FEAR
How many of us have experienced fear at some point in our life? Most of us I’m sure. Fear has gripped some of the greatest men of God throughout the ages. Let us look at just a few.
A. Adam after the fall when God was looking for him in the garden; says Adam “I was afraid”. That is the first recorded fear in the Bible.
B. David when he was having his problems with Abimelech. “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears”. David again in the 23rd Psalm. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil…”.
C. Can you imagine that tower of strength Elijah, knowing fear? He is one of the Prophets that talked with God, and yet he let some woman--Jezebel--chase him into the wilderness hiding, after God through him had just performed one of the greatest miracles of his time. Read 1st Kings, chapter 18 & 19 for the whole story and to get some insight of the human spirit.
Fear has devastating results. It can virtually paralyze a person and make one helpless. It stops the flow of God’s power. Fear is wrong believing, dependence on God and a right relationship with Him, and the daily practice of faith will overcome fear.
We are told in Ephesians 6:12 “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”.
In 2nd Timothy 1:7 we read, “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”. Fear is referred to as a spirit. It is a spiritual power and force that we need to bind and command away in the name of Jesus.
We can take authority over spiritual forces and be delivered and set free from the oppressive powers of the enemy. Believing and trusting in the Lord will calm the spirit and relax us. We are told to rest in the Lord. This is a reverential trust and awe of a Holy God with whom we can commune personally through Jesus Christ. In Him we can have peace and rest and not fear. (Read Luke 12:32).
We teach Holiness, we preach Holiness, and we believe in Holiness. Hebrews 12:14 says “Follow peace with all men, and Holiness without which no man shall see the Lord”. Holiness denotes the presence of love and the absence of fear. Fear, not hate, is the opposite of love.
If the message of Jesus is to love God and all His people are to be fulfilled, then fear cannot exist. The absence of fear is the test for Holiness, or unconditional love.
More later.
| Posted: April 1, 2005 , Modified: April 2, 2005 |
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