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 ..... (Isaiah 41:10).

Introduction

Times come in life when we find ourselves in situations of great fear, times of serious challenges and potent threats that bring uncommon confusion even to brave men and intrepid explorers.

However, we must never allow fear to define our lives as some people do, who are so afraid to die that they never truly live. In reality, most times, fear is a thoughtless response to perceived dangers, and it’s an undue worry about evils that may never be.

The Sad Experience of Job

Fear was one of the things that brought great problems to Job. He practiced fear so continually, to the extent that his fear became menacingly wild. He later said, “the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, ...” (Job 3:25).

Job didn’t feel safe because of his fear, despite the fact he had a tight network of divine security around him, something even Satan acknowledged (Job 1:9-10). The continual "fear-rituals" he engaged in plunged him into Satan’s grip, and these contributed to dissembling his protective hedge to his greatest jeopardy (Job 1:5-11). Please keep in mind that we always lose our possessions when we lose our faith positions!

Fear is forward-looking, but entirely in the negative sense. It uses our imaginations to build mind-pictures of those things that we dread. Fear gives Satan the opportunity he is always looking for (1 Pet. 5:8-9). Fear swallows faith, it torments and draws psychosomatic evils to the fearful (1Jn.4:18).

Cruel Characteristics of Fear

Fear is faith in reverse-gear! Whereas, faith brings the concrete essence of things expected and the proofs of things not seen; contrariwise, fear brings the concrete essence of things not desired and the disapproval of invisible blessings!

Admittedly there are times when "believing" is the last thing we feel like doing, especially in times of crisis. But then, we must understand that faith is not an emotion, but a decision that we must elect to make!

Fear is actually putting our faith in what the devil can do rather than what God can do. Little wonder then that fear is so offensive to God?

Fear and unbelief take first place on the list of the abominable things that could cause any man to end up in the lake of fire! This is especially significant when we consider whose company they share: the abominable and murderers, whoremongers, sorcerers, idolaters and liars (Revelation 21:7-8). What a nasty doom list to top!

Fear acts like a satanic magnet, attracting bad things to the fearful. It pulls people down emotionally, and it’s the greatest source of worry ever. Worry in itself is counter-productive and energy sapping because it cannot stop any evil occurrence, but it keeps dwelling on the problem instead of the solution.

Growing Your Faith to Nullify Fear

When fear looms larger, its despicable consequences equally multiply exceedingly. The enemies appear stronger that ever, evil messengers and negative reports keep coming in, and hopes dim. But, there are still so many things we can do to mortify these cruelties of fear.

First of all, we must learn to grow our faith, knowing we can still be utterly victorious and ever unstoppable if we don't yield to fear by what we hear, do, say or think.

You can't stop the devil from bringing thoughts of fear to your mind, but you can determine to nullify them effectively as they arise. Negative thoughts will die unborn if we don't speak them, but when you speak your fears they will grow and displace your faith. Life and death, and justification and condemnation are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21; Matthew 12:37). Please be careful what you say!

Fear comes by hearing negative words, which do open opportunities for evil intentions. Fearful words will invite the enemy to quench the blessings of God.

Reading from 2 Chronicles 20:1-27, I discovered there is so much to learn from the experience of Jehoshaphat at the valley of Berachah. Firstly, those who will turn their serious fear into uncommon blessing must focus on God, and not on their troubles (v3, 12). They must be strong, specific and articulate in prayers for divine assistance (v3-12).

Furthermore, they must be humble and very sensitive to the Voice of divine directions (v14-18). They must truly cherish the prophetic covering, which God has placed over them, even as they march forward in divine orders, faith and worship (v18-21). And, when these are in place, the rest is divine collaboration, with grand ends of bounteous ingathering that Satan cannot stop (v22-26).

Conclusion

Guilty conscience exposes men to continual frights (Genesis 50:15). Hence those that would be fearless must keep themselves guiltless. Gracefully, those who are in Christ need not struggle with fear. If Jesus is in the boat of your life, you are safe in His hands. Moreover, God, our very own Father, has said repeatedly: ‘fear not’!

Friends and beloved in Christ Jesus, there is a Spirit in you that’s different from the spirit of this cosmos (2 Timothy 1:7). Though the world around you is set in reverse, you can still be forward thinking, faith-filled and word-of-faith inspired (Psalms 18:40-45).

Never dread the future. Be moved only by God's Word and rejoice at good times to come (Proverbs 31:25). Don’t let fear rob you of what the Lord has given you. Bind that spirit today in Jesus’ name, and don’t ever again allow your thoughts to bring you into bondage (Hebrews 2:15). Yes, keep everything in the hands of Jesus Christ, for a truer and safer tomorrow. Happy Sunday!

• Bishop Taiwo Akinola,

Rhema Christian Church,

Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria.

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