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.”
Romans 8:15-16 “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”
Hebrews 10:38-39 “Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”
FEAR OF FAILURE
Fear of failure is a thief to your breakthrough. It has robbed so many people from becoming the successful businessmen, ministers, lay-ministers, spouses, fathers/mothers, inventors, team players, musicians, or leaders they are called to be.
The fear of failing can be so strong that a person would rather do nothing at all than to even try. In reality though, by not doing what you know you should do & what you know you’ve been called to - you have already failed the Lord, yourself and others!
What if you succeed? What if it brings financial blessing to your family? What if you invent something that saves lives, brings a blessing to those around you (and beyond), or helps others breakthrough in their life and walk with the Lord?
FEAR IS
False
Evidence
Appearing
Real
This acronym describes it perfectly. There is no evidence you will fail!! And, you cannot know until you step out and do it!
Deuteronomy 1:26-30 “Nevertheless you would not go up, but rebelled against the command of the Lord your God; and you complained in your tents, and said, ‘Because the Lord hates us, He has brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. Where can we go up? Our brethren have discouraged our hearts, saying, “The people are greater and taller than we; the cities are great and fortified up to heaven; moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.”
“Then I said to you, ‘Do not be terrified, or afraid of them. The Lord your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness where you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.’
The Hebrews would not cross over into the Promised Land because of fear—fear of failing and fear of being defeated by the giants who lived there. Yet the same God who delivered them out of Egypt had already told them to take the land.
Their fear and unbelief cost them everything. That entire generation died off in the wilderness, except for Joshua and Caleb, who believed, and led the next generation into the Promised Land.
What land has God told you to take? We break every lie that would cause fear to keep you back from fulfilling His promises!
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Proverbs 29:25 “The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.”
A big root of fear comes from the fear of man—fear of what others will think, or may gossip about you if they see you fail. But you’ve got to know that most critics are just the spectators sitting on the sidelines!!! Those who truly do and strive forward will encourage you to keep going!!!
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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.”
If you are battling fear, take time to DWELL in God’s presence until His perfect love has cast it far from you. He does not WANT you living in fear. His love is here for you today, to cleanse every fear out of your life.
Psalm 23:4 “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.”
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FEAR OF INVESTMENT
Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
John 12:24-26 “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.”
The fear of investment also carries selfishness within it. Some may ask, “If I invest my time in serving, will I really reap the reward?” Your full reward will not come this side of eternity, but EVERY labor of love and faith that you have sown WILL be rewarded by our Heavenly Father, both in this life, and in the life to come.
Some don’t invest because they were burned before, so now they withhold their gifts and talents. But the fear of investment blinds you to the shortness of life and robs you of wisdom necessary for your breakthrough!
Wise people invest because they understand the power of seed. You might not see the benefit right away, but in time you will reap a harvest. And often, it won’t just bless you, it can change the course of history and impact an entire generation.
Thank God that Jesus wasn’t afraid to invest! He gave His very life. He went into the ground like a seed, but He rose again, not just for Himself, but for all who put their trust in His sacrificial investment!
Consider the investment that Jesus made, and how has it impacted the world. Can you think of people that have invested into your life to make it better? Are you ready to be that investment to others?!
FEAR OF STEPPING OUT
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.”
Hebrews 10:38-39 “Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”
Many go to the grave with unfulfilled dreams. Why? Because fear is the biggest culprit that keeps people from breaking through into God’s will for their lives.
Some never step out because they don’t know what awaits them. Others never saw someone else do it, or they feel what God is calling them to is bigger than they can handle.
Being uncomfortable is okay, but when discomfort turns to fear that causes you to stop or shrink back, you’ll never break into the bigger spaces of God’s will!! Don’t stop! If you do, the place you stay will become a place of bondage.
Genesis 12:1-4 “Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.”
God spoke to Abraham to leave his land and his father’s house, to sojourn into a land he had never been. Abraham had plenty of opportunity to stop moving forward, but the promise of the Lord propelled him on!
And God says the same to you! When He calls you, you are never stepping out alone!!
How have you seen fear keep yourself or others from stepping into something greater God had in store? What blessing came when you broke through into something new? What can you learn from both examples?
FEAR OF RESISTANCE AND OPPOSITION
James 1:2-4 "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."
1 Samuel 17:34-37 “But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”
Opposition is a spiritual reality of life. We will all face demonic forces and weaknesses in the flesh that wage war against our breakthrough and victorious living.
Taking on God’s perspective that resistance is now ONLY a tool to strengthen you, gives you courage to take on “the lion, the bear, and Goliath” with the mentality of victory! Jesus said there will be tribulation in this world, but TAKE COURAGE, because HE HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD! Jesus has overcome FOR us, and made us MORE THAN CONQUERERS through Him!
Having discernment in the opposition you are facing is key. You can’t cast out flesh, you must discipline it, and you can’t discipline an evil spirit, you must cast it out.
With that, regardless of the type of resistance you are facing, God’s perspective causes you to win every single time!
The devil has already been defeated. From this day forward, resolve in your heart and mind that resistance will ONLY make you stronger in the Lord. Whether it’s putting the devil in his place, or “buffeting your body” as Paul referred to it, you will face all resistance as an opportunity to live strong in the Lord and the power of His might!
We call forth the mighty promises of God over your life. We declare they WILL ALL BE FULFILLED as fear flees, and you boldly step out in faith on His Word and His promises!
Romans 8:31 "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"