Fear
2 Timothy 1:6/9 – Psalms 34:1/4
Fear is not of God, it is destructive, to be fearful and always dreading that which has terror can cause panic with great trepidation. Notice the words that I used, fright, terror, dread, panic and trepidation. All synonyms of the word fear.
Fear my friend is devastating, and can have lasting results. It can paralyze an individual and cause one to be helpless. Fear can stop the flow of God’s power leading one to a wrong belief system. Yet, a relationship with God and faith will conquer fear.
Sometimes the spirit of fear can oppress an individual. We are told in Ephesians 6:12, “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Paul refers to fear as a spirit, it is a spiritual power and force that we need to bind and command in the name of Jesus. Matthew 18:18 says, “Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
There are times we need to take authority over spiritual forces and be delivered and set free from the oppressive powers of the enemy. Since the inception of time Satan has been going around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.
Satan is the accuser of the brethren; he is a liar, and the father of lies. Deception is his game and he plays it well, if Satan can get you to live in fear he knows that he has won a battle.
Here is a key passage concerning fear, “Whoso hearkens unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” Proverbs 1:33 this is a powerful scripture, knowing that if we dwell in His presence we can be free from fear. Fear has torment. The bible tells us that perfect love cast out fear.
The word tells us that there is no fear in love. So we allow His love to be shed abroad in our heart, with His presence is us fear will no longer have a place to reside. “I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalms 34:4
Thank about the man in the bible who lives among the tombs and would cut himself, here was a man living in torment because of fear. Over the years I have known people who lives were filled with a tormenting spirit, and they were never able to free themselves. You could see it in their face, a very troubling spirit. Fear is a spirit, and one way to overcome is with a positive faith.
From the book of Joshua chapter one and verse nine, “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever you go.”
David said, “Yea, thought 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.” David said there is no fear in the valley, and we will go through some valleys as we serve the Lord. And there is no fear in the shadow of death because the sting of death has been taken away, and the grave holds no victory.
“Strengthen you the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, be strong, fear not; behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with recompense; he will come and save you.” Isaiah 35:3/4
Fear is not from God; in our text the Apostle Paul tells us that God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” If fear surrounds you, if you live in fear, if fear is following you, haunting you, remember it is not of God.
God does not put you in bondage, but fear does, it will hold you in bondage. Job said, “The thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.” Fear gives birth to a lot of things in a person’s life.
To live in fear is a snare, it like a bird caught in a net, and if your life is ruled by fear you will be held captive in the net of life waiting for the grim reaper arrive, and he will come.
But I have some good news, God can and will deliver us from fear. “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. Psalms 27:1
Psalms 91:4/45 “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; or for the arrows that fly by day.”
In the book of Matthew Jesus is pleading with Israel concerning the things that would come on that generation. And He said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that has killed the prophets and stoned those who were sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered the thee even as a hen gather her chick under her wings, and ye would not.”
Jesus is standing with arms stretched out pleading with us to come under His divine protection and be free from fear. “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.” Isaiah 41:10
When God’s word says “fear not,” this command is often directly paired with an assurance that makes it possible: “Fear thou not, for I am with thee.” In Matthews’s gospel chapter fourteen and verse twenty-seven Jesus said, “it is I, be not afraid.”
There is much to be afraid of in this world, and simply setting that fear aside is mere boldness. The only way to be truly fearless is to trust in Him who is greater than all fear.
The disciples panicked in the storm because they didn’t fully realize who was in their ship. If they had, they would surely have known that whatever a storm might do to them, it could never overcome Him.
So, when we face our own storms and fears, as we all will, we can hear His voice telling us to be of good cheer – not because everything is about to change for the better on the outside, but because He is with us on the inside.
The prophet Isaiah said, “Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their reviling’s.”
As born again believer’s we are commanded not to fear. “Fear not, little flock; for it is your father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Like 12:32 if you are living with fear, move in to the realm of His kingdom where freedom overcomes fear.
“For whom the Son sets free, is free indeed.”
