BE NOT OVERCOME WITH FEAR

Anita Clark – Pastor, 

Carbondale, Kansas

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even my enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.  Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this I am confident.  One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD and to enquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a Rock.”  Psalms 27:1- 5.

The word “salvation” in the Hebrew means, “liberty, safety, and deliverance.” This is exactly what the Lord does for us, when we call upon Him for help.  The word, “fear” found here means, “dread, and to frighten.”  This is exactly what Satan, our enemy who is on the prowl, trying to do to every child of God.  We are living in “perilous times,” of stress and disease.   Many churches have been closed, and upon gathering together again, find that some sheep have wandered astray, not interested in assembling together in meetings as before. Isaiah 59:19 says, “...when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard (high place) against him.”  The “enemy” is Satan and his imps.  Satan - the discourager, and the destroyer. We have victory over him through our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Psalms 23:4, David the shepherd, speaks, “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.” Note: not our rod and staff, but His.  He is the one Who fights our battles for us.  Right now, we hear almost everyday about the Covid virus and the numbers who have died. It can put fear in our hearts. But, whose in charge of our lives? Not Satan not Covid, not the government.  Romans 8:28 stands out very strongly, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose.”  

Our heavenly Father is watching over us continually.  “Nothing happens to me today, nothing good, nothing bad without passing through the Father’s hands.”  I am not saying we should go against the laws of the land, but I am saying that God is faithful and will not let anything harm us outside His perfect will for us. So, we need not fear.  Fear is not faith!  David says, “I will fear no evil.”  This word means “frightened, and dread.” Why is this possible?  Because, “Thou art with me.”

Isaiah 41:10 is so empowering, “Fear thou not for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”  The word, “strengthen” in the Hebrew means, “to physically or mentally establish, fortify or increase and make strong.” In Isaiah 41:13, It says, “For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand saying, unto thee, Fear not, I will help thee.”  Psalms 98: 1 says, “O sing unto the LORD a new song, for He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm has gotten Him the victory.”

In II Timothy 1:7, Apostle Paul says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and love, and of a sound mind.”  This word used here as “fear’ particularly means “timidity.”

Paul was admonishing Timothy to not be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord, but be a “partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God.”  Remember, in this book, Paul tells that he is now ready to be offered, and he was. (II Tim. 4:6-8).  He wants Timothy to be strong and continue to preach after he is gone. However, as we think of the days we live in, we realize there is much to be afraid of.  But, Faith is the opposite of fear.  If we truly have faith, we will rest and not be afraid.  Faith comes by the hearing and the reading of the Word of God.  If we are walking around scared all the time, we are not manifesting “faith” which God wants in our lives. Experiences of life which are tough builds our faith, as we trust and see that all things do work together for our good.  In Romans 10:17, It says, “So then, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”

   

I John 4:16-18, “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us, God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him.  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world.  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”   The word used here “fear” means in the Greek, “alarm, fright, terror.” The word perfect in the Greek means, “complete, of full age, maturity in love, or to bring to the utmost point or degree.” This speaks of maturity in our love for Christ and God the Father.  Learning to love the Lord in this way takes time, growth, obedience.  It comes by dedication to God and His Word. Worrying and having fear shows a lack of spiritual maturity.  Remember, when we were children and we were afraid, and our mother or father would console us and tell us things were alright.  Now, that we are grown, where do we find our solace, and comfort when fears arise?  I hope that you know.

Revelation 2:10 is speaking of the church of Smyrna, who represent those overcomers who die, and are waiting for the resurrection, when Christ comes to claim His bride. It says, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold , the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; ... be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.”  Apostle Paul is in this group as well as many, many others.  We are admonished not to FEAR.   How is that possible?  Only with the Lord’s help.  Think of the martyrs who gave up their lives, with such faith, not even fighting back.

In Revelation 3:21, it tells of the overcomer’s reward, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”