believe what God says about your situation by keeping God’s Word in the forefront of your thinking until you know without any shadow of doubt that God is going to do what He said. Deuteronomy 31:6.
 5. Faith is produced in your heart by the Word of God being fed into your spirit. In the same way, if you are always thinking fear and meditating on the lies of the Devil you will never produce the faith power you need to overcome your circumstances and live the victorious Christian life. Romans 10:17; Romans 14:23.
 6. Use the Name of Jesus and remember you are surrounded by an unseen army of angels, you are not on your own whatever you feel like. Hebrews 1:13-14.
 7. Apply the Blood of Jesus over every area of your life, daily. Revelation 12:11; Psalm 91.
 8. Deliverance from fear is the right of every born-again believer. Isaiah 61:1-3; Psalm 34:4.
 9. Always stay in love with people even if they are not loving you. 1 John 4:18-21.
 10. Guard your mouth as “death and life are in the power of the tongue” Proverbs 13:3; 18:21; Matthew 12:34.

Make a decision NOW not to fear. ‘The Lord is on my side I will not fear….’ Psalm 118:6. The choice is yours! It is possible by the Power of God to have NO FEAR!

Say out loud “Jesus delivered me from all fear.” and do not even allow fear to have any thought, time, or conversation in your mind. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5; Philippians 4:8.

Home Challenges for Joyful Woman 07

Read the notes “No Fear”

1. What challenged you most? What encouraged you most?

 

2. Looking at “What is fear” in the notes, can you see one area of fear that is still active in your life?

 

3. Take one person in the Bible from the list in your notes, who was told not to fear, and see how they responded to that encouragement. Does this encourage you?

 

4. Look up all the Scripture references with regards to “The Answer,” and choose one that really spoke to you. Write it down and meditate on it day and night so it will bring you victory, Joshua 1:8.

5. What are you going to change in your life from reading these verses?

 

6. Do you really want the victory in this area of your life? If so, are you willing to put the time and effort into the answer? “Sweet victory” always takes a certain amount of consistent determination, working with the Holy Spirit.

Proverbs 31:25 She rejoices over the future (the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it).

7. Do you think you are a worrier? Is this related to any fear from the previous lesson? How do you think the Proverbs woman rejoices over her future?

 

8. Do you know what physical symptoms come with worry?

 

9. Read Romans 12:2,3; 1 Corinthians 3:19-20. What do these verses say about our thoughts? According to Philippians 2:5 what should our minds be like? According to Philippians 4:8 what should we be thinking about?

 

10. Read 2 Corinthians 10:4,5. What does God want us to do with a ‘worried’ thought?

11. Read Jeremiah 29:11-14. What thoughts does God have towards us?

 

12. Read Psalm 94:11,12,18,19. Do these verses encourage you? Why?

 

13. Review the previous Lessons, which one has encouraged you the most? Which one has challenged you the most? Look back to see something God asked you to do and ask yourself if you are doing it?

 

14. Feel at liberty to share in the group anything you would like prayer for, or support generally.

Memory Verse: Learn another verse from the additional sheet with “Home Challenges No:6”

 

15. Answer True or False to the following questions. If you can give verses from the Bible to back up your answer that will help you.