Overcoming fears
Pastor Steve Maile
2 Timothy 1:7
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
1- Fear is the public enemy number one.
Too many Christians live with fear, irrational fears and psychological phobias which they tolerate and accept. The worse part is many Christians deny the fears in their lives, God’s will for us is to be free. Everything Satan does is built on fear, he controls people through fear and uses music, media, world religion and many others things to sow seeds of fear. The devil’s job description is to steal, kill, and destroy, and Fear is an open door for him to come in. Fear of getting married, fear of dying, fear of being alone, fear of death, fear of eating something, fear of spiders, of wasps, etc.
Many of the sickness people suffer is because they opened the door to it through fear, for example, grandma died of cancer, the father died of cancer so they begin to fear they will get it and sure enough cancer comes. Just like Job said, “For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me.”(Job 3:25)
Then we see all the thing poor Job went through until God set him free.
We must come against fear and defeat it. The great news is that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil as we read in 1 John 3:8, “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”
F false
E evidence
A appearing
R real
Here are seven things Fear will do:
A-Fear stops you capitalising an opportunity.
B- Fear wears you down.
C- Fear makes you ill.
D- Fear shortens your life.
E- Fear brings uncertainty.
F- Fear keeps you silent.
G- Fear paralyses you.
2- How to deal with fear?
A- Identify fear.
Fear is real, acknowledge it and realise it is sin.
Romans 14:23b
“for whatever is not from faith is sin.”
B- Confess it.
You may have to go to other believers and pray with them.
James 5:16
“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
C- Repent from it.
Action defeat fears
The Blood of Jesus, ongoing walk with the Holy Spirit and being perfected in God’s love will keep you from fears. The Lord wants you to live with power, love and a sound mind not in fear.
3- Promises on God’s Word that will set you free from fear.
Psalm 3:6
“I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.”
Colossians 2:15
“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”
Psalm 27:3
“Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident.”
Isaiah 12:2
“Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘for Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ ”
Joshua 1:9
“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.””
Psalms 56:3-4
“Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?”
Deuteronomy 31:6
“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.””
1 John 4:18-19
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.”
Psalms 23:4
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
Matthew 6:31-34
““Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Psalms 118:6
“The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
Romans 8:31
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Luke 12:32
““Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
Isaiah 41:13
“For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’”
Hebrews 13:6
“So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?””
Proverbs 3:24-26
“When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; For the LORD will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.”
1 Peter 3:12-14
“For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.” And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.””
Romans 8:15
“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.””
Psalms 46:1
“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
Proverbs 29:25
“The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.”
Psalms 91:2-7
“I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you.”
Isaiah 43:1-2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.”
Isaiah 54:17
“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the LORD.”
Deuteronomy 20:3-4
“For the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’”
John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Karina Maile