Scripture: Genesis 26

A severe famine now struck the land, as had happened before in Abraham’s time. So Isaac moved to Gerar, where Abimelech, king of the Philistines, lived. [Genesis 26:1 NLT]

When the men who lived there asked Isaac about his wife, Rebekah, he said, “She is my sister.” He was afraid to say, “She is my wife.” He thought, “They will kill me to get her, because she is so beautiful.” [Genesis 26:7 NLT]

• Fear makes smart people do dumb things.

...For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” [Hebrews 13:5-6 NLT]

CHARACTERISTICS OF UNBIBLICAL FEAR OR "THE FEAR OF MAN":
1. The fear of man begins with wrong thinking.
2. The fear of man leads to disobedience and sin.
3. The fear of man destroys our witness to the world.

CHARACTERISTICS OF BIBLICAL FEAR OR "THE FEAR OF LORD":
1. The fear of the Lord begins with right thinking.
2. The fear of the Lord leads to obedience and blessing.
3. The fear of the Lord builds a testimony before others.

• The fear of the Lord is the ultimate antidote for the fear of man.

• Walking in the fear of the Lord comes through prayer and meditating on God’s Word.

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