March 4, 2020 Silencing the Voice of Fear

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.
 
There is a very dangerous epidemic spreading across the world today, and it is not the coronavirus! It is FEAR. Every news outlet is talking about it, airlines are canceling flights all over the world, and whole countries are being shut down by it.  I can understand nonbelievers being afraid, but fear is not to be a characteristic of a believer’s life.   Fear crowds out the Holy Spirit living inside of us, and it takes us captive to do its biddings. 
 
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 (and daughters) by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"
 
Resisting fear is a choice, a discipline we must continually battle throughout each day.  But we are not let alone to fight this battle.  God gives us power and love and discipline to fight against and destroy fear.  Because of the perfect love of Christ, God has the power to work on our behalf in every circumstance.  We must be disciplined to trust God and not run to fear!
 
2 Timothy 1:7  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and discipline (sound mind).
 
When fear comes to torment my mind, I often remind myself that “perfect love casts out all fear.” The Greek word for CAST OUT suggests the actions of opening a door, throwing out fear, and then closing the door and locking it. It is not merely trying to ignore it, or brush it to the side.  But instead, it is stopping to acknowledge that it is in the room and attacking us.  We must take action to kick it out of our mind, and lock the door! 
 
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.
 
When fear attacks, I encourage you to read aloud the promises God gives to His people in Psalm 91.  Read this with others so you can hold each other accountable in your struggle with fear.  Remember, Discipline, not desire, determines our destiny.  Discipline requires ACTION! 
 
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!" For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper And from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day; Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. A thousand may fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, But it shall not approach you. You will only look on with your eyes And see the recompense of the wicked. For you have made the LORD, my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you, Nor will any plague come near your tent. For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, That you do not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and cobra, The young lion and the serpent you will trample down. "Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. "He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. "With a long life I will satisfy him And let him see My salvation."