“THE STRONGHOLD OF FEAR”

2 Timothy 1:7

Fear has been defined as anxiety caused by real or possible danger, pain, etc.; fright; to be afraid; to expect with
misgiving. It has been reported, “Ann Landers, the syndicated advice columnist, was at one time receiving ten
thousand letters a month from people with all kinds of problems. Someone asked her if there was one common
denominator among all her correspondents. She said that the great overriding theme of all the letters she read
was fear—fear of nearly everything imaginable until the problem became, for countless readers, a fear of life
itself.”

 Peladophobia: fear of baldness and bald people.

 Aerophobia: fear of drafts.
 Porphyrophobia: fear of the color purple.
 Chaetophobia: fear of hairy people.
 Levophobia: fear of objects on the left side of the body.
 Dextrophobia: fear of objects on the right side of the body.
 Auroraphobia: fear of the northern lights.
 Calyprophobia: fear of obscure meanings.
 Thalassophobia: fear of being seated.
 Stabisbasiphobia: fear of standing and walking.
 Odontophobia: fear of teeth.
 Graphophobia: fear of writing in public.
 Phobophobia: fear of being afraid.

From Nothing to Fear, by Fraser Kent, Doubleday & Company, 1977.

“Mysophobia is fear of dirt. Hydrophobia is fear of water . Nyclophobia is the fear of darkness. Acrophobia
is fear of high places. Taxophobia is fear of being buried alive. Xenophobia is fear of strangers.
Necrophobia is fear of the dead. Claustrophobia is fear of confined places. Triskaidekaphobia is fear of
the number 13.” – ROBERT G. LEE’S SERMONIC LIBRARY

The point is people can struggle with fears of all kinds. There can be real fears or even perceived fears.
For instance, “A passenger in a taxi leaned over to ask the driver a question and gently tapped him on the
shoulder to get his attention. The driver screamed, lost control of the cab, nearly hit a bus, drove up over
the curb, and stopped just inches from a large plate window.
For a few moments everything was silent in the cab. Then, the shaking driver said, “Are you OK? I’m so
sorry, but you scared the daylights out of me...” The badly shaken passenger apologized to the driver and
said “I didn’t realize that a mere tap on the shoulder would startle someone so badly.”
The driver replied, “No, no, I’m the one who is sorry, it’s entirely my fault, today is my very first day driving
a cab. I’ve been driving a hearse for 25 years...”
Last night I saw upon the stair
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A little man who wasn’t there
He wasn’t there again today
Oh, how I wish he’d go away! -WILLIAM HUGHES MEARNS

Whether your fear is real or imagined, listen to what Charles Stanley said. “The landmine of fear is a
powerful weapon…it has the ability to prevent us from experiencing the blessings of God. However, the
landmine of fear takes this concept to an entirely deeper level. It can paralyze us to such a degree that we
lost our godly perspective concerning our circumstances. It clouds our vision for the future and leaves us
struggling with doubt. When our lives are shrouded in fear, we cannot imagine the goodness that God has
for us.” He also said, “We struggle with fear because we allow our imaginations to go to places that God
never intended us to visit.”

In this message on the stronghold of fear I want to visit several Bible Stories in which we see this
stronghold alive and influencing the given situations. After we visit these Bible stories, we will draw out
several thoughts about the stronghold of fear and how it works.

1. The Report of the Spies sent to the Promised Land – Numbers 13:1,2,26-14:11; Deut. 1:19-21,29-
33
2. Facing Goliath – I Samuel 17:10-11,24
3. David’s departure to Gath – I Samuel 21:10-15
4. The Building of Nehemiah’s Wall – Nehemiah 4:7-15
5. Peter walking on the Water – Matthew 14:22-33
6. The Unexpected Storm at Sea – Mark 4:35-40

In all five of these Bible Stories, fear played a key role. When we study these stories, we get a
commentary on what fear can do in our lives. The following outline gives several thoughts about fear.

I. DISOBEYS GOD’S COMMAND

John 14:1,27 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me...Peace I leave with you,
my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither
let it be afraid.

The first thing we all need to see is being afraid is against the will of God for our lives. It is living in
disobedience to our Lord’s command! We need to stop rationalizing our fears and realize it is sin against
our great God! Fear even started as a result of sin (Genesis 3:9,10 - And the LORD God called unto Adam,
and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because
I was naked; and I hid myself.)

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II. DISREGARDS GOD’S PRESENCE
This is especially seen in the stories of Peter’s fear and the unexpected storm. In both of these stories,
those afraid simply ignored the fact that the Son of God was with them. Peter became afraid when he
took his eyes off the Lord and “saw the wind boisterous.” The disciples on board the ship during the
unexpected storm simply ignored the fact that they had the Son of God with them on that ship during that
storm. Their focus was on the storm instead of the Lord. In both of these stories, Peter and disciples
disregarded the presence of God with them during their current situation.

A mother and her four-year-old daughter were preparing to retire for the night. The child was afraid of the
dark, and the mother, on this occasion alone with the child, felt fearful also. When the light was out, the
child caught a glimpse of the moon outside the window. “Mother,” she asked, “is the moon God’s light?”
“Yes,” said the mother.
The next question was, “Will God put out His light and go to sleep?”
The mother replied, “No, my child, God never goes to sleep.”
Then out of the simplicity of a child’s faith, she said that which gave reassurance to the fearful mother,
“Well, as long as God is awake, there is no sense both of us staying awake.”
Source: Unknown

David Jeremiah wrote, “John Paton was a nineteenth-century Scottish missionary who labored for a
lifetime among murderous natives of the New Hebrides Islands. He often faced danger as various
tribesmen sought to kill him. He wrote, ‘Without that abiding consciousness of the presence and power of
my dear Lord and Saviour, nothing else in all the world could have preserved me from losing my reason
and perishing miserably.’ He said that it was in those most dangerous of moments, when he faced the
weapons of men, that he saw the face of Christ most clearly. On one occasion Paton hid within the
branches of a tree as the men below searched for him. He heard their murderous threats, yet he knew he
was safe in the arms of Jesus. ‘Alone, yet not alone!’ he recalled. ‘My comfort and joy sprang from the
promise, ‘Lo, I am with you always.’’”

During times of fear I agree with David Jeremiah, “It doesn’t seem to register that he never calls His
children only to desert them.” Charles Stanley said, “Victory over fear comes when you learn to focus on
the Savior…To overcome fear, you must learn…the principle of focus. When we keep our focus on Jesus
Christ, life’s struggles diminish and our faith becomes stronger…When David faced Goliath, he did not
listen to the fearful words of his brothers and those who were in Israel’s army. He focused only on God
and won a tremendous victory. Daniel emerged unscathed from the lions’ den because he had spent the
night praying to God for protection and deliverance. He was focused only on the Lord and not on the lions
that tracked his every move with their eyes. Paul, while a prisoner in Rome, focused on doing God’s will,
and an entire regiment in the Roman army came to know Jesus as Savior because he was intent on his
mission and not his circumstances. He was not fixated on his discomforts or the fact he was chained to a
Roman soldier. His only goal was to do God’s will. Often when we yield to fear, it is because our focus has
shifted. Like the disciples during a raging storm on the Sea of Galilee, we cry out.”

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The point is, if you are born again, God Almighty is with you always and will never leave you! Fear
disregards this truth!

Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath
said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Ps 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom
shall I be afraid?
Ps 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the
earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof
roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
Ps 118:6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
Ps 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy
rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Isa 43:1-2 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not:
for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I
will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou
shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Jos 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed:
for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Hag 2:4-5 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high
priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of
hosts: According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth
among you: fear ye not.

Do you have the presence of God in your heart? If you do, there is absolutely nothing to fear!

III. DENIES GOD’S WORD

Can God lie? Will God do what He says He will do? Can you trust what God says? The obvious answer to all of
these questions is, “Yes!!” However, fear loudly says, “No!!” to these questions. Charles Stanley said, “Ignorance
of the promises in God’s Word leads to fear.” The fact is fear causes one to lose sight of the promise, “I can do all
things through Christ.”

Listen to the following verses and see how fear denies plainly what God has said…
Isa 41:10 ¶ Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will
help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness…For I the LORD thy God will hold thy
right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
De 31:6,8 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that
doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee… And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will
be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
Pr 3:25-26 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD
shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
Ge 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.
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Heb 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
2Ki 6:14-16 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and
compassed the city about. And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an
host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall
we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
Ro 8:31 ¶ What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Ps 118:6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
Ps 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom
shall I be afraid?
Ps 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart
greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
Ps 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold
from them that walk uprightly.
Ps 89:18 For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.
Ps 91:4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and
buckler.
Ps 119:114 ¶ Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

The point is fear is an open attack on the Word of God. He has promised to be with us, care for and protect us.
This does not mean bad things never happen to God’s people, but it does mean that God never fails or forsakes
His children. We can trust what God says. He is our light and life. He is our strength and song. He is our salvation.
The worst thing man can do to God’s children only brings them closer to the presence of God! Whom should we
fear when we have God Almighty as our Father!! Do we truly trust God’s Word? David Jeremiah said, “Our degree
of fear is a gauge of our degree of faith.”

IV. DECLINES GOD’S BEST

We see this come out in the story of the evil report given by the ten spies sent to look at the promised land of
God’s blessing. The Lord had already promised the Israelites the land before He ever sent the spies to view the
land. However, when they saw the great walled cities and the giants that lived there, they were afraid and
discouraged the people from claiming all God had for them. They were ultimately sentenced to a life of wilderness
wondering, outside of the best God had prepared for them all because they were afraid. David Jeremiah said,
“The golden hopes and dreams of the Israelites—for land, for security, for a new beginning—were ruined for forty
years because of the fear of ten men.”

Fear keeps us from enjoying all God has for us. Fear keeps us from God’s best for our lives. David Jeremiah said,
“Fields of milk and honey stood in wait, but they settled for less…Isn’t that kind of disappointment in life far more
to be feared than the risk of taking God at His Word?”

Like the children of Israel in today’s Bible reading, Hannah Hurnard, author of Hinds’ Feet on High Places, was once
paralyzed by fear. Then she heard a sermon on scarecrows that challenged her to turn her fear into faith.

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The preacher said, “A wise bird knows that a scarecrow is simply an advertisement. It announces that some very
juicy and delicious fruit is to be had for the picking. There are scarecrows in all the best gardens...If I am wise, I too
shall treat the scarecrow as though it were an invitation. Every giant in the way which makes me feel like a
grasshopper is only a scarecrow beckoning me to God’s richest blessings.” He concluded, “Faith is a bird which
loves to perch on scarecrows. All our fears are groundless.”
-Our Daily Bread, April 6, 1995

V. DETAINS GOD’S PEOPLE

This is especially noticed in the story of the Israelites being afraid of Goliath in the valley. In that story the giant,
standing almost ten feet tall, came out and challenged the Israelites. He said, “choose you a man for you, and let
him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail
against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.” When Saul and the others heard this they
were afraid. The point is their fear made them slaves already to this giant that was defying their great God. The
whole time they refused to believe their God and stand against this giant, their fear held them captive to this
giant.

David Jeremiah said, “I’ve also read about a young truck driver whose route takes him across the Chesapeake Bay
Bridge every day. The thought entered his mind that he just might feel compelled to stop the truck, climb out, and
leap from the bridge to his death. There was no rational reason to hold such a belief, but that very fear took
complete hold of him. He finally asked his wife to handcuff him to the steering wheel so he could be fully assured
that his deepest fear wouldn’t come true.
That’s exactly what fear does when it builds its power over us; it shackles our hands and keeps us from
doing the routine things in life—working, playing, living, and serving God. We give in to the slavery of terror.”
Pr 29:25 ¶ The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

VI. DOUBTS GOD’S CARE

There is no doubt that God loves and cares for His children. However, the stronghold of fear doubts God’s care.
This is seen especially in the story of the unexpected storm on the Sea when the Lord Jesus was asleep on the
boat. When this great storm came up that day and threatened the safety of those disciples, they went to Jesus
who was on board with them and asked this question, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” This is the
question fear asks God even today. Fear questions the care that God has for His children.

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1Jo 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.

According to this verse, the opposite of fear is love. David Jeremiah put it well, “I think parents understand this
principle, for they know that little children often wake up in the dark of night. And they’re afraid of the darkness…
So what do we do? I doubt any of us would rush into the room and say, ‘Come on, be courageous!’ No, you and I
are much more tender than that. We lift the little boy in our arms, nestle him tightly to us, and speak softly with
assurance. We tell him we love him, and that everything is all right. We help him realize he’s in a safe place, and
that we’re very near as he sleeps, even if it’s dark; we will always protect him. And we pour in all the love we can
until the fear is cast out, and our little child sleeps in peace. That’s what God does for us when we call on Him.”
God really does love and care for His children, but fear doubts all of this!

Charles Stanley said, “When you ignore the sovereignty and the awesome providential care of God, you will end
up struggling with fear.” As it has been said, “God has brought us this far; He will bring us home.” We all need to
be reminded that God cares for us. This is enough to drive all fears away!

1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

We see in these Bible stories that nothing good comes from fear. Fear tries to disrupt God’s work in your life like it
tried to do in Nehemiah’s day. Fear tries to get you to desert God’s will for your life like it did in David’s life. If you
will notice in this outline that fear is a direct attack on God! It is not an attack on you and I, but an attack on our
great God! Fear…
DISOBEYS GOD’S COMMAND DECLINES GOD’S BEST
DISREGARDS GOD’S PRESENCE DETAINS GOD’S PEOPLE
DENIES GOD’S WORD DOUBTS GOD’S CARE

We need to understand that fear is an attack on God. However, let us realize that God is the answer for our fears.
Charles Stanley said, “No fear, no threat, no challenge is greater than His ability to conquer it.” The outcome of
your battle with fear depends on what you do with God! When you are afraid…

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1. SEEK THE LORD
Ps 34:4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

David Jeremiah said, “After you spend time with your Creator, you’re simply incapable of shrinking in fear at the
appearance of every human anxiety.” Spurgeon said, “This shall be our experience if we put the Lord to the same
test. Why then do we indulge our fears when prayer is a sure remedy for them. Have we any troubles at this
time? Let us tell them all to our heavenly Father.”

2. TRUST THE LORD

Ps 56:3-4 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will
not fear what flesh can do unto me.
Ps 31:24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope [trust] in the LORD.

Believe what the Lord has said in His precious Word. He is worthy to be trusted.

3. REMEMBER THE LORD

Ne 4:14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be
not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and
your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

This word “remember” means to think on the Lord. One of the greatest ways to get rid of fear is to meditate on
your Lord. He is good. He is in control. He loves you. He cares for you. He is all-powerful. He is everywhere. He has
promised never to leave or forsake you. He is the great I AM. Giving in to our fears is a clear indicator that our
eyes are focused somewhere else other than the Lord Jesus Christ!

4. OBEY THE LORD

Pr 1:33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

We know that Jesus Christ is wisdom personified. Therefore we see those who obey Him shall dwell safely and be
quiet from fear of evil. The way the Lord spoke to me here is how when we are afraid, let us obey the Lord and

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not allow the fear to cause us to stop obeying our Lord’s commands. In other words, one way to fight fear is to do
what God says! Don’t quit on God’s will during fear—go on for the glory of God!

5. FEAR THE LORD

David Jeremiah said, “If you don’t have the fear of God, then everything else is to be feared.” When we fear the
Lord, all other fears are minimized.

1Sa 12:24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath
done for you.
Ps 33:8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
Mt 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able
to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Lu 12:5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into
hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
Pr 16:6 ¶ By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
Ps 34:7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. Pr 14:26-27 In
the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. The fear of the LORD is a
fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

How much we fear other things or people is a spiritual gauge of how much we fear God! David Jeremiah said,
“Your fear level is ultimately a referendum on you closeness of your friendship with God.”

Just as fear is an attack on God; our God is the only answer for our fear. What we do with our God determines
who wins the battle against our fear. Let us determine to see fear as sin against God and turn our fears over to
Him and live in victory over them!

Ps 3:1-8 LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be
which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and
the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid
me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that
have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine

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enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy
blessing is upon thy people. Selah.
Ro 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption,
whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Isa 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my
song; he also is become my salvation.

David Jeremiah said, “It is to understand, down to the depth of our being, that God loves us so much He will
always fold us in His arms; that He’ll always be near, even when it’s dark; that He is our ‘Daddy’ and that we need
not be afraid.”

CONCLUSION
While this message has been centered on exposing the wrong kind of fears, let us not forget the Word of God is
clear that there is something that truly is fearful…

Heb 10:26-31 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no
more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the
adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer
punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath
counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the
Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord.
And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

It is a fearful thing to reject Jesus Christ and fall into the hands of the living God in judgment and condemnation!

INVITATION
1. Have you rejected or received the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior?
2. Are you struggling with the stronghold of fear?
a. Seek the Lord
b. Trust the Lord
c. Remember the Lord

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d. Obey the Lord
e. Fear the Lord

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