No Fear

II Timothy 1:7
   For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

   When and where we have fear, it is not from God.  Only good comes from God and only by looking to God and the spirit given us by God can we overcome fear.  Fear is the believer's enemy.  When we have fear in our lives we cannot believe God.  Fear ruins more believer's lives and destroys more individual men's ministries than any other thing in the world.

   In Genesis chapter 3, Adam & Eve rejected the Word of God and committed the original sin.  Following this action:

Genesis 3:8-10
   And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.
   And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
   And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

   Adam & Eve walked and talked with God.  They knew God as their provider.  They knew He loved them.  Yet when they lost the spirit from God their first response was to hide themselves because of fear.  Fear keeps men and women from going to God for help.

Exodus 14:10-13a
   And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children cried out unto the Lord.
   And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness?  wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
   Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians?  For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
   And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, . . .

   The children of Israel asked to go back into bondage in Egypt!  Why!  Because of fear.  The people turned on Moses, the man of God.  They blamed God for their trouble.  When fear prevails many times people turn and blame God for the evil that happens to them.  The spirit of God was present in the leadership of Moses.  The people could trust the Word of God delivered by Moses, instead they gave in to fear.  Moses responded with "Fear ye not"   - God will deliver us.  Only by the spirit of God and trust in His Word can we overcome fear and be delivered.

II Kings 6:14
   Therefore sent he [the king of Syria] thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.

   The king of Syria got mad at the man of God, because Elisha kept telling the king of Israel about his battle plans.  Elisha was operating the spirit of God and the believers were continually ready for the plans of the enemy.  So to end this situation the king of Syria sent an entire army to get the man of God.  When they got to his city they surrounded it and Elisha's servant was very fearful of this massive enemy.

II Kings 6:15-17
   And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots.  And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
   And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
   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.

   God and you always make a majority.  Elisha's servant looked at the situation and was afraid.  Elisha trusted God and looked to the spirit of God.  From a spiritual point of view there was a greater force with Elisha than with the king of Syria.  We must learn to trust God and look to His Word and the guidance of the spirit of God in us rather than the situations in the world that threaten us.

Proverbs 29:25
   The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.

Psalm 27:1
   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?

Psalm 34:4
   I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 46:1-2
   God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
   Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Psalm 56:3
   What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

   God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.  When our thoughts are focused on the Word of God we will not fear.  When the love of God is the motivation of our actions we will not fear.  When the power of God is in evidence in our lives through the manifestation of the spirit He gave us we will not fear.

Haggai 2:5
   According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.

I John 4:18a
   There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. . .

Romans 8:15
   For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption [sonship], whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

   It is the spirit of God that casts out the fear in our lives.  We have received that spirit by believing [Romans 10:9-10] His Word.  We continue to live a fearless life as we look to the spirit within us and keep our mind renewed to the truth of God's wonderful Word.


November, 1998
URL http://www.cortright.org/nofear.htm
Michael Cortright