FEAR OR FAITH

Therefore, I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:6,7

These words were written by the apostle Paul to a young minister of Jesus Christ, Timothy, who was serving the Lord in a leadership capacity as an apostolic delegate of the apostle Paul at Ephesus - to encourage him to endure as a "good soldier of Jesus Christ", to fulfill the call of God on his life. Paul is encouraged himself by the faith of Timothy, whom he refers to as "a beloved son" in terms of Paul being a spiritual father to him. The apostle is also blessed to recall the strong faith in Christ which also dwelt in Timothy's grandmother, Lois and his mother, Eunice.
The two Epistles or Letters of Paul to Timothy, together with the Epistle of Paul to Titus, make up what are referred to as the Pastoral epistles of the apostle Paul, as they were written to Timothy and Titus, both ministry associates of Paul, in whom he had confidence to carry out their respective ministries - but who also needed some further instruction in how to conduct themselves as leaders in ministry, and instructions in leading their respective churches.

Although Timothy was a relatively young man, Paul encouraged him to "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

The apostle Paul was mindful of the responsibility he had entrusted to "his son in the faith", Timothy, so reassured him that, because of the anointing presence and power of the Holy Spirit on and in his life, he need not, and must not give into a spirit of fear or timidity. Fear, if allowed to take hold in his heart and mind, would cripple his ministry, and render him ineffective in advancing the Kingdom of God in Ephesus. Fear is always a faith-robber, like a cancer sapping the very spiritual life and vision from the believer in Jesus Christ - leader or follower.

The apostle John, together with Peter and James, were closest to Jesus of the twelve original disciples. John in his first of three epistles - concerning fear, wrote these words, inspired by the Spirit of God: Love has been perfected among us in this: 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 casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:17,18
In Strong's Concordance, fear (Greek:phobos). In classical Greek, the word signified flight. Later it became known as that which causes flight; hence, fear, terror, dread. In the New Testament, phobos denotes both the fear of terror and the fear of reverence for God. The English word "phobia" transliterates the Greek word.

There is a Godly fear, that which is the attitude in which we approach the Living God in  reverential awe, for Who He is. Our God is truly an Awesome God. But for the Christian, who has been reconciled to the Father God through the blood of Jesus, and who acknowledges Him as Saviour and Lord, the fear we have for God is not one of terror and foreboding, but of Godly respect and honor. There are a multitude of verses in the Bible which speak of the benefits of the fear of the Lord. Several examples are as follows:
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. Psalm 19:9
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.
His praise endures forever. Psalm 111:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil. Proverbs 8:13a
For the person who has rejected the salvation provided by the sacrificial death on the Cross by Jesus Christ as the only means to reconciliation to the Father God, there awaits a judgment for sin which will be a cause for great and well-founded fear.

In the Old Testament, The Lord God many times admonished the children of Israel to not be afraid in the face of opposition from those who wanted to destroy them. While they obeyed His commands and followed the God-appointed leaders, they would know the divine protection of the Living God.
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong, and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Josh.1:9
I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid. Psalm 27:1
In the book of 2 Chronicles, chapter 20, the people led by king Jehoshaphat, are told that they are facing a three-pronged attack by a multitude. In the natural, for the people of Judah to win such a battle seemed daunting, to say the least. After calling the people to fast and pray, and crying out to God for deliverance, God heard their cries, and in verse 14: Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah..........
And he said, "Listen all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you, 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.
You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem! Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you."
You can read the rest of the story in 2 Chronicles 20 to see how the Lord gave His people a mighty victory over their enemies, as they trusted in Him.

I could quote many passages in both Old and New Testaments of the Bible where the Lord tells His people to not be afraid, but to have faith in His Word to them (us). We must hold fast to the integrity of God's Word that He is faithful to protect and preserve us in every situation of life we face. 

In recent weeks, in fact for the past four or five weeks, in particular, I have faced an onslaught of the enemy's attacks, physically manifesting in symptoms of illness, but also in respect to a barrage of fear and anxiety, which, I am somewhat ashamed to admit, I have given into at times, adding almost certainly to the severity of the physical symptoms experienced. It was in that state of heightened fear and anxiety, that the Lord led me to find online some prophetic words by Lana Vawser, a Brisbane-based prophetic woman of God, who last week published on her own website and also on the US-based Elijah List, a word speaking into my situation. She posted the word last Tuesday, 16th August under the following heading: FEAR IS SCREAMING, BUT THE LORD IS DECLARING YOU HAVE MET THE DIVINE FRONTIER! THE NEXT 21 DAYS WILL SEE MANY OF GOD'S PEOPLE BEGINNING TO SEE HEAVENLY GLIMPSES INTO THIS NEW LAND!
I truly believe this, and following words published on her website last week have spoken into our present circumstances in a way that have enabled us to see what has been happening in perspective. God is in control. By trusting the Lord, and through worshipping Him, we will see total victory over fear, and come into a new place of fulfillment in God's purposes for us. That is His desire for you too. If you, as a Christian, have also been under unusual spiritual attack lately, and are in a state of confusion, let me encourage you to read and consider the prophetic words from Lana Vawser over the past week. May you be encouraged to contend for all that the Lord has purposed to accomplish in and through you, as you fully trust Him! Lana Vawser's website is: lanavawser.com
When Jesus walked on the water, he called to Peter to step out of the boat on a word: "Come!" Peter, by faith, stepped out of the boat and began to walk on the water. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and began to sink. He cried out to Jesus to save him. Jesus reached out his hand and lifted him up with the words, "You of little faith. Why did you doubt?"
Christians are in a raging battle, with Satan, the enemy of our souls, looking for any opportunity to take us out - to make us ineffective in our pursuit of holiness, and to hinder us from taking ground for the Kingdom of God. We are to put on the full armor of God, as described in Ephesians 6, which includes taking the shield of faith, by which we can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one. We are to come into agreement with the Word of God for our lives, and not ever to come into agreement with the enemy's lies. We can be free from tormenting fear, as we fully commit to trusting Jesus, and allowing His Word to renew our minds and to set us free!

An Added Anecdote from Tessa

UK 1955. The Slippery Dip

Children ranged the length of steps reaching to the towering slide.

Many looking from the top turned back from the edge - fear of the slide greater than the risk of derision.

At only seven years, I did not even feel the need to even try.

Fear is real. It helps prevent recklessness.

Courage can overcome needless fear.

But perfect love conquers all.