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“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7
(NKJV)
Sometimes we are overcome with a sudden fear. We are shaken to the core at what lies before us, whether it be a job interview,
giving a speech, or even meeting new people. In our fear, we convince ourselves that this is not what God wanted for us. After
all, He said life should be easy once we’re believers…right?
My husband and I moved up to Kansas in late April of this year. I promised myself that I would find a church right away. I started to do some research and decided the first place I would try was the Protestant service on the military base where we were moving to.
I never went.
Every time I thought about going, fear gripped my heart. I didn’t want to walk into the service alone. Everyone would stare at me, the new girl. They would immediately see all my shortcomings, all my flaws, all my sins. I’d be surprised if they didn’t throw me out of the church right then and there.
That is ridiculous, of course. I don’t where those negative qualities across my forehead. In fact, since Christ died for my sins, those are put as far as the east is from the west, if I let them.
The spirit of fear is not from God. The spirit of fear is a tool used by the devil. In his scheme to buckle the foundation of God’s people, satan employs fear as a tactic to keep us from moving forward. We can’t very well do God’s will if we back off every time we get scared or overwhelmed.
God has given us the Holy Spirit. In John 14:16, Jesus tells his disciples that God will send them a Counselor. Acts 1:8 further emphasizes this when Jesus explains, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me[a] in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The Lord has gifted us with a Spirit to guide us. The Holy Spirit does three important things for us. It empowers us, gives us love for others, and gives us control (in 2 Timothy 1:7 it refers to control over our spiritual gifts). The gift of empowerment is a direct adversary to the spirit of fear. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to take control of that fear.
Through the Spirit, we gain the understanding of the Word. Knowledge is power. As Jesus quotes scripture to the devil when he was audacious enough to tempt Him in the desert, so we can use the scripture to put the spirit of fear behind us.
The Spirit is also one of love. Jesus commanded us to love our neighbors as yourself (Matt 22:39). 1 John 4:7-21 shows us that if we know God, it shows in how we treat each other. If we hate each other and tear each other down, we do not truly know God. Through the support and love of each of us, God’s light—His Spirit—can be seen.
One of the biggest issues among any people is self-control. Our human nature is to indulge, and that can include anything--indulgence in food, swearing, work. Christians are no different. Only we have another set of indulgences to watch out for.
When we first accepted Christ, we invited the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. In turn, we were given spiritual gifts. Whether you believe that these gifts are supernatural, or simply an extension of gifts we already had, you know that we are all parts of the body meant for a specific purpose. (Romans 12:4-8). We must learn to exercise control over these as well. Though these gifts are given to us to serve the glory of God, we can/may use them in ways that God does not desire us to. A mild example of this would be, if your gift was serving, that you spent so much time serving others that you neglected something else like your family or your time with God. When we exert self-control and seek the Lord, the Holy Spirit will lead us.
Step forth and embrace the power of the Holy Spirit. Let it guide you. Love each other so God’s light will shine like a beacon. Show self-control so you may be used for a higher purpose. Brought forth through the fear, you will find the joy and prosperity of character found in your purpose. The glory of God seen in you.
My husband and I moved up to Kansas in late April of this year. I promised myself that I would find a church right away. I started to do some research and decided the first place I would try was the Protestant service on the military base where we were moving to.
I never went.
Every time I thought about going, fear gripped my heart. I didn’t want to walk into the service alone. Everyone would stare at me, the new girl. They would immediately see all my shortcomings, all my flaws, all my sins. I’d be surprised if they didn’t throw me out of the church right then and there.
That is ridiculous, of course. I don’t where those negative qualities across my forehead. In fact, since Christ died for my sins, those are put as far as the east is from the west, if I let them.
The spirit of fear is not from God. The spirit of fear is a tool used by the devil. In his scheme to buckle the foundation of God’s people, satan employs fear as a tactic to keep us from moving forward. We can’t very well do God’s will if we back off every time we get scared or overwhelmed.
God has given us the Holy Spirit. In John 14:16, Jesus tells his disciples that God will send them a Counselor. Acts 1:8 further emphasizes this when Jesus explains, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me[a] in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The Lord has gifted us with a Spirit to guide us. The Holy Spirit does three important things for us. It empowers us, gives us love for others, and gives us control (in 2 Timothy 1:7 it refers to control over our spiritual gifts). The gift of empowerment is a direct adversary to the spirit of fear. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to take control of that fear.
Through the Spirit, we gain the understanding of the Word. Knowledge is power. As Jesus quotes scripture to the devil when he was audacious enough to tempt Him in the desert, so we can use the scripture to put the spirit of fear behind us.
The Spirit is also one of love. Jesus commanded us to love our neighbors as yourself (Matt 22:39). 1 John 4:7-21 shows us that if we know God, it shows in how we treat each other. If we hate each other and tear each other down, we do not truly know God. Through the support and love of each of us, God’s light—His Spirit—can be seen.
One of the biggest issues among any people is self-control. Our human nature is to indulge, and that can include anything--indulgence in food, swearing, work. Christians are no different. Only we have another set of indulgences to watch out for.
When we first accepted Christ, we invited the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. In turn, we were given spiritual gifts. Whether you believe that these gifts are supernatural, or simply an extension of gifts we already had, you know that we are all parts of the body meant for a specific purpose. (Romans 12:4-8). We must learn to exercise control over these as well. Though these gifts are given to us to serve the glory of God, we can/may use them in ways that God does not desire us to. A mild example of this would be, if your gift was serving, that you spent so much time serving others that you neglected something else like your family or your time with God. When we exert self-control and seek the Lord, the Holy Spirit will lead us.
Step forth and embrace the power of the Holy Spirit. Let it guide you. Love each other so God’s light will shine like a beacon. Show self-control so you may be used for a higher purpose. Brought forth through the fear, you will find the joy and prosperity of character found in your purpose. The glory of God seen in you.
