The bible says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
This scripture makes it clear that the spirit of fear is not from God. When danger threatens us, fear tries to latch onto us. Even our body chemistry changes when we sense impending disaster, when our circumstances are doom and gloom, or when the pain becomes overwhelming and our natural response is to be alarmed and fearful.
So, what does a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind do in the face of fear? It removes fear’s death grip that tries to paralyze us. Fear can come, but it cannot stay and bind those who belong to the Lord because we are overcomers!
“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 John 5:4)
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
Jesus said, “Do not be afraid; only believe” (Luke 8:50).
The Bible’s greatest illustration of fear and unbelief lasted forty years with the tribes of Israel who were camping out in the wilderness. Even though their wanderings took them close to the border of the Promised Land, they did not actually believe they could cross over because they had already succumbed to fear. They knew it was their right to possess the land because God had given the land to them, but their faith had a fatal flaw—the disease of fear had enveloped what little faith was in their hearts. Their faith was useless for as long as they feared, which is why most of them never reached the Promised Land. They complained about their situation but did not have enough faith to change it. They whined when they could have dined.
Moses sent twelve spies from each head of the tribes of Israel to spy out the land of Canaan as the Lord had commanded (Numbers, Chapter 13). There were two very different reports from the spies when they returned. This resulted in ten of them falling prey to unbelief and discouragement, and two full of faith with the courage to move forward and possess the land. This is probably a normal average—two out of twelve believe and get what God has for them. The rest only wish for it and die, never taking hold of it. There will always be more of those who are full of fear than those who are full of faith… which will you choose to be?
Source: (Adapted from Faith: The Link with God’s Power; Preface and Chapter 22.)
Study Further
“Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.”
Isaiah 40:10 NLT
