THE FEAR FREE LIFE!

he word of God says, "FEAR NOT: for I have REDEEMED you, I have called you by your name; you are mine." (Isaiah 43:1).

"Have you been redeemed?"

"Do you know that you belong to God?"

Then you don't need to fear!

Fear is an unredeemed response to trouble. But at the root of that manifestation is a spirit of fear. God has also assured the redeemed that he doesn't have the spirit of fear.

"For God has not given us the SPIRIT OF FEAR; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7).

Faith, on the other hand, is the redeemed response to trouble. At the root of that manifestation is a spirit of faith. 

"We having the same SPIRIT OF FAITH, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak" (1 Corinthians 4:13).

You can see that faith believes and speaks. So Fear or faith is not just a matter of identity; it is also a matter of knowledge. They both can be seen or heard. For as long as we are on earth we are living in the zone of trouble. Faith is the only way to overcome it. 

Understanding the scope of our redemption will help us to respond differently to trouble. The redeemed is no more subject to the spirit of fear. They should be controlled by the spirit of faith; to exercise their authority against fear. While fear permits the devil; faith stops him and permits God.

DEFEAT YOUR TROUBLES

Faith in the face of fear was something David chose to do as an act of his will. However that choice was based on a solid revelation. 

"WHAT TIME I AM AFRAID, I will TRUST in you. WHEN I CRY unto you, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for GOD IS FOR ME." (Psalms 56:3).

Times of trouble are times to either MANIFEST fear or faith. David had one powerful revelation that helped him to respond in faith to his troubles. He knew that God was for him. That God was on his side. 

Every child of God should also know that God is for him or her. Romans 8:31 puts it like this, "IF GOD BE FOR US, WHO can be against us?"

Most of the troubles that will ever come against you will come from a "WHO", a person. You can be sure that Satan is behind it directly or indirectly. 

IS GOD FOR YOU?

To respond correctly to trouble you have to determine one thing. Ask yourself this question, "Is God for me?" What does that mean? 

Check your spiritual identity and connection. 

Are you a child of God?

Are you the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus? 

Are you the redeemed of the Lord? 

Is Christ in you?

Is the Spirit of God in you?

Are you in covenant with God? 

Does your battle belong to the Lord?

The answer will determine whether you can invite God to fight for you. If God is for you, then you are only required to show up at the battlefield; take a stand of faith to pray, speak His word and praise Him. You will have to use your heart and mouth to engage God. 

THE CRY OF THE RIGHTEOUS!

Several scriptures show us that God will only hear the cry of the righteous, whether poor or rich.

"I SOUGHT THE LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from ALL MY FEARS.

THIS POOR MAN cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of ALL HIS TROUBLES.

The eyes of the LORD are upon THE RIGHTEOUS, and his ears are open unto their cry.

THE RIGHTEOUS cry, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of ALL THEIR TROUBLES.

Many are THE AFFLICTIONS of THE RIGHTEOUS: but the LORD delivers him out of them all." (Psalms 34:4, 6, 15, 17, 19).

DO NOT RECEIVE BONDAGE!

The enemy will bring trouble your way to make you afraid. The righteous will not receive that spirit of bondage. He will respond by faith according to the Spirit of adoption by crying to the Father. 

"For you have not received THE SPIRIT OF BONDAGE AGAIN TO FEAR; but you have received the SPIRIT OF ADOPTION, whereby WE CRY, Abba, Father." (Romans 8:15).

You will be delivered when you cry unto God your Father. 

DECIDE TO BE BOLD!

Boldness is required. David decided to be bold because of what he knew. Make that decision also. Boldness is the courage to act by faith in spite of your troubles. God has not given you the spirit of fear. And He has given you authority over all spirits under Satan. You can decide to permit the spirit of fear or forbid it. Fleeing is the response of the wicked (unredeemed person). Boldness is the response of the righteous.

"The wicked flee when no man pursues: but the righteous are bold as a lion." (Prov. 28:1).

GOD IS LOOKING FOR YOUR FAITH!

It is faith that will make God respond to your cry. Faith is either heard or seen by God. We see examples in scripture (Matthew 8:10, Mark 2:5).

As already stated, just like faith, fear can also be seen or heard.

FEAR NOT!

In spite of the intimidation of your troubles, speak His word about your situation boldly. Act on His word boldly. The only person that can help you is God. He is the only person you should consider pleasing. Faith is the only way to do it; the only way to invite God into your troubles. Notice again what David said in Psalms 56:9.

"WHEN I CRY unto you, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for GOD IS FOR ME." 

Trouble may come. You are to answer it with faith. You are the one to determine when God will intervene for you. God will rise up for you and the enemy will have no choice other than to turn back. The presence of God will defeat the enemy any day. You are to provoke the presence of God by your faith declaration, prayers and praise. 

If you are looking for a classical example there is one in the Old Testament when three enemy nations rose up against Judah and Jehoshaphat. You can read the story from 2 Chronicles 20:1-25.

CONCLUSION!

In the day of trouble if you don't speak because of what people will say or what the devil will do; then fear has mastered you and the trouble will defeat you. Understand that the battle is the Lord's. But the cry is yours. The prayer, declaration and praise is your responsibility. You can conquer fear and defeat your troubles; all of them.