“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.

Job 3:25  (NKJ)

25 For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me.

Job did not have problems because God is mean—Job had problems because he operated in fear. He sacrificed to God all the time for his children because he was fearful for them—that they would sin and disown God in their hearts. God put a hedge of protection around Job, but his fear caused the hedge to come down and the devil was able to attack him. Later, Job repented for his attitude and for the wrong words he had spoken in his ignorance.

Jeremiah 42:16  (NKJ)

16 ‘then it shall be that the sword which you feared shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt; the famine of which you were afraid shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there you shall die.

Do not operate in fear, because you open the doors for that thing you fear to come upon you. For example, some people are terrified of cancer and yet they end  up getting cancer. As Christians who fear God, we have God’s hand of protection upon our lives, but we can remove ourselves from that protection— by our fear.

2 Hebrews 2:14-15  (NKJ)

14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Fear of death brings bondage. Any kind of fear brings bondage—even if  it is an unwarranted and unreasonable fear. Fear doesn’t have to be based on anything real to keep people in bondage. Most of the time, the fear that people have—is totally unnecessary. It does not help them or make their situation better, but rather, worse.

II Kings 17:38-39  (NKJ)

38 “And the covenant that I have made with you, you shall not forget, nor shall you fear other gods.

39 “But the LORD your God you shall fear; and He will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.”

The only person we are to fear is God and even then, it is not a scared fear, but a reverential fear.

Deuteronomy 31:6  (NKJ)

6 “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One       who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Joshua 10:25  (NKJ)

25 Then Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage, for thus the LORD will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.”

God is on our side. He fights for us. He is always there for us. He never lets us down. No matter how great the enemy appears to be, God will defeat them on our behalf—if we will walk in faith— not fear— if we will have courage and trust completely in Him.

I John 4:18  (NKJ)

18 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.

When we operate in fear—we are tormented. When we have confidence in the great love that God for us, we can rest in the palm of His hand. His wings cover us. The Lord is our hiding place and His angels watch over us.

2 Timothy 1:7  (NIV)

7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Fear has no place in the life of a believer. When God places His Spirit in us, He gives us a spirit of power, love and self-discipline. Let the Spirit of God flood your heart and rise up big on the inside of you, and you will be filled with faith. Any thought of fear must leave. You will close the door to the devil and God’s hedge of protection will surround you and keep you.