A. It can cause you to become bound:

PRO 29:25. The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

HEB 2:15. And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

B. It can cause weakness:

JOB 4:14. Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.

ISA 13:8. And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.

JER 6:24. We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

JER 6:25. Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side.

C. It can sap your will to fight & cause defeat:

LEV 26:36. And upon them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth.

LEV 26:37. And they shall fall one upon another, as it were before a sword, when none pursueth: and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies.

JOS 2:11. And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

JOS 5:1. And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.

1SA 13:6. When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.

1SA 13:7. And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

D. It hinders you from witnessing or standing up for your convictions:

MAT 26:56. But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

MAT 26:69. Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.

MAT 26:70. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.

MAT 26:71. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.

MAT 26:72. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.

MAT 26:73. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.

MAT 26:74. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

MAR 14:66. And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:

MAR 14:67. And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.

MAR 14:68. But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.

MAR 14:69. And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.

MAR 14:70. And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.

MAR 14:71. But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.

MAR 14:72. And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.

LUK 22:54. Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.

LUK 22:55. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.

LUK 22:56. But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.

LUK 22:57. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.

LUK 22:58. And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.

LUK 22:59. And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.

LUK 22:60. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.

JOH 18:16. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.

JOH 18:17. Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not.

JOH 18:25. And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.

JOH 18:26. One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?

JOH 18:27. Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.

JOH 7:13. Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.

JOH 9:22. These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

JOH 12:42. Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

JOH 12:43. For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

JOH 19:12. And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.

JOH 19:13. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.

JOH 19:14. And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!

JOH 19:15. But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.

JOH 19:16. Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.

JOH 19:38. And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.

E. It can cause you to disobey God:

NUM 13:28. Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.

NUM 13:31. But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

NUM 13:32. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.

NUM 13:33. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

NUM 14:1. And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.

NUM 14:2. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!

NUM 14:3. And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?

NUM 14:4. And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.

NUM 14:5. Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.

DEU 1:26. Notwithstanding ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God:

DEU 1:27. And ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because the LORD hated us, he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.

DEU 1:28. Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.

1SA 15:24. And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

F. It can cause mental torment & anguish:

1JOH 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.

G. Fear can even cause sickness & death:

LUK 21:26. Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

1SA 14:15. And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.

1SA 14:16. And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another.

1SA 28:5. And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.

H. If not checked fear can get a grip on you:

PSA 48:6. Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

PSA 55:5. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.

JER 6:22. Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth.

JER 6:23. They shall lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses, set in array as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion.

JER 6:24. We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

JER 6:25. Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side.

I. Unchecked fear can become extreme:

LEV 26:17. And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.

LEV 26:36. And upon them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth.

DEU 28:66. And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life:

DEU 28:67. In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.

JOB 18:11. Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet.

JOB 18:14. His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors.

PSA 53:5. There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.

PRO 28:1. The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

J. Fears can materialise & become real things:

JOB 3:25. For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.

PRO 10:24. The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.

ISA 66:4. I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.

K. Fear is contagious & can affect others:

DEU 20:8. And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his heart.

JDG 7:3. Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.

JDG 7:19. So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands.

JDG 7:20. And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.

JDG 7:21. And they stood every man in his place round about the camp; and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.

JDG 7:22. And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.

1SA 14:12. And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.

1SA 14:13. And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him.

1SA 14:14. And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.

1SA 14:15. And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.