For God hath not given us the spirit of fear: but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (II Tim 4:7)
My four year old grandson’s face was a contorted mass of fear as he sat stiffly at the kitchen counter, waiting to have his breakfast. His body was rigid, shoulders hunched, and the tell tale painful lines of fear were deeply etched on his countenance. Reaching over the counter to hug him with a good morning greeting, I clasped his little hand; it was moist with sweat. The pain of his repressed fear was palpable as I hugged him. I knew exactly what was on his mind: the horrendous thought of going to school. No doubt the negative spirit of fear had magnified some of his bad experiences at school to nightmarish proportions. Perhaps, like my grandson, you have experienced in your life the mentally crippling effects of fear. The Bible says, “Fear hath torment.” (I John 4:18)
The Bible states plainly that God does not give us the spirit of fear. Then we must ask the question: What is the cause of fear? I believe the answer can be found in Gen. 3:10 which describes the beginning of fear in mankind. In response to God’s call, Adam says, “I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” It is important to note that Adam and Eve had never been aware of their physical nakedness before the fall; consequently, they had never experienced fear. However, after the fall, when their broken relationship with God resulted in spiritual nakedness, they became aware of their physical nakedness, and then the spirit of fear entered the mind of man for the first time. Therefore, the cause of fear was not their physical nakedness, but their spiritual nakedness in a hostile universe, replete with spiritual wickedness in high places. God was no longer their spiritual covering, and now they saw themselves to be spiritually separate and apart from God. The shocking awakening to their spiritual nakedness, resulting in weakness, vulnerability and mortality, filled them with fear. Without the spiritual covering of God they now had to cope with the fear of the unknown, because the terrible specter of sin and death “crouched at the door.” We can say, therefore, that fear is caused by the separation between man and God, when mankind turned away from God to serve the creature (self serving) instead of the creator.
Now that we have identified the cause of fear, we are led to consider another question: Is there a cure for fear? The answer is a resounding yes! Because the cause of fear is spiritual, the cure for fear must also be spiritual. The rejection of God by mankind caused the spirit of fear to infiltrate our minds, but the grace of God can eradicate the spirit of fear from our minds. Consider how God’s grace has provided the means for a cure in this scripture: God does not give us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.” The cure, therefore, is to be connected to His power, His love and His mind. The Bible says, “Perfect love casteth out fear” (I John 4:18). In other words, the cure involves the “God connection.” Find the means of connection to God and you will find the cure for fear. There is only one way to connect to God. The bible says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb.11:6). Faith is the connection to God and faith is the cure for fear. Time and time again Jesus would rebuke his disciples when they were afraid by saying to them, “Oh ye of little faith.” The only way to negate fear, the most negative force in our lives, is to turn to faith in God, the most positive force. Yes, it is an indisputable fact: “All things are possible, if you believe.” With God, nothing is impossible.
It was so heart wrenching to watch how my little grandson that morning was being tortured by the spirit of fear. Then this most reassuring thought entered my mind: If he is old enough to have fear, then he is old enough to have faith. I was glad that faith does not coexist with fear. Faith dispels fear like light dispels darkness. With this thought in mind I asked, "How are you feeling Kai?"
He answered in a tremulous voice “I don’t feel good, Papa. I don’t want to go.”
After breakfast my wife and I prayed over him. He was still looking anxious and fearful.
“Kai,” I said, “Do you know who will be waiting for you at the door of your class this morning?”
“Who Papa?” he asked.
“Jesus,” I said. “He's always with you. If you are afraid, sad, or lonely, just talk to Jesus. He's always there to help you. Jesus loves you, Kai."
My four year old grandson’s face was a contorted mass of fear as he sat stiffly at the kitchen counter, waiting to have his breakfast. His body was rigid, shoulders hunched, and the tell tale painful lines of fear were deeply etched on his countenance. Reaching over the counter to hug him with a good morning greeting, I clasped his little hand; it was moist with sweat. The pain of his repressed fear was palpable as I hugged him. I knew exactly what was on his mind: the horrendous thought of going to school. No doubt the negative spirit of fear had magnified some of his bad experiences at school to nightmarish proportions. Perhaps, like my grandson, you have experienced in your life the mentally crippling effects of fear. The Bible says, “Fear hath torment.” (I John 4:18)
The Bible states plainly that God does not give us the spirit of fear. Then we must ask the question: What is the cause of fear? I believe the answer can be found in Gen. 3:10 which describes the beginning of fear in mankind. In response to God’s call, Adam says, “I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” It is important to note that Adam and Eve had never been aware of their physical nakedness before the fall; consequently, they had never experienced fear. However, after the fall, when their broken relationship with God resulted in spiritual nakedness, they became aware of their physical nakedness, and then the spirit of fear entered the mind of man for the first time. Therefore, the cause of fear was not their physical nakedness, but their spiritual nakedness in a hostile universe, replete with spiritual wickedness in high places. God was no longer their spiritual covering, and now they saw themselves to be spiritually separate and apart from God. The shocking awakening to their spiritual nakedness, resulting in weakness, vulnerability and mortality, filled them with fear. Without the spiritual covering of God they now had to cope with the fear of the unknown, because the terrible specter of sin and death “crouched at the door.” We can say, therefore, that fear is caused by the separation between man and God, when mankind turned away from God to serve the creature (self serving) instead of the creator.
Now that we have identified the cause of fear, we are led to consider another question: Is there a cure for fear? The answer is a resounding yes! Because the cause of fear is spiritual, the cure for fear must also be spiritual. The rejection of God by mankind caused the spirit of fear to infiltrate our minds, but the grace of God can eradicate the spirit of fear from our minds. Consider how God’s grace has provided the means for a cure in this scripture: God does not give us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.” The cure, therefore, is to be connected to His power, His love and His mind. The Bible says, “Perfect love casteth out fear” (I John 4:18). In other words, the cure involves the “God connection.” Find the means of connection to God and you will find the cure for fear. There is only one way to connect to God. The bible says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb.11:6). Faith is the connection to God and faith is the cure for fear. Time and time again Jesus would rebuke his disciples when they were afraid by saying to them, “Oh ye of little faith.” The only way to negate fear, the most negative force in our lives, is to turn to faith in God, the most positive force. Yes, it is an indisputable fact: “All things are possible, if you believe.” With God, nothing is impossible.
It was so heart wrenching to watch how my little grandson that morning was being tortured by the spirit of fear. Then this most reassuring thought entered my mind: If he is old enough to have fear, then he is old enough to have faith. I was glad that faith does not coexist with fear. Faith dispels fear like light dispels darkness. With this thought in mind I asked, "How are you feeling Kai?"
He answered in a tremulous voice “I don’t feel good, Papa. I don’t want to go.”
After breakfast my wife and I prayed over him. He was still looking anxious and fearful.
“Kai,” I said, “Do you know who will be waiting for you at the door of your class this morning?”
“Who Papa?” he asked.
“Jesus,” I said. “He's always with you. If you are afraid, sad, or lonely, just talk to Jesus. He's always there to help you. Jesus loves you, Kai."
He gave a perfunctory nod as he took off to school. Whether there was a spark of faith at that moment in his heart, I did not know. But I knew Jesus would be there waiting for him, ready to ignite God's grace to the smallest spark of faith. And Jesus is there beside you, waiting on you also, my friend. Reach out in faith to touch Him, and all your fears will simply melt away. Your faith in God's grace can make you whole in mind, body and soul. Healing faith can cure the pain and anguish of fear, and its piercing light can dispel every shadow of fear. Through faith in God, conquer your fears to live the abundant life. I hope you will be able to say some day, as you look back on your life that, indeed, you had nothing to fear except fear itself, nothing to fear except your lack of faith. Let faith restore what fear has destroyed.
Let us pray: Father, we thank you for your promise never to leave us, nor forsake us. O Lord, your Word tells us that heaven and earth will pass away, but your Word will never pass away. You are forever true and faithful to keep all your promises, because you have all power, and you have a love for us that is forever and ever. Heavenly Father, forgive our fearful hearts, help our unbelief, so that we might truly believe, and by our faith in you, conquor all our fears. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
A life of selfishness, focusing on self instead of faith in God, is a breeding ground for fears. Therefore, the life of a true believer is selfless, and has the indelible mark of the love of God, which permeates his thoughts, words and actions. To be selfless, you must be willing to deny your self and give your self to God as well as to others. The next topic is entitled, "Losing to Gain."
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