The Word This Week – DO NOT BE AFRAID – Malaysia’s Christian News Website

24 March 2014 by Rev Dr Jai Kumar –

Psalms 56:3-4 TLB

When I am Afraid…….I will trust the promises of God.

FEAR ANTICIPATES THE WORST AND NOT THE BEST

Fear is a spiritual force that comes out of the spiritual realm and attacks our mind. It’s the spirit Satan uses to try to rule God’s people and blind them from worshiping Jesus Christ. Fear is a mindset that is obviously a counterforce to faith. If we are operating in fear, we are actually bringing this reality into our life because fear is a spiritual force. FEAR IS A SPIRIT. Fear is a force God hates! THE FIRST EVIL FORCE TO GRIP ADAM AFTER THE FALL WAS FEAR.

Genesis 3:10

So he said, ‘I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.’

WHAT HAS GOD PROMISED FOR YOU AND ME?

2 Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind.

Fear actually develops when we open our minds to accommodate the lies of the devil. Have you ever recalled how much energy we often waste away by worrying and fearing over issues that after all never comes true? Do you realise a little fear can do a great deal of damage? It can immobilise and affect your entire emotional equilibrium that can ultimately take over your peace and well-being. Satan uses fear to keep people from enjoying life. Fear torments, according to 1 John 4:18.

There is an increase in the level of stress-related disorders amongst people today. There is so much of it everywhere. If it’s not fear, it’s anxiety that eats up much of our life and time.

Proverbs 12:25, NIV

An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.

Dr Charles Mayo said, “I have never known anyone who died of overwork, but I have known many who died from fear, anxiety and worry.” In other words, what he is saying is: Anxiety and worry can obviously shorten your life span. Research has proven that heart cells are destroyed by the body’s reaction to fear. Stress caused by fear can produce lethal changes in the heart muscle which can cause death.

THE REALITY OF LIFE

No matter who you are, rich or poor, high or low, the reality of life is that you can never escape from worry and fear; it’s just part of life, so to speak.

The fact of the matter is that God never promised us a trouble-free life but one thing He has assured us; in this world you will face uncertainty and trouble, however, in the midst of it all, He will be with us till the end. ‘I have overcome and therefore you can also make it, if you know who you are in Christ and who is Christ in you’. So we say with confidence,

Hebrews 13:6

‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’”.

Psalm 34:4

“I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears”.

FEAR IS FLEEING, FAITH IS STEPPING FORWARD

The bottom line is that we need to have a clear understanding between fear and faith. It’s so easy to exchange fear with faith because they have got something in common. You will discover both fear and faith will always challenge you to believe that what you can’t see is about to happen! You know what? Fear will convince you to run away from something that’s not after you at all! Faith on the other hand will convince you to run after hope that is unseen but will be seen in the future. (Rom8:24) For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?

ANTIDOTE FOR FEAR

How do you overcome this fear? By walking in faith. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Rom.10:17. Faith can only be increased and strengthen in you, if you are able to feed your faith with the Word of God and as you do that you will watch your fears starve to death.

CONTROL YOUR THOUGHT LIFE

I have experienced in my own personal life when you spend the early part especially the wee hours of the morning in prayer and mediation, saturating your mind in God’s Word, there seems to be an unexplainable confidence of strength and assurance that will leave no room left for undue worry and anxiety.

Philippians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

ENTRY POINT OF FEAR

THE DEVIL LOVES TO OPERATE THROUGH YOUR FEARS because that is his perverted tool to destroy you. It gives him an open door to attack and destroy a person.

SIN IN YOUR LIFE – “Whatever is not of faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23)

The devil loves to ride on your sin. Sometimes fear and anxiety are the result of one’s own sin and guilt. You need to repent, confess your sin, seek God’s forgiveness, and set it right.

TAKE ACTION – This is something practical and wise that you need to do to alleviate the problem or avoid needless danger. It is in such times of your weakness that the devil will find you. Here are some of the following areas where the devil will find an opportunity to enter and manipulate a person by inflicting fear.

Rejection – when a person is suffering from rejection that person will obviously display a number of weaknesses and that gives the enemy a window to enter a person and further cripple the person with fear.
Marital breakups, Spirit of Antichrist, Spirit of Death and Hell – note particularly Psalm 18:4&5.
Failing to bring all thoughts into captivity to Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4&5)
Failing to trust God completely ie not having Jesus at all times as Lord and Saviour of every part of our lives. Religious spirits – manipulation. Not trusting in the Word of God
Viewing some types of television, movies, books, music, games.
Hearing the wrong things Jesus said, “Take heed how you hear.” (Luke 8:18)

All the above mentioned circumstances will create a vacuum for the enemy to come in and take over.

AS WE FEAR WE ALLOW WHAT WE DON’T WANT TO HAPPEN TO BE MANIFESTED

If we operate in fear we are opening our lives to the very thing we don’t want to happen, we are bringing this reality into being. Every time you feel fear in your life, it’s a manifestation of the kingdom of darkness.

Psalm 56: 3-4

David said when I am afraid I will……I will trust the promises of God.

Isaiah 41:10 says,

Fear not, for I am with you.

Stand firm in your belief that you have been delivered. If anything has been oppressing you, command it to go in the name of Jesus Christ. If the fear seeks to return in any form, call out to Jesus Christ as your intercessor and mediator before the throne of God.

I believe you and I have got to do the same. Get into God’s Word and you will be assured that God is still on the throne interceding for you.

David said:

‘Even 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’. (Psalm 23:4)

Note: Rev Dr Jai Kumar is an ordained & licensed minister of Covenant Ministries International N.J. USA. He is also the representative of Faith International Bible School for Malaysia & Singapore. He is the founder and senior pastor of Full Gospel Outreach Ministry KL, a member of ECCM, Spiritual Adviser & overseer of Full Gospel Christian Church KL. Co-founder and adviser of Kingdom Christian Fellowship, Subang Jaya, he is also the author of a book entitled, ‘God’s Time Clock.’