Bible Studies

When We Run Away from Our Fear is When We Get Beat Up

by Michael Edwards 
04/05/18
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Years ago, at the appropriate time in my life, God showed me in a dream that when I ran from my fears is when I got beat up, not when I faced my fears.

When we run from our fears they never go away, they chase us and torment us. This is the spirit of fear that God has not given a believer.

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Tim 1:7 ESV

If we foster our fears in this manner, they will grow and box in our life, making the prison cell of fear smaller and smaller as we age.

Recently, I have had the opportunity to see up close the results of fear in the life of a good friend. In one conversation with him, it was so obvious to me how fear was trying to steal his life away. It was obvious because I have lived it. I know for certain that my friend is very talented and capable of great things but fear has temporarily blinded him to this truth. From experience, I also know that once he firmly decides to turn around and face his fear, his victory will be great.

As I spoke with him, I felt anger rise in me against the spirit of fear. So many people have had their lives ruined by this device of Satan.

False Evidence Appearing Real.

Maybe you have heard of the acronym F.E.A.R. - False evidence appearing real. The spirit of fear is nothing more than a feeling that we run from. It is an illusion that can kill, steal and destroy, so that tells us where it comes from. F.E.A.R is like the shadow of death, unable to kill us, but if we let it, shadows can scare the heck out of us and steal our life. Satan wants us bound up in fear, unavailable and unusable by God. Fear is an inward focus on self instead of an outward focus on Jesus. Jesus calls us to walk in faith, not in fear. Satan wants to keep us from walking in faith bound up in fear and does it by planting seeds of doubt in our minds about God’s nature, desire, and love for us. The only way these seeds can grow is if we focus on them. If we ignore these seeds of doubt, refuse to meditate upon them, they will wither away and die.

Change the Record in Your Head

Just like you cannot get that song out of your head unless you sing a new song, you cannot just stop thoughts of fear and worry, they need to be replaced with the truth. When we try and stop the spirit of fear without replacing it, we end up in a worse situation.

“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.” Luke 11:24-26 ESV

You need to change the record in your head, sweep your house and put it in good order and then fill it with the Spirit of truth, your identity in Christ. Don’t leave it vacant by letting your thoughts and mind wander or things will never improve. Jesus came, brought us the truth so that we can have an abundant life. If we exercise our faith by captivating our minds and thoughts upon the finished work of Jesus and who we are in Christ continually, we will have the abundant life He promised.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10 ESV

Turn Around and Face Your Fear

I can guarantee you that once you firmly decide to turn around and face your fear, your life will improve dramatically. If you feel imprisoned by the spirit of fear, maybe it is time to get angry with fear. Not with yourself but with the spirit of fear. The spirit of fear is irrational and based on “what if or what are they going to think.” It is not a legitimate fear. No one is holding a gun to your head and threating to pull the trigger. It is time to reject this illusion of fear and take your life back. To decide each day to never again let fear run your life. To throw caution to the wind and live free. You cannot afford to live under the tyranny of fear any longer. You must reject it as unacceptable.

Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety. Pro 29:25 NLT

So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Heb 13:6 ESV

Do you feel that fear right now lurking in the shadows seeking an opportunity to torment you? Maybe fear is lying to you right now and telling you that you will never succeed and be free. Don’t listen to it; it is a lie.

Close your eyes and in your mind, turn around right now and look directly at the feeling of fear. In your mind, walk directly towards the feeling of fear and right through it, and watch it evaporate. Keep this mental exercise handy and use it on a regular basis at the very first sign of the spirit of fear. Catch it when it is small and weak, and your victory is easy but great. Small victories multiplied add up to big changes.

Put One Foot in Front of the Other

What is it that you want or need to do in your life to have a better life? What is it that fear has held you back from doing?

Fear Leads to Procrastination and Double-Mindedness, a Divided Mind

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:5-8 NAS

If you are caught up in fear, you are like the squirrel that runs out in the middle of the road and then sees the headlights. He stops and cannot decide if he should go forward or back and ends up getting run over.

With Christ, All Things are Possible

And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matt 19:26 NAS

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Phil 4:13 BSB

Here is a constructive way to move forward. Write down a goal; something fear has kept you from doing, of where you want to go and specific small steps how you will get there. Small bite-sized bites are how you can eat anything that seems overwhelming, even an elephant. Take time to do this step and make your steps clear and unambiguous, so there is no question as to what needs to be done to accomplish each step.

Now, this is crucial, once you have a goal and the simple small steps written down to achieve the goal, stop thinking about it and just take the first bite, just do the first small specific step that will get you to your goal. Maybe the step was to go online and get the sign-up information for a class you will need to take. That is your victory for today. Tomorrow, take the next bite, Maybe, it is to fill out the application. Check off each bite on your list as you go to mark your progress. Before you know it, you will be halfway to your goal, and then you will achieve your goal and laugh at the fear that once held you back.

Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

When we compare ourselves to others, we act foolishly and without wisdom.

For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding. 2 Cor 10:12 NASB

Keep your eyes off yourself and others and on Christ’s finished work.

The Key to Casting Out All Fear

Be firmly established in your mind and thoughts the truth that you are greatly loved and righteous by the blood of Christ, totally right with God in Christ. His perfect loves casts out all fear.

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” Rom 8:15 ESV

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,  and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. Heb 2: 14-15 ESV

God Is Love

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. 

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 

We love, because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also. 1 Joh 4:7-21 NASB

You have eternity to do things Christian, do not fear.

The following studies will help you captivate your thoughts and mind to the finished work of Christ and set you free from the spirit of fear. Fill the house of your mind with these thoughts. Let them captivate you.

On the Other Side of the Fear is the Flow

How to Take Thoughts Captive to The Obedience of Christ

See Yourself as God Does, Stop Doubting, Rest in Him, Walk in Peace

God WILL NOT Erase Your Names from of the Book of Life Christian

I Am a New Creation IN CHRIST

I Am Holy, I Am Sanctified, I Am Perfected

God Said a Believer Can Never be Considered Unholy

Believers are Never Called Sinners in the New Testament

Jesus Never Called a Believer a Hypocrite

Sin Does Not Make a Christian a Hypocrite

God SWORE I Will NOT be Angry With or Rebuke Believers

There is No Condemnation for You Christian

We Need Jesus for Righteousness, Not Happiness

If You Believe You Have Been Saved

Leave the Burden on God

Jesus Did Not Die to See If We Can Qualify

God Will Provide for His Ambassadors

Many more New Covenant Bible Studies HERE. Jesus poured out His blood for the New Covenant of grace and truth, replacing the Old Covenant law of Moses. Believers are exclusively under the New Covenant, the last will and testament of Jesus that began after the cross. 

And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood. Luke 22:20