BECOMING FEARLESS Kay K. Peebles 11/23/18 18.35
One of the most sinister attacks of the devil is creating worry, anxiety and fear in people. It is impossible to live in peace when the heart and mind are focused or obsessed with fearful expectations. Fear creates a scenario of hopelessness which is challenging to break. The devil enjoys tormenting his victims with fear, which keeps them spinning out of “control” with panic attacks and sleepless nights. There is good news however, the fearful can become Fearless when they live in Christ Jesus and appropriate all He has given us for victory!
There are several weapons the devil uses to cripple his victims with fear: lies, imagination, insecurity, self-pity, doubt/unbelief, victimization, intimidation, confusion, self-pity and control. No matter how powerful the stronghold of fear has become on a person’s life, when we “submit to God, and resist the devil,” he must go! James 4:7. Our victory comes from the Lord and He has given us great weapons of warfare to put the enemy under our feet.
1) “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10. Submitting to God is the beginning of our freedom from fear. Only He has words which bring life and peace. There is no peace apart from God. The “fear of the Lord” means we reverence Him by making Him Lord over our lives and living by “every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”. Matthew 4:4. His word is “truth”, “life”, and it is “settled in heaven”. John 17:17, Proverbs 3:1, Psalm 119:89-93. Because God’s word is truth, we can pull down every “lying” scenario the enemy hurls at us by knowing, speaking and standing on the Word of Truth!
2) Understanding the spiritual authority of God and the power of declaring His name (Jesus) establishes a stronghold of victory in our lives. “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” Matthew 28:18-20. “There is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved [for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation].” Acts 4:12. “For this reason also [because He obeyed and so completely humbled Himself], God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW [in submission], of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess and openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord (sovereign God), to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11.
3) Knowing our position “in Christ Jesus”. “Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12. “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness.” He is the head over every power and authority. Colossians 2:9-10. “But whoever is united with the Lord is one with Him in spirit.” 1 Corinthians 6:17. “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4-10.
4) Recognizing the power of His Word! “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven [standing firm and unchangeable]. Psalm 119:89. “For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12.
5) Putting our complete trust in God alone. “Trust in and rely confidently on the LORD with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, and He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].” Proverbs 3:4-5. “As for God, His way is blameless and perfect; the word of the LORD is tested. He is a shield to all those who take refuge and trust in Him.” 2 Samuel 22:31. “And those who know Your name [who have experienced You precious mercy] will put their confident trust in You, for You, O LORD, have not abandoned those who seek You.” Psalm 9:10. “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and the One who rescues me; My God, my rock and strength in whom I trust and take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower—my stronghold.” Psalm 18:2.
6) Knowing and Engaging the real enemy. Our battle is not with man nor is it with the physical realm. Although those two areas may participate in our discomfort and torment, they only serve as distractions from the real battle. “In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might. Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious].” Ephesians 6:10-13.
God gives us armor which ensures our victory. Our armor makes us “hidden in Christ” so that we can appropriate His power, His word, His works and His victory into our situation!
1) The belt of Truth. “So stand firm and hold your ground, having tightened the wide band of Truth (personal integrity, moral courage) around your waist.” Ephesians 5:14. Jesus is Truth. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. His Word is Truth! We exchange our sin for His Righteousness through repentance and we become fixed in the power and authority of His name! His Truth protects us from every lie of the enemy. Truth strengthens our mind and our resolve to battle according to the Truth and the Word of God. It is not possible to war or gain victory by our feelings/physical or mental/emotions in the natural realm. The war we wage is spiritual. His Truth guards and strengthens our innermost being.
2) “And having put on the Breastplate of Righteousness (an upright heart).” Ephesians 6:14b. “But with righteousness and justice He will judge the poor, and decide with fairness for the downtrodden of the earth; and He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. And righteousness will be the belt around His loins, and faithfulness the belt around his waist.” Isaiah 11:4-5. The Breastplate of Righteousness covers the heart. “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23. “The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil, for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45. What we believe has power.
3) “And having strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news].” Ephesians 6:15. Short heavy-headed nails called hobnails were attached to the shoes of the Roman soldiers to give them stability while in battle. They helped them stand firmly in hand to hand combat by digging into the ground. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7. The Peace of God provides balance and stability which keep us from falling and failing.
4) “Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Ephesians 6:16. The Roman shield was made with several layers of leather framed in iron. When soaked in water before battle, the shield would put out the fiery arrows of the enemy. The shield was a large rectangle which was big enough to protect the entire body. We are cleansed (and made strong) through being washed by the water of the Word of God. See Ephesians 5:26. “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17. The word of God gives us faith that is our protective shield.
5) “And take the helmet of Salvation.” Ephesians 6:17. Our helmet covers and protects our head. When we have the “mind of Christ” we become strong in wisdom and the knowledge of God by humbling ourselves as Jesus taught. See Philippians 2:5-11. Our helmet then protects us from listening to the lies of the enemy. It keeps our eyes focused upon Jesus and helps guard us from surrendering to temptation and fear. Our ears become attentive to the voice of the Lord and our thoughts are continually centered upon Him.
6) “And the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.” Our only offensive weapon is the Word of God but it is more powerful than anything the enemy can hurl at us! Jesus will crush the armies of millions in the battle of Armageddon by the words of His mouth. “From His mouth comes a sharp sword (His Word) with which He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He will tread the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty [in judgement of the rebellious world].” Revelation 19:15. The weapons of the enemy are lies and twisted or perverted truth. The Word of God is pure Truth and it is eternal. When we know the Truth, it is the knowledge of the Truth that is capable of setting us free from all bondage and thwarts all the lies of the enemy.
We have been given the powerful gift of Salvation from the Lord. He has ensured our victory by providing us with His eternal Word and the indwelling Holy Spirit. When we apply His Truth to our lives we become “armed” with all we need to walk faithfully and victoriously no matter what challenges us. Therefore, when we are weak He is our strength. When we lack Wisdom we can ask of God and He will give us His Wisdom. He will supply all our needs when we put our trust completely in Him. Hence, the fearful become Fearless in Him!
