The Apostle Paul installed Timothy as the pastor of Ephesus. Timothy was leading a large church as a young man. There were thousands of people under his leadership, and Paul could sense Timothy struggling with insecurity. When he began, he had strength. But fear eroded that away. Paul wrote two letters to encourage, advise, and give him guidance. One of the critical verses of both letters is found in 2 Timothy 1:7, where Paul wrote to Timothy:
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
All of us face fear because fear is the first negative emotion that followed the fall of man. When Adam fell, he became afraid and hid from God. There was no fear until sin entered the human race. All of mankind respond the way. We act out of fear, but we don’t have to say in dismay. The Bible tells us to address our fear boldly. We are to say we are not afraid when we fear. We are to say that God is our helper when we are scared. He has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. God’s power and love drive out fear, and the discipline of soundness doesn’t let the fear back in. We can be bold as lions, remind ourselves God is the answer. He has given us the Spirit to do great things for Him through His power and anointing.
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?
When the wicked came against me
To eat up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.
Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident.
One thing I have desired of the Lord,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord,
And to inquire in His temple.
For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.
And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
(Psalms 27:1-6)
God gave us Psalms like chapter 27 to drive out the negative emotions that are trying to run your life. Rehearse who God is and what God has done for you. Keep your faith up by driving the fear out of life through the power of the word of God. Here are some additional verses to help build the proper thought life as we answer the call to arms:
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
Let Israel now say, “His mercy endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron now say, “His mercy endures forever.”
Let those who fear the Lord now say, “His mercy endures forever.”
I called on the Lord in distress;
The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.
The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
The Lord is for me among those who help me;
Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.
(Psalms 118:1-7)
And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow goes down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.” (2 Chronicles 20:15-17)
And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. (Exodus 14:13-15)
