|
OVERCOMING FEAR
Kriston Couchey
THE FEAR OF GETTING HURT
I have five children ages 2 to 13. I play catch with the four oldest, teaching them how to catch a baseball and football. The greatest hindrance to catching a ball is the fear of being hit by the ball. I try to teach them that they must not react out of fear of the ball or they will not catch it. Yet many times they spend more time getting out of the way then positioning themselves to make a catch. I tell them if they keep their eye on the ball and get their glove or hands on the ball and catch it they will not get hit. The first thing they must do is believe me and do what I tell them and stop functioning out of fear. When they are focused on protecting themselves and not on the ball they can get hit by the ball just trying to flee it. A couple of them are good at catching, and all of my children are improving and try very hard to follow my instructions. The ones able to stop thinking about protecting themselves and listen to me eventually begin to make great progress.
You cannot function in the kingdom if you are more focused on how dangerous the giants are then the faithfulness of the God who gives you the authority and mandate to pick up your sword and slay them. There will be times of setback and pain, but God is faithful and it is time for those who have been in the wilderness of brokenness and heart change to believe Him in spite of fear and move forward at His command, trusting in His grace.
THE FEAR OF FAILURE
In the epic series "The Lord of The Rings", Aragorn, one of the main characters, is heir to the throne of Gondor. Aragorn does not sit on the throne, but is a ranger (wilderness wanderer) whose family went into exile after the kingdom was diminished through the arrogance and pride of his forefathers. While he could claim his right as king, He fears the moral weakness and failure of his fathers whose blood runs through his veins. He resists the call to step into the place of authority to which he is born out of fear of failure. It is the end of an age and evil is growing and the darkness of evil is spreading. In this hour of desperation Elrond, the father of his one love, comes to him with the sword of his ancestors which was broken but is now remade. As he presents to him the sword, Elrond says to him, "Put aside the ranger, become who you were born to be!" It is this very sword which has defeated the enemy in the past, and it is the sword that validates his authority as a king.
The hour is late, darkness is increasing, the church has been wandering in the wilderness and many of us have seen our weakness and failure. We know that in our flesh there dwells no good thing. The question is this: Will we put aside the wilderness wanderings and become who we were born to be? There is a sword of authority for those who will in faith take it up and go forth in faith in God and His ability (grace) to bring us safely into the promised land in victory. There is a throne and the one seated on it is saying "Come up here!" What will our answer be?
FEAR OR FAITH
But who was he grieved with forty years? was it not those that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? To whom did He swear that they would not enter into His rest, to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. There is unbelief in the church taught as wisdom. A wisdom of men that says, “You will never be perfect and will always sin.” “God understands and doesn't expect more of us.” It is an unbelief that says “God cannot bring us to the holiness He expects and calls for in scripture.” It also says, "Stay small and obscure, never stepping out into greater things, lest your pride get the best of you and you fall." It also says, "Don't call yourself a prophet, an apostle, a teacher, or a leader. You are prideful to consider yourself anything more then what everyone else around you is comfortable being. Stay in the wilderness where it is safe and comfortable and no one can get hurt in battle." It is a spirit of fear and unbelief! But, It is time to become what you were born to be!
Those in unbelief can be suspicious of those who would have faith to overcome and take a place of victory. They are like the Israelites in the wilderness who wanted to stone Joshua and Caleb. Many whine and are focused on how big and bad the evil giants are, They believe we are just too weak. They prefer to fight manageable battles. They are leaving this planet and God is going to have to just destroy everything in defeat! They do not realize they are whining and murmuring against God. He expects them to rise up with spiritual weapons, and in faith take the land.
Let us fear therefore, lest haply, a promise being left of entering into his rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good tidings preached unto us, even as also they: but the word of hearing did not profit them, because it was not united by faith with them that heard
GOD WITH US
If we are sent by God we are not going alone. We go with His presence and the authority of heaven: the Sword of the Spirit. In spite of our weak nature and tendency to failure, it is God who is faithful to keep us and save us from the evil one and even ourselves and our weaknesses.
God comforted Joshua who entered into the Promised Land with these words: Have not I commanded you? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be you dismayed: for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. God is releasing a generation of warriors who will go in strong and unwavering faith to a place of promise that has yet to be seen among the elect. They will obtain a level of holiness and perfection that will be a result of their choosing to believe the impossible. They will tear down strongholds of the enemy and laugh at giants that oppose and threaten them. They will fight the good fight in spite of the odds and whole world against them. This they will do by faith. They will hear and obey, keeping their focus on the Words of the king and thus put the enemy to flight as they establish the kingdom of God upon the earth. Through much trial and persecution they will see Him for whom they have longed coming in the clouds to establish His saints from the ages in their place. And they will possess the kingdom.
Do not fear the giant of "men's intimidation" and his threats. Pay him no mind; rather, keep your eyes on ME. A stone shall fell him, a stone uncut by human hands.
Do not fret and respond to the jeers of those on the Jericho walls of mens wisdom. For I will bring those walls down! Do not waste your strength refuting their lies, be silent before their taunts and prepare for a shout of victory.
Do not fear the reports of spies that say, “We are but grasshoppers and irrelevant in the enemies sight”. Follow my battle plans and overcome all in your path.
Do not say we are small and too few to take the land, look to the God who increases and enlarges you to fulfill your destiny.
Do not look to the right or to the left but look straight at me and have faith.
While the world's turmoil rages, you must remain confident and find rest in ME, that you might go forth in my presence and power. Rest in me and shun all distraction that robs this rest. For then you will enter fully into this promised land of rest that overcomes all the power of the enemy.
In His Love
Kriston Couchey
http://my.opera.com/Boanerges/blog/ |
Topic: OVERCOMING FEAR
