Overcoming the Spirit of Fear!

II Timothy 1:6-8 

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 

Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 

I John 4:16-18 

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 

We love him, because he first loved us. 

 Recently, I ministered this text and it really blessed and encouraged me. I thought I would share it with you. 

Fear is a dreaded enemy of people of all ages, shapes, colors, and sizes: it does not discriminate.  Fear is defined as a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.  Of special note fear is an emotion: you cannot touch or handle it, but you know when it is present.  Additionally, the catalyst of fear is an event that is impending; it is going (or believed about) to happen.  Do you remember when you were young and you heard the words, “…just wait until your father comes home…”; or “…I am going to tell mama when she comes home!”  You were gripped by fear. 

When we get older, fear does not seem to diminish at all.  Fear grabs you when you receive the pink slip, or when you get the foreclosure notice in the mail.  Fear is there when the doctor tells you that the test results were back, and you tested positive for an incurable disease.   Fear is the emotion that overtakes the mother when the father walks out, and she is left to raise three children. 

How well I remember January 21, 2011 when I was given an ultimatum from a former employer. I had to choose: I could either leave pastoring or I could leave my well-paid career.  I depended on the income to not only live on but subsidize the church’s income.  The church had just moved into a building and expenses had tripled.  I knew I had to choose the ministry, but that did not prevent me from experiencing fear. 

I would like to tell you the emotion of fear went away after a few minutes or hours: but it did not.  For several months I learned to preach while looking fear in the face.  I learned to speak to fear – not my words but – the Word of the Lord.  I learned to trust the Lord and rebuke fear out of my life.  It was not easy, but God strengthened my faith and made it possible. 

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt said “…the only thing we have to fear is fear itself…”  Our nation was in the midst of the Great Depression. Wildfires were burning on the west coast. Unemployment was 25 percent, and there were other calamities. 

It is 2020 and fear is as real today as it was in 1933.  Unemployment is in double digits. Narcotics have been legalized. The threat of nuclear war lingers over us at every turn. As of mid–September, 3.35 million acres have been burned in California alone.  America is experiencing unprecedented civil unrest. The sale of weapons continues to increase, coinciding with an increase in violence as well. And there is a disease called COVID-19 that has infected more than 6 million Americans and killed more than 200,000.  Many are fearful, but I have a word for us today.  Just as the Lord came to the rescue of the saints in 1933, just as the Lord came to my rescue in 2011, He is God today. 

Fear will cause you to act out of character, as Abraham did when he almost compromised his wife (Genesis 20:1-16).  Fear caused Adam to be separated from God (Genesis 3:8-9), and fear caused Gideon to hide in caves from his enemies (Judges 6:11).  Even after Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, he was afraid of Queen Jezebel (I Kings 19:3).  How do we overcome fear? 

We must first see ourselves relying on God’s resources not our own.  Fear works because we see ourselves combating the enemy with our own resources – not God’s.  We must also acknowledge that we will experience “Kryptonite” in our lives:  we all have some area where we are vulnerable.  To overcome the spirit of fear, we must trust and depend on the One who is greater: the Holy Ghost. 

I overcame my fear by speaking His Word over my life.  I overcame my fear by believing that the Lord had already given me what I needed to overcome.  When David fought Goliath, King Saul offered David his weapons. David almost fell for this temptation.  However, he remembered how he defeated the bear and lion with the weapons God had given him. 

The scripture says God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind.  Friends of mine, God has already deposited into you what you need to be successful.  In 2011, I did not borrow money from friends or relatives, I did not apply for welfare; I did not resort to crime or sin.  I stretched out on God:  He spoke to me and gave me favor.  The Lord brought me through victoriously and He will do the same for you! 

I bless you in the name of the Lord. 

Asst. Superintendent Eddie B Pruitte, Jr. 

Pastor & Founder, Holiness Tabernacle COGIC