Overcome Christian Fear 

          through the Word of God

This article on healing addiction is an introduction to our series of 24 teachings, "Matters of the Heart," that are individually posted on this site and available as a complete set in our workbook which can be purchased as a download or ordered through the mail. The lessons are also available on CD and DVD as 24, 1/2 hour teachings. All scriptures are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.

All Christians experience fear. Christian fear is overcome through faith in what the Word is telling us about our God. This is not to say that it is easy, but that our faith in Christ does provide us with a pathway to real victory—if we are willing to learn how to fight the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12).

However, overcoming Christian fear or the fears and anxieties that are of particular assault upon Christians, requires exposing two main strategies of the deceiver. Just consider the two kinds of legitimate fear that are good and helpful for us to have—the fear of God and the fear that comes from immediate danger—and see how spiritual darkness weaves a deceptive web about them (see Fear Not! (Main Healing Lesson 21) and   the   Fear Not! part 2 (Head to Heart Guide 21)).

1) The fear of God

It is indeed right to fear God—in a right way. Godly Christian fear is respect, honor and acknowledgment of who God is. It is a healthy awareness that God holds us accountable for our choices. But being afraid of God, or of what God may do, or of what God may allow, or of what God may ask of us—these are fears Christians may have which come directly from the enemy.

Being afraid of God is what is ruling over the demons (James 2:19). We are meant to know God so well, that we are liberated from fear by trusting His perfect love with everything that concerns us (1 John 4:18-19). This is the true antidote to every fear! And yet many Christians fear God in a wrong way. At the very time they desperately need the calming influence of knowing the Truth about their Father God, the twisted words of the enemy keep them fearful and untrusting (see The Father’s Heart of Love (Main Healing Lesson 10).)

2) The fear of immediate danger

God has provided the alarm response in our bodies to prepare us for flight or fight in the face of clear and present danger and the Holy Spirit can help us respond “reflexively” in such moments to save lives. However, the enemy is very skillful at tempting us to believe that in every difficult situation God is not really in control of what we are facing—and that we had better do something about it right now! Yet, what is needed is not an immediate rescue from the situation, but a speedy return to trusting God with it.

The real battle is not with a visible enemy (the circumstance), and certainly not with a God who can’t be trusted, but with an invisible kingdom which is trying to capture our hearts through fear (Ephesians 6:12). Learning to recognize fear as the true enemy will enable us to begin overcoming these two forms of specifically Christian fear. Then we can...

Learn to overcome fear itself
by the proven ways that God has provided!
 

Interested in going deeper?

For further study and for help working these truths into your heart and life, see all 24 Main Healing Lessons and Head to Heart Guides posted on this site or in the store.

Or better yet, let us minister to you in person
     --at one of our Savannah Seminars...