1 Corinthians 15:55-58– “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
- When power of death is dead, you are truly free
Fear is a major tactic of the enemy.
1 Kings 19:1-3– And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” 3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
- Jezebel is the only spirit besides antichrist spirit mentioned in Revelations 2:20
- Elijah is a type of the Church
We can’t let fear be our motivating factor
- Numbers 13:26-33 – Seeing giants, feeling like grasshoppers
- Proverbs 28:15– Likea roaring lion and a charging bear Is a wicked ruler over poor people.
What happens when the people of God are motivated by fear – nothing
Joshua 7:2-5– Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth Aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, “Go up and spy out the country.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. 3 And they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not weary all the people there, for the people of Ai are few.” 4 So about three thousand men went up there from the people, but they fled before the men of Ai. 5 And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men, for they chased them from before the gate as far as Shebarim, and struck them down on the descent; therefore the hearts of the people melted and became like water.
Joshua 7:7– And Joshua said, “Alas, Lord God, why have You brought this people over the Jordan at all—to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Oh, that we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan!
- They needed to consult God and get God’s perceptive – and get sin out of the camp
We won’t assume responsibility out of fear
2 Timothy 1:6-7– Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
How shall we respond to fear?
1 Peter 5:8– Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
1 John 4:4– You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Romans 8:19– For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.
Romans 8: 14– For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
- Not led by fear — But must bring God perceptive in – me plus Jesus equals majority