The Conflict Of Fear

II Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

The wrong kind of fear stops us from doing what God wants us to do. Each of us experience fear in our lives. I know I have many times. One way I have let fear stop me from doing what God wanted me to do is in my witnessing to people. I have feared how people would respond to me telling them about the Lord. I have feared rejection and at times even someone getting angry with me.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." There is a right kind of fear that the Bible speaks about. It is a reverential fear. We are to reverence God.

In our text verse we see a fear that is a timid type of fear or a cowardly type of fear. God does not give us this type of fear. He does not want us to run and hide.

There are many ways we tend to have fear.
--> We fear not being accepted by others.
--> We fear rejection from family members.
--> We have fear of failure.
--> We fear being hurt by others.

In our text verse we also see God has given us power...power to know strength and accept it. Fear makes us weak but power gives us strength...the power of God gives us strength. Ephesians 6:11 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." We need the power of God's might. Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." We can gain power from His Word. Proverbs 10:29 "The way of the LORD is strength to the upright:..." We gain power from His way. If we don't walk in the way of the Lord we will be weak. A weak person has a weak testimony for the Lord.

We also see in this verse that God has given us love. Love is a fruit of the Spirit. It seeks the best for others. I John 4:18 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." There is no fear in this love. God's love needs to be controlling us.

God has also given us a sound mind. This is free from defect; healthy and disciplined. We are to be balanced. A disciplined mind will get us to serve the Lord. When we don't think the way we should or do things we should do then we begin to fear. A sound mind will cause us to be faithful to the Lord. It will cause us to help others serve the Lord too.

So let me ask you....are you living in fear? Or are you living in power, love and with a sound mind?