Fear & Fear

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."-(2 Timothy 1:7)

A wise man once told me "Fear is the Mind-Killer." This is an absolute truth... But it would have edified my growth as a believer exponentially, if they had taken the time to dissect the veritable dual-meaning behind the noun itself. Fear, for our purposes of investigation, has two very different meanings by the English definition. First, it is identified 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. Second, it is identified as "reverential awe, especially toward God". Fear in the former sense is the same fear the Apostle Paul identifies in 2 Timothy when referring to the "spirit of fear" which would keep us from spreading the Gospel. The latter identity is essential, if not all-empowering to our journey and development in Faith. To be a relative semanticist and honor my God-given affinity and mechanical need for etymology, I believe the responsible approach, before we delve into the value of scriptural understanding, would be to scrutinize the Greek and Hebrew forms that were originally intended. The Greek "PHOBEO" is cited as "fear, extreme fear of; morbid, excessive, irrational fear, or terror of something or someone", the Hebrew word (transliterated as "YIRAH") which can possibly mean fear in this same sense, but ALSO means awe, reverence, respect and devotion. When the Word was translated into the Greek, something very interesting happened. The word which means "reverential awe" in Greek "Eulabeia", and the Greek word "Deilia" which means simply "cowardice" were inferred into the use of "PHOBEO" without specific differentiation applied. Whew. Now, if you are still with me...

The FEAR which we teach as being "a disease" and "a Mind-Killer" is very clearly the terror of impending danger, evil or pain and distress. But there is incredible power in the reverential awe or "FEAR OF GOD". "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever."-(Psalm 111:10) In the English Standard Version, the precise phrase "fear of the Lord" occurs 27 times. There are a plethora of other passages which refer or allude to the reverence or "fear" of God. The Spirit of Fear which is mentioned in Paul's epistle, is the same type which is referred to over 366 times throughout the King James Bible when variances of the words "FEAR NOT" are employed. Which leads me directly back to the unction pressing the purpose of this assignment through the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I heard in my spirit while praying regarding this quandary, "The FEAR of the LORD is the weapon that destroys the spirit of FEAR that the enemy is attacking My people with". Pondering and absorbing that, it struck a vibrant chord in my spirit-man. In order to "Fear not", we must understand in Spirit and Truth, the FEAR OF THE LORD. There is POWER there.

I was then drawn to the famous example set by Franklin D. Roosevelt in his inaugural address when he iconically stated: "Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance." Later into the address, he identifies very clearly how to defeat said fear: "In this dedication of a Nation we humbly ask the blessing of God. May He protect each and every one of us. May He guide me in the days to come." He shows that self-same FEAR OF THE LORD which defeats the spirit of fear. "If God is for us, who is against us? "-(Romans 8:31) When we cast aside fear, and embrace the reverence of our powerful God, we literally disarm the enemy. "In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; YOU WILL HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you." -(Isaiah 54:14) God promises us that when we are founded IN HIM, through His righteousness, fear is banished. Consider it an evil exile to which you have been given the King's authority to cast hence to the outer bounds of existence, never to encounter again. Yet, we are the only border guards with sentry-like authority to patrol the outer boundaries of our territories who will either stave off the return of the exiled fear, or foolishly allow it to breach the sovereignty of that which the Lord has declared trespass.

Sadly, the adversary infiltrates delicate and ill-prepared minds, poisoning the valid understanding of the Fear of the Lord. The forces of evil would confuse every thought in regard of the true understanding therein, and mislead these dear ones to gather that God often acts as the perpetrator of an attack in order to bring witness to His authority. But the wiles of the wicked one are transparent to God's Armed force of hearers and doers of the Word. "If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing; whoever attacks you will surrender to you."-(Isaiah 54:15) God will not be the dispatcher for the attacks of the spirit of FEAR on His righteous; moreover, He promises that whoever encroaches and attempts to rend harm will literally bow in surrender to you. Remember- this is when we are grafted into the rock of revelation that God is to be reverently "feared". We activate His power in our defenses when we recognize His Glory. And God then grants the advocate to crush the enemy who spews the spirit of fear on our behalf. "See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc; NO weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD."-(Isaiah 54:16-17)

Every time you defy the spirit of fear by operating in faith, no matter the prior circumstances, nor the environment of oppression that may cloud the truth of God's power, you gain ground back to the fortitude of the throne. Following their exile, the Israelites, who were in captivity for 70 years in Babylon, returned to rebuild the Temple. They had most definitely faced and stewed in the spirit of fear. In spite of their blessed exodus out of captivity, they no longer had the protection of the wall which had previously guarded Jerusalem. They had no vineyards, no crops and no army. They were practically sojourners at that point. All they did possess was what they brought out of Babylon and their faith... Their Fear of the Lord. "Though fear had come upon them because of the people of those countries, they set the altar on its bases; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and evening burnt offerings.-(Ezra 3:3) They defied the spirit of fear and instead focused on their reverence and obedient worship of God. In their obedient sacrifice, they re-established and re-acknowledged the revelation that NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST THEM WOULD PROSPER. The Fear of the Lord had superseded and nullified the creeping fear of re-invasion that could have crippled them.

While we, who are the redeemed of the Lord through Christ Jesus have no need for burnt offerings, we must instead build tabernacles of obedience and altars of sacrifice unto God within our very hearts. The reverence of God is our answer to the spirit of fear. The gap to the foot of the throne is bridged by power, love and a sound mind which are the tangible rewards granted by the blood.
Bear in mind, that we need an advocate to stand in this gap for us before the awesome power of God the Father. We could not commit to be in His reverential presence in our sin nature. We must understand that the true Fear of the Lord is as unfathomable as our inability to conceive His incredible, glorious POWERFUL person in this, our temporal consciousness or flesh. WE NEED JESUS. He is the only one worthy to stand before the Father and claim our benefits. And in His Lordship, we are bound to the dynamic truth of our FREEDOM. You see, Christ did not fulfill the Law and the Prophets, stand accused unjustly before the Sanhedrin, Pharisees and Sadducees, suffer mockery and flagellation at the hands of the Romans under Pilate at Antonia, walk the Via Dolorosa and willingly be nailed to the same cross he carried to the Skull so that we should FEAR. "But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we were healed."-(Isaiah 53:5) The punishment which brought our PEACE, our strength and resilience to the spirit of fear was literally purchased by our savior. Jesus paid for us to be freed from fear. "And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, FEAR NOT; I am the first and the last."-(Revelation 1:17)

So beloved, as you charge on in the name of Jesus Christ today, receive His freedom. Activate the liberty granted at calvary through His nail-pierced hands and feet. His blood is to be revered, His sacrifice and atonement must not be ignored. If you do not know Him yet or if you do and still live under the weight of the spirit of fear- Cast aside every weight and embrace JESUS. Knowing that "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!"-(John 8:36)