(2nd Timothy 1:17 KJV) For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
This morning we continue our series entitled, “Re-Energizing Your Prayer Life,” by continuing with our teaching on “The Fear Factor” and reasons why not to fear. Yesterday I gave you reason #1, “Because God told you not to!” That should be a powerful enough reason. Every time the nation of Israel crossed over into fear in the Old Testament God would send a Word through a Prophet to tell them to “Fear not.” Every time the disciples crossed over into fear in the New Testament Jesus would tell them to “Fear not.” Notice that God never said, “Try not to fear.” His simply said, “Fear not.” This implies that we can do it. God will never expect us to do something that He has not equipped us to do.
Now let’s look at a second reason why not to fear: “Because fear is not of God!” Fear did not come from God. We already learned that fear came as a result of Adam’s original sin. So fear came as a result of the work of satan, not God. Fear was a symptom of man’s separation from God. While Adam and Eve were enjoying their fellowship with God they had no concept of fear whatsoever.
In our focus text Paul tells us that “God has not given us the spirit of fear.” The Amplified translation of this verse says, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.” It is not now, nor has it ever been the will of God, that we operate in fear. Fear is not God’s will for the believer, because God never instituted it. Fear is a by-product of sin.
When writing to the church at Rome Paul said, “For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father” (Rom 8:15). Paul connects fear with bondage and he lets the believers in Rome (and us) know that we did not receive fear or bondage from God. What we received from God was a spirit of adoption; meaning that God accepted us as His children through the finished work of Jesus the Christ on Calvary’s cross. As God’s children we can cry out, “Abba, Father.” The word “Abba” literally means, “Daddy.” God is our Daddy; He is our loving, caring, and sharing heavenly Father. James said, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17). As our Daddy, God has never and will never desire that we, as His children, live subject to the bondage of fear. Why? Because He loves us. John told us that “Fear brings torment” (1st John 4:18). What loving father would want his children to be tormented and in bondage? Not even a human father would want that, much less God! And from a prayer perspective, you cannot expect to pray in faith if you are under the bondage and torment of fear.
So what does this mean to you today? It means that you should want to receive the things that come from God and avoid the things that don’t! Fear does not come from God and it is not God’s desire for your life. Fear was never part of His plan for you. God has plans for you (Jer 29:11), but living in the bondage and torment are not part of it. So make a quality decision today to accept what God wants for your life and reject what He does not. The choice is yours. You can either choose to live by faith or you can choose to allow fear to control your life. If you choose to live by faith, and to receive complete deliverance from fear, you will be able to take your prayer life to another level, because fear-free prayers are full of confidence!
Closing Confession: Father, I choose to line up my decisions with Your Word. I see in Your Word that fear did not come from You. Since fear did not come from You, then I don’t want it. I choose to accept the life of faith and to reject the life of fear. I will never again be entangled with the bondage and torment of fear. Fear has no power over me. I accept and walk in Your love daily. You are my Daddy and You love me too much to leave me in bondage to anything, including fear. Daddy, you want good things for me and I declare, by faith, that I accept what You desire for me and reject what you don’t! From now on I will be able to pray prayers that are free from fear and full of faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
