THE WICKED EFFECTS OF FEAR (2)

Post date: Sep 27, 2018 3:50:22 AM

No one decides to be fearful and remain fearful, but fear still crips in to take control of our lives without our consent, it is an unwilling controlling power over our spirit and body; it is destructive to whatever is considered good, it blinks the eyes and the hearts to the reality of the Almighty God working with us, in us and through us for our good. It is slavery in nature, compelling us to do what we know is wrong and refusing to do or procrastinating on what we know is right; through fear, we delay taking decisions on important issues and it sensors our words and limits our thoughts on what the future holds and what God had promised and can do for us. Fear is wicked, it is cruel and it is a limitation of the devil working to destroy us. Fear had caused many to remain in slavery for too long, to remain in sin for too long, to remain in want for too long and to remain in self-pity for too long. Fear is like a chain tied to the legs and then tied to a fixed object and whoever is in tied there cannot move outside the circle of the length of the chain. But we are grateful to our Lord Jesus Christ for He said; “I am the Door; anyone who enters through Me will be saved and will live forever, and will go in and out freely, and find pasture spiritual security. The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance to the full, till it overflows. I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd [d]lays down His own life for the sheep.” John 10:9-11

At salvation, the chain of fear and its limitation is broken and we are given the Holy Spirit of God to live and lead us to the things that God had given and promised us thereafter. “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear; but He has given us a spirit of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline, abilities that result in well-balanced mind and self-control. And because you really are His sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, Abba Father. Therefore you are no longer a slave bond-servant, but a son; and if a son, then also an heir through the gracious act of God through Christ.” 2 Timothy 1:7 Galatians 4:6-7. Fear is a disturbance to our spirit and distorts of mind and thinking.

The wickedness of fear is far-reaching; it causes damages to relationships, hinders spiritual and physical growth and divides families. It was fear of continuous sorrow that made the parents of Jabez to reject him at birth, and to give him a bad name. They regretted their actions thereafter when Jabez turned to God they saw how God turn him around. Jabez was able to overcome the fear of his parents by being bold enough to pray and say things his parents could not pray for or say before the Almighty God. “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; but his mother named him Jabez, saying because I gave birth to him in pain. Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, saying, Oh that You would indeed bless me and enlarge my border, and that Your hand would be with me, and You would keep me from evil so that it does not hurt me. And God granted his request.” 2 Chronicles 4:9-10. Fear will make you reject that which is good; it will prevent you from knowing what is good and from following God’s ways in your actions and decisions. The devil wants you so he implants fears on your thoughts and minds and those fearful thoughts then controls your entire decisions and keeps you within his confines.

Fear made one servant of Jesus Christ given a talent not to use it despite having the opportunity as others who were given five and two respectively. He said when his master asked, Matthew 25: 25. “I was afraid to lose the talent, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is your own.” How many Christians have hidden their talents, gifts, knowledge, abilities and lose great opportunities because of fear? Where fear is operational, doubts, uncertainty, all forms of lies will reign and the cycle of ever wishing and never getting there will continue. God had promised us an abundant life, but if we surrender instead to the chains of fear, we most likely won’t live in that abundance He had offered. For prayers Click here