Someone once defined fear as False Evidence Appearing Real. But how and when exactly did fear come to plague man? When man fell in the Garden of Eden, fear came. Torment and separation from the life of God which is the light of men (John 1:1) also came.
After fear, shame came and limited man's communication with God. As a result, man fell into utter darkness. Man was too ashamed to approach a holy God. He could not communicate with Him any longer.
Man's tale of woes did not end in shame but sin came and incapacitated man. Man became dominated by external influence of nature. Man became subject to life. In other words, all the elemental forces that were hitherto in control of man began to control man.
The fact is that God did not create man to be dominated by fear or shame. Well, for a natural man, fear is admitted but for a child of God, the Lord's admonition is:
Don't worry—I am with you. Don't be afraid—I am your God. I will make you strong. I will help you. I will support you with my right hand that brings victory (ERV, Isaiah 41:10).
Despite the above admonition, many believers are still plagued and paralysed with fear. The reason is that they are still walking in sin and disobedience. To walk in sin is to walk in darkness, fear and shame. When we come to Christ, the basis for fear and shame is removed because Christ brought a restoration of capacity. Fear resulted from disobedience. So, if we obey God, we have no reason for being afraid.
Faith is the opposite of fear. Faith has no limit of operation. Faith results from obedience. Our faith is anchored in Christ. The resurrection power backs the operation of faith. We don't need to understand everything that goes on around us but we must believe that Jesus is there to help us out.
An example is Apostle Peter when he was walking on the water. Arguably, he didn't have to understand the laws of floatation but he stepped out in faith to walk on the water just like Jesus. However, fear came when he stopped focusing on Jesus—the Author and Finisher of his faith and our faith and began to analyse the mechanism behind such a supernatural feat. Sometimes, we may have to play a fool in order to allow God to reveal His mightiness in us and through us:
Faith is the opposite of fear. Faith has no limit of operation. Faith results from obedience. Our faith is anchored in Christ. The resurrection power backs the operation of faith. We don't need to understand everything that goes on around us but we must believe that Jesus is there to help us out.
An example is Apostle Peter when he was walking on the water. Arguably, he didn't have to understand the laws of floatation but he stepped out in faith to walk on the water just like Jesus. However, fear came when he stopped focusing on Jesus—the Author and Finisher of his faith and our faith and began to analyse the mechanism behind such a supernatural feat. Sometimes, we may have to play a fool in order to allow God to reveal His mightiness in us and through us:
Don't fool yourselves. Whoever thinks they are wise in this world should become a fool. That's the only way they can be wise (ERV, 1 Corinthians 3:18).
Fear will keep you under the natural capacity but faith will take you to the realm of the supernatural. Faith always draws our attention to tangible evidence but not to an abstract philosophy. Truth remains the truth whether we believe it or not. Faith does not create a result but reveals an already existing result. So, if you want to operate in faith, don't meddle with sin or lies and determine to obey God in all situations.
