Today I am going to deviate from the SPEAK THE WORD ONLY series. I am by God to go another way for a few weeks. I may come back to it later.
With the current Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in the United States and around the world, I feel led to share a series on REASON WHY NOT TO FEAR! Before I get into the reasons, I will share a few quick thoughts on Fear.
1. Fear is an emotion.
— Emotions are meant to be a blessing and not a curse.
— God gave us emotions to enable us, not to cripple us.
— Emotions become a problem when they are uncontrolled.
— Uncontrolled emotions can ruin people’s lives.
— We are to rule over our emotions and not allow our emotions to rule over us.
2. Fear is aroused by a threat that is either real or imagined.
— In the cases where the threat is real, fear must be channeled and controlled.
— In the cases where a threat is simply imagined, we must learn to “cast down” ungodly imaginations… images in our minds that did NOT come from God.
— The enemy (satan) thrives on fear. Daily satan stops people from performing God’s will in their lives by simply posing imagined threats before them.
— While the Coronavirus disease is a real threat in and of itself, most of the fear people have towards it is imagined. The enemy can put thoughts in your mind, and if you allow these thoughts to run uncontrolled, you can become a prisoner in your own mind; trapped by fear.
3. Fear boils down to confidence.
— Fear is an expression of your confidence in satan and NOT God.
— Fear is what happens when satan convinces you that his will is going to be done in your life.
— Fear and faith work the same way. Faith is what happens when God convinces you of His will, and fear is what happens when satan convinces you.
— Fear and faith are fueled by images. God puts images in your mind that helps you to see yourself the way He sees you. Satan does the same thing. God wants you to believe what He believes about you. Satan wants the same thing. If you choose to believe (have confidence in) God, it is called faith. If you choose to believe (have confidence in) satan, it is called fear. What will you choose? Which one will you believe?
Today I will share reason #1: GOD SAID NOT TO!
So what does this mean for you today? A few things:
1. Fear is an incapacitating force.
a) If you allow fear to run free in your heart and in your mind, it can consume and suffocate your life.
b) Jesus came that we might have and enjoy life (John 10:10), but you can’t do so if you are afraid everything the enemy brings your way. There are people who are afraid of flying, of getting in the water, of getting on an elevator, and now many are even afraid of going outside and being around others. They are plastered to the news, watching story after story of the Coronavirus disease, and satan is telling them, “See, it’s getting closer. It has now hit your state. Soon it will hit your city. After that, it is going to hit your household!” If you believe these thoughts your heart will be filled with fear and you will first become a prisoner in your own mind, and soon you will make yourself a prisoner in your own home.
c) There are 588 types of fears. This is the stuff that fuels satan and his kingdom. Don’t open your heart to it. Fear pleases satan, faith pleases God. You don’t have to accept fear. Fear is NOT of God!
2. God told you NOT to fear.
a) The Bible says, hundreds of times in many different ways, NOT TO FEAR! God is so against fear because if you allow fear to rule your heart, it will strip you of all confidence towards God. Once you are in-fear, it nullifies faith.
b) God has called and commanded you to walk and live by faith. You cannot be in-fear and in-faith at the same time. I have made this point countless times over the years. But it is worth repeating today. Faith cancels out fear. Fear cancels out faith. You cannot be IN BOTH at the same time. Fear or faith, which will you choose today?
c) If you read your Bible you will God say, over and over, “Fear not,” “Fret not,” “Do not allow your heart to be troubled,” “Do not be afraid”. Phrases like this are all over the Bible. Why? Because God does not want you to fear. So just like you avoid other things God told you not to do, you must make every effort to avoid fear. Faith pleases God, and fear disappoints Him. Because fear tells him that you have more confidence in your opposition than your God! Don’t disappoint God today, choose to operate in faith and not fear. Why? Because God said so!
d) Please listen to God. DO NOT FEAR! DO NOT BE AFRAID! The Lord your God is with you everywhere you go! He will never leave you, never forsake you, and never turn His back on you. God is with you and He is more than the entire world against you!
3. Jesus overcame the world FOR you!
I will close with something Jesus said in John 16:33. Read this statement carefully and prayerfully: “And everything I’ve taught you is so that the peace which is in me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world!” (John 16:22 TPT).
a) Jesus lived in the same world we live in. He was surrounded by all the things we are surrounded by. But He was not moved by what was going on in the world. He was only moved by His Father. He had peace on the inside, no matter what was going on, on the outside. The good news is that we can have this very same peace!
b) Jesus said that when we express our confidence (or faith) in Him, we can REST! When you are in-fear you have no rest. Don’t allow fear to fill your heart. You can’t watch the news 24×7 and forget all about God’s Word, and then think you are going to have peace and rest. Fill your heart with the Word. Meditate and medicate on it day and night. The Word of God will give you peace and divine rest, no matter what is going on in the world!
c) Jesus already overcame the world. If you are Born-Again, you are in Christ and Christ is in you. Enter into God’s rest. The overcomer is living IN YOU! When you believe this the text says that you can be “courageous”. Enter into this day with divine courage. Fear has no power over you!
That’s enough for today.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I live a life that is pleasing in Your sight. I know faith pleases You and fear does not. You are disappointed every time I fear, because in-so-doing I am saying that my situation is bigger than my God. Right now, by faith, I declare that fear has no power over me. My God is bigger than any situation. My God is bigger than the Coronavirus disease. My confidence is in You, Father. And this confidence overrides any negative thought the enemy may bring my way. I refuse to live a life of fear, doubt, and unbelief. I live a life of faith! I have peace on the inside and I am not moved by what is going on in this world. As for me and my household, we are shielded and protected from all harm. Because our God is with us everywhere we go! I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
