Faith and fear

(Sermons on Fear)

Two contrary to each other forces but acting basing on the same spiritual rule. Faith binds us with God and fear with the devil. You can ask how it` s possible for two such different things to be based on the same spiritual rule. We must remember however that whatever rules function , they were created by God. Devil only uses what already exists reversing it into evil and applying it for evil purposes. Remember that words have the power ( also a creative power), especially Words spoken by God ( the Word of God). Remember that we are created into His image so our words have similar abilities as His. If we speak good words (f. e. God` s Word) in faith it benefits us and gives us strength. If we speak evil things (f. e. I think I may die, I feel worse and worse; I can` t do anything) in fear those things also become real.

The same way as God created reality by His Words, we also do it but it depends on us what reality we create; it depends on our words and on the way we speak them- in faith or in fear. Even objectively good deeds done in fear can bring disaster. Do you remember Job` s story?

(Job 1:5) “ And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified”

What he was doing looked very godly and wisely, but when we find out why he was doing it we are not so sure about it.

(Job 3:25 ) “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. “

Job admits that he feared a lot that some things may come on him and his family. He said full of fear prayers every single day and by this fear he got into devil` s hands. Instead of acting in faith ( trust in God) he was afraid of tragedies which trough fear had an open way to him.

(Job 1:12) “ And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. “

Many people has wrong understanding of this scripture and think that God gave Job into the devil’s hands, but this scripture just proclaims the fact! He already is in your power! Through his fear Job was in Devil` s power. And that` s how the fear acts - we get into Devil` s hands trough it and we open the way to disasters. Through faith we open the way to happiness. The prayer said in fear does not reach God. For if you pray “God help me” but you think at the same time that distress may come on you –that means you don` t believe in God` s protection. So what are you praying for? You open the way to distress by fear .You can join God only trough faith, which is an opposite of fear. Jesus said to the synagogue ruler : don` t be afraid- just believe!

(Luk 8:49-50) “ While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. “

Exchange your fear into faith. Look at your thoughts, look at your behaviour and ask the Holy Spirit for help. He will show you what is wrong. Deal with it immediately, stand firm against fear. Submit your every thought in obedience to Jesus – and He says: “ don` t be afraid just believe”. Do not let yourself to compromise in even a smallest way. Devil can try to take different things from you but when he destroys ( or at least pollute it by fear) your faith - he robs you of everything by just one move of his sword. That` s why whole our life with God, everything what is good is based on faith. And I` m not writing it to you in order to frighten you but to protect you from fear. We must know one more thing about faith : we don` t believe in our own strength!

(Eph 1:19) “ And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,”

Jesus said that if we have faith as small as a mustard seed ( that means very small)we would be able to move mountains. Everyone who is born again has faith inside himself( without it he couldn` t approach God). For sure this faith isn` t smaller than the mustard seed. As I said before we believe through His mighty (endless) power! It doesn` t depend on our own strength . When disciples on the boat were frightened Jesus asked them: “ How can it be- you still don` t have the faith?” He was surprised and he couldn` t understand it. So when you use your small faith it` s sufficient to move the mountains ( because God stands by it). Just start to use it. Don` t think that it` s God who limits your faith! The fact that one has small, another big faith ( as f. e. Centurion) depends only on them . There is one always powerful faith because it` s based on God` s power; only our limitations make it bigger or smaller. The truth is you have the same faith God has! The difference is in ability to use it ( knowledge and wisdom). God makes use of his faith in 100%, we do it probably in a few percentages. That` s why He has results but we not necessary have them. How can we change proportions in our life? How to remove fear and replace it by faith? Or how to cleanse our faith so that it` s not polluted by fear? You can have two points of view on removing fear and I think they both are right for both can be found in the Word

1)      Fear is a spirit.

(Rom 8:15 ) “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. “

So you have to deal with it in the way you deal with every evil spirit- cast it out!

2)To not be afraid is a decision the same as not to worry and to love.

(Jos 1:9) “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. “

We obviously need wisdom and revelation to know what and where to apply. We need to understand however how important it is for us and for our future to remove all the fear from our life. As we remember fear is the opposite of faith so whatever form it takes in our life it reduces the effectiveness of our faith. If we want to have results in our ministry or our life we can` t afford any kind of fear. We have to raise the war against it and definitively eliminate it from our life. In the same way we can` t allow ourselves not to love. The words: “don` t be afraid” are used many times in the Word of God in all possible circumstances. We should recognise that it is God` s commandment and obey it in it the same way as we obey the love commandment. “ For if God is with us who can stand against us?” If you have a problem with accepting the fact that God is always with us you should get to know this subject better because it can stop you in your fight with fear. He is really always on your side( from the time you receive Jesus as your Lord and Saviour). Nothing apart from unbelief separates you from Him. You have the fullness of His favour , acceptance., grace and love. All of it in 100%. Only if you don` t live permanently in sin, of course. But if you immediately ( without linger) confess your every sin you have always pure, complete and close relationship with God. So do not fear just believe! Please check our other sermons on faith.

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