As we move forward in our understanding of fear and how it operates in our lives, we may come across fear of evil, fear of God and superstition. According to Dr. Henry Wright’s book entitled, Fear Overshadowing Our Lives, fear of evil can involve:
– The anticipation or projection of coming to harm at the hands of evil
– Fear of exposure to chemicals that we consider evil
– Fear of being negatively affected by unspiritual people
– Fear of Satan and his kingdom
– Fear of the power of words over us, negative pronouncements or accusations.
The word “superstitious” is found in Acts 17:22:
Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. Acts 17:22
From the Strong’s concordance, the word superstitious is deisidaimōn (G1174) a compound of two Greek words deilós (G1169) and daímōn (G1142)
Deilós (G1169) means: dread, timid, faithless, and fearful
Daímōn (G1142) means: A demon or a supernatural spirit (of a bad nature): devil
So this word actually means a fear or dread of evil spirits or evil spiritual activity.
This is something that is not uncommon to man as we can see from the scripture in Acts; even the Athenians were plagued by the fear of evil and superstitions. We may think to ourselves, “Well they were unbelievers.” yet believers can also wrestle with these just as much as unbelievers, it may just come from a different angle.
As a believer, there may be more than one way that this can turn into an ungodly sort of fear and a torment in a person’s life. Some act like the devil is “he who must not be named,” they may believe that to talk about him or address him would be to bring unwanted evil and attention from the enemy onto themselves. Yet out of sight, out of mind is not a spiritual principle. The Word says that God’s people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. And when we choose to remain ignorant about the enemy and his devices we are easy picking. That’s why the Word also says that we are to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. 2Corinthians 2:11 KJV
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Matthew 10:16 KJV
According to the Word, it’s essential to understand Satan’s devices so that we can remain one step ahead of him. We can discern when his kingdom tries to feed us thoughts that are contrary to God’s and we can resist him according to the power that the Father gave to us who believe in Jesus and are led by His Holy Spirit. How can we expect to defeat things in our lives that influence us like fear and anger if we don’t understand how they operate spiritually and don’t know how to use the tools that we need to defeat them?
There are still other believers who are very aware of the enemy’s kingdom. In fact, they are so aware that they are hyper-vigilant. We may say they’re looking for a devil behind every bush. They may find themselves striving and performing to root every little evil spirit out of themselves and sometimes others. We would also consider this fear of evil because they don’t trust that they are accepted as they are, they think that they have to have every little thing removed before they are acceptable. There is such a thing as zeal but not according to knowledge. They are trying to do it all on their own strength.
For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. Romans 10:2-3 KJV
A question that we can ask ourselves is: Which kingdom am I giving more power to in my life? Do I believe that God is all powerful and will help me overcome or do I fear that the enemy and his evil kingdom will consume me and overcome me? Fear is actually a form of faith and we can choose which side we put our faith in. Do we really believe that God has set us free or do we still submit ourselves to elements of bondage out of fear?
Jesus showed us many things while He was here, two of which are the Father and His love towards us and also His power over all things in the earth. Jesus healed the sick, which was astonishing to the people of that time because they had never seen that kind of power. Not only that, He cast out devils. This proved His power and authority over the enemy’s kingdom. And by raising the dead and being raised himself from the dead He proved that He had the power and authority over death, the enemy’s strongest force in the earth. But He wasn’t finished yet. Not only did He want to show us God’s power but He gave that power to us as well!
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. John 13:12 KJV
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:19 KJV
So again we need to ask ourselves this, which kingdom do I think is greater? If we are sons and daughters of God, who is on our side? If God is on our side and is fighting on our behalf what are we afraid of? If we have been given the power over the enemy, through the Holy Spirit, he should be the one who’s afraid of us!
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? Psalm 27:1 KJV
We need to come to this persuasion in our own hearts:
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 KJV
In every believer’s life, God needs to be number one. As His children, we need to develop a desire to know our Father’s heart and understand His ways and to walk according to the knowledge of Him. The Word tells us to first seek Him, His kingdom and His righteousness and then all other things will fall into place.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33 KJV
It’s been said that when a person is being trained to identify counterfeit money they have to first become so familiar with the real thing that when a false bill comes along they can identify it right away. That’s how we need to be spiritually as well. We need to be so familiar with our Heavenly Father, His will, His love and His ways that anything that comes in that is contrary to Him will trigger a red flag in our spirit and we will be able to discern the trick of the enemy and cast him down.
Proverbs 3:21-26 describes the benefits of keeping sound wisdom and discretion which are fruits of knowing God and His ways:
My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken. Proverbs 3:21-26 KJV
We see here, that as we learn and apply God’s Word and truth to our lives and begin to grow up into it, the benefits are multifaceted, they include safety, confidence, freedom from fear and sweet sleep. In order to walk in this, we need to take responsibility for our own lives. We need to make it our intention to seek out God’s wisdom and understanding. Not only that, we need to seek His heart in it and talk to Him about it so that we can walk not just according to knowledge but in relationship with Him, allowing Him to be our help and our strength.
There can be other blocks to overcoming fear of evil. The first being fear of God in the improper sense. How can we ask God for anything or draw closer to Him in love and trust if we are afraid of Him? In fact, the ungodly fear of God will cause us to try to avoid Him because we don’t believe that He is a safe place; we cannot trust Him. If we are afraid of God, how can He help us overcome our other fears? The Word does tell us to fear the Lord but this is altogether a different kind of fear. A proper fear of God can be found in Proverbs 3:7.
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. Proverbs 3:7 KJV
That word “fear,” in context, from the original Hebrew translation, actually means to be in awe, to revere, to respect, and to honor. This, once again, is only possible through knowledge and understanding of who God is at a very personal and intimate level of relationship. However, if a religious and intellectual spirit joins a person in their pursuit of this, they may find themselves with a head full of knowledge but unable to actually see the godly fruits of peace, freedom, love, and joy that can only come through relationship. They may still find themselves in bondage to fear, guilt and shame even though they have much knowledge and try so hard to do everything right.
It is essential, in our desire to overcome these types of fear, to understand our identity: who we are as sons and daughters of God. We need to choose to believe His Word 100%, anything less than that will lead us to confusion and instability in our faith. When He says that He has not given us the spirit of fear but the spirit of adoption so that we may cry, Abba Father! We need to believe Him. We need to accept His acceptance of us. We need to remove anything in our hearts that tells us that we are unacceptable and unlovable or that accuses God to us telling us that He doesn’t care or that He isn’t interested in helping us.
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Romans 8:15 KJV
We need to remove any unbelief and doubt in our hearts that would try to overthrow God’s truth in our lives. All of these things will substantiate fear and allow it to continue its destructive and tormenting course in our lives. We need to establish our hearts in God and His goodness and establish in our hearts that our real enemy is not others, not ourselves, not God but Satan and his lying kingdom of fear and accusation.
He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD. His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies. Psalm 112:7-8 KJV
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12 KJV
Here’s the wonderful news, if we’ve received God and He’s received us then we are qualified to live with the benefits that He’s offered to us that were made available to us, through faith, by the shed blood of Jesus on the Cross. Through Him we have the power to overcome the enemy in our lives, we are no longer victims! Not only that but we have the power to become thrivers rather than just survivors.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. 2 Corinthians 10:4 KJV
We don’t have to live our lives out in a continued state of warfare, constantly striving to recognize where the enemy might be and casting him out and striving for our freedom. There can be a place that we can come to of victory and peace in our lives. This is not all about shadowboxing the enemy but walking into freedom as we line our hearts up with God’s heart, His will, and His ways. Through this, we will be able to not only obtain but maintain our freedom and healing.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 KJV
We no longer have to fear harm from the enemy because the Word says:
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. Isaiah 54:17 KJV
We don’t have to fear, sickness, exposure to chemicals or any other thing because the Word says we even have power over that:
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Mark 16:17-18 KJV
We do not have to fear Satan and his kingdom because he is already defeated:
And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Luke 10:18 KJV
We don’t have to fear any words or negative pronouncements over our lives either!
God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. Romans 3:4 KJV
And if anyone or anything tells us that if we do or don’t do something, evil will come to us we can hold it up to the light and truth of God’s Word and if it doesn’t add up, we can cast it down and not agree with it.
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV
When fear calls, even if all of the feelings are raging around us and in us, we can boldly say, “I choose to believe God over fear today.” Our God is mighty to save and He is greater than all the powers of the enemy. We are His children! We are not cast off, desolate, rejected or destroyed. We are accepted in the beloved. We can ask Him to give us His perspective that we may obtain a new vantage point over the enemy.
Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. Ephesians 1:16-23 KJV
Blessings,
The Be in Health® Team
