From Fear to Confidence
God calls us to grow up from fear to confidence. “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15) The Spirit God puts within us is not a spirit to be fearful, but the spirit as of a beloved child to their parent.
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect [complete, mature] in love.” (1 John 4:18) This is speaking of any fear other than the fear of God, which we will look at next. If we are continuing to find ourselves bound by fears, we simply need to take all those fears captive, and bring them to God.
“In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.” (Proverbs 14:26) The fear of the Lord does not feel the same as fearing anything else, because that’s the way God made us. He gave us the ability to fear so that we will fear Him. “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.” (Proverbs 14:27)
From the fear of sickness—to confidence in health. “They brought unto [Jesus] many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” (Matthew 8:16-17) “With his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” (3 John 1:2) The desire to be in good health is not an immature, ungodly desire. John desired good health for his friend Gaius. To desire to be in good health, and to fear sickness, are two different things. It’s true that God will allow afflictions to come upon us, but if He does that, we’re still within His hand anyway.
From the fear of death—to confidence in eternal life. Hebrews 2:15 speaks of Jesus coming to “deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” God wants to deliver all of His children from the fear of death. And here’s some truth to deliver you from the fear of death. Jesus said, “He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.” (John 6:56-58) The newborn child of God has begun their eternal life when they’re born again, not when they leave this world. Jesus tasted death for every man, so that each one who become part of the body of Christ “is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24)
From the fear of hell—to confidence in the Kingdom of Heaven. Mark 16:16 very clearly says, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Then in Luke 12:32, Jesus said, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Don’t be afraid of hell if you love the Lord Jesus. He first loved you, and if you love Him and have surrendered your life unto Him, then it is God’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.
From the fear of being rejected by God—to confidence in being accepted. God has accepted all those who come in repentance and faith to the Lord Jesus. “He hath chosen us in him… unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” (Ephesians 1:4-6)
From the fear of failure—to the confidence of success. Luke 21:26 speaks of “Men’s hearts failing them for fear.” But God tells us in Joshua 1:8, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”