The Bible clearly states that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and of a sound mind (2Timothy 1). I am beginning to believe that one of the biggest impediments to the advancement of the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven is the spirit of Fear that has gained a stronghold in the church. If we are going to be available and fully engaged in the Kingdom Calling for which God is calling His chosen, then we must be delivered from this spirit of Fear. One of the challenges with fighting and defeating this spirit of fear is having a proper understanding of what it is. The general conception of fear is a state of being afraid or intimidated. Of course this is correct, but it's deeper than the surface. A lot of times we associate fear and the spirit thereof with anxiety and nervousness, an outward emotional expression based upon an internal disturbance for which we are overwhelmed. Once again, this is correct to a very large extent, but the spirit of fear that is paralyzing the church is a little more covert and subtle than this.
The spirit of fear that has a hold on the church is the fear of Insecurity. One of the basic psychological needs of human beings is a sense of Security. When people do not feel secure, then they act out this insecurity in very delinquent and dysfunctional ways. There are things that God is calling His people into that, quite frankly, many of us have never done before. That can be scary. Nothing's wrong with acknowledging that, but there is something wrong with giving into that. Why? Because that spirit is not of God (2Timothy 1). We need to understand during this Season that God is purposefully allowing us to encounter some situations that are over our heads. He's intentionally allowing us to be "overextended". Why? So that He can move us beyond our personal limitations and get us beyond our fears. The Kingdom of God cannot be established operating in a spirit of fear. Personal doubts, circumstantial questions, skeptical what ifs, not of God. So am I supposed to just charge ahead? There we go! That's it. What was the Battle Cry when the soldiers were getting ready to head into battle? CHARGE! Yes saints, that's what God wants us to do. He's Faithfully given you Revelation of what He's assigned you to do. Just Do It! I'm pressing this because any other "skeptical-cynical" spirit is not of God. That's why the Lord was so displeased with the children of Israel when they refused to march into the Promised Land at His Command. They were operating in a spirit of fear (Numbers 13).
What should allow us to rebuke and overcome the spirit of fear that is subtly shackling many of us, is the Word of Comfort that the Lord has given to us, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13). When we demonstrate and manifest a spirit of fear, we are basically saying that we don't trust in the Security of the Lord. That is an Insult to Him. I'm sure we don't mean to be insulting, we're just trying to be real with where we are. But how would you feel if you were leading your child into a situation that you knew you had total control of, but yet they still didn't trust you. Notice I didn't say they were still scared, I said they still didn't trust you. The reality saints, when you experience fear over an area that the Father is leading you into, you're saying in essence that you don't trust Him. That He as God is not sufficient. I know you don't "think" that's what you're saying. But if you felt God was sufficient, then why would you be afraid? Do you see what I'm getting at. Let us learn to put all of our trust in God. Let us learn to truly take Him at His word. Then we will no longer insult Him by operating in the spirit of fear.
No comments:
Post a Comment