Good morning faith-filled ones!
I want to exhort you today how to BREAK THE BONDAGE OF FEAR by choosing to walk by FAITH instead of FEAR (2 Corinthians 5:7).
FEAR is one of the enemy’s tools that keep us from going forward in our lives. See, family, God always wants us to be growing and progressing in our relationship with Him. 3 John 2 (HCSB) says,
- Dear friend, I pray that you may prosper in every way and be in good health physically just as you are spiritually.
Be encouraged because usually as soon as you make a decision to step out and to do what God tells you to do, the enemy will immediately bring FEAR. He will tell you, “What if you fail?” “What are other people going to think?” “You had better play if safe.”
See, he’ll do his best to use FEAR to try to convince you into shrinking back and just staying where you are. He doesn’t want you to make any progress in the Spirit.
2 Timothy 1:7 says,
• For God has not given us a spirit of FEAR, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: FEAR affects our emotions. Many times, if you just start thinking about stepping out in faith and going against your FEARS, you might begin to feel sick to your stomach; maybe even get weak and nervous. And if you’re not careful, you’ll allow that FEAR to control you and keep you from being the person God created you to be.
FEAR is just the opposite of FAITH. Just as it takes FAITH for GOD to work in your lives, giving into FEAR allows the enemy to have his way. The Bible says in 1 John 4:18,
•FEAR has torment.
Family, FEAR has no mercy. If you act on FEAR, instead of acting on FAITH, it’ll keep you depressed, miserable, and lonely. So many people today are missing out on God’s abundant life of joy, peace, and victory all because they keep giving into FEAR. They’re AFRAID to make a decision; they’re AFRAID to confront issues; they’re AFRAID to step out in faith; they’re AFRAID of the past; they’re AFRAID of the future. But family, we don’t have to live this way. God has NOT given us a spirit of FEAR, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind.
Remember that 1 John 4:4 says,
• Greater is HE that’s within you that he that’s in the world.
The Holy Spirit living within you is greater than of your FEARS. You just have to make a dicision to deal aggressively with that FEAR. You can’t be passive and expect to live in victory. The only way to conquer FEAR is to confront that FEAR head on. As long as you’re running from your FEARS, just ignoring them, and sort of “sweeping them under the rug”, you’re not going to get any better. Refusing to deal with our FEARS doesn’t make them go away. No, we’ve got to face our FEARS head on and deal with them forcefully and aggressively with the Word of God. It’s the only thing that has the power to drive out and deliver us from FEAR.
I exhort you in the Name of Jesus to rise up in the power of the Holy Spirit and stand against that FEAR. Remember that the enemy has already been defeated! Satan has no power over you, except the power you give him. Luke 10:19 says,
• Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Colossians 2:15 declares,
• …Having disarmed principalaties and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
Know this family: ALL FEAR IS A LIE! ALL FEAR IS DECEPTION to try to keep you from moving forward in God. Some people are waiting on God to deliver them from that FEAR, but God has done everything He’s going to do. We’ve got to rise up in the Name of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit and take authority over that FEAR.
Don’t wait any longer! The longer you refuse to deal with those FEARS, the deeper hole you’re digging and the more difficult it’s going to be to get out of. 1 Peter 5:9 tells us to,
• Resist the enemy at his onset.
In other words, the very first moment you feel FEAR, you’ve got to resist it and act against it. Remember that John 8:31-32 says,
• If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
If you’ll get this truth down on the inside of you today, and learn how to act in FAITH instead of FEAR, God will take you to a whole new level of victory.
Walking by faith and not by sight,
Lisa Gordon
Assistant Pastor
Jesus City Church