Freedom from Fear – The Bible Answer

2 Timothy 1:7 – For God has not given me a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.

In this one very popular verse on fear is the perfect and complete answer to victory over fear.

• Power
• Love
• A sound and disciplined mine

These are three forces that will overcome fear when applied.  It isn’t just a matter of saying the scripture, but of doing what it says.  God tells us over and over again not to fear.  This verse contains tools that will lead to your victory.

POWER

Jesus has defeated the enemy. He has taken away his power against us, completely disarmed him and given us the authority over him. He has raised us up to it in heavenly places with Him far above all of the troubles of life.

Colossians 1:13 – We are delivered from the authority and dominion of darkness.

Matthew 28:18 – All authority in heaven and earth was given Him (and us in Him).  (See Ephesians 1:20-22; 2:6)

Luke 10:19 – We have power over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall harm us.

Colossians 2:15 – God has disarmed the principalities and powers against us.

Hebrews 2:14 – Jesus broke the power of fear of death over us.  (Romans 8:15)

Ephesians 4:27 – Give no place to the devil.  He can’t take it unless we give it.

1 Peter 5:8-9 – He is seeking whom he may devour.  This implies that there are those who he can’t devour. (Proverbs 28:1; 30:30; Phil 1:28)

James 4:7 – Resist the devil, and he will flee form you.  Stand up to him, and he will turn and run.

1 John 4:4 – Greater is He who is in me that he who is in the world.  ( 2 Kings 6:14-17)

1 John 3:8 – Jesus came to destroy all of the works of the enemy.  This includes the ones in me.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 – I have mighty and effective weapons to tear down any stronghold.

LOVE

Knowing the love that God has for you in an important key to walking without fear.

1 John 4:16-18 – Fear has torment.  Perfect love casts out fear.  Come to know and to believe the love God has for you.

1 Peter 5:7 – Cast your care because He cares.  You replace the fear with heart trust in God and full assurance of  trust in His Word.

Deuteronomy 31:1-8 – Thoughts like these are a sure remedy to fear.

Isaiah 26:3 – He will keep in perfect peace the one whose mind is set on Him.

Romans 8:15-16, 31-37 – We have not received a spirit of bondage to fear again, but of sonship.  When we are assured of our relationship with God, when we know the reality of God being for us, we are not afraid of anyone being against us.  He is the One who justified us and gave His all.  Who can stand against Him, the Creator of all?  We become more than conquerors through this love.

If God is for me, who can be against me?

Psalm 112:6-8 – Surely he will never be shaken; the righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.  He will not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.  His heart is established; he will not be afraid, until he sees his desire upon his enemies.

Living – Such people will not be overcome by evil circumstances.  Those who are righteous will be long remembered.  They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them.  They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.

Romans 8:31-32 – What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Psalm 118:6-7 – The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.  What can man do to me?  The Lord is for me among those who help me; therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.

Ephesians 1:17-20 – that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, that the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; you may know… what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.

V. 19 (Living) – I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of His power for us who believe Him.

The more assured you are of God’s presence with you, there to help you in all of life’s problems, the less fear you will have.

RIGHTEOUSNESS CONSCIOUSNESS – This is when you are conscious of what He has done for you, that He has made your righteous, that He has put you in right standing with Him. This is the same as coming to know and believe His love for you.

Isaiah 54:14 – In righteousness you will be established; you will be far from oppression, for you will not fear and from terror, for it will not come near you.

Established – rooted, grounded, settled permanently, immovable.

Righteousness – right standing with God.

Being established in righteousness is being rooted and grounded immovably in the reality of having right standing with the God of the universe!  It is knowing that since God be for me, who can be against me?

Isaiah 32:17 – Righteousness produces peace, quietness and confidence.  If you are plagued with fear, terror, worry, oppression, turmoil or lack of confidence – THIS IS THE SURE AND PERMANENT WAY OUT!  (Matthew 11:28-30)

Isaiah 30:15 – In returning and rest you shall be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.

2 Kings 6:15-16 – An example of someone who was not afraid because of his relationship with God and because he knew the truth and put it higher than what he saw.

Hebrews 11:27 – Moses endured seeing Him who was invisible.  The spirit realm should be as real to you as the world around you.

SOUND MIND

A sound mind includes the knowledge of the truth; it comes from having a renewed mind.

Jeremiah 23:1-4 – …and I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them; and they shall fear not more nor be dismayed neither shall they be lacking, says the Lord.

Jeremiah 3:15 – And I shall give you shepherds according to my heart which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.  True knowledge and understanding defeat fear.

Fear comes from a lack of knowledge of the Word.  It is a product of not knowing and not being assured of what the Word says. When we are fed well with truth, fear leaves.

John 8:31-32 – Continue in the Word, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.

Study the areas of the Word that you have a problem with fear in.  Faith will come and drive fear out.  Fear of accidents is a lack of knowledge of Psalm 91.  Fear of sickness is a lack of knowledge of the Lord’s provision for healing.  Don’t try to fight fear as much as get into the Word and let the faith run the fear out.

Renewing your mind is the long-term, permanent answer to fear.  But what do you do about fear while you are building faith up?  It takes time to renew the mind.

A sound mind also includes having a disciplined mind.

You need to measure and control your thoughts according to the Word and cast down those thoughts that don’t measure up to the Word.  The Word is the ruler we use to measure.  If it doesn’t measure up, throw it out!

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 – You need to pull down strongholds and demolish arguments, bringing every thought captive to the Word.

Pull down strongholds (any thought or thought pattern that has a strong hold). Cast down imaginations.  Your imagination is a powerful part of your make up.  The devil wants to use it against you.  People cooperate with the devil and become his greatest weapon against themselves.  But rather use your imagination against him.  Pull down wrong imaginations by replacing them with truth (the Word). Bring your thoughts captive to obedience to Jesus.

Fear is an open door to your defeat. It must be dealt with. Fear according to God is a sin. We are told over and over again not to fear in the word of God.

2 Samuel 17:2 – I will come upon him while he is exhausted and weak and cause him to panic…

2 Chronicles 32:18 – …to frighten and terrify them that we might take the city.

Philippians 1:28 – Not being terrified of the enemy is a sign of his defeat.

Job 39:22 – He mocks at fear and is not dismayed or terrified; neither does he turn back from the sword.

Proverbs 28:1 – Bold as a lion – the mightiest among beasts who turns not back before any.

Proverbs 29:25 – The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever leans on, trusts in and puts is confidence in the Lord is safe and set on high.

Jeremiah 17:5-8 – If you don’t learn to trust and rely on the Lord, you shall dwell in parched places in the wilderness.  The one who trusts in the Lord doesn’t fear heat nor is anxious in drought nor does he cease to yield fruit.

You cannot keep the fear thoughts from passing through your mind, but you can control what you allow to stay.  When a thought comes, measure it by the truth you know; recall what the scriptures say in that area.  And don’t say the fear thought.  Say the Word instead.  Matthew 6:24-31 – Don’t take the thought, saying…

Make a decision to act like you feel good, to act like the Word is true, to act like God is honest and means what He says.  The more you act like this, the weaker the feelings and strongholds will be.  Usually, the way out of a stronghold is not instantaneous; it is a step by step process, just like building up the stronghold.  (Deuteronomy 7:22-24)

YOU BUILD UP STRONGHOLDS BY MEDITATING ON THE THOUGHTS IN YOUR MIND AND MAKING THEM YOURS.  Worry is meditation on the thoughts of the enemy.  Instead, meditate on the WORD OF GOD.

Matthew 4:1-12 – Defeat fear in the same way Jesus defeated the enemy.  “It is written!”

Philippians 4:8 – God teaches us what we are to think about.

In conclusion, there are three Bible given forces that will defeat fear in your life:

1. Power – God has given you power and authority over all of the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means harm you.
2. Love – God’s loves us so much that He gave His all for us. How much more will He do for us now. See the message on casting your cares on the Lord for more on this.
3. A sound mind – This means renewing your mind and filling it with the truth of God’s Word. This a long term answer, but it is also how you deal daily with the fear thoughts that come.