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.

Book Review Part -02 @ Binding the Spirit of Fear, Worry and Depression. The Power of Your Enemy is Your Fear of What He Can Do

Binding the Spirit of Fear, Worry and Depression

The Power of Your Enemy is Your Fear of What He Can Do. 

Is there a thing you fear about most in your life? 

I got bad news for you. 

Your fear is bringing that consequence closer to your life on a daily basis than you think. While faith is the greatest force behind any victory in life, fear is the greatest force behind any defeat in life

EXAMPLE 1: THE FALL OF JERICO Rehab, the harlot from Jericho confessed: 

I know that the Lord has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us so that all who live in the country are melting in fear because of you - Joshua 2:8 

That great city of Jericho had already been defeated even before the Israelites stepped on its shores. God had already sent fear and terror on the whole land of Jericho. They had lost the battle even before it was fought. That is God's plan in Exodus 23:27: 

“I will send my terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their back and run.” 

God is simply saying that He would use the weapon of fear to subdue their enemies before their face. 

God uses the weapon of fear on our enemies. He sends fear of our capabilities ahead of us and our enemies are subdued. Unfortunately, our enemies also try to use the weapon of fear on us. Any side that gets afraid loses the battle even before it is fought.

Whatever battle you confront with fear, you have already lost it. But with faith, you have already won even before fighting. 

By the way, notice how the people of Jericho contracted this fear that made them lose even before fighting. Rehab said: 

We have HEARD how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed 

WHEN WE HEARD of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below - Joshua 2:9-11. 

Note the bolded words. The people of Jericho got their fear from the NEWS they heard, and so lost, even without fighting. Of course, the fall of Jericho was part of God’s plan for the lives of the Israelites, so that was a good outcome from our perspective. But there’s some lesson to learn there as well. 

The enemy is afflicting God’s people with fear of WHAT THEY HEAR. Right from the news on TV, to news about witches, wizards, terrorists, occult men, etc. We become afraid and so lose our victory even before a fight takes place.

The truth is that the first cure for fear is to guard what you allow yourself to listen to. I’ve found out that the news has a way of making us get annoyed and even afraid sometimes. Unfortunately, this innate fear weakens our victory gear in the face of life. We must learn to take the news with Faith, because as God’s children, our words and thoughts are not to be decided by the news and stories that fly around, but by what God has said about us. 

"The economy is very bad.” 

“That sickness has killed so, so and so” 

“People don't do well in that place” 

“That area is very dangerous at nights” 

Etc! 

These statements and their likes may seem to be facts as they appear to be, but they are not what God is saying about your life. They only enslave you to fear and deprive you of your rights in God if you ponder over them. 

For example, never ever believe you are suffering from an incurable disease. That an expert with forty years of experience said so does not make it true. He has only done his best and doesn’t know what to do next. Discover God’s

verdict before you conclude! Even if that expert has the facts, there could be other ways to manage the situation and further your life.

EXAMPLE 2: JOB – FROM RICHES TO RAGS 

Just like you, I’ve read the story of Job so many times and often wondered why God would allow such evil to befall someone who "feared" him and walked righteously. I remember assuming from that story that poverty, misery, afflictions, happiness and wealth were all acts of God and that we have no say other than to accept what God decides. He might decide I get a good chunk out of life, while the other fellow gets the leftovers. No questions. 

I don’t know if there are people who still believe this kind of lie these days. The truth is that it’s not all up to God. We’ve got a say in the entire process of realizing God’s plans for our lives. The scriptures say: 

“And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee. 

“There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil. 

“I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee” -

Exodus 23:25-27 

I believe that it was because Job was serving God that he became the richest man in the whole of the eastern part of the world at that time. So why then did God allow such evil to suddenly visit him? Why did sickness, death and loss suddenly visit a man for whom it is written, “he feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1-1). 

The Bible says that “the path of the just is the as shining light, that shines brighter and brighter until the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18). This doesn’t mean we won’t have challenges and obstacles. But it means that that the challenges and obstacles will not swallow us up. In the challenges, we’ll always come out victorious. 

Yes, Job came out victorious. But I believe that the fall from riches to rags was an act of the devil. The question is why did that attack take place? Why did Job have to fall from riches to rags suddenly - when he is recorded to be a just and blameless man and was supposed to wax stronger and stronger? 

There’s certainly a loophole somewhere! We have only preached the other side to encourage people to exercise patience when they are tested, but we fail to state clearly that JOB wasn't actually supposed to be a victim of the

attacks he had from the devil. 

I strongly believe it was the loophole that became a doorway for whatever he had to go through. Here’s what he said himself: 

What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me - Job 3:25. 

This statement seemed to mean that Job was serving God in fear, not the reverent fear of worship, but a fear that if he doesn’t serve God that he would lose his wealth and suffer. He seemed to see God as ONE who was always waiting for someone to make a mistake so He could punish him. 

He never fully trusted God to preserve him always. All his sacrifices and acts of holiness were filled with… “I just have to do this; else, if I make a mistake, sure, God might destroy my wealth” 

He was always afraid of disaster and failure. It was this constant fear that eventually opened the door for the devil to strike. 

I believe the story of Job’s loss has more to teach us about the power of fear and partial belief, in addition to the other things we’ve taught from it. I believe that Job’s fears were what opened the door for Satan to strike his wealth.

TO SERVE GOD EFFECTIVELY, WE ARE COMMANDED TO FEAR NOT. 

If you read the bible very well you'll discover that "FEAR NOT “is one of the instructions one is required to fulfil in order to continually enjoy God's Blessings. For example, when God wanted to bless Hagar and Ishmael, her son, she was commanded to FEAR NOT (Gen. 12:17). When God wanted to restate His covenant with Abraham to Isaac, He commanded Isaac to FEAR NOT (Gen 26:24). 

What about Joshua, David, Gideon, Jacob, Samuel, Hannah, Mary, Elisabeth, and the apostles? One of the instructions they were given to fulfil in order to walk in God’s covenant was FEAR NOT. 

Fear disqualifies us from walking with God. It opens the door for evil spirits to attack us and cause other problems. It is the biggest weapon the enemy uses against us. 

In fact, fear is so bad that the Bible puts the “FEARFUL” in the same category with adulterers, whoremongers, idolaters and murderers (See Rev. 21:8) 

I perceive that God allowed Job to get some discipline so that, among other

reasons, fear could be uprooted from his life. 

What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me - Job 3:25. 

That is a very revealing statement. One who allowed such fear to dwell in him, I’m still wondering, how he could be said to fully trust God.

WHAT YOU FEAR, YOU ATTRACT FASTER IN YOUR LIFE. 

For example, if you allow the fear of death to dominate your thought, God has nothing to do than to allow you to die quickly. The fear of death does not stop death. It rather gives power to death to come quicker. 

If you are always afraid that you may lose your job or wealth, sorry, you may lose it sooner than you thought…. because that fear will make you unconsciously begin to do things that will now make you lose it. 

What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me - Job 3:25. 

Recently, the sister told me, “I’m afraid that when I get to school (she was working toward her university education) whether I’ll hold onto my faith. There are lots of corruptions on the campus.” She went on to tell me certain specific things she was afraid off. 

“Well”, I said, “many people have not lost their faith on campus, so why will you? You are creating your own problems by the thought and fear which you are nurturing in your mind.”

I showed her Isaiah 45:2 where God said, “I will go before you and make the crooked places straight, I will break down the gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. 

I showed her that the “ways of a righteous man (of course, that doesn't mean a perfect man) is ordered by the LORD” (Psalm 37:23) and that “you're going out and coming in will be a blessing and not a curse (Psalm 121:8) 

By the time I was through with those few verses, she was all joy. Her face lit up and she realized that her negative thoughts and fear were preparing the ground for her spiritual disaster in the campus. She needed to realise this fear and rebuke it in Jesus name. 

As children of God, we should think success, talk success, and expect success in what we are embarking on, not backsliding. Yes, there will be times of tests and temptations, ups and downs, but our pre-composition of expecting the best will help us manifest the right attitude to overcome. 

If an enemy wants to run you down and out he simply does things to make you afraid of him first. With that fear now operating in you, that enemy can now carry out his wish successfully. 

So look deeply. What are you afraid of? It’s time to deal with them.