"God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7
How many have watched the TV show fear factor?
The program did remind me that fear is an emotion that we are all very familiar with it.
One of my fears is of spiders and ticks.
One time when my Mother was 16, She was resting on a screened in porch. When she opened her eyes, there was a wolf spider spinning a web right to her face. Needless to say, she screamed! She transferred her fear to me and now I’ve transferred it to Alexus.
You can transfer fear as well as doubt.
Would you be willing to conquer your fears to do what Jesus asks you to do?
There is no doubt that fear is no friend of our effectiveness for Christ. We are often fearful about witnessing, giving our money away, saying no to our friends, forgiving a cruel offense, or risking being misunderstood if we speak up for biblical values. If Satan can get us focused on fear, he doesn't have to do much else to shut down our spiritual progress and usefulness.
So, let’s talk about what it takes to succeed for Jesus in the face of fear.
Let’s remind ourselves that fear primarily focuses on protecting and preserving “me.” Once you and I realize that a self-surpassing passion for others and that Jesus trumps FEAR, we can understand why the apostle John wrote that love casts out all fear.
(1 John 4:18). 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
But loving can often feel too risky. That’s why we need another ingredient to release the power of the love that conquers fear. That ingredient is TRUST. Trusting that God will protect you when you are fearful, that God will reward you when you feel at risk, that God will give you guidance and courage when you feel lost and intimidated is what it takes to defeat the fear that holds you back.
Are you afraid that when you love you will become vulnerable, misunderstood, taken advantage of, or misused?
Trust God to watch over you, and meet your needs, and give you His best, and those fears will become increasingly nonexistent. When our lives are characterized by a trust-filled love, fear ultimately will not be a fear-factor.
You wouldn't think so, but
Fear and faith have something in common, they both ask you to believe that something is going to happen.
Fear says: The pain in your chest is the same thing that killed your Mom or Dad, and your going to die from the same thing. TD. Jakes, at age 48 had a heart attack while driving his car, and he said these words “I guess I’m going to die like my Father died”.
Faith says: The Holy Ghost came upon him and he stopped his car and got out and started coming against the devil and says “I WILL NOT DIE” he stopped the generational cruse that had followed his life. He faced his Fathers Devil and conquered him that day, and he did not die!!!!!
Fear says: The economy is so bad, and I feel like I will never get ahead in life.
Faith says: The Lord supplies all my needs!! Phil 4:19 My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus!!
Walt Disney is an example of someone that didn't let economy or money come in the way of his dream. He filed bankruptcy three times before he created Disney World. Look what it is today!
Fear says: You've done to many bad things, you will never be accepted by anyone.
Faith says: God is my best friend and He will never leave me. He accepts me, and he wants me to use my past to help others so they don’t have to go down the same path.
See, fear activates the (devil) and Faith activates (God). they do the same thing but just the opposite.
Whatever you meditate on is what is going to take root in your spirit. If you dwell on negative things all the time, you give fear the right to be in you. The enemy will have a legal right to make what you say, come to past. Prov 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Story: When I was sixteen and my parents were in another state at General Assembly, I was staying with family. We received word that my parents had gotten in an accident and were killed. Talking about fear, it gripped me so strong, and I went kinda crazy for a little while, until we heard from my parents and they were ok. That moment was temporary, but it did something to my soul. I had a hard time when my parents left me with family from that point on. Situations like that mark us, and only God can heal those wounds in our souls.
Story: Living in fear for six years, afraid all the time that I was going to be beat again or worse. Every day was a new battle and a new demon I had to fight. Alcoholism, Bi-Polar (undiagnosed) was just a few things I faced that only my Son and I saw and had to live in. God was there the whole time, and he always lead me to people that were Christians to help me cope with the abuse. Fear kept me there, but my faith lead me out!
Hebrews 13:5-6
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
YOUR JOURNEY…
• What does God want you to do, but you are afraid of doing?
• What did David say he would do in the face of fear? Are you ready to do the same?
• In Psalm 56:3, 3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
Words from the Lord:
Behold I stand, waiting.
Lay heed I say to you, the days are shortened.
Many will not be ready.
Do not wait, do not wait.
Take heed that you are ready.
Take heed I say, seek me now!! S ouls!
There are souls waiting to learn of Me. S ouls, S ouls.
Lean on me I say, Believe.
I know the plans I have for you. Be still and know that I am the Great I AM. S ee that you are ready.
Keep my word. You will know I am He!
I will show myself to you. Great power! S oon!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.