Dear People of Prayer,
We are a group of people called out to work with God’s Spirit to bring about the transfer of His will from the unseen realm to the seen realm. This is called answered prayer, but answered prayer has an enemy...
IDENTIFYING: UNIDENTIFIED FEAR
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
Fear hides....for it is in itself fearful.
Fear tolerated is faith contaminated!
Fear is a spirit that has a partner, the thief. “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” (John 10:10)
Jesus Christ has come to give us life — Christ has redeemed us from the kingdom of darkness. Therefore, if you are troubled by fear, fear is trespassing on God’s blood-bought property and has no legal right to operate in the life of a Christian. “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.'” (Romans 8:15) Use your “sword of the Spirit” which is the Word of God against fear!
LEARNING FROM THE PAST
The children of Israel were set free from the bondage of slavery in Egypt by the mighty power of God. As they traveled through the wilderness, God repeatedly demonstrated His might through signs and wonders. Yet, when Moses was getting ready to lead the nation to take the promised land of Canaan, ten leaders, filled with unbelief, transferred their unbelief and spirit of fear to three million people saying, "... it is a land that devours its inhabitants..." Consumed by fearful thoughts, the people cried and wept all night long. Why? Because they forgot God was with them and believed a lie instead. Not even the faith of Caleb and Joshua could convince them otherwise.
Believing Lies
No faith — no hope. That certainly produced the fruit of uncontrolled paranoia as emotions ran amuck! We have seen some of this same thing, believing lies, exhibited in our own nation after the Election in November, haven’t we?
The Root of Fear
This is part of the Adamic nature of the first Adam — a nature we were all born with but which is defeated by the nature of the last Adam, Jesus Christ, who abides within us.
Consider the first words of Adam after his transgression. “Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, ‘Where are you?’ So he said, ‘I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.’” (Genesis 3:9-10)
Adam’s sin opened the door to the spirit of fear and contaminated his seed and all his offspring to come.
The Root of Faith — Jesus Christ!
Grace and faith are gifts from God, not of works lest any man boast! (Ephesians 2:8-9) Jesus said, “Have faith in God.” Greek scholars translate this verse as “Have the God kind of faith.” (Mark 11:22)
This is faith that speaks and mountains move!
Without this “developed” faith, we will not accomplish the greater works and establish His Kingdom goodness throughout the earth. The nations need to see demonstrations, signs, wonders, and miracles because it is the true reality of God where nothing is impossible if you believe!
BELIEVING GOD — IT’S A CHOICE
When Jesus began His ministry at thirty years of age, He was sent into the wilderness. At the end of forty days of fasting, His enemy came to tempt Him. With each temptation, Jesus triumphed over fear by using scripture. Jesus knew His Father was faithful as He trusted God for His life, His assignment on earth, and what God said about Him, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)
What was the result of this? Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit! (Luke 4:14)
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18)
Disciples:
Discipline is Required!
In dealing with our assignments to pray, sometimes longtime issues can throw an intercessor into a “prayer rut,” repeating the same prayers over and over again, that can potentially become ineffective, without life (faith) in them; or perhaps unknowingly, those prayers are filled with complaint and anxiety (fear).
If you haven’t established a routine of guarding your thoughts and taking them captive to the Word of God daily (2 Corinthians 10:3-5), most likely you have fear that you do not recognize as fear. Remember, fear tends to hide because it doesn’t want to be cast out.
Life-less prayers can be corrected by praying much in tongues, led by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:26)
Disciples must be doers of the word. (James 1:22) That means when you read scripture and it tells you to do something, you put it into practice ... every day, every month, year after year, decade after decade. This is walking in the Spirit, which is walking in faith.
But you will have to control something that is located just under your nose!
The Power of Words
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21)
Fear (death) can build mountains of unbelief.
How? By the words of your mouth.
That’s why it is not good for you to rehearse your problems over and over, every time you’re with friends. Month after month you’re building something that you don’t want.
“Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!”
(James 3:3-5)
“The good man from his inner good treasure
flings forth good things,
and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse
flings forth evil things.
But I tell you,
on the day of judgment
men will have to give account
for every idle
(inoperative, nonworking) word they speak.
For by your words
you will be justified and acquitted,
and by your words
you will be condemned and sentenced.” (Matthew 12:35-37 AMP)
So, we see from Jesus’ teaching that our words are building things.
Unbelief is one of the tentacles of fear. Words of unbelief can leave a hole in a Christian’s wall of protection. Unbelief and doubt resist and oppose God’s written Word to stand against faith to block manifestations of the Kingdom of God where “nothing is impossible” to him who believes.
God has quite a bit to say on the subject of fear. Did you know there are over three hundred scriptures on fear in the Bible?
Fear is the Opposite of Faith
Fear is actually a spiritual force. It is faith in something you do not want to happen.
All fear is rooted in the fear of death ... which Jesus has already delivered us from.
Read and know Hebrews 2:14-16.
If you have fear operating in your life it will affect answered prayer.
THE NINE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
They are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
These are spiritual forces located in the heart of the born again Believer.
They help us to live a sanctified and victorious life.
Notice, anxiety, worry, apprehension, concern, dread, foreboding, uneasiness, distress, frustration, tension, anguish, or fretfulness cannot be found in the fruit of the spirit because they are manifestations of fear. If these are manifesting in your life they will affect your prayer ministry.
“Okay, I see that. What can I do?”
Follow the instructions of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:4-9.
THE DAY THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
When you and I received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the biggest miracle of all miracles took place. We went from death to life eternal!
God entered into our being and we became His holy habitation. That new man, when fully developed, has the potential to do great things, just like Jesus ... and even greater now as His Body is maturing and awakening to our inheritance in Him.
Think of it — Jesus was not the only man who walked on water.
Peter also walked on water. “Yeah, but that’s because Jesus was right there.”
No, that is not correct.
If Peter was walking on Jesus’ faith, he would not have fallen into the water when he saw the wind and the waves roaring around him. “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31)
Fear caused Peter to sink!
Religious Tradition and Control
Fear is sneaky, hiding in different costumes. The Pharisees and Sadducees were religious leaders who were dominated by fear and led many people into the bondage of fear.
An old saying is "prayer is often caught rather than taught."
Ineffective prayer can also be caught, having no biblical foundation. Guard what you allow to come into your ears!
Listen for direction from the Holy Spirit in your inner man.
FEAR
AND UNANSWERED PRAYER
Sometimes fear is hiding beneath a cloak of weariness where you become disillusioned.
Example: Perhaps you have been standing on God’s Word, speaking to the mountain (problem) a long time. As we have already said, this may cause you to get into a prayer rut that causes you to fret and wonder if change will ever take place. If faith begins to dwindle so will your prayers. Empty prayers produce zero results!
These are patterns of behavior that the Holy Spirit uncovers to help us all learn and grow.
Putting God First Place in Your Life
Once fear is uncovered, correction is easy. Repent. Double-up on your Bible Study time. Listen to anointed teachings on faith often. (Don’t ever have your fellowship time with your cell phone next to you. Interruptions will steal your ability to receive faith.)
Faith Comes by Hearing
Here is a teaching on faith that will charge your spirit with God’s Word and nourish your prayer life! Kenneth Hagin – Fight the Good Fight of Faith!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgXoXJHzB64&t=872s
Jerry Savelle gave a priceless teaching on standing in faith years ago. It was a meeting that we had the privilege of attending. It's a classic! Be prepared for some humor...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFoFMSGQ5qk
Suggested Assignment
How can you identify fear?
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you any areas that you have a hidden fear.
Example: “The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.” (Proverbs 29:25)
Ask your Helper to identify anything hindering answered prayer.
Some other things that influence answered prayer:
Be aware of what you are continually thinking about. Remember: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.
What are you always talking or whining about to God or others?
Are you complaining? Are you making your mountain bigger? (Ephesians 4:29-32)
Replace negative attitudes with a scripture promise. Meditate on that word. (Joshua 1:8)
Are you unevenly yoked with an unbeliever? (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1)
Put on God’s armor and fight the good fight of faith. Speak to the mountain. Believe what you SAY will be done for you. (Mark 11:23) Faith works through love. Forgive quickly.
Perfected love casts out all fear!
Sing! See Power Praise
Maintain a Victorious Life Free From Fear
“But you, beloved,
building yourselves up
on your most holy faith,
praying in the Holy Spirit,
keep yourselves in the love of God,
looking for the mercy
of our Lord Jesus Christ
unto eternal life.” (Jude 20)
PRAYER WITH PURPOSE: See Current Events
- Pray for your state and nation.
- Fast and pray: Thursday, January 19, 2017 for the President-Elect and Inauguration Day (Friday, January 20th)
- Display your flag on January 20th to show your love for our country!
Pray for:
The Glorious Church The Lost Elected Leaders
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