Redeemed From Fear by Bernard Smalls

FAITH VERSUS FEAR - Redeemed From Fear...

by Bernard Smalls


FREEDOM FROM FEAR IS PART OF OUR REDEMPTION. Anything that you have been redeemed from you don't have to put up with. Isaiah 53:7 in referring to Jesus on the cross says, "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted." Isaiah 54:14 says, "In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear; and from terror; for it shall not come near thee."
God has established us in righteousness through the shed blood of Jesus. He who knew no sin was made to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. That righteousness, or right standing with the Father, opens the door to our complete freedom from fear.


OPPRESSION COMES FROM FEAR


Acts 10:38 says that "Jesus went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." Jesus healed ALL THAT WERE OPPRESSED OF THE DEVIL. Satan's number one weapon is fear, and he uses that weapon to bring oppression and affliction into the Body of Christ. Fear is enforced by an active realm of evil spirits. When you give them an avenue to operate in your life, they will move in and bring their bondage of fear with them.


Now I want to give you 3 Keys to Winning Over Fear:

#1 DON'T YIELD TO FEAR

Fear will work against you at every opportunity. By giving thought, speech, and action to it, the force of fear will work proficiently. It will work as long as you allow it to; but you can also put a stop to it and its affect on your spirit, soul and body. 1 JOHN 4:18 says, "...perfect love casteth out fear." According to 2 Timothy 1:7, "...we have not been given a spirit of fear; but of power, of love and a sound mind.


#2 QUIT PRACTICING FEAR

Quit giving place to it. The worst thing you can do is act on fear. If you see it rising up within you in any way, take authority over it. CAST DOWN that imagination that would exalt itself against the knowledge (the Word) of God. Fear is NOT a natural force to the born again believer. First John 4:16-18 tells us "...we are of God. God is in us and we are in him." God is Love. THERE IS NO FEAR IN LOVE. Perfect love casts out fear. Faith is natural to us. Not fear. Fear has to be received through the mind and then conceived in the heart. Jesus said the lust of other things must ENTER in before they can choke the Word (Mark 4: 19). Fear must enter in to have any effect. Don't let it in! You are the gatekeeper! As we act on the Word (1John 2:5, 4:18) fear is kicked out. It is dominated by faith.


#3 PRAY!

Make the decision to live free of fear. Ask God to reveal the areas of your life where you are acting in fear. It is the little foxes that spoil the vine, so be watching for those little fears and get rid of them by the authority of God's Word.

Join me now in this prayer:

Father, in the name of Jesus, I ask You to open my eyes to any areas of fear in my life. I make the decision now and refuse to act on fear or practice it in any way. I believe that Your wisdom will flow in me and I will be able to handle every situation that confronts me. I confess that I have been delivered from the fear of death. I am free from oppression, from fear, from terror. THEY HAVE NO PLACE IN ME. I receive the peace that passes all understanding to manifest itself in my life, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Live well, live blessed,
Bernard