Possessed by Fear
Have you ever been possessed by fear? I have just recently. I was so overwhelmed and possessed by fear that my company had to send two trucks and three drivers to rescue me! So when I say that demonic spirits aren’t really a big deal, I am in no way saying that it doesn’t feel like a big deal at the moment of being overwhelmed by it.
Fear is a Demonic Spirit
Blue Letter Bible defines “fear” in the following verse as, “timidity, fearfulness, cowardice.”
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. – 2Ti 1:7 KJV
Power
Love
A Sound Mind
Anything that is not given to us by God is anti-God!
That’s the spirit of the antichrist!
That’s demonic.
Fear is a Liar
The Rest of the Story
I woke up Sunday morning to begin getting ready for church. I found out that a junior in high school that had been playing ball with a group of teens in our yard only a month prior had shot himself the night before. He is dead. Suicide.
I found out that someone I love is doing something that could cause harm to someone else I love. None of my business really because they are both adults. But, I meddled against wisdom’s advice that I had just read THAT MORNING!!!
He that passeth by, [and] meddleth with strife [belonging] not to him, [is like] one that taketh a dog by the ears. – Pro 26:17 KJV
I got bit! Completely blocked on social media, group chats, and rejected. Completely ignoring someone is rejection! This person would not respond to my apologies. I found out Monday that this person was absolutely devastated because I told the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). I was still in the wrong for doing the right thing because it was not my place!
Humble Yourself
By Tuesday morning, these two events had been heavy on my mind and emotions. I preach responsibility! Respond to His ability. I mean that wholeheartedly. The problem is that I was taking these things to my own ability. My actions and response were contrary to what I wrote in my post, “Humble Yourself,” that very morning (1 Peter 5:6-8).
God’s Warnings
God is always speaking. He is always trying to warn us. But I got caught up in pride. I knew something wasn’t right. So I was trying to figure it all out and justify myself. I wrote about pride from a place of…yep…PRIDE!
Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. – Pro 16:18 KJV
The Blame Game
I was also playing the blame game which is never good. Ask Adam and Eve!
I had my excuses for not pushing when I invited this young man and the rest of the teens into my home and getting to know him better.
The fact is that the kiddos were outside playing with their group of friends. Wesley was occupied with his other things. It was Saturday, and I was able to do some ministry work. So, in reality, it doesn’t matter what other human beings I was trying to drag into my excuses, I was ultimately blaming God! His people, His work, His fault!
We would never say that in our moments of temptation and fall, but that is exactly what we are doing. The enemy always reminds me that I am guilty! Jesus always reminds me that I am forgiven!!!
I was possessed by fear.
Our Father is Never Mad at Us!
God is not angry. He is not looking for any and every excuse to punish us. He is love! Why do we accuse God of being a worse parent than we are? Would you ever even think of doing some of the things to your own children that so many accuse God of doing to His?
Long Story Short
I wrote my post from a place of pride. Accusing other people and even God of my inability to prevent something that I ultimately had very limited if any ability to prevent. I wasn’t responding to God’s ability. But I was trying to respond by justifying my own inability which I think always results in blaming others.