Conquering Fear

The Word always has a solution to any problem we face. Along with the Word we have the Holy Spirit within us as our teacher. We are not left without help. So, let’s get a good foundation for countering, overcoming, and conquering fear when it raises its ugly head.

TRUTH: We’ve said believers are not to live in fear as children of God. We know that, yet we don’t always counter and conquer the fear. The more you stay in fear, the more fear expands in your thinking and finds you. We also stated when we know what is ours through Jesus, we gain power and have the necessary tools to reign in life through His grace and love. That enables us to conquer fear and not let it direct our life.

That’s what our study concentrates on today—not letting fear direct our lives—but through the power of God’s Word, using the ammunition God has given us to gain victory in this area.

Digging into 2 Timothy 1:7 we can understand what is available for us when dealing and overcoming fear, and how to appropriate it. Don’t live from your lack at the moment. We want you to know and appropriate God’s Word. That means receive it and operate in it. Therein is your strength and His power working in you to bring deliverance, peace, healing—anything you need.

“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 KJV

I encourage you to memorize this verse. Let’s break it down.

Paul shares some truths with Timothy, a young believer whom he taught and encouraged in the grace of Jesus. Before getting into the crux of defeating fear, Paul reminds Timothy “to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you.” You and I have the gift of God within us—Jesus. We have the power of God available to us through the Word and the presence of the Holy Spirit working in us. The power of the Word of God won’t do anything for you if: 1 – you don’t believe it, and 2 – if you don’t put it to use. Evidently Timothy didn’t feel sufficient because of fear and Paul wanted him to see the sufficiency of Christ in overcoming and defeating fear. We’re not to live from a place of lack. We are the ones to fan the flame within our hearts and minds by encouraging ourselves in the Word and what Jesus did for us.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear” – You already know from our study so far that God is NOT the author of fear. Fear comes from the enemy. When fear approaches and you become apprehension, immediately recognize it isn’t from the Lord. God’s love will always lead you into a greater knowing of His love, into peace and calmness. If you ‘feel’ anything else, fear attacking.

What is the opposite of fear? Power. Peace. God spoke through Isaiah these words (26:3 ESV), “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed [focused] on You.” How do you appropriate peace in the midst of fear? By receiving God’s Word, meditating on it, hiding it in your heart until you are so convinced of its truth you disregard fear. Focusing on fear will only make you fearful. Focusing on God’s provision of peace in Jesus will open your heart to receive it and put it into practice. God’s provisions will defeat everything the world and the enemy throws at you, but not if you don’t use His provisions.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power” – You may not know just how powerful you are! What images come to mind of power – powerful warrior of days gone by or heroes of today? (Take a look in the mirror). Acts 1:8 NASB records what Jesus told His disciples, “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” You have the Holy Spirit living in you as a child of God. That means you’re hooked into the source of all power. His grace is sufficient, meaning more than enough. YOU are the powerful one child of God. God’s power resides in you. The reason you don’t walk in it is because your focus in on our own limitations. The greater one lives in you. Be strengthened and encouraged. The truth of GOD living in you should further ignite the flame and cause you to walk in victory, not fear.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love” – You’ve learned that love cast out all fear. When you abide in God and His Words abide in you, His love casts out, dispels any and all fear. When you know the love of God, you can’t walk in fear. Fear and love are opposites. Fear is not greater than God’s love. There is no fear in love. Therefore, continue growing in God’s love for you, conquering and defeating fear whenever it raises its ugly head. You walk in love, far from fear.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and a sound mind” – Everyone needs a sound mind to live in victory in this world. The mind is the battlefield of the enemy. He doesn’t want you to have a sound mind but a mind that is apprehension, fearful, hateful, and anxious. The more he can convince you that you’re crazy or over-anxious, depressed, suicidal, worried, and full of fear, the sooner he gains control in your thinking, your mind. That’s why focusing on the Word and power of Jesus in you keeps you in peace. Again, peace is the opposite of fear. That’s why you must pull down the strongholds of fear in your mind. God won’t violate your personal free will. He won’t do it for you. YOU have to do it, but YOU have the tools: His Word and His Presence and power residing in you. A sound mind is a disciplined mind. You’re not swayed by something else that ‘sounds right’. You are firmly planted in the Word, determined and disciplined to walk in your New Covenant blessings.

APPLICATION: Begin to see yourself more as a conqueror, more as a stronger believer, operating in your New Covenant rights as God’s child. His power and love are IN you. By faith through grace you put these into practice. That makes your salvation practical, essential, something you can’t live without. Arm yourself with the Word that will enable you to be free from fear.

And remember, YOU are more than your fear. You are more than a conqueror because of Jesus. You are and will continue to defeat fear in your life.

2 Timothy 1:7 KJV – “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Make It Personal: God had NOT given me the spirit of fear, or fear of any kind. It doesn’t reside in God and can’t reside in me as His child. He HAS given me power-His power, love-the fulness of His love where no fear can reside, and a sound mind, a good, untroubled mind where I can receive His strength and Word and walk disciplined in my authority as His child.

Isaiah 26:3 ESV– “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed [focused] on You.”

Make It Personal: God will keep me in perfect peace, far from fear and oppression, as my mind focuses on Jesus and His Word. Therefore, I walk in peace and not fear.

Acts 1:8 NASB – “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

Make It Personal: I have received the Holy Spirit when I accepted Jesus, and I have His power residing in me, therefore I am strong in Him, not weak and fearful.

Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens [empowers] me.”

Make It Personal: I am able to do all things through Jesus who provides me with His power to overcome all obstacles, including fear. It is through Jesus I am strong.

ASK YOURSELF

How are you using the Word to overcome fear?

How have you been able to move from lack to appropriating your blessings?

Can you think of a particular time when you fanned the flame of the Word and experienced the power of God in your life?

What part of 2 Timothy 1:7 has encouraged and ministered to you most?

How are you walking with a sound mind, defeating fear that would otherwise paralyze you?

After these studies on overcoming fear, do you see yourself as a strong believer, walking in greater victory, more than a conqueror? If not totally, what area or aspect needs further strengthening?