Fear is an enemy to the believer. It is a thief and a destroyer. It has nothing to offer the believer and should therefore be dealt with squarely. The terrible havoc fear brought to Job is a warning to all believers to keep away from fear. Fear destroyed his real estates, his flocks and killed his children. It also attacked his health. Job said,” For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. [26] I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.” Job 3:25-26 KJV. He was constantly in fear that he would lose everything he had; that was exactly what happened. Imagine the torment he experienced thinking those unhealthy thoughts. Fear is mean, it torments. The bible says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18 KJV. It is apparent from this scripture that we can not operate in perfect love in fear. Living above fear is essential for us to live in the will of God. Jesus came and died for us so that we can serve God without fear. The bible says, “…that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear.” Luke 1:74 KJV. Fear is one of the most lethal weapons of the enemy against the believer, but Jesus already paid the price for our deliverance from fear.
Every Christian is a victim of his or her fears. Your fear can deny you of the glorious destiny of God upon our life. The multitude of the children of Israel did not see the promised land because they were afraid. Although God gave them the land, fear would not let them possess the land. Only Joshua and Caleb and the children of the multitude of the children of Israel entered the land. Please read through the scripture below.
Numbers 13:30-33 KJV [30] And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. [31] But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. [32] And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. [33] And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
God wasn’t pleased with the spies that brought back evil report and all the multitude that believed them. God said, “As truly as I live…as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: [29] Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, [30] Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.” Numbers 14:28-30 KJV
Also, out of the thirty-two thousand (32,000) soldiers that Gideon mobilized to go and reclaim their freedom from the Midianites, twenty-two thousand (22,000) were afraid and returned home from the camp. They were afraid, although there was nothing to be afraid of. Read carefully the following verses of the bible: “And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. [3] Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.” Judges 7:2-3 KJV. Even the ten thousand soldiers that were left, were too many for God; He reduced them to just 300. God gave the children Israel victory over the Midianites with just three hundred (300) soldiers. Twenty-two thousand soldiers left the army because they were afraid, they were scared of losing a battle that God was going to fight for them. What a pointless fear? And how many believers do you think have turned back from battles that God had already won for them? Imagine for a moment if you had followed through on every divine instruction you have been given. Imagine how glorious your life would have been. Every believer is a victim of his or her fears. Fear is a destiny destroyer: it is an enemy to your glorious God-given destiny.
An understanding of the nature of fear is vital for us to live above it. It is clear from scripture that fear is a spirit. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Romans chapter 8 and verse 15 agrees, when it says, “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” Fear is a spirit, and it is not from God. If it is not from God, it is certainly from the devil. Therefore, we can only overcome this evil spirit by engaging relevant spiritual spiritual forces.
First and foremost, going by 2 Timothy 1:7, we must pray and reject the spirit of fear, and embrace and pray for the spirit of power, love and soundness of mind. We must ask for the infilling of the Holy Ghost until we overflow. We cannot afford to give room to the spirit of fear. The spirit of fear can only stay if there is room for it in our hearts. Staying constantly filled by the Holy Spirit will keep it away. Closely connected to seeking the infilling of the Holy Spirit, is that we must seek and apply the spirit of revelation and insight. The spirit of fear operates more effectively in darkness and takes advantage of the unknown. It takes light to expose the weakness of darkness. The bible says, “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” The fear of what is in the dark dissipates at the advent of light. The prayer of apostle Paul recorded in Ephesians 1:17-21 would throw more light on this. “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: [18] The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, [19] And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, [20] Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, [21] Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:”
The spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him will certainly make you live above the spirit of fear. We must therefore ask, seek, and knock for these spirits. We must make effort to study his word as we ask for insight and revelation knowledge. Let me also add here that God will give us more revelation and insight when we act on what He has already given us.
Furthermore, we must employ the spirit of faith to combat the spirit of fear. Fear and faith cannot coexist. Jesus Christ said to the disciples, “Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” Mark 4:40. Faith is the antidote to fear. Whenever faith comes in fear dissipates. Are you afraid? Pray for the spirit of faith. Although, “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17, the spirit of faith can only be acquired by impartation or by prayer. Pray for the spirit of faith the way apostle Paul prayed for the spirit of wisdom and revelation for the Ephesians, and you shall receive it, in the mighty name of Jesus.
Another thing that can help us live above fear is that we must remain conscious of the angelic covering over our lives. Gehazi, the servant of Elisha was scared to death at seeing the chariots of the enemy around them until God opened his eyes to see the chariots of fire on their side; “And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. [17] And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” 2 Kings 6:16-17. Let us not forget that, “they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” We understand from scriptures that angels are ministering spirits saddled with the responsibility of taking care of the saints. Every child of God is entitled to angelic ministration. Angels excel in strength, they defend, guide, and protect us. Please read through the scriptures below:
Hebrews 1:14 KJV [14] Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Matthew 18:10 KJV [10] Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
Psalm 34:7 KJV [7] The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
Psalm 91:11-12 KJV [11] For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. [12] They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
We must also learn to keep our angels on duty by using our tongues properly. Angels will always hearten to the voice of God’s word. That is, they will act when you give voice to God’s word. On the other hand, speaking careless before angels could be dangerous. The scriptures below illustrate the point I am making:
Psalm 103:20 KJV [20] Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
Ecclesiastes 5:6 KJV [6] Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?
Exodus 23:20-21 KJV [20] Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. [21] Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.
You can provoke an angel by talking carelessly or by saying things that are contrary to God’s word. We must therefore endeavor to keep our tongues in check. Speak God’s word even when you don’t feel like doing so. It is important that we keep our angels working for us. With your angels on your side, you have nothing to fear.
To live above fear, we must also continue to dwell and grow in the love of God. God is the Lord of host, he is almighty. God knows no fear. The Bible says, “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. [8] Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. [9] Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. [10] Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.” Psalm 24:7-10. In Ephesians 3:17 apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesians brethren saying, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love…”. To be filled with Christ and be rooted and grounded in the love of God is to be filled with God. And let us not forget, God knows no fear. We must therefore continue to dwell and grow in the love of God if we must live above fear.
A commitment to serve God and the interest of his kingdom will definitely secure our preservation which should in turn give us a huge sense of security. God has promised that when we do his will his presence will go with us all the way. He has also empowered us to tread upon the powers of darkness and not be hurt. In Matthew 28:18-20 the bible says, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. [19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” And in Luke 10:19 Jesus said, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Luke 10:19. Anyone who has put his or her hand on the plough should not be afraid of the devil. Therefore, let us focus on doing his will so that he can focus on keeping us safe, far above fear.
Finally a lifestyle of praise and thanksgiving will keep us above fear. In psalm 27 and verses 1,2 and 3, David said, “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? [2] When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. [3] Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.” This confidence is rooted in the fact that David had a lifestyle of praise and thanksgiving which commands the presence and endless intervention of God. In Psalms 34 and verse one he said, “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” The truth is that we command God’s presence when we stay in the place of praise and thanksgiving to God, the Bible says, “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” Psalm 22:3. The presence of God amid his people will keep them above fear. So let us always command his presence with a lifestyle of praise and thanksgiving.
As I close let me reiterate that fear is an enemy to the believer. It destroys faith and engenders defeat. God wants all his children to live above fear. Jesus Christ came and died for us so that we can serve God without fear. Luke 1:74. Since fear is an evil spirit, we can keep it far from us if we are always filled with the Holy Spirit. Apostle Paul admonished, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Ephesians 6:16. Faith is the most potent antidote of fear; therefore, we must engage faith by all means. The stronger we are in faith, the more our chances of living above fear. And let us not forget our new status. We are now seated with Christ in heavenly places far above principalities and powers. Everything is now under feet. Ephesians 2:6. Allow the reality of this new status permeate your mind.
Thanks for reading through.
Pastor Ebi Thourn