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Peace I leave you, my peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful. John 14:27
We all have fears. Do not let them become your friends.
Typically, when you see “fear” in the New Testament, the Greek word is “phobia”. There are a lot of phobias in our English language: arachnophobia (fear of spiders), agoraphobia (fear of heights), mysophobia (fear of germs), and many others.
This is not the type of fear mentioned by Jesus in John 14:27.
The Greek word translated “fearful” in John 14:27 is used only once in the New Testament. It is not phobia but a different word. It can be translated fearful, timid, or living in dread. Let’s repeat… fearful, timid, or living in dread.
This fear is an “in the moment” response to difficult situations.
By the name of Jesus, let fearful reactions be gone from our lives in 2021. Jesus teaches in John 14:22 that He gives a secure peace that overwhelms fear, timidity, and foreboding dread.
Jesus taught in Luke 10:19:
Behold, I have given you authority to walk on snake and scorpions, and authority over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you!
Okay, let us pause. Take five deep breaths. I want you to get this important Biblical principle: There is a difference between “in the moment” fear and long-term phobias.
Snakes and scorpions sneak up on you and attack! Phobias are there day in and day out.
Five more breaths and another important lesson: Attacks become phobias. In 49 years of listening to the fears of people, almost all of them started with an igniting snake bite or scorpion sting. We are not born with fear. Fears begin with an attack and the resultant pain, bitterness, anger, or injury causes a phobia.
Fear of snakes, airplanes, people, clowns, giving blood, darkness, and even balloons, starts in moment – an attack.
Two considerations: What do you do when you are attacked that will deny phobia a foothold? And what can you do about a phobia that afflicts you now?
Same solution. Jesus has given you authority!
Read the following three passages out loud:
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
Submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7
Be alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in your faith. 1 Peter 5:8-9
You have authority. Use it. Considering that demons are behind attacks, and phobias are acceptance of demons guised as phobia-ism, command them to leave in the name of Jesus. If they do not leave, keep commanding!
We all have fears. Don’t allow them to become your friends or familiar spirits. Command them to leave in the name of Jesus.
For other insights into freedom from fear, please read Interruptions #107, #141, and #165. All Interruptions can be found at www.grantedwardsauthor.com.