Dear Church,

You find a liberal sprinkling of encouragement against fear throughout the Bible. Psalm 56:11 says, “In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Fear turns into sin when we surrender to it and are immobilized by it. When we allow fear to grow in us, it affects our ‘Koinonia’ with God and our drive to be obedient to his leading. Now, we cannot avoid fear at all costs, but we can recognize its presence, where it originates from and move forward trusting in the promises and provisions of God (by abiding in Him). When it comes to boldly going after what God has called you to, confronting fear is an opportunity to experience our God-given authority in action. Paul, reminds us in 2 Timothy 1:7 “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” The spirit of fear is not from God. When we neglect our relationship with God, a spirit of fear can easily dominate our lives.

As believers let’s not allow our fear to delay our destiny. Satan always brings voices that would try to silence you, create doubt and fear in you and he is hoping to impact God’s plan and purpose to prosper you (spiritually). Remember boldness doesn’t work on you by simply wishing you were bolder. I have met several people walking around with this wish.  It develops through our purposeful and pre-determined disciplined abiding in God.  Boldness is acting with Spirit-empowered conviction, courage, and urgency.  For a believer the only one to fear (holy reverence) is God himself and there’s no power in heaven or on earth or under the earth that remotely approaches the power of God. But In Christ, “we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith” to God our Father (Ephesians 3:12).  Romans 10:31-32 says “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Remember, the early church prayed for boldness (Acts 4:29,31). The bible says when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.  It is time for Immanuel to pray for boldness!

A prayer for All: 
Whatever it takes, Lord, decrease the hold that unbelieving fear has over me and Immanuel Church and increase my/our boldness to proclaim your truth through words and by our actions.  If you have given us the boldness to access your presence O mighty God, why would we be timid or fearful to face a dark and evil world with your truth. Help us to really own the truth that the one who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world – In Jesus name Amen!

Be Encouraged,
Mathews