The Fear Factor
July 2012
"And in the fourth watch [between 3:00—6:00 a.m.] of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea."
"And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified and said, It is a ghost! And they screamed out with fright."
"But instantly He spoke to them, saying, Take courage! I Am! Stop being afraid!"
" And Peter answered Him, Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."
"He said, Come! So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and he came toward Jesus."
"But when he perceived and felt the strong wind, he was frightened, and as he began to sink, he cried out, Lord, save me [from death]!"
"Instantly Jesus reached out His hand and caught and held him, saying to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" Matthew 14:25-31
One question….what is it that you desire to do, but fear has been hindering you? Write it down on a sheet of paper and we will deal with that later. First things first, let's talk about Peter. God told Peter to do something that was impossible for him to do in his own strength and ability……He told him to walk on water! But before Jesus told Peter to come to Him by walking on the water He said, “Take courage! I Am! Stop being afraid” (Matthew 14:27). This is important….because my friend, if fear is not dealt with, it will keep you from doing what God has called you to do. Fear is the result of you putting all your trust in your own strength and ability! Note that before Peter even stepped out of the boat, God was saying to him to take courage and not be afraid because He is! The Word tells us that “Greater is He that is in us” (1 John 4:4) and that “We can do all things through Christ” (Philippians 4:13). Both of these scriptures show us that God in us is greater and that we can do all things through Him…not in our own strength and ability….BUT IT IS THROUGH GOD’S STRENGTH AND ABILITY THAT WE DO ALL THINGS……EVEN THE IMPOSSIBLE! So Peter stepped out of the boat; he stepped out of his comfort zone, out of his ability and strength and did what God told him to do. One thing that you must know is that when you step out on faith, God will see and meet your faith as long as you keep your eyes on Him! It is also important that you dismiss your strength and ability and put all your trust in God's ability and strength! That's the key to overcoming fear and walking in victory! So Peter began to walk on water, he defied the odds; he was doing the impossible! And he was doing the impossible because he had his eyes on Jesus, but the minute the wind started blowing violently Peter got afraid. Peter started looking around him and focusing on the problem instead of the solution! He was looking at everything and everyone except the One Who could help and save him! Maybe you can relate to Peter. Maybe you are still in the “boat”….the boat represents the natural, it represents your comfort zone and your strength and ability….and although you’ve heard God say “fear not," “come,” or “go” you still are afraid to step out on faith. Or maybe you have stepped out of the “boat” and you were doing good, but you got distracted by the cares of this world and fear crept into your heart. My friend, today I want to encourage you! It’s time that you get out of that “boat” and step into the supernatural! Remember 1 Corinthians 2:9, it says that “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and neither hath it entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him!” So you already know that the plans that God has for YOU are not ordinary, but extraordinary and in order to see these plans manifested you must move out of the natural and step into the promises of God’s Word! Quit trusting yourself more than you trust God! And once you step out of that “boat” and do what God called you to do….keep your eyes on Christ alone! The devil will try to distract you, he will try to frighten you with what it “looks like,” that is why you must KEEP YOUR EYES ON GOD! You will be afraid if you don’t, you will sink if you don’t…but if you keep your eyes on God you will do great things….that’s a promise and God always keeps His promises! He is faithful and He is a Man of His Word! Know that where you are is not where you are going to be…those are two different places! You must walk by faith and not by sight! And always remember that there is more with you then against you! (2 Kings 6:16) Know that God did not give you the spirit of fear…but of power, love and a sound mind! (2 Timothy 1:7) It’s time that you step out on faith….fill that application out, write that book, start that ministry….etc. and walk it out with power, love, and a sound mind! God has your back and He will never fail you! Cast all your cares and worries on God and let Him work it out. Know that God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9) and that He is for YOU….and if God be for YOU, who can be against YOU? (Romans 8:31) So now….remember that sheet of paper that you wrote your desire on? Get that in your hand and pray this:
“The Lord has blessed that which I put my hands to! The abundance of my hands has defeated lack and henceforth, everything I put my hands to shall be called blessed, shall prosper, shall be sufficient, and shall multiply into more than enough! You can find me in Joshua 1:8, this is a direct promise from God to me! I believe and so it is settled and it shall be manifested in my life! I delight myself daily in God’s Word and His promises to me and yes, I believe that He has ALREADY GIVEN ME THE DESIRES OF MY HEART! The blessings of the Lord shall overtake me! I shall fulfill my purpose and walk out the plans of God for my life with power, love, and a sound mind! There is no fear here….ONLY FAITH! Amen!”
Now put that sheet of paper on your mirror or refrigerator…wherever you will see it often! And get a scripture and write it underneath that desire on that sheet of paper….and pray that scripture every day! Keep your eyes on God and His Word alone and I guarantee you God will make the impossible, possible in your life! Be encouraged!
"And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified and said, It is a ghost! And they screamed out with fright."
"But instantly He spoke to them, saying, Take courage! I Am! Stop being afraid!"
" And Peter answered Him, Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."
"He said, Come! So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and he came toward Jesus."
"But when he perceived and felt the strong wind, he was frightened, and as he began to sink, he cried out, Lord, save me [from death]!"
"Instantly Jesus reached out His hand and caught and held him, saying to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" Matthew 14:25-31
One question….what is it that you desire to do, but fear has been hindering you? Write it down on a sheet of paper and we will deal with that later. First things first, let's talk about Peter. God told Peter to do something that was impossible for him to do in his own strength and ability……He told him to walk on water! But before Jesus told Peter to come to Him by walking on the water He said, “Take courage! I Am! Stop being afraid” (Matthew 14:27). This is important….because my friend, if fear is not dealt with, it will keep you from doing what God has called you to do. Fear is the result of you putting all your trust in your own strength and ability! Note that before Peter even stepped out of the boat, God was saying to him to take courage and not be afraid because He is! The Word tells us that “Greater is He that is in us” (1 John 4:4) and that “We can do all things through Christ” (Philippians 4:13). Both of these scriptures show us that God in us is greater and that we can do all things through Him…not in our own strength and ability….BUT IT IS THROUGH GOD’S STRENGTH AND ABILITY THAT WE DO ALL THINGS……EVEN THE IMPOSSIBLE! So Peter stepped out of the boat; he stepped out of his comfort zone, out of his ability and strength and did what God told him to do. One thing that you must know is that when you step out on faith, God will see and meet your faith as long as you keep your eyes on Him! It is also important that you dismiss your strength and ability and put all your trust in God's ability and strength! That's the key to overcoming fear and walking in victory! So Peter began to walk on water, he defied the odds; he was doing the impossible! And he was doing the impossible because he had his eyes on Jesus, but the minute the wind started blowing violently Peter got afraid. Peter started looking around him and focusing on the problem instead of the solution! He was looking at everything and everyone except the One Who could help and save him! Maybe you can relate to Peter. Maybe you are still in the “boat”….the boat represents the natural, it represents your comfort zone and your strength and ability….and although you’ve heard God say “fear not," “come,” or “go” you still are afraid to step out on faith. Or maybe you have stepped out of the “boat” and you were doing good, but you got distracted by the cares of this world and fear crept into your heart. My friend, today I want to encourage you! It’s time that you get out of that “boat” and step into the supernatural! Remember 1 Corinthians 2:9, it says that “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and neither hath it entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him!” So you already know that the plans that God has for YOU are not ordinary, but extraordinary and in order to see these plans manifested you must move out of the natural and step into the promises of God’s Word! Quit trusting yourself more than you trust God! And once you step out of that “boat” and do what God called you to do….keep your eyes on Christ alone! The devil will try to distract you, he will try to frighten you with what it “looks like,” that is why you must KEEP YOUR EYES ON GOD! You will be afraid if you don’t, you will sink if you don’t…but if you keep your eyes on God you will do great things….that’s a promise and God always keeps His promises! He is faithful and He is a Man of His Word! Know that where you are is not where you are going to be…those are two different places! You must walk by faith and not by sight! And always remember that there is more with you then against you! (2 Kings 6:16) Know that God did not give you the spirit of fear…but of power, love and a sound mind! (2 Timothy 1:7) It’s time that you step out on faith….fill that application out, write that book, start that ministry….etc. and walk it out with power, love, and a sound mind! God has your back and He will never fail you! Cast all your cares and worries on God and let Him work it out. Know that God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9) and that He is for YOU….and if God be for YOU, who can be against YOU? (Romans 8:31) So now….remember that sheet of paper that you wrote your desire on? Get that in your hand and pray this:
“The Lord has blessed that which I put my hands to! The abundance of my hands has defeated lack and henceforth, everything I put my hands to shall be called blessed, shall prosper, shall be sufficient, and shall multiply into more than enough! You can find me in Joshua 1:8, this is a direct promise from God to me! I believe and so it is settled and it shall be manifested in my life! I delight myself daily in God’s Word and His promises to me and yes, I believe that He has ALREADY GIVEN ME THE DESIRES OF MY HEART! The blessings of the Lord shall overtake me! I shall fulfill my purpose and walk out the plans of God for my life with power, love, and a sound mind! There is no fear here….ONLY FAITH! Amen!”
Now put that sheet of paper on your mirror or refrigerator…wherever you will see it often! And get a scripture and write it underneath that desire on that sheet of paper….and pray that scripture every day! Keep your eyes on God and His Word alone and I guarantee you God will make the impossible, possible in your life! Be encouraged!