This week, I studied fear versus faith. I also listened to teacher Barry Bennett from Charis Bible College in Colorado Springs. Below are my notes from this study.
If you are in fear, you are using your faith in reverse! Fear actually mimics the principles of faith, but it’s going in the opposite direction away from God. Fear comes in all shapes and sizes, such as the fear of heights, fear of death, fear of public speaking, fear of close relationships, fear of crowds, fear of the unknown, and fear of sickness and disease. The list could go on. Apostle Paul tells young Timothy what God has done for us if we are Born Again, if we have received Christ into our lives. 2 Timothy 1:7-For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. We are either moving from a place of fear to a place of faith and trust in God and His goodness! The Biblical principles of Faith take the place of what you believe until it arrives on the scene. Faith is the bridge between what is unseen to what is seen! It is the evidence of things not seen. The promises of God are the title deed in your hands of what you believe for! Faith says I have my healing, provision, whatever we are believing for. Faith is taking the place of that physical manifestation until it is manifested in the physical realm! Faith takes the place of what you’re hoping for until it shows up in real life!! Faith unlocks the blessings of God while fear attracts all the curses of the fallen world!
Fear or faith can shape your life, your thoughts, your imagination, your actions, and how you live! Will you speak faith or will you speak fear? Fear is faith in the power of the enemy to bring harm! Satan is the one who comes to steal, kill, and destroy! John 10:10. Fear is false evidence appearing real. Faith is the true evidence of things not seen yet or revealed to the senses.! Hebrews 11:1 (AMP) –1 NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. Faith has substance! First, hope is kindled within the heart, and then it believes and takes possession of the promise until it becomes a reality in our lives. You get substance from God’s Word! That is faith. Fear is the substance of things dreaded, the certainty of coming doom, sickness, disease, poverty, evil, heartache, death, and the unknown. You imagine it happening, it consumes your thought life, and you fear greatly. You feel there is no hope!!!! You are filled with fear, anxiety, and stress rather than being filled with faith and peace. Romans 15:13 (NKJV) -13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Fear in the Greek is the word phobos, where we get the English word phobia. Again, fear comes in all shapes and sizes! All sorts of phobias we see in life that we are afraid of. Fear is of the Devil and his demons. It is a real unholy presence, an oppression that is real and felt emotionally and physically. This is not the same fear that the Bible talks about, the fear of the Lord. This is an attitude of worship, reverence, respect, and honor towards God. There is a healthy fear or respect for self-preservation in the face of danger, such as the fear of touching a hot stove. Fear believes that things will get worse, rather than better. The Devil will try to convince you of that. A negative doctor’s report produces fear! There is fear in your heart, in your imagination, and in your conversations with other people. Your fear plans how you live your life day to day. The mother of all fears is the fear of death. Jesus released us from this fear that brought bondage. Hebrews 2:15-and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Fear takes sides with sickness, disease, poverty, and corruption. You might not think that, but you’re believing, or trusting that it is the only truth or reality. There is a greater reality, and that is the Word of God. Fear is belief that is going in the wrong direction! Faith believes in the goodness of God and all that Jesus provided for us in redemption. Fearing, and being afraid, is meditating on something that hasn’t happened yet. It consumes your thoughts, imagination, and directs your life. You don’t do things out of fear of what might happen! Faith hears from God, His Word. Romans 10:17 (NKJV) –17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Fear is hearing and hearing the voices of the world, Satan, demons, negative words, the doctor’s report, the economy, and news, etc. Fear produces an imagination, a picture, a vision of uncertainty that is very real. A picture of death, a picture of defeat, a picture of losing your home, your car, your health, your marriage, your relationships. The fear of sickness and disease and any other problem is being conceived in your heart, producing death instead of life! Romans 8:6 (NKJV) -6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Then out of the abundance of your heart, your mouth speaks. Giving fear a voice instead of faith!! Matt. 12:34-35. According to the measure of your “fear-faith”, you prophesy the outcome. An example would be: “They are laying off at work, and I guess I’m next?” Your voice gave substance to your fear! When you speak your words, they carry the nature of their source. If your heart is filled with fear, that source is going to be infused with the words you speak. You prophesy negative things for your life when you believe it in your heart, and what comes out of your mouth!
We see this principle in receiving salvation: Romans 10:8-10 (NKJV)-8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. This is how our faith works. Fear is accepting the Devil’s plan, his lies, and deception! He is the Father of Lies! John 8:44. Proverbs 18:21-Death and life in the power of the tongue, and it can work in fear or faith. What are you dieting on? Faith or fear. What are you feeding yourself mentally? Matthew 12:35 (NKJV)-35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. You can either create faith or you can create fear in your life!
The consequences of ongoing fear in a person’s life are many. It can be anxiety, depression, stress, migraines, and digestive issues. I believe autoimmune diseases can be rooted in a spirit of fear. Job 3:25-:26-For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, And what I dreaded or feared has happened to me. I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, for trouble comes.” For Job, this happened over time!!! What he thought and meditated upon. Fear unleashes the power of darkness, attracts the enemy. That fear in Job created anxiety, the lack of peace, the lack of rest, tension, stress, bondage, and oppression mentally and physically, even if what you fear doesn’t happen! Faith will take you in a different direction towards God and his promises! Faith will always paint a picture of hope and cause you to speak hopeful and positive things. 2 Corinthians 4:13 (NKJV)-13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, Faith is spiritual. It is the spirit of faith, the breath of faith. I believed there for I spoke. Fear does the same thing! Fear is spiritual. I feared believing, therefore I spoke! Fear is a belief system. We will either speak the spirit of faith or the spirit of fear!
Where did fear start? Fear originated in the Garden of Eden. Gen. 3:8-10, Fear is the result of fallen man. Adam said to God,” I heard your voice and I was afraid.” The voice of God should invoke peace, comfort, and joy, not fear. Because of sin, it distorted Adam and Eve’s perception of God. They were ashamed, guilty, and condemned. Fear and guilt walk hand in hand! Independence from God will eventually produce fear. Dependence on God will produce faith. Fear, guilt, condemnation, and shame push you away from God, which is sin. Faith pushes or draws you towards God! The Antidote for fear is found in 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. God has given us the antidote, the cure for the spirit of fear. It is His love, the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit, and a disciplined, self-controlled mind that focuses on Him and His Word! 1 Cor 2:16 tells that we have the mind of Christ! We can approach life without fear. 1 Cor. 6:17 tells us we are joined to the Lord, one spirit with him, and there is no fear in Jesus! One of the fruits of your Born Again spirit is faith, not fear! Gal 5:22-23. We don’t have to live in fear anymore. We can get into the life of faith by being in fellowship with God and studying His word. Rom. 1:16-17. We need to cast down fear, negative thoughts, and negative imaginations. 2 Cor. 10:3-5. We need to submit to or come under God’s unconditional love and resist, stand against, to fight actively against the Devil, and fear will leave us! James 4:7. King David said in Psalm 56:4– I will not fear. This is a choice we make!!!! I put my trust in God and declare the Word of God!
Mar 5:35 — Mar 5:36-While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” Fear of the storm produces doubt and unbelief. Fear not, only believe! When it comes to sickness and disease, or any problem, fear not only believe! Jesus healed and raised this man’s daughter. Praise God! Here is a great scripture concerning fear: 1 John 4:18-There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. God’s love is perfect! God’s love dispels and drives the spirit of fear away and brings peace. The revelation of God’s love is the answer to the spirit of fear! It would be to our benefit to meditate on scriptures that speak of God’s love for us, and there are many. Here are some scriptures dealing with fear:
- Matthew 10:31-Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
- Psalm 27:1 (NKJV) -1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
- Psalm 23:4 (NKJV) -4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
- Proverbs 29:25 (NKJV) -25 The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.
- Luke 12:32 (NKJV) -32 Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
- Romans 14:17 (NKJV) -17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
- John 14:27 (NKJV)-27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
In closing. If you are dealing with fear, the only way out is through the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. Having a revelation of God’s love is essential. For His love will drive out fear, for there is no fear in love! Don’t let fear paralyze you. Declare His Word over your life daily.
- “Fear is born of Satan, and if we would only take time to think a moment, we would see that everything Satan says is founded upon a falsehood.” ~ A.B. Simpson
- Worry is a cycle of inefficient thoughts whirling around a center of fear. ~ Corrie Ten Boom
- Faith, which is trust, and fear are opposite poles. If a man has the one, he can scarcely have the other in vigorous operation. He that has his trust set upon God does not need to dread anything except the weakening or the paralyzing of that trust. ~ Alexander MacLaren
In Christ’s Love;
Brent and Linda Bushen
If this has blessed you in some way, please let us know and share it with a friend!