Choose Not to Fear! by Bernard Smalls

FAITH VERSUS FEAR

Choose Not to Fear!

THE SPIRITUAL LAW OF RECIPROCALS
Yesterday we took a look at the two master laws that govern everything in this planet. I remember reading Romans 8: 1-2 in my Bible College days when it seemed like the Holy Spirit said; Now that is an important verse Bernard! The amazing thing is that was long before I heard Kenneth Copeland teaching on the law of reciprocals. The Holy Spirit within is always trying to teach us and lead us into all truth. As we said yesterday, that means there are now two Master Laws functioning in the earth. God's original-which is the Law of the Spirit of Life-and Satan's reciprocal, or counterfeit-which is the Law of Sin and Death. As far as God is concerned, every believer has been delivered from Satan's law and all its effects. Jesus has done everything necessary to set us free. Look at the chart below which we looked at yesterday and you will see exactly what I'm talking about. There I have listed the two Master Laws along with their authors and some of the results they produce. You'll notice that each part corresponds with its reciprocal. It is the same-yet opposite.

The Law of the Spirit of Life The Law of Sin and Death
Jesus Christ Satan

the new birth spiritual death
the Baptism in the Holy Spirit demonic oppression
righteousness unrighteousness
healing sickness
prosperity poverty
love hate
success failure



THE CHOICE IS YOURS!

In Psalm 118:6, David said, "The Lord is on my side; I will not fear...." Notice he didn't say, "I'll pray and ask God to take the fear away." He didn't say, "I try not to be afraid." He said, "I WILL NOT FEAR." Refusing to fear is first of all a matter of the will. But, as that verse indicates, it is also a matter of choosing to believe that in every situation God is on your side and by His power, He will see you through. I like that. When Bernard needs help the Lord is on his side. He is also on your side, but you must choose to not fear.
Of course, to successfully walk by faith and not fear, we need to know exactly how to tap into that power. Second Peter 1:3-4 tells us. It says:
[God's] divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust (or Adam's sin)..
And 1 John 2:5 says: Whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. Then 1 John 4:18 says: There is no fear in love; but perfected love casteth out fear....

F.E.A.R.

False Evidence Appearing Real

Faith is the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Fear is false evidence resulting from things that are seen which contradict the Word or the exceeding great and precious promises of God. God makes available everything we could possibly need, every conceivable blessing, through the promises in His Word. If we'll believe them and activate the Law of the Spirit of Life, those promises will manifest in our lives. They will open the way for us to escape the destruction brought into the earth by the Law of Sin and Death or Adam's transgression. Satan, however, challenges those promises with fear. He brings us the false evidence of contrary circumstances to convince us those promises can never come to pass. He tells us lies. He contradicts the Word of God and says, "You'll never make it. You're too weak. Other folks can walk by faith because they're stronger than you. You are not as spiritual as they are. There's something wrong with you..."
The choice is yours. Will you listen to the Word of God or the false evidence (lies) of the devil?

"Well, Bernard, I'm not really listening to the devil. I believe the Word of God. But I can't just forget what happened to me in the past. I failed. I didn't receive my healing. I was mistreated..."

You'd better forget those things! You'd better put them under the blood of Jesus and wash them away forever. If you don't, you'll find yourself meditating on them. And just as faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, fear comes by hearing the word of the devil. Fear grows when you entertain his threats of the future and his boasts about the past.

YOU CAN WALK ON WATER
That's what happened to Peter. You can read about it in Matthew 14. Jesus came walking on the water toward his boat like we would walk down our sidewalk and Peter said, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water." Jesus answered by saying, "Come" (verses 28-29). Peter stepped out of the boat on that Word (the word COME). He succeeded in walking on the water. "But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me" (verse 30). When did he begin to sink? When he saw the false evidence appearing real or the wind which had nothing to do with him walking on the water in the first place. If it's calm enough can you walk across the water in a swimming pool? Not without faith!
Do you see the progression there? Jesus gave His promise through His Word. Satan challenged that faith-giving Word with fear. Peter gave in to that fear and failed. That's the way it works. Believe God's Word, act in faith and you succeed. Believe the devil, act in fear and you fail.

REAL FAITH WINS!
You might as well face it. As long as you are on this earth, the devil is going to talk to you. He has a right to test your faith by bringing you circumstances and lies to see if you'll receive them. But when he does, refuse them. Cast down those fearful imaginations and every thought that is contrary to the promise of God (2 Corinthians 10:5). Say, "The Lord is on my side, I WILL NOT FEAR!"
Then open your mouth and speak the Word of God. Use it to contradict the devil's lies. If he tells you that you won't have enough money to pay your house payment this month, don't just struggle silently with that thought. Speak up. Say right out loud, "I will too have the money to pay my house payment. I know I will because my God supplies all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus!"
Kenneth Copeland said; "I found out a long time ago that when my mouth speaks, my mind has to stop and listen to what it's saying. Maybe you won't fully believe that confession the first time you make it. But if you'll keep saying it, you'll keep hearing it. And eventually your faith will be so strong and your heart will be so full, you'll start speaking with total confidence. That's when the devil will run for cover because fear has no chance when faith comes on the scene. Faith is the original. Fear is the counterfeit. And the real overcomes the phony every time.

Listen, my friend. As believers, you and I have been redeemed from fear. We don't have to put up with it. We can be free-and we will be! Already, God is raising up an army of people the likes of which this world has never seen. They are people who have made up their minds to believe God. People who absolutely refuse to bend to fear. It is this spiritual army who will take the promises of Almighty God and use them to crush Satan under their feet. There is nothing he can do to stop them. For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ [the Anointed] Jesus and His anointing has made them free from the Law of Sin and Death. This Cyber Church was raised up to help you get the truth and prepare to be a part of that army! Let's rise up in faith and kick fear in the seat of the pants and move ahead!