The Father's Menu
Apostle Dr. Richard Udoh
Sunday, December 17, 2023
FEAR CAN ENSLAVE
“But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!” Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”
Matthew 16:22-23 (NLT)
Main Text: Main Text: Psalms 11:1-3 (NLT)
Fear is an emotion caused by the belief that something or someone poses a threat to us. We can all remember feeling this destructive emotion at some time, and we’re familiar with how it affects our ability to do what needs to be done. Fear in any area is never okay, especially if it keeps us from fulfilling God’s mission for us. However, trusting His Word to us in this area strengthens us to overcome it and keep moving forward.
We’re not ordinary people, but children of God, Himself. When we truly believe this, fear loses its grip on us. “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15). The spirit of fear causes us to weaken our resolve and shrink back. The Spirit of God enables us to overcome whatever adversity or trouble presents itself.
Life can send us trouble at any time, but as believers, we never have to be afraid of it. The kind of life God wants for us is never passive or timid. It’s filled with wonder, excitement, adventure, but most of all, victory. “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)” (John 10:10, AMPC). We don’t have to tolerate fear. Living in God’s will for our lives keeps us safe from it. The courage we receive from Him isn’t due to the absence of fear, but the ability to move past it. This is what a victorious life is all about.
Confession:
I’m full of might by the Spirit of the Lord; Therefore, I don’t fear. I’m endued with boldness by God’s Spirit. The entire reflexes of fear have been completely disabled from my life. I’m shielded from every evil, and I can’t be hurt by anything because the greater One lives in me. Hallelujah.
Further Reading:
John 14:27 (NLT) “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
2 Timothy (NLT) “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”
Read through the Bible in 1 year: Nahum 1:1-3:19 Revelation 8:1-13 Psalm 136:1-26 Proverbs 30:7-9
Read through the Bible in 2 years: Isa 30-31 & Prv 14
