By Dr. Lawrence Osifo
THE EVIL OF FEAR
(An Inspirational African Motivational Sermon)
By Dr. Lawrence Osifo
The marketplace in Benin City was alive that morning — traders shouting, women bargaining, the scent of roasted plantain mingling with the aroma of fresh pepper. In the centre of the crowd stood an elderly man known as Pa Omoregie, a wise man whose grey hair was like a crown of wisdom. He was surrounded by young men and women from different tribes — Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, and Edo — who had gathered under the shade of a large mango tree to listen to his Saturday Morning Talks.
This particular morning, his voice rose deep and firm as he began:
“My children, today, let us talk about the evil of fear — the silent killer of dreams, the destroyer of destiny, and the unseen hand that keeps the mighty crawling like ants.”
The crowd murmured in curiosity. Some adjusted their wrappers, others leaned closer. Even the children who were chasing tyres stopped to listen.
1. Fear — The Wicked Spirit of Hindrance
“Fear,” Pa Omoregie continued, “is not just an emotion — it is a spirit. It hinders you from helping others. It whispers lies that make you selfish. When you see a neighbour in need and you refuse to help because you fear you will have nothing left, you have allowed wickedness into your heart.”
A young woman named Eseosa, who sold tomatoes at the market, raised her hand timidly.
“Baba, sometimes it’s not wickedness,” she said. “It’s just that things are hard. If I give, I may go hungry.”
Pa Omoregie smiled gently.
“My daughter, that is how fear deceives the heart. Fear says, ‘Keep your little,’ but faith says, ‘Give and it shall be given unto you.’ Fear shuts the door of kindness, but faith opens the floodgate of blessings. The more you hoard, the less you have; but the more you give, the more you receive.”
He looked up and pointed toward the sky.
“The rain that refuses to fall will dry itself. The tree that refuses to shed leaves will never grow new ones.”
Eseosa nodded slowly, tears welling in her eyes. She had been saving her last ₦1,000, but deep inside, she knew someone else needed it more.
2. Fear — The Enemy of Progress
Another man, Musa, a young mechanic, spoke from the back.
“Baba, I’ve always wanted to start my own workshop, but each time I try, something tells me I will fail.”
Pa Omoregie’s eyes softened.
“Musa, do you know what that voice is? It is fear, and fear is the language of the wicked one. It paralyses your courage and poisons your future.”
He raised his walking stick as if to draw attention to his words.
“My son, the opposite of faith is fear. Without faith, you cannot please God, and without courage, you cannot pursue your destiny.”
He then quoted softly,
“The lion does not ask permission from the gazelle before it hunts. The eagle does not seek approval from the sparrows before it flies.”
He paused.
“Why then should you ask permission from fear before you rise? If God has given you a dream, start it! Even if your hands shake, let them shake while you build.”
Musa bowed his head. He had been saving money to rent a small shop but kept postponing it, listening to the voice of fear. That day, he made up his mind to move forward.
3. Fear — The Silent Killer of Faith
As the afternoon sun climbed higher, Pa Omoregie continued, his voice echoing through the crowd.
“Fear causes panic and hinders prayers. It makes you believe God is too far or too weak to help you. When you stop praying because you fear that nothing will change, you have already lost the battle.”
A young teacher named Ngozi spoke up, “Baba, sometimes I pray, but fear still grips me.”
He nodded.
“My daughter, faith is not the absence of fear — it is the courage to act in spite of fear. Even the strongest men tremble, but the righteous stand firm like Mount Zion.”
He looked around and said firmly,
“When fear knocks, let faith answer the door. Fear cannot stay where faith lives.”
He raised his hand in the air as if addressing the heavens.
“Fear is the voice that says, ‘You can’t,’ but faith replies, ‘With God, all things are possible.’”
4. Fear — The Magnet of Evil
Pa Omoregie then quoted an old proverb:
“The fears of the wicked come to him, but the righteous are as bold as the lion.”
He explained, “When a man constantly fears that he will fail, that fear attracts failure. Fear is a magnet for negative things. Job said, ‘What I feared has come upon me.’”
A boy named Osato asked shyly, “So Baba, what should we do when fear comes?”
The old man smiled.
“Face it, my son. Speak to it. Tell it, ‘I have no room for you here.’ Replace every fearful thought with faith-filled words. Speak life into your situation.”
He raised his walking stick again and declared,
“When you say, ‘I am afraid I will fail,’ failure begins its journey toward you. But when you say, ‘I can do all things through Christ,’ success starts walking your way.”
The crowd shouted in agreement, “Amen!”
5. Fear — The Thief of Peace
“Fear,” he continued, “makes you suspicious of everyone. It breeds insecurity, jealousy, and doubt. That is wickedness — because it destroys relationships and community.”
He pointed toward the market women.
“When you live in fear, you stop trusting people. You begin to think everyone is against you. That is not wisdom; that is torment.”
He smiled again and said,
“A clear conscience fears no accusation. Only the wicked flee when no man pursues them. But the righteous walk boldly even in the dark.”
He turned to the crowd with a gentle warning:
“When you live in fear, you make yourself your own enemy. But when you walk in faith, you become unstoppable.”
6. Fear — The Death Before Death
As the wind rustled through the leaves, Pa Omoregie grew solemn.
“When a man fears death too much, he dies before his time. When he fears failure, he never even begins. Fear kills the soul long before the body.”
He told them an ancient story of Eghosa, a brave hunter from Uselu, who was once afraid to enter the forest because of tales of spirits. One day, his wife fell ill, and the herbs needed to heal her grew only in that forest. Out of love, he entered — trembling — but he found no spirits, only shadows and trees. He returned with the herbs, and his wife recovered.
Pa Omoregie looked around.
“That is the lesson. Fear builds castles in the air — imaginary prisons that don’t exist. Step into your forest, and you will find that the spirits you feared were only shadows of your doubt.”
7. The Final Word — Fear Not!
The sun was setting now. The sky glowed orange over the red earth. Pa Omoregie lifted his hands and said:
“My children, fear is evil because it produces evil. It is the tool of darkness that stops men from fulfilling their destiny. But faith — faith is the light that breaks every chain.
Be bold like the lion, even if you walk alone. Trust God even when the storm is raging. Speak life even when death seems near.
For as long as you believe, you cannot be defeated.”
The crowd clapped. Some wept. Some prayed. And as the wind blew softly through the mango leaves, it was as if God Himself whispered to every heart:
“Fear not, for I am with you.”
Inspirational Quotes from the Sermon
- “When fear knocks, let faith answer the door.”
- “The tree that refuses to shed leaves will never grow new ones.”
- “Fear builds prisons; faith builds bridges.”
- “The fears you feed will grow to rule you; the faith you nurture will set you free.”
- “Only the wicked flee when no man pursues, but the righteous are as bold as the lion.”
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