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| Ridding Ourselves
of Fear By Wesley Smith The affects of the fall in the Garden of Eden immediately brought fear to Adam. God asked Adam, “Where are you?” He responded, “I was afraid.” We operate out of either fear or love. The fall (sin) causes us to be fearful. We are afraid of the consequences of our sin. We are afraid of being caught. We are afraid of facing up to the fact that we have done something wrong. All of this fear begins to affect our minds, our psyche. We can even begin to lie to ourselves, deceive ourselves. The pain of truth becomes almost too much to bear so we to begin to rationalize and offer weak excuses for our behavior. Fear brings torment. It causes all kinds of inner turmoil. It makes us restless inside. We cannot think clearly when we are consumed with fear. We begin to worry about what God thinks, and about what others are thinking about us. We may even begin to imagine things that are not even true, i.e. that people are talking about us negatively. Our face reflects the inner turmoil and a frown replaces the smile we once had. A lady who had a terrible fear of flying was supposed to join her family for a wonderful trip to the islands. But as the group boarded the airplane she silently sneaked down the stairway and stood on the tarmac as the plane taxied away and flew into the sky. She was deprived of the enjoyment of being with those she loved because of her fear. God has many wonderful experiences for us—“family reunions”, so to say. But many are excluded because their fear excludes them. They cannot enter into the joy of the Lord for the same reason Adam was hiding out in the Garden of Eden. I have led about 85 mission trips abroad to foreign lands. So many times I have had someone tell me, “You and your people are so free. You are so happy. You are having such a great time living life. What is your secret? I feel like an outsider looking in.” On one occasion one of our team members actually led a passenger on the plane to Christ because that person saw our freedom and joy. He asked why we were all so charged up. This, then, became an opportunity to share Jesus with him. The results of operating in the green, open fields of love often bring in a harvest! The results of operating in the closed forests of fear often bring intense loneliness and despair. Love brings peace, joy, a sound mind, and power. Love gives us freedom to act—to think clearly. It gives us the ability to function with a heart of compassion. It sets us free to do the right thing. It makes us bold as a lion. It puts a smile on our face. Love gives us the freedom to pursue our dreams. Fear torments us and can bring worry, paranoia, insomnia, depression, psychosomatic illnesses and maladies, emotional and mental trauma, and even very real physical ailments. At its worst fear can completely dominate the thought life and lead to suicide. At times a spirit can cause fear. Some physical illnesses are caused by spirits. Examples: “Jesus rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, You dumb and deaf spirit, I charge you, come out of him and enter no more into him.” Mark 9:25 “ . . . there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. When Jesus saw her, He called her to Him, and said to her, Woman you are loosed form your infirmity. And He laid His hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.” Luke 13:11 “I cast out devils with the finger of God.” Luke 11:20 “I cast out devils by the Spirit of God.” Matthew 12:28 “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says I will return into my house from where I came out; and when he is come, he finds it empty, swept, and garnished. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also to this wicked generation.” Matthew 12:43-45 (compare Luke 11:24-26) “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.” Job 3:25 “And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32 “God has not given you the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 “There is no fear in love: but perfect love casts out fear; because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18 “For you have not received the spirit of bondage, again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15 “Fear God!” 1 Peter 2:17; Revelation 1:7; 14:7 “The fear of man brings a snare: but whoever puts his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” Proverbs 29:25 “The fear of the Lord tendeth to life, and he that has it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.” Proverbs 19:23 “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.” Proverbs 14:27 “The fear of the Lord prolongs days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.” Proverbs 10:27 “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” Proverbs 8:13 “ . . . fear the Lord and depart from evil.” Proverbs 3:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 “O fear the lord, ye His saints: for there is no want to them that fear Him.” Psalm 34:9 “Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.” Psalm 55:19b “I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.” Psalm 56:11b “Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.” Psalm 64:1 “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?” Psalm 118:6 “They that fear You will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in Your Word.” Psalm 119:74 “I was afraid, and went and hid Your talent in the earth; look, here it is.” Matthew 25:25 “So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper and I will not fear what man shall do to me.” Hebrews 13:6 “And fear not them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him Who is able to kill both body and soul in hell.” Matthew 10:28 “And His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation.” Luke 1:50 “But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.” Luke 8:50 Fear not little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32 “Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me.” John 14:1 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27 “Fear thou not; for I am with you: be not dismayed; for I am your God: I will strengthen you; yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not: for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name; you are mine. 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; neither shall the flame kindle upon you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” Isaiah 43:1-3 “The slothful man says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.” Proverbs 26:13 The wicked flee when no man pursues him: but the righteous are bold as a lion.” Proverbs 28:1 <-- Back to TEACHING Main Page Contact Us! Full Life Crusade 1-574-267-7546 EMAIL |