FEAR

1. We are being constantly reminded that our nation is at war.

2. One of the emotions experienced during this type of conflict is fear.

3. In places like Acts 5:21-26 the Bible says that soldiers can be afraid.

4. At this very hour there are American soldiers who are in the hands of Iraqi officials.

5. These men are surely afraid.

6. The average age of an American infantry soldier is 19 years.

He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is
considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears,
not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He
never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than
wash his father's; but he has never collected unemployment either.

He's a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student,
pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and
has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or
swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away.

He listens to rock and roll or hip hop or rap or jazz or swing and 155mm
Howitzers.

He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is
working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk.

TONIGHT WE WANT TO THINK ABOUT THE SUBJECT OF FEAR. OUR BEGINNING POINT IS ACTS 5.

A. According to Acts 5:25, the apostles were again teaching people.

B. This was a surprise because the apostles had been arrested and jailed.

C. The officials tried to stop the their work but God intervened.

D. The rulers were not pleased so another attempt was made to capture the apostles.

E. Let’s take another look at verse 26 – READ.

2. This verse provides a small but important detail.

3. The apostles were approached in a way which was not “violent.”

4. The reason for a peaceful approach is found in verse 26.

5. The men sent to get the apostles “feared” the people.

A. The word feared is in the imperfect tense (continued action).

B. These men were not afraid for 5 or ten minutes.

C. It was as if they were in a state of fear.

D. They were worried that arresting the apostles could cause them to be killed.

6. Soldiers can be afraid. They may fear, injury, disability, and or death.

7. As we and other countries watch the battle, we need to pray for the men who are in Iraq.

8. This very hour there are people who are very afraid.

9. Fear is a powerful emotion and the book of Acts has a lot to say about this subject.

10. Tonight we want to look at the word translated fear in Acts 5:26.

A. This word occurs 14 times in this book.

B. Acts 5:26 is the first place where it occurs.

C. The next place it occurs is in Acts 9.

D. By this time in the narrative Paul had become a Christian.

11. He was preaching that Jesus is the Son of God (Acts 9:20).

12. This “amazed” people (verse 21). Christians saw a complete turn around in the life of Saul.

13. Paul turned his attention to some unbelieving Jews in Damascus and told them about Jesus (verse 22).

14. His preaching was so powerful there was at least one attempt to kill him (verse 23).

A. Saul had to escape and he went to Jerusalem.

B. We read about this in verse 26 – READ.

C. Christians in the city of Jerusalem were fearful of Paul.

D. These Christians had heard stories about him.

E. The text says they did not believe he was really a disciple.

F. This passage tells us that fear can exist within a local congregation.

15. We can be afraid of people where we worship.

16. I have met some Christians who are afraid of other saints.

17. Perhaps the fear is related to one of the elders or the entire eldership.

18. There have been times when people have feared preachers or Bible class teachers.

19. The Bible says that perfect love casts out fear.

20. If we fear people where we worship this is a problem to be addressed and overcome.

21. We should not fear fellow Christians.

22. The Christians in Jerusalem got over their fear (verse 28 – READ).

23. Paul was accepted because a fellow Christian intervened on his behalf (verse 27).

24. When we find Christians who fear someone in a local congregation we should help them.

25. The church is a family, not an organization where we should fear one another.

26. The next place this word occurs is in the next chapter.

27. It occurs in Acts 10:2, 22, and 35.

28. In the second verse as well as verse 22 we are told that Cornelius “feared” God.

A. This quality, among others, was so pleasing God provided Cornelius with special help.

B. This man’s respect and awe for God was pleasing to heaven God took special notice of him.

C. This chapter tells us there can be a positive aspect to fear.

D. There in a sense in which this word tells us to respect and honor God.

E. When we honor God and value Him for who He is, He is pleased.

F. There is no doubt about this because of what Peter said in verse 35 – READ.

G. This is similar to what Jesus said in Mt. 10:38.

H. The Lord said to “fear God” so we will not be destroyed.

29. In Acts 10 fearing God is joined with “working righteousness.”

30. We need to live the kind of life the Bible describes.

31. Part of this life involves “fearing” (respecting) God.

32. The term we are examining is not found in the 11^th & 12^th chapters of Acts.

33. It is, however, used in chapter 13.

34. It is found in both verses 16 and 26.

35. Both of these verses are similar so I will only read verse 16 – READ

A. Paul lived in a time when people “feared” God.

B. He used this respect for God as an opportunity to teach others.

C. This same opportunity exists for us.

D. We can say that people in this area are hard to reach because many are religiously inclined.

E. Because others have religious ties they are hard to convert to New Testament Christianity.

F. An opposite argument, which is just as strong, can also be made.

G. We have a wide variety of people who “fear God.”

H. These people believe in Him and want to serve Him.

I. In some respects this is half the battle.

J. Acts 13:16 reminds us that we do have some advantages regarding evangelism.

K. When people already “fear God” they are already a good prospect for New Testament Christianity.

L. This is an advantage that we need to use.

36. After Acts 13 the word we are looking at is not found again until Acts 16.

A. In this chapter we find that Paul was beaten.

B. This beating was a violation of the law.

C. Paul had Roman citizenship and this meant he was not supposed to be beaten.

37. The law had been violated and there was an attempt to get Paul out of the area.

38. Officials hoped their wrong would be overlooked and no one would ever know.

39. Paul said this was not acceptable – verse 37 – READ.

40. The word translated “fear” is found in verse 38 – READ.

A. Here is a kind of fear that is experienced by most at one time or another.

B. Some type of wrong is committed and people “fear.”

C. This type of feeling is panic, anxiety, dread, terror, and alarm.

D. No one enjoys feeling this way.

E. For the Christians this type of feeling should be infrequent.

F. Being a Christian helps eliminate or substantially reduce this type of fear.

41. Christians are people who trying to live as God wants and do what the scriptures say.

42. This approach to life, sometimes described as the straight and narrow, makes us good people.

43. When people are good, they are usually not involved with things that generate fear, dread, and alarm.

44. A benefit from living as a Christian is limiting the number of situations which cause us fear and panic.

45. If you turned to Acts 16 let’s look at Acts 18.

A. This part of the book tells us about Paul.

B. It appears that Paul was worried and hesitant to preach in a certain area.

C. For this reason God provided some instructions to him through a vision.

D. Acts 18:9 – READ.

E. Paul was literally told to “stop fearing.”

F. This apostle was brave and had a lot of courage.

G. He did not, however, completely conquer all his fears.

H. This reminds me of our soldiers.

I. We have some brave people; Paul was a man of courage.

J. Bravery and courage do not necessarily conquer all or fears.

K. When we have some fears Acts 18:9 should remind us that we are not alone.

46. The next two places where this word occurs are Acts 22:29 and 23:10.

47. I am skipping these to deal with the final three passages where this term occurs.

48. The remaining places in Acts where this word is found all come from Acts 27.

49. In Acts 27:17 and 29 the word is applied to difficult circumstances while on board a ship.

50. In verse 24 the word is again applied to Paul.

51. An angel stood by Paul and said “fear not. You are not going to die.”

52. Fear can be one of the greatest problems we ever face.

53. Famous men have struggled with it.

54. There was Pilate; he refused to let Jesus go because of fear.

55. The people of Israel often struggled with fear.

56. King Saul had a problem with fear.

57. Pharoah and his army was paralyzed with fear (Ex. 15:16).

58. In one of the parables Jesus spoke of a man who claimed fear hindered him (Mt. 25:25).

59. Fear can be one of our greatest enemies.

60. Perhaps this is why Jesus came to liberate us from fear of death (Heb. 2:15).

61. Fear needs to be addressed because it can be contagious (Deut. 20:8). Fear spreads.

62. John predicated that the fearful will not be in heaven (Rev. 21:8).

63. Faith is designed to conquer fear (Ps. 46:2; 112:7).

64. Fear is the first negative emotion recorded in the Bible.

65. Thousands of years later we still struggle with it.

66. Jesus gave us the right perspective on fear in Mt. 10:28 – Be not afraid of them that…

67. Is this how we live?