Fruits of Fear and Worry

 Fruits of Fear and Worry. 

1. FEAR HINDERS OR DELAYS GOD’S INTERVENTION IN A PERSON’S LIFE DURING A TIME OF CRITICAL NEED 

Fearful actions during times of seeming danger are more dangerous than the seeming danger itself. In ministering to the sick and demon oppressed, it is often better to first and foremost attack the spirit of fear and let the person realize how he must cooperate with the minister by shunning all voices of doubt and fear in his mind. When this is taken care of properly, the deliverance often manifests quicker than we expect. If not, there is usually an irritating delay. 

Even if the person receives deliverance because of the anointing and faith of the minister, if the receiver is not schooled as fast as possible on how to resist fear with God’s Words daily, he is likely to fall victim to the same problems again…sometimes, even deeper than he was before deliverance attempts. 

An older minister friend of mine, Dr Ben Okoro, who has now gone to be

with the LORD, learned this lesson in a very exceptional way. Years before he went to be with the LORD, he was spiritually attacked and was bedridden for two years plus. Several times he would go into a coma and then come back again. In fact, the best word to use is half-dead, for he died many times and came back to life. I interviewed him and compiled his testimony in a book after his recovery. While talking with him he confessed that he later knew where his major problem lied. He said, “I believe that my major problem was fear. I saw myself overwhelmed with the highest degree of fear; that became a ground for the enemy to do all the things he did in my life.” 

He learned that the thousands of prayers offered on his behalf by many saints were delayed because he believed his fears. He believed that God was done with him and that he was going to die. It was when he started to doubt the things he was afraid that his deliverance began to take place. 

In his book, Walking in the Miraculous, Bishop David Oyedepo shared a testimony about a brother who was travelling by sea with some other fellows. On the way, they were hit by a furious storm that destroyed their boat. They all fell into the water, but this brother, while falling, courageously shouted, “Jesus, I refuse to die!” 

According to the testimony, something that looked like a stick came close to him and he held it. As a result, he stayed floating. When a rescue team

eventually arrived after three days of search he was rescued. 

The most incredible part of the story is that when he was rescued, he looked to see what it was he was holding onto, that had kept him afloat, but found nothing. It was certainly the name of Jesus. 

Every act of faith always invites God into a situation, while every act of fear invites Satan. Fear always hinders and delays God’s intervention even when a serious danger is threatening. 

Pray to the LORD to keep your faith on fire every day.

2. FEAR MAKES A PERSON UNPRODUCTIVE 

In Matthew chapter 25: 14-30, Jesus told a now-famous story of the talents. One of the men refused to invest his money. When propped for the reason he didn’t trade with the money, he said: 

… “I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth” 

If he had invested and lost the money, it would have been a different ball game. His master would not have given him the harshest punishment. But for not making any attempts out of fear, his master instructed to “…cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (vs 30). 

I came across an interesting piece of advice some time ago that said, “If you think investing is too risky, then wait until you are handed the bill for not investing.” 

Life is full of risks. If you try to avoid the risks, you’ll live a very small life. The Bible says: 

“Cast your bread upon the waters for after many days you will find it again. Give a portion to seven, yes to eight, for you do not know what disaster may

come upon the land. 

“Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the could not reap. 

Sow your seed in the morning and at evening let not your hand be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well - Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 

That’s talking about investing in multiple businesses. Not because all will succeed, but at least some will. 

It’s okay to do a proper analysis before you put money in any venture, but’s it’s equally terrible to over analyse. The problem with over-analysis is that you see more reasons why it can’t be done than reasons why it can be done. 

When the analysis becomes too much, make sure you are not guided by fear. Listen to your inner man and explore.

3. FEAR TORMENTS 

Fear has torturing effects. It can be a gateway to spiritual attacks, evil dreams, nightmares and all kinds of torments in one’s life. The bible says: 

“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.” - 1 John 4:18 

Fear is a spirit that chokes the love of God from full manifestation. Whenever fear attempts to raise its ugly head in your life, cut it off with the SWORD of the Spirit.

4. FEAR BRINGS UNBELIEF 

All acts of unbelief and doubt stem from fear, and you remember that unbelief is sin. “A doubt-full and unbelief –full” person, the bible says cannot please God (James 1:5-8). 

The ten spies were afraid of the giants, the descendants of Arak, because of their size. Their fear led them to doubt the power of God. They convinced others to follow their fear. Unfortunately, the result was terrible. They did not enter the Promised Land. 

Permitting the size of your obstacles and problems to make you afraid is very dangerous. The moment you begin to look at your size and the size of the situation before you and become afraid, you will grow doubts and unbelief and when these are in you, you block God from coming to your rescue.

5. FEAR ENDANGERS ONE TO ETERNAL PUNISHMENT 

Revelation 21:8 says: 

“But the fearful, and unbelieving and the abominable and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” 

Notice that the ‘fear-full’ and the unbelieving are classified with murderers, idolaters, sorcerers, liars, the abominable and the other sinners. “That’s a pretty ugly crowd” you don’t want to belong to. 

Fear is actually much more serious than we think. That’s because fear takes us out of faith, making us do things that do not please God. 

“And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” – Hebrews 11:6.

The Secret Behind the Power of Goliath and Jezebel.

 The Secret Behind the Power of Goliath and Jezebel. 

Goliath and Jezebel wrought so much evil during their time. They were no doubt involved with the highest level of occultism of their time. These two individuals could symbolically pass for the devil himself. But just how did they go about wielding their power and subduing their enemies? 

Goliath, an occult authority knew how to wield fear upon his opponents through bold oral intimidations and curses. That was his key to defeating his opponents. 

“Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me - 1 Samuel 17:8 

‘’Servants of Saul? ‘’ 

Is that who the Israelites were?

Of course not. But Goliath made them believe that. He made them forget they were servants of the highest God. He talked them into forgetting that God who cannot be seen has helped them defeat bigger giants in the past. He made them look at themselves as ordinary servants of Saul. 

And it worked. For as long as the Israelites saw themselves as too small to confront him, he was in charge. 

The devil will do everything he can to make you think that you are a nobody; that you can’t do anything; that you are just a small broom that will just get broken. 

He will try to make you forget about God and what He has done for you in the past. He will inspire people who will tell you, ‘’sister help yourself. That problem has killed so, so and so person. That spiritualist can help you.’’ Or “brother, that woman (your wife) is evil ….. She cannot bear you a child… leave that prayer thing and be wise.’’ 

Or “hey bro, you’re going down. Do you really think that by praying you can make any changes? Please face reality. Prayer simply makes you feel good, it doesn’t change anything.” 

But these are all lies.

Goliath went on to intimidate the children of Israel. The Bible continues: 

And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. 

When Saul and all Israel HEARD THOSE WORDS of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid - 1 Samuel 17:10-11 

Wow! He talked them into fear of his power. That way, he defeated them even before any strike. 

And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were sore afraid. - 1 Samuel 17:10-11 

The giant is not always as strong as he is claiming to be. His claims are only meant to make you submit that he is strong. Once you do, you’ve lost. The greatest power of your enemy is your fear of what he can do!

IDENTIFY YOUR GOLIATHS 

Your Goliaths are those voices shouting to you that you are doomed, that you will fail, that you won’t succeed, that you will die in that illness, etc. 

Anything that is trying to show you how small you are is your Goliath. 

When you notice some symptoms in your body and may be diagnosed (let’s say) of arthritis, how do you react? Your mind will whisper to you at least a hundred reasons why you should be scared and start running to and fro. People will tell you how many persons have died through that disease. Many things will also happen to convince you, it’s a terrible, killer disease. 

However, all those voices are intended by the devil to get you afraid. Once you become afraid, you’ve submitted, you’ve given up. You’ll subsequently remain the slave of the disease, which will now make your body a playground. 

Any message, information or news that tries to increase your fear is your Goliath that must be killed with everything you’ve got. No sickness or disease is too strong that you cannot be healed. That many people have prayed for you here and there without you getting healed, does not mean you will no longer be healed. That an expert has confirmed your case impossible

does not mean you will go down by it. That it has killed this and that person does not mean it will kill you. 

Don’t let the hidden voices of the devil and your mind state otherwise. That was what Goliath did to the Israelites. He told them how powerful he was and how many people he’s killed and how little they can do. Through that the Israelites became afraid. He became their master. 

Dr Uma Ukpai said, “we do not measure our enemies by the size of their guns, but the size of their gods.” 

Locate your Goliaths today and confront them. Those inner voices of fear and defeat, rise and shout at them to keep quiet. Tell them that you are going forward and that nothing will stop you.

THEY HAD TO MAKE THEM AFRAID IF THEY MUST CAPTURE THEM. 

The enemies of God’s people always know that without making them afraid, they cannot capture them. 

“Then they called out in Hebrew to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to terrify them and make them afraid to capture the city.” - 2 Chronicles 32:18 

Just look at that! They can only capture them if they have made them afraid. Wow! 

What does that tell you? 

Your enemy will first and foremost do things to make you afraid. It is when you now have some of those fears that he finally captures you in that very area you got afraid. Beware! 

We too can equally bring any problem or storm down to our feet if we learn to boldly talk them to fear, confrontationally, authoritatively and violently. For instance, the moment you start telling that sickness in your body, “you are a stranger”… “You are not permitted to stay in my body” … “my body is

the temple of the Holy Spirit” …. “Just as Jesus cursed the fig tree and it withered from the roots, I curse you to wither out of my body” 

The moment you begin to speak authoritatively in this manner every day, irrespective of the pain, sooner than you expect, that sickness will leave. It might seem to persist for some time, but it will soon get afraid by your threats and take off.

HOW DO PEOPLE RESPOND TO THREATS FROM SUPERPOWERS? 

You see, the same way people get “fear-full” when they are threatened by some high-power fellows is the way your problems get fearful –when you threaten them with your words. You know why? Because you are the master of your life. 

Also notice that those who threaten others don’t close their mouths to do it. They speak. They say things that put fear on their targets’ minds. That is the way problems, diseases and storms of life respond, too. 

When God says he will put fear and terror on your enemies, it means that as you open your mouth every day and continually speak threatening scriptures against those problems and mountains that confront you, fear will eventually come on them and soon, they’ll take off. God will not put your enemies to fear if you don’t speak scriptural threatening words against them.

ENTER JEZEBEL 

Jezebel was another evil figure in the Bible. She was a witch who mastered the art of using fear to overrun her enemies. Once this fear is in them she automatically subdues them to her will. 

She once used that trick on Elijah, and Elijah, though a mighty man of God nearly got drowned – until he waited on the LORD. It dawned on him that he was actually greater than what he was running from. With that anger, he went back to Jezebel and cursed her. And she died. (1 king 19, 21:20-24). 

It seems to me that fear is something we have to regularly guard against. No matter our depth in God, the spiritual Jezebels and Goliaths never give up. They will create events and circumstances intended to kindle fear in us and subsequently chase us out of God’s plans for our lives. 

Just like Elijah did, when we seem to be overwhelmed with fear, worry and depression, waiting on the LORD in fasting and prayer will revive our spirits and give us the boldness to confront whatever it is we are afraid of. 

Always remember that you are greater than whatever you are faced with. The burden is always equal to the horse's strength. Just like Elijah, receive strength from God and speak to your fears and threats.