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Tag: fear

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Replace your fear with faith (1)

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Replace your fear with faith (1)

    Read: Mathew 17:14-21

    Meditation verse:

    “So, Jesus said to them ‘because of your unbelief, for assuredly I say to you, of you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain move from here  to there and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you” (Mathew  17:20).

    Romans 12:3 says “God has dealt to each one of us a measure of faith. This is so  because we need faith to live out our Christian faith, victoriously. Indeed, there  are several scriptures that highlight the importance of faith in our walk with God.  Hebrews 11:1 says, “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of  things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report”. Hebrews 11:6 says  “without faith, it is impossible to please God. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, we walk by  faith, not by sight. Habakkuk 2:4 says the just shall live by faith and our  meditation verse says if we have faith even as little as a mustard seed, nothing  shall be impossible for us.  

    The opposite of faith is fear. Fear is one of Satan’s strategies to keep us  stagnated and unfruitful, so that we are unable to become all that God designed  for us to be. The bible says fear hath torment. Satan wants to multiply fear in  our lives, and he is very busy doing so. He will tell you that the situation is  hopeless and that things will never change for the better. But God wants you to  replace your fear with faith. He wants you to live free of fear each day and so  the bible contains 365 ‘fear not”. 

    Irrespective of what is going around you, do not be afraid. We are currently experiencing very difficult times, but you must hold on to your faith and ask God  to increase it today. You are an heir to the throne and if your heavenly Father  says, ‘fear not, I will be with you’, then fear not. The Most High always keeps His  promises.

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

    For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

    or call +2348155525555

    For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Who do you fear?

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Who do you fear?

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: GALATIANS 2:11-16

    Meditation verse:

    “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe”  (Proverbs 29:25).

    Fear can have either a positive or negative effect on your life. On the positive  side, it can help you steer clear of danger. Conversely, it can hinder your progress  or cause you to do things that are contrary to who you are and what you stand  for. The key lies in who and what you fear. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning  of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil” (Proverbs 8:13). 

    This type of fear is liberating. It is a deep reverence for a powerful God and a  wholesome dread of displeasing Him. This type of fear causes you to abstain  from sin so that you are always within the boundaries of God’s favour and  protection.  

    The fear of man brings a snare. It can prevent you from becoming who God  created you to be. The fear of man can become a “goliath” in your life and  torment you. It can make you afraid to speak up when you know you should or  lead you into wrong relationships. It can also cause you to lie or compromise  your values and in its worst form make you deny your faith in Christ. The disciple, 

    Peter was a man with a tendency to display this type of fear. As a result, he  sometimes behaved in ways inconsistent with his faith in Christ. He denied Jesus  Christ before a little maid because he feared those who were in the courtyard  (Luke 22:56-57). Years later, whilst a church leader, he withdrew and separated  himself from eating with the gentiles because he feared those who were of the  circumcision. It took the rebuke of Paul to get him back on track. 

    What type of fear rules your life- the fear of God or the fear of man? Jesus said  to His disciples “…do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have  no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear- fear Him  who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell: yes, I say to you, fear Him”  (Luke 12:4-5). Next time you are tempted to act in a certain way because of the  fear of man, ask yourself ‘what is the worst thing that can happen if I do not fear  this person’?

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

    For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

    or call +2348155525555

    For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Who do you fear?

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Who do you fear?

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Galatians 2:11-16

    Meditation verse:

    “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe”  (Proverbs 29:25).

    Fear can have either a positive or negative effect on your life. On the positive  side, it can help you steer clear of danger. Conversely, it can hinder your progress  or cause you to do things that are contrary to who you are and what you stand  for. The key lies in who and what you fear. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning  of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil” (Proverbs 8:13).  This type of fear is liberating. It is a deep reverence for a powerful God and a  wholesome dread of displeasing Him. This type of fear causes you to abstain  from sin so that you are always within the boundaries of God’s favour and  protection.

    The fear of man brings a snare. It can prevent you from becoming who God  created you to be. The fear of man can become a “goliath” in your life and  torment you. It can make you afraid to speak up when you know you should or  lead you into wrong relationships. It can also cause you to lie or compromise  your values and in its worst form make you deny your faith in Christ. The disciple,  Peter was a man with a tendency to display this type of fear. As a result, he  sometimes behaved in ways inconsistent with his faith in Christ. He denied Jesus  Christ before a little maid because he feared those who were in the courtyard  (Luke 22:56-57). Years later, whilst a church leader, he withdrew and separated  himself from eating with the gentiles because he feared those who were of the  circumcision. It took the rebuke of Paul to get him back on track.

    What type of fear rules your life- the fear of God or the fear of man? Jesus said  to His disciples “…do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have  no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear- fear Him  who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell: yes, I say to you, fear Him”  (Luke 12:4-5). Next time you are tempted to act in a certain way because of the  fear of man, ask yourself ‘what is the worst thing that can happen if I do not fear  this person’?

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

    For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

    or call +2348155525555

    For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Fear hath torment

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Fear hath torment

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: Joshua 1:1-9

    Meditation verse: 

    “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;  for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).  

    The story is told of a man who got trapped inside a freezer truck whilst cleaning  it, after he mistakenly shut the doors. His family began searching for him when  he did not return home that Friday night. It wasn’t until Monday that his lifeless  body was discovered inside the truck. However, the cooling system in the truck  was not on, so the man did not freeze to death and there was a window that  was wide open in the truck, so he did not suffocate either. The question therefore on everyone’s lips was how did he die?

    The amygdala is a cluster of almond shaped cells located near the base of the  brain. They are two on each side of the brain. They help define and regulate  emotions. The amygdala which is part of the brain’s limbic system is responsible  for the fight and flight response. This is the emotional part of the brain. The front  lobes are part of the brain’s cerebral cortex which is the rational part of the brain  that regulates reasoning, thinking, decision making and planning. The front  lobes allow you to evaluate your emotions and uses your experience and  judgement to evaluate. When a threat is perceived, the amygdala may jump to  the fight or flight mode but the frontal lobes often override the amygdala so you  can process the situation rationally. However, in the event of extreme emotions of fear, panic or anger, the functions of the frontal lobes are compromised, the  amygdala takes over and disables the frontal lobes. The fight-flight response is  activated, and rational thinking and reasoned responses are disabled. This can  cause sudden, illogical, and even irrational reactions.

    1 John 4:18 states that fear hath torment. Fear can kill a person several times  over before the real danger will kill because fear shuts out your ability to think your way out of the mess. Turns out that the man had expected that being  locked up in a cooling truck would kill him, so he died out of sheer panic, even  though he was not in any real danger. Little wonder ‘fear not’ is the most  repeated command in the bible. It occurs 365 times; one for each day of the  year.

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

    For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

    or call +2348155525555

    For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.

  • BBNaija star, Kiddwaya reveals one of Nigerians biggest fear

    BBNaija star, Kiddwaya reveals one of Nigerians biggest fear

    Former Big Brother Naija housemate, Kiddwaya has revealed that Nigerians find it hard to tell people the date they are traveling.

    The Billionaire son took to his Twitter page to reveal one of Nigerians’ biggest fear and also admit of not disclosing his traveling schedule.

    He wrote: “As a Nigerian, telling people the date we are traveling is one of our biggest fears. Me sef I no fit”

  • [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: It shall not happen

    [Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: It shall not happen

    By Oke Chinye

    Read: 2 Corinthians 10:1-6

    Meditation verse:

    “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

    Most of our fears are based on things that are yet to happen and which may never happen. Isn’t it ironic that we fear that certain events will occur in the future and most times these fears are not founded upon any evidence? People who have a fear of flying fear that something will go wrong, and the aircraft will crash. And yet they have never been in an aircraft that crashed. People who fear the dark are afraid that some evil occurrence will come upon them whilst it is dark. Those battling with the fear of public speaking are afraid that they will mess up before a crowd. Those struggling with the fear of failure are unconsciously preoccupied with the thought that they will fail anyway no matter how hard they try. Those who are afraid of the future fear that something will go terribly wrong with them in the future.

    To fear is to be frightened of someone or something. At one time or the other we may entertain some degree of fear, but for some people fear becomes such a significant psychological threat, that they unconsciously sabotage their wellbeing and success in life in a variety of ways. Certain personality traits are prone to fear. Individuals with a high score on the trait, ‘Neuroticism’ which is a long-term tendency to be in a negative emotional state have high anxiety. They worry about things, are often depressed, self-conscious, easily intimidated, impulsive and are vulnerable to strong negative emotions or panic attacks. Naturally, for these kinds of people, fear of almost everything is a given.

    Fear can lead to what is known as a self-fulfilling prophecy, where what you fear the most comes to pass. This happened to Job when he said, “What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me” (Job 3:25 NIV). And the reality is that despite the best efforts of others, only you can set yourself free. Fight with the word of God. Memorize and internalise scriptures that will help you. There is a connection between your mind and your actions. As you feed your mind with God’s promises over your life, your fears will be transformed to courage. Watch your thoughts also, focus on what is positive.

    Next time you find yourself stopping in your track because of fear, ask yourself ‘what is the worst thing that can happen if I do not fear? This is what The Almighty says in Isaiah 7:7, “It shall not stand, Nor shall it come to pass” (Isaiah 7:7). “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15). You are an heir of God entitled to special privileges. You are part of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a special person (1 Peter 2:9). You are not a fearful cringing slave, so quit acting as one. “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).

    As you step out each today, boldly declare: “The Lord is my helper, I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6). Remember always that courage is equally as contagious as fear.

     

    IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

    For Prayers and Counseling email rockteachingministry@gmail.com

    or call +2348155525555

    For more enquiries, visit: www.rockteachingministry.org.

  • Fear grips Ojo community as hoodlums sell hard drugs, rob people at bus stops

    Fear grips Ojo community as hoodlums sell hard drugs, rob people at bus stops

    Some residents of Agric community in Ojo Local Government, Lagos state, are bemoaning the increase in armed robbery attacks at their major bus stops.

    The residents also alleged that the hoodlums sell and smoke hard drugs with reckless abandon and at night rob people of their valuables.

    The residents said the hoodlums lives in the shanties built at the bus stops.

    Agric Bus stop which consists of six Community Development Association (CDA), is located along Okokomaiko Road before Volkswagen bus stop in Ojo Local Government.

    The community leaders are pleading with the Lagos State Government to clear the shanties built by the hoodlums and station security personnel at the bus stops.

    The CDA leaders who spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said that their bus stops are not secured anymore.

    They said that the arm robbers do come out from the shanties to perpetrate evil acts by dispossessing people of their belongings and kill anyone who refuses to oblige.

    They disclosed that about 11 people have been killed and over 50 people injured and shot while returning to their various homes in both daytime and night.

    Mr Abiodun Gbamgboye, the CDA leader of Habib community, said the incessant robbery attacks at Agric bus stop have stricken fear in people.

    “Returning home or going out in this area is now a herculean task.

    “The whole community is scared as our bus stops now turn to arm robbers’ den and hard drugs zone, the shanties built by the hoodlums are their major hideouts,” he said.

    He noted that in the daytime, “we see them display hard drugs they sell on their tables and smoke, they even display mixture of drinks with hard drugs.

    “There are many people who have been killed while being robbed. For instance, one Stanley Mbosah was killed last week while returning home.

    “Most of us no longer take our cars out of the community for fear of being robbed by the hoodlums.

    “We want the State Government, the police and Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (NDLEA) to come to our aid,” he said.

    Another CDA leader, from Olowotabutabu community, Mr Emmanuel Chukwudi, said that there is the need for Government to arrest the hoodlums who live in the shanties built at the bus stops.

    “I want Government to help us station Police Patrol at the bus stops, remove shanties and arrest the hoodlums, their presence is causing agitation to inhabitants of this community,” he said.

    In his reaction, Mr Salau Rasheed, a CDA leader of Ayedoto community, also expressed concern on insecurities and sale of hard drugs at the bus stops.

    “Our bus stop is no longer safe for even our children who go to school, we are scared that the hoodlums may want to lure our children into taking hard drugs,” he said.

    Others who talked on the insecurity of the communities were the CDA leaders, Mr Celestine Igwilo of Otubu Community; Mr Albert Mere, Secretary, Olugbemi Community. They all said there was the need for Police to help them arrest those thieves.

    Mr Olawale Saliu, who is a renowned lawyer living in one of the communities, told NAN that residents are scared of the evil the hoodlums unleash as they might extend their act to houses if not curtailed.

    He, however, urged the security personnel in the area and Ojo Local Government Chairman to help them in clearing shanties where the hoodlums hide.

  • Prayer of the redeemed against fear (3)- Femi Aribisala

    By Femi Arbisala

    Fear and faith do not mix. It is like oil and water. Therefore, tell the Lord: “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.” (Psalm 56:3). “Whenever I am afraid, let me run to You. Whenever I am afraid, let me hope in You. Whenever I am afraid, let me seek Your face. Whenever I am afraid, let me seek the comfort and reassurance of Your word.”

    Tell God: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, let me not be afraid. Let me always be conscious of the fact that You are ever with me. Let me be confident that I never walk alone.”

    “When I pass through the waters, the Lord will be with me; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow me: when I walk through the fire, I will not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon me.” (Isaiah 43:2).

    Ask God to strengthen your heart so you will not be afraid of the terror by night. Ask God to save you from the arrows that fly by day. Ask God to shield you from the pestilences that walk in the darkness. Ask God to immunize you from the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

    Fear only God

    You cannot fear God and fear something else. The Lord God Almighty must be the only fear in our life. Isaiah says: “Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, He is the one you are to fear, He is the one you are to dread.” (Isaiah 8:12-13).

    God was the fear of Isaac. (Genesis 31:53). Ask God to be your fear.

    It is foretold of Jesus Christ our Lord: “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. His delight is in the fear of the Lord.” (Isaiah 11:2-3).

    Ask God to give you the Spirit of the fear of the Lord. Ask Him to ensure that all your delight will be in the fear of the Lord. Ask God to make sure that you do not like anything or delight in anything, that is outside of the fear of the Lord.

    The wise man says: “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.” (Proverbs 8:13). Tell God: “Let me not delight in the evil pleasures of this life.”

    Jesus says: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (Matthew 22:21).

    Money belongs to Caesar. Fear belongs to God. Therefore: “Sanctify the LORD of hosts Himself and let Him be your fear.”

    Counterproductive fear

    Fear is not our deliverer. God is our deliverer. Fear does not deliver us from captivity. Fear leads us into captivity. When we are afraid, we run into the hands of our enemies. The enemy uses fear as a weapon against us. He uses fear as a weapon to capture us.

    Be still and know the Lord is God. “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him and delivers them.” (Psalm 34:7).

    Ask the angel of God to deliver you from every captivity. Say: “Because I fear the Lord, I will be delivered from my fears. Because I fear the Lord, I will be delivered from danger. Because I fear the Lord, I will be delivered from the fear of the landlord. Because I fear the Lord, I will be delivered from the fear of paying school fees.”

    Fear does not put food on our table. Fear does not put money in our bank account. Fear does not provide all our needs according to its riches in glory. But God does.

    “Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.” (Psalm 34:9).

    Tell God: “Let me fear You and thereby want for nothing. Let me fear You and all my needs will be met. Let me fear you. For if I fear you, my rent will be paid; my children’s school fees will be provided; my barns shall be full of wheat.”

    Ask God: “Let the fear of God always be before my eyes. Let me look at everything in relation to God. Let God be the reference point in all and everything I do. Let the fear of God lead me away from sin.

    Solomon says: “In mercy and truth atonement is provided for iniquity; and by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil.” (Proverbs 16:6). Let the fear of God keep me from evil. Let the fear of the Lord affect my life. Let the fear of the Lord prolong my life. (Proverbs 10:27). Let the fear of the Lord be the fountain of my life. (Proverbs 14:27). Let the fear of the Lord lead me along the path of life. (Proverbs 22:4).

    Peace of God

    Faith in God must have works. Ask God to give you the faith to move mountains. Ask God to give you the courage to walk by faith and not by sight. Ask God to give you the confidence to face and prevail over the Goliaths of your life. Ask God to give you the confidence to call those things that be not as though they were.

    Sickness is not your portion. So, do not believe the lie. Sickness does not kill. Bandits do not kill. Terrorists do not kill. The only thing that kills is sin. But if you believe in the Lord Jesus, you have been redeemed from sin.

    God says: “I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and like a cloud, your sins.” (Isaiah 44:21). As far as the east is from the west, so far has God removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12)

    “Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth; break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob and glorified himself in Israel.” (Isaiah 44:23).

    Jesus says: “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27-28).

    Therefore, let the peace of God overshadow you. Let it flow like a river in your heart.

    The word of God says: “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth.” (Philippians 2:10).

    Coronavirus has a knee. COVID-19 has a knee. The Delta variant has a knee. So, receive this word of life. “At the name of Jesus, every virus in your life, in the life of your children, in the life of your siblings, in your home, in your neighbourhood, in your office, must bow and be uprooted by the east wind of God.”

    “Now here is the conclusion of the matter: fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

  • Prayer of the redeemed against fear (2)- Femi Aribisala

    By Femi Aribisala

    The fearful are determined to save their lives by themselves. Tell the Lord: “Make me understand that whosoever will save his life will lose it: and whoever will lose his life for Jesus’ sake will find it.” Believe and speak: “Jesus is my Saviour. I don’t need any other Saviour. I cannot save myself. Only Jesus can save me.”

    “Let me not act out of fear. Let me not be asked why I did something, and I say I did it because I was afraid. Let me say I did it because I believe. Let me say I did it because I believe in God.”

    “Let me not be afraid of tomorrow. Let me not be so afraid of tomorrow that I try to gain the whole world to the detriment of my soul. Let me commit my tomorrow into the hands of God.”

    Fear of adversity

    My brother died of sickle cell anaemia when I was 12 years old. A few years later, my only sister, Yemisi, also died. As a result, my parents became very afraid. My mother carried me everywhere. She carried me to all sorts of churches. She took me to the river to bathe in. She gave me black soap to use to bathe. Her faith became motivated by fear. It took her months to regain her spiritual equilibrium.

    Tell the Lord: “I need your help. Don’t let the fear of adversity lead me away from you. Don’t let fear carry me from pillar to post. Let my heart be steadfast. Let it be fixed, trusting in the Lord.”

    This should be your confession: “I am troubled on every side, yet not distressed; I am perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in my body.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-10).

    One, two, many fears

    What do you fear? What are you afraid of? Christians have too many fears. Whatever we fear becomes our god.

    David says: “I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4).

    Ask God to deliver you from all your fears. Tell Him: “Deliver me from the fear of men. Deliver me from the fear of demons. Deliver me from the fear of the future. Deliver me from the fear of the unknown.”

    “Let me not be afraid of losing my job otherwise my job will become my life and my god. Let me not be afraid of losing my husband or my wife otherwise they become my life and my god. Let me not be afraid that I will not get married to the bone of my bone and the flesh of my flesh.”

    Isaiah says: “Search from the book of the Lord and read: not one of these shall fail; not one shall lack her mate. For My mouth has commanded it, and His Spirit has gathered them.” (Isaiah 34:16).

    You will not lack your husband. You will not lack your wife. You will not lack your children. You will not lack the good things of the life of godliness in Jesus’ name.

    Tell the Lord: “Let me not be afraid of losing my life otherwise my life is my god. Let me have a life that cannot be lost, stolen, or destroyed. Let Jesus be my life and my God. Let there be only one God in my life.”

    “Let me not worship money. Let me not worship idols. Let me worship only the one true God. Let me not worship God with my hands. Let me not worship God with my lips. Let me worship God in my heart of hearts. Let me worship God in spirit and truth.”

    God is One

    Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is One God. If there are two gods, then one of them cannot be God. What we worship preoccupies us. If we fear something, it becomes an object of worship. It dominates the mind. We dwell on it, we magnify it, and we extol it. What we fear becomes an idol. It dethrones God in our lives. Certainly, it must be more powerful than God for us to fear it.

    Tell God: “Please don’t let this happen to me. Remove every idol in my heart. Let me not be like those Israelites who: “Feared the LORD yet served their own gods.” (2 Kings 17:33).

    Tell the Lord: “I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.” Let me believe Your word when You say: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” “Let me declare boldly that: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6).

    Tell God: “Let me not be afraid of man whose breath is in his nostrils. Let me not be afraid of men and thereby lose my fear of God. Let me not fear the reproach of men.”

    God says: “I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you should be afraid of a man who will die, and of the son of a man who will be made like grass?” (Isaiah 51:12).

    Therefore, tell the Lord: “Let me not be afraid of my bosses. Let me not be afraid of those in positions of authority. Let me not fear for my children. Let me not be afraid of armed robbers. Let me not be afraid of kidnappers. Let me not be afraid of terrorists. Let me not be afraid of sickness. Let me not be afraid of accidents. Let me not be afraid of death.”

    Limiting effects of fear

    “Let me not be afraid of entering into intimate relationships. Let me not be afraid of falling in love. Let me not be afraid to be vulnerable. Let me not be afraid of my parents. Let me not be afraid of failure. Let me not be afraid of weakness. Let me not be afraid of giants. Let me not be afraid of demons. Let me not be afraid of spiritual wickedness in high places. Let me only fear God.”

    Appropriate this promise of God: “In the righteousness of Christ will I be established: and I shall be far from oppression; for I shall not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near me. Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by the Lord: whosoever shall gather together against me shall fall for my sake.”

    “Behold, the Lord has created the smith that blows the coals in the fire, and that brings forth an instrument for His work; and He has created the waster to destroy. But no weapon that is formed against me shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against me in judgment I will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and my righteousness is of Christ.” (Isaiah 54:14-17).

    Declare and decree it: “This promise is fulfilled in my life. This promise of God is fulfilled in my situations and circumstances. This promise of God is my defense.”

    CONTINUED

  • Prayer of the redeemed against fear (1) – Femi Aribisala

    By Femi Aribisala

    Fear is an unpleasant feeling we get when we are concerned that something bad is going to happen to us. This feeling can be caused by something real or something just imagined.

    Fear immobilizes us. It prevents us from going forward. It makes us hesitate and procrastinate. It militates against our trust in, and dependence, on God. Fear also adversely affects us psychologically.

    According to scripture, the things we fear turn out to be self-fulfilling prophecies. Job says after the death of his children: “The thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me.” (Job 3:25).

    Therefore, our confession must be that: “God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7).

    Ask for God’s spirit of power. Ask Him for the spirit of love. Ask Him for the spirit of a sound mind. Ask the Holy Spirit to subdue and overthrow any spirit of fear in your life. Tell him yourself: “The Lord rebukes you. Get thee behind me. You cannot operate in my life. You cannot get a foothold in my heart. I am delivered from your lies. I am delivered by the truth of God.

    Weapon of fear

    The American president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, said: “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” Indeed, fear is reserved for the enemies of the children of God. Moses says: “The Lord your God will put the dread of you and the fear of you upon all the land where you tread.” (Deuteronomy 11:25).

    God Himself says: “This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the nations under the whole heaven, who shall hear the report of you, and shall tremble and be in anguish because of you.” (Deuteronomy 2:25).

    Ask the Lord to fulfil this scripture in your life. That means even fear should be afraid of you. Ask Him to banish fear from you. Tell Him: “Lord, speak the word and I will be delivered. Cast fear out of my heart and my mind. Empower me and make my adversaries fear me. Contend with all those who contend with me. Make them know that You are my impregnable defense.”

    “Fight for me as you did for the Israelites when you removed the wheels of the chariots of the Egyptians, and they exclaimed: “Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.” (Exodus 14:25).

    Fear not!

    Every time God appears on the scene, it seems the first thing he says is “fear not.” It is a command. It must be obeyed. The promise of God says: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10).

    Therefore, tell God: “This scripture is fulfilled in my hearing. I will not fear because the Lord is my God. I will not fear because the Lord is the strength of my life.”

    “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh,

    my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. Though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident.”

    “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle, He shall hide me. He shall set me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me.” (Psalm 27:1-6).

    Believe and speak: “I will not fear because the Lord will not allow me to fall. I will not fear because the Lord is with me. I will not be dismayed because the Lord is my God.”

    Therefore, I choose faith over fear.”

    Sinful fear

    Fear is a sin that inevitably leads to other sins. When confronted with what we fear, we end up making ungodly choices. God says: “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore, choose life, that both thou and your seed may live.” (Deuteronomy 30:19).

    However, fear makes a man choose death. Fear makes a woman sleep with her lecturer. Fear makes a man go to a Babalawo and make a covenant with the devil. Fear makes a Peter deny the Lordship of Jesus Christ. But the fear of the Lord is to hate evil. (Proverbs 8:13).

    Ask the Lord to decree that fear is banished from your life. There is no fear in love. Perfect love casts out fear. Ask the blessed Holy Spirit to use God’s perfect love to cast out every fear from your heart. Ask God to impress it on your heart that God loves you with everlasting love. Ask the love of God that has been shed in your heart by the Holy Spirit to speak to the enemy of fear at the gate of your heart.

    Fear must not take hold of your heart. It is an outcast: it has no place in you. Fear drives the sinner away from the presence of the Lord. Therefore, ask the Lord to impress it upon you that God loves sinners. Jesus came not to condemn sinners but to save them. The psalmist says: “If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared.” (Psalm 130:3-4).

    Ask God to drive you in repentance to His throne of grace to receive grace and mercy.

    Tell your heart: “I will not succumb to fear, but I will fear the Lord. I will not be afraid of God, but I will reverence God. I will love God. I will seek the face of God.

    Fear is a lie

    The fearful believe a lie. Ask the Lord to strengthen your faith in God. Tell Him: “Let me not believe lies. Let me believe the truth of God. O God, let me believe the word of God. Let me tremble at Your word.”

    The fearful believe that there are many other names by which men can be saved other than the name of Jesus. They believe when they are arrested by the police they can be saved by paying a bribe.

    Tell the Lord: “Let this not be my case.” Tell the Lord: “Cause me to believe that I can only be saved by the truth. Your word is truth.”

    The fearful believe that salvation is in the name of a compromise to integrity and not in the name of Jesus.

    Tell the Lord: “Rescue me from such foolishness. Cause me to understand that there is no other name under heaven apart from the name of Jesus by which we must be saved.” Tell Him: “I know the name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous run into it and are saved.”

    CONTINUED