THE SPIRIT OF FEAR
(Written during the global pandemic of 2020)
KEY SCRIPTURE: God did not give us the spirit of fear, but of power and love and self-control. ~ 2 Timothy 1:7 (AMPC)
What crazy times we’re living in right now! We’re living in a world that seems to be constantly gripped by fear. We hungrily swallow every word being shoveled into us from the media, social media or other sources of fear (sometimes even from the people closest to us!) and then wonder why we’re sick… and angry… and filled with fear!
We don’t know what’s going to happen. Today. Or tomorrow. Or the next day. And that scares us!!!
But, I think that’s God’s plan… if we want peace, we need to turn to Him and TRUST Him. (Isaiah 26:3)
It’s easy for us to forget that God’s got this. He doesn’t CAUSE evil, but He’s NEVER pacing in His throne room wringing His hands saying, “Oh NO! What am I gonna do NOW?! I didn’t see THIS coming!!!”
No.
I think oftentimes, He’s waiting to see what WE will do. How are we going to respond? Will we seek Him? Will we trust Him?
He created us uniquely in His image. As humans we are more adaptable and more resilient in spirit than any other creature on earth, and we who have been given His Spirit have an even GREATER advantage, for “God did not give us the spirit of fear, but of power and love and SELF-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7) The Amplified version says it’s “a spirit of power, and of love, and of calm, and a well-balanced mind, and discipline, and self-control.”
Wow.
So, are WE controlling our SELF or… are we allowing the spirit of fear to control us?
Jesus said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father,” (Matthew 10:28-29) and “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?” (Luke 12:25-26) (I find it amazing that Jesus thinks adding time to our life is something easily accomplished!)
Ultimately, WE are not in control… but God is. We can only do what we can do, and leave the rest to God… trusting that His plans for us are good, and not evil. (Jeremiah 29:11) At the last supper, (just hours before Jesus’ horrific death - that He KNEW was imminent,) He tells us, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” (John 14:1)
If we look to God (and His Word,) as our source, (and not the media!) then we will be filled with what HE has to say… and since He is the one ultimately in control, we can have peace. (Romans 15:13) Things may not be going how we expect them to go, and we may feel completely out of control right now, however things are NEVER out of His control, and in this we can have peace. Not as the world gives, but HIS peace. (John 14:27)
So, in the spirit of self-control, what CAN we DO in uncertain times like this? Let’s use the acronym, “PRESS ON!”
P ~ Pray. Share your heart, (your fears, your cares, your worries and concerns, as well as your gratitude!) with God… (Philippians 4:6) and then LISTEN to the still, small voice in response. (1 Kings 19:11-12) (John 10:27)
R ~ Respond to His leading. Reach out to those in need. (James 1:27) Call on single mothers who are home alone with their children, or someone elderly who may be alone right now. Send a card or handwritten letter to a lonely friend or relative. If you can, support a local charity that can always use your support. (Shepherds House Ministries or The Giving Plate for example.)
E - Eagerly await His plan, and know that plan is GOOD. (Jeremiah 29:11)
S - Silence your fears by remembering God is in control and immersing yourself in His word. (Psalm 119:165)
S - Surrender to His will, which is always better than ours. (Isaiah 55:8-9)
O - Open yourself to change. Adapt a new routine. Find new ways to show the love of God to others. (John 13:34-35)
N - Never forget how much He loves you, (John 3:16-17) that He uses ALL things for good, (Romans 8:28) this isn’t the end of the story, (Revelation 21:1-7) and we have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a strong, self-disciplined mind!
In Jesus’ name.
Amen
SCRIPTURES
2 Timothy 1:7 ~ For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. (AMPC)
Isaiah 26:3 ~ You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. (ESV)
Matthew 10:28-29 ~ Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. (ESV)
Luke 12:25-26 ~ Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things? (NLT)
Jeremiah 29:11 ~ For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. (NASB)
John 14:1 ~ “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” (NKJV)
Romans 15:13 ~ Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in him, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (NET)
John 14:27 ~ Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] (AMPC)
1 Kings 19:11-12 ~ And he said, ‘Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord.’ And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. (KJV)
John 10:27 ~ My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; (NASB)
James 1:27 ~ Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. (NLT)
Psalm 119:165 ~ Great is the peace of those who love your Law and they have no sickness. (Aramaic Bible in Plain English)
Isaiah 55:8-9 ~ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (ESV)
John 13:34-35 ~ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (NIV)
John 3:16-17 ~ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. (NASB)
Romans 8:28 ~ And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (NLT)
Revelation 21:1-7 ~ Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. (NLT)
Philippians 4:6 ~ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; (NKJV)
READ THIS OUT LOUD:
Psalm 91 (ESV)
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.
Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—
the Most High, who is my refuge—
no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.
“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”