A Biblical understanding of fear and worry

1. p
Killorglin Baptist Church Wednesday Bible Study
BREAKING THE CHAINS OFBREAKING THE CHAINS OF
Worry & FearWorry & Fear

2. A. Defining Worry
1. “Worry is an over-anxious concern regarding the
future or things that keeps a person from fulfilling
current responsibilities.”1
2. “Worry is a sin of continual dwelling on and
preoccupation with some fear, usually associated
with the future.”
3. Worry should not be confused with diligent care
and concern (2 Cor. 11:28, Phil. 2:20, Gal. 4:19)
4. Worry is not careful planning for the future which
considers God’s sovereignty (James 4:13)
5. Concern can “change categories” and become
worry
1 - NANC definition

3. A. Defining Worry
CONCERN
WORRY
•Thoughts focused on changing
the future
•Thoughts are unproductive &
unfruitful
•It controls you
•Neglects other responsibilities
•Lose hope or stop functioning
•God not in equation
•God not in focus
•God is not being
trusted

4. B. Worry is sinful
1. Jesus forbids worry (Matt. 6:19-34)
2. Paul commands believers to not worry (Phil. 4:6)

5. C. Dealing with Worry
1. Worry amounts to idolatry – God has been replaced
a. Idolatry means worshipping someone or something other than
God (Rom. 1:25)
b. Worry expresses the idolatry of the heart (Matt. 6:19-21)
c. The things we worry about reveal our idols
d. The solution is repentance, since no one can serve two
masters (Matt. 6:24, Ex. 20:3-6)

6. C. Dealing with Worry
2. Worry amounts to unbelief – not trusting God (Matt.
6:25-34)
a. Worry is a totally unproductive, useless activity (v. 27)
b. Worriers are people of “little faith” (v. 30)
c. Worriers don’t see God’s provision, care, knowledge and
faithfulness (vv. 25-32)
d. Worriers focus too much on the “might's” of the future, such
that they become irresponsible in the present (v. 34)
e. The solution is to trust God, and seek His kingdom by
honoring Him (v. 33)

7. C. Dealing with Worry
3. Worry needs to be replaced with righteous activities
(Phil. 4:5b-9)
a. Replace worry with prayer and thankfulness (v. 6)
b. Replace worry with thinking on things that are true (v. 8)
c. Replace worry with righteous behavior (v. 9)
d. Note the progression:
Right
Praying
Right
Thinking
Right
Acting

8. C. Dealing with Worry
e. The focus of it all: Know that God is near (v. 5b)
f. The result: The peace of God will guard you (v. 7)

9. Defining Fear
•Fear like any emotion can be
constructive and destructive.
It has power for good as well
as for evil.

10. D. Right Fear Vs. Sinful Fear
1. Fears that are right:
a. The fear of God (Ecc. 12:13, Prov. 1:7, 9:10)
b. Fear of danger (Job 41:33, Gen. 4:14-15, 1 Cor. 6:19-20, Ps
64:1)

11. Sinful Fear
• When it proceeds out of unbelief, or distrust, in God.
And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking
on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea,
they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out
in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take
heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." And Peter answered him, "Lord,
if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said,
"Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water
and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid,
and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus
immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying
to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they
got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat
worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God.“
Matthew 14:25-33

12. Sinful Fear
• When that which produced fear is attributed more
power than what the Bible allows.
• Make a short list of the things you fear?
Think of your feelings, enemies. Circumstances, future,
finances, loosing your cherished possessions.
• What do you believe about God and these fears?

13. Sinful Fear
• When it ascribes to God characteristics that are
inconsistent with his nature.
Is God: a tyrant, a killjoy, unfair, overlooking of sin,
uncaring, absent, unaware, not interested.
• And without faith it is impossible to please him, for
whoever would draw near to God must believe that he
exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews
11:6

14. • When we fear what God forbids us to fear.
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the
soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body
in hell.
a. Fear of man instead of God (John 12:42-43, Luke 12:4-5,
Gal. 1:10, Matthew 10:28 , Psalm 27:1-3, Psalm
56:4,Proverbs 29:25)
b. Fear of things temporal rather than eternal (Luke 12:4-5, 1
Cor. 4:5, Gen. 26:7,Psalm 46:1-3,Psalm 91:5-6)
c. Fear of bad news and things we cannot change (Psalm
112:4,7-8, Prov. 3:25, Gen. 4:14)

15. Sinful Fear
• When it is rooted in the loss of some cherished
idolatrous desire.
Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in
him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it,
so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for
they loved the glory that comes from man more than the
glory that comes from God. John 12:42-43

16. Idolatry is like a coin it has two
sides
Lust after money fear poverty
Lust after approval fear rejection and
conflict
Lust after control fear loosing
control
Lust after intimacy fear loneliness
Lust after pleasure fear boredom
Lust after their own life fear losing it
What is it that you are most afraid of losing?

17. Sinful Fear
• When it is so paralyzing that it keeps us from fulfilling
our biblical responsibilities.
• Read Matthew 25: 14-30, Proverbs 22:13,
Good is the opposite of wicked in this parable and
faithfulness the opposite of laziness. There is a
connection between fear and slothfulness, bad
stewardship.
• How does 1 John 4:17-18 help us think about God,
our fears, and love?

18. • There is nothing else in all the world – nothing in any man
made theory of counselling, nothing in any pill you can
buy – that has the power to expel fear more effectively
than biblical love. – Louis Priolo
• To the extent that you are fearful, your love is incomplete
or immature (it is not made perfect).
• Perfect love casts out fear
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.
For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears
has not been perfected in love. 1John 4:18

19. • When it IS rooted in selfishness rather than love.
1Corinthians 13:5 … or rude. It does not insist on its
own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
Love … is concerned with what I can give
rather than with what can I get.
Selfishness ... is concerned with what I can get
rather than with what can I give.
Fear … is more concerned with what I might lose
than with what I can give.
FEAR = LACK OF LOVE = SELFISHNESS

20. Fearful Person Loving Person
I wonder what he will think of me? I wonder what his needs are?
I‘d better not let him get too close to
me?
Maybe I can be a good influence on
him
If he gets close he’ll realise I’m not
perfect and then he will reject me?
What matters is not what he thinks of
me but how I can minster to him.
I’ve got to keep him from finding out
about my problems
I wonder if he has any problems I can
help him solve God’s way
I’ll probably make a fool of myself If I make a fool of myself so be it. I
am ore concerned about meeting his
needs than I am about what he thinks
of me.

21. FEAR LOVE
Focus on self Focus on God & others
Self-protecting Self-giving
What will I lose? What can I give?
Avoids problem Solves problem
Secludes self Sacrifices self
Hesitates Starts
Can be cast out Can cast out fear
Highly suspicious Believes all things
I wont’ try Acts obediently
Might fail Reaches out even if fails

22. Fear and me
• Am I a man pleaser of God pleaser?
• Am I concerned about fulfilling Gods commands for my
life?
• Am I neglecting my God given responsibilities?
• Am I afraid of potential outcomes instead of focussing on
meting the needs of others?
• Am I loving god and others the way God loves me?

23. E. Conquering crippling fear
1. Replace sinful fear with the fear of the LORD (Ps.
118:4-6, 27:1, Prov. 3:25-26, 14:26, 19:23 Gal. 1:10)
2. Identify the lust or idol behind the fear (James 1:14-
15)
3. Replace sinful fear with love (2 Tim. 1:7, 1 John 4:18)
4. Deal with guilt biblically (Prov. 28:1, 1 John 1:9)
5. View fearful situations as opportunities to grow for
God’s glory and my good (Rom. 8:28-29, 2 Cor. 5:9)
6. Meditate on helpful Scripture verses

24. • Learn to obey the first and second commandment.
Mark 12:28-31
• Take a scriptural tranquilizer. Psalm 119:165, Isaiah
26:3, Psalm 563
• Meditate on Gods past faithfulness in times of danger and
distress and expect Gods faithfulness in your present
situations.
Spurgeon said “Faith has a good memory”. Psalm 77:9-
12, Lamentations 3:21
• Clear your conscience from all unresolved conflicts with
God and others. Guilt is often the root of fear. Proverbs
28:1, Genesis 3:8-11, 1 John 4:17-18, Acts 24:16
• Consider the consequences of persisting to live in a life of
fear. Galatians 6:7, Proverbs 14:14, Job 3:25

25. • Identify and remove idolatrous lusts from your heart.
John Flavel said “The more you are mortified the less you
will be terrified”
 I want to be healthy
 I want to be safe
 I want to be comfortable
 I want to be happy
 I want to enjoy myself
 I want to feel important
 I want to have a good reputation
 I want to be successful
 I want to ne perfect
 I want to have wealth
 I want to avoid conflict
 I want to have companionship
 I want her/him to be my friend
 I don’t want to be rejected
 I don’t want to be labelled
 I don’t want to die
 I want to be thin
 I want to be alone
 I want to have control
 I want to have peace

26. • Whatever makes you afraid has no power independent of
god and therefore is powerless to do anything without his
permission. John 19:10-11, Psalm 76:10. God is the God
of providence. From Esther we learn that God is in control
of enemies, situations, individuals, authorities, knows our
troubles and the danger of physical harm. From Job we
learn that God is in control over all of our lives and we
should not fear.
• Contrast the faithfulness of God with your dearest and
most faithful friend. Proverbs 18:24
• Distinguish between fear of the object (bridge, plane,
crowd) and fear of the experience. Proverbs 2:3-5

27. • Consider the connection between fear and undisciplined
thinking.
2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of
power, and of love, and of a sound mind. KJV
2Ti 1:7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power
and love and self-control. ESV
• Start fulfilling the responsibilities you have neglected
because you have been so overwhelmed by the fear.
Philippians 4:13, Galatians 6:9, 2 Thessalonians 3:13
• Learn to live in the fear of the Lord.
This is the one cure for sinful fear. It is the essential
ingredient of which all other remedies of sinful is made.
Psalm 34:11, Deuteronomy 31:11-12, Psalm 19:7-11,
Luke 12:4-5, Psalm 56:3.

28. F. Resources
• John MacArthur, Anxiety Attacked
• David Powlison, Worry: Pursuing a Better Path to
Peace (P&R)
• Elyse Fitzpatrick, Overcoming Fear, Worry and
Anxiety (Harvest House)
• Ed Welch, Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the
God of Rest (New Growth Press)
• Jay Adams, What to Do When You Worry all the
Time / What to Do When Fear Overcomes You
(P&R)
• Lou Priolo, Fear: Breaking Its Grip (P&R)