House of Hope Online

April 23, 2023

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In the last few weeks, we have discussed the importance of the Resurrection in our lives.  Not only have we attained eternal life though Jesus’ victory over death, but we have also gained tangible benefits in our faith walk for today.  The Resurrection is more than a vindication of our faith because the Bible teaches us there is power that flows from the grave of Jesus and manifests in us to bring life and light into the darkness that tries to surround us in today’s world.  We referenced the Apostle Paul’s words from Romans 8.

Romans 8:

 11: “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.” (NASB)

With that as a backdrop, today I want to discuss fear, and more specifically, the demonic spirit of fear, which the devil uses to try to rob us of our joy and stop us from walking in the fullness of God’s plan for our lives.

The world we live in today presents many opportunities to fear.  The proliferation of evil has led to gun violence in places that you would expect to be safe.  Churches, schools, supermarkets, theaters, and other public places have all seen mass shootings.  International travel comes with the risk of terrorism today.  There is also the fear of the unknown, job loss, health issues, as well as the fear of death.

I know that fear operates in my life, and I have often felt that my fears are an expression of unbelief, and therefore, I have felt a degree of self-condemnation when I feared.  But recently my oldest son, Will, and I attended a Freedom Conference at Church of the Highlands in the Birmingham, AL area.  Pastor Steve Blair taught on the spirit of fear and prayed many scriptures over us.  We sought the Lord to identify areas where fear has constrained us, and we declared in the name of Jesus that the spirit of fear no longer has a hold on us.

I thought it might be helpful to share a few of the scriptures we visited at the conference, as well as a few others, in the hope that the Spirit of God might speak into your spirit regarding fear.

First, let us distinguish between the demonic spirit of fear and the righteous fear of the Lord.

Isaiah 11:

 2 And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. (NASB)

In this Isaiah prophecy describing Jesus, we see that Jesus holds the spirit of Godly wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, and knowledge.  These are all gifts that overcome the demonic spirit of fear.  Many times, we fear the unknown, so the gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, and knowledge are exactly what is needed.  So, the short lesson is when the spirit of fear tries to come on us, we are to seek the Holy Spirit and receive these gifts. 

But notice in verse 2 that the fear of the Lord also rests on Jesus.  The Hebrew word for “fear” in this context is “yir’ah,” which means reverence.  The message for us is that reverence of the Lord will overcome the demonic spirit of fear.  Let us worship Jesus when the devil tries to attack us with fear.

The next thing to understand about fear of the unknown, fear of failure, and other fears is that they are not from the Lord.  Your loving Father would never use fear to drive you.  We see this in Romans 8 and 2^nd Timothy 1.

Romans 8:

 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” (NASB)

The Greek word for fear in this verse is “phobos” which means alarm, fright, afraid, or terror.  The Apostle Paul is telling us that we have not received the spirit of fear from our Heavenly Father.  Instead, we have a Daddy we can cry out to who will deliver us from fear. 

Get that promise – the Holy Spirit will deliver us from fear!

Another affirmation that fear is not of the Lord comes in 2^nd Timothy 1.

2^nd Timothy 1:

 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (KJV)

The Greek word for fear in verse 7 is “deilia,” which is a fear that causes timidity.  If the devil can get us to be timid, he will prevent us from expressing our faith in the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus.    

The Holy Spirit wants us to know that He has not given us fear, but instead He gives us power, love, and a sound mind to overcome demonic fear. 

Also know that the Spirit of the Lord is abiding with us, and we therefore should not fear.  He promises that the glory of the Lord will come forth, and the evil of this day will be shaken.  Let’s look at the prophecy He gave Haggai.

Haggai 2:

 5 ‘As for the promise which I made you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit is abiding in your midst; do not fear!’

 6 “For thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Once more in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land.

 7 ‘And I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the wealth of all nations; and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD of hosts.

 8 ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ declares the LORD of hosts.

 9 ‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘and in this place I shall give peace,’ declares the LORD of hosts.” (NASB)

If you are fearing loss of your job, a collapse of the currency, or some other downturn in your finances, stay plugged into the Holy Spirit because the silver and gold are His.  Therefore, our finances are His.  Verse 9 promises the presence of the Holy Spirit will also bring us peace in these days.

Here are a few other scriptures that encourage us to trust the Lord and not be afraid.

Isaiah 12:

 2 “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the LORD GOD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.” (NASB)

Proverbs 18:

 10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. (NIV)

Psalms 27:

 4 One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.

 5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. (NIV)

Psalms 27 encourages us to seek and dwell in the Lord’s presence every day to gaze upon His beauty.  Don’t stress, thinking you need elaborate, articulate, and strategic prayers for specific needs.  Just go and behold His beauty and let Him control the conversation.  He promises to keep us safe in that place and to set us high upon the rock above the fray.

Let us pray.

Father God, thank You for the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.  Thank You for the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, bringing wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, and fear of the Lord.  We declare that the demonic spirit of fear has no dominion over us, as we cry out to Abba Father who delivers us from evil.  We look forward to the shaking of the nations, the gold and silver of Your house, and the latter-day glory in Your house.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.