Faith vs. Fear

FAITH OVER FEAR – WHAT DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE?

You have no doubt heard the phrase, “I have good news and bad news.” Usually, people choose to want the bad news first. At this unusual and unprecedented time, all attention seems to be focused on COVID-19 coronavirus disease and the impact it is having on our daily lives. Many have gone into a panic by hoarding food, toilet tissue, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant products. When the pandemic was first announced, what was your first thought? What did you do? Were you prepared? Did you really believe that God is your source? These are questions that I believe we should ask ourselves, being children of the Most High King! We, as kingdom citizens, are to live according to the Kingdom of God’s ways. The phrase “fear not” is mentioned in the Scriptures numerous times. Do you know and believe that we are redeemed from the curse and that the curse includes all sickness and disease? (Galatians 3:13 KJV)

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We, as the Body of Christ, must think and act differently from the world. We are to live by faith!  Faith is what activates God! God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV). We are a peculiar people! (I Peter 2:9-10 KJV). Your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God (I Corinthians 2:12 KJV). STOP THE FEAR! We have dominion over fear. Are you exercising your spiritual authority?

The spiritual definition of fear is contrary to the worldly definition that most of us have come to know (False Evidence Appearing Real). Fear is a spirit, and it is very real. Fear is the most captivating spirit within the Body of Christ. It is a major hindrance to walking out God’s purpose and calling for our life. We must understand that fear is not just something in our minds, but a spiritual issue that must be dealt with. We cannot affirm our way out of fear. We must make the decision to act in faith or act in fear.

There are two distinct types of fear in the Word of God. The first type is “The fear of the Lord.” The Greek word for this type of fear is eulabeia, which refers to the “reverence, awe, and honor of God.” Psalm 2:11 KJV states, “Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.”  Proverbs 9:30 KJV states that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…” The second type, our main focus, is “the spirit of fear.” The Greek word for the spirit of fear is deilas, which means “fright” or “dread.” Fear brings torment, worry, depression, anxiety, and sometimes, even death. Fear is the most paralyzing factor that hinders the majority of Christians today. Fear is faith in what you believe. If you are fearful, then your belief is in what you fear and the negative consequences it brings. What you believe is what you will have faith in, and this will cause you to act accordingly. What you believe is what you will receive. A perfect example of this is found in Job 3:25 KJV which states, “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.” Did you know that you can actually bring upon yourself the very thing that you are afraid of?

The phrase “fear not” is mentioned numerous times in the Bible. Jesus commands us in many scenarios to “fear not.”  So, what is the true meaning of fear? 

“Fear is the lack of surrender or submission to God”

This definition was spoken to a friend during her prayer time and was shared with me. To better understand this definition and to get a clearer picture, take some time to apply this definition to the Scriptures you read or have read about fear.

Romans 14:23 KJV says, “And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”  Jesus quite often inquired, “Where is thy faith?”  Fear is the opposite of faith. Fear and faith cannot co-exist—you must choose. Fear reveals the areas that you do not believe God for, and it becomes a lack of submitting or surrendering your issue or problem to God.

Now for the “Good News!” In Hebrews 13:5 KJV, the Scripture states, “for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”  We must believe it and act like it when the spirit of fear presents itself. Jesus is always there for us, no matter what. Psalm 91 is a clear example of God’s love and protection for us. The spirit of fear is of Satan. We were given power over him. Are you exercising your authority in this situation? Or are you relying on your natural mind to make your decisions?

This type of fear is sin because it is not of faith.  We are instructed not to give place to the devil. If you tolerate fear, you contaminate your faith. Your faith comes from hearing the Word of God, meditating, and acting on it. God promised He would deliver us from the pestilence and give His angels charge over us. This isn’t the first time God has allowed His people to be subjected to quarantine. In the story of the Passover, the people were in a sense, quarantined. But what did they do? They worshiped, they prayed, they praised God in the midst of their trial, and were obedient to God’s instructions. But most importantly…they had faith that God would deliver them and acted accordingly. The end result was that the pestilence did not affect them nor did it come near them.

We must focus on God and His Word when we are presented with the spirit of fear, because whatever you focus on, you give the most attention to. We must always remember to believe and make our decisions based on the Truth, not on fear. We must stop fear in its tracks when it appears. Remember to ask yourself what the Word of God says before making decisions or going along with the crowd. God gave us the weapons and the power.

In closing, I also believe this is a time for repentance, a time of opportunity to give hope in the midst of turmoil, and to introduce others to God. It is also a time to spend more time communing with God. We were warned in 2 Timothy 3 KJV, “that in the last days perilous (hard to deal with) times shall come.”  Our preparation is the gospel of peace. When we focus on God, we are enabled to help others and to glorify Him. The last time I checked, we WIN! Stop the worry and trust God!

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”  (2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV)

“For everyone born of God is victorious and overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has conquered and overcome the world—our (continuing, persistent) faith in Jesus the Son of God” – (I John 5:4 AMP).

In His Service,
Darlene E. Richard
Evangelist and Kingdom Teacher

 

Darlene Richard has been a minister since 1996. She has taught Bible study for over twenty-seven years and has been active in the Church since the age of six. Darlene has an inept ability given to her by God to teach the gospel, and she is gifted with a voice to sing His praises. She believes that the Scriptures are not just information or stories given for the purposes of just storytelling, but that they are a source of life to those that receive them as such.

 

DARLENE RICHARD

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