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Amid perilous times fear can spread like wildfire, but the Bible reminds us God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power. Here’s how the Bible teaches to hold onto faith and resist being consumed by the spirit of fear.
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
– 2 Timothy 1:7
The Bible defines the “fruits” of the Christian spirit as:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law.”
– Galatians 5:22
Fear is a spirit that can replace and override our Christian spirit if we allow it to take root in our minds.
The YouTube channel Lion of Judah talked about fear in a recent video.
“Fear, is not of God,” says Lion of Judah. “Rather, it is one of the most efficient weapons in the hand of the devil to war against the heart of believers. In fact, the Bible says fear is a spirit.”
What the apostle Paul is teaching above in 2 Timothy 1:7 is that while Christians are commanded to have patience and gentleness, it is not to be to the extent that timidity becomes cowardice. Some Bible translations use the term spirit of cowardice rather than the spirit of fear.
The power of the Holy Spirit is much more than a power of love; it also is one of strength. The apostle Paul credited the Holy Spirit for providing him with the power he needed to preach the gospel.
“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,”
– 1 Corinthians 2:4
Paul faced many challenges in preaching the gospel, including hunger, threats to his life, being imprisoned, and more. Yet, Paul never quit, no matter how difficult.
“By the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.”
– Romans 15:19
We, too, should follow Paul’s example. No matter how difficult things get in the world, and there will be difficulties, we should always lean on our faith in God to overcome fear.
The Bible tells us that God’s Holy Spirit will support us in all circumstances.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
–Isaiah 41:10
Jesus said:
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.”
–John 14:27
