Billy Joe Daugherty - Gods Word for You Fear Not

"If you don't face down your fears, fear will face you down!"

Billy Joe Daugherty

Contents

Chapter 1

Continuing Education 101"Fear Not"

The battle to stand unwavering, strong and victorious in the face of fear is won or lost in the arena of the mind.

Fear faces a challenge and calls it a "mountain." Faith faces the same challenge and calls it "an opportunity for the manifestation of the power of God." You can stand against fear with God's Word and overcome it.

Let's assume we are in Continuing Education 101"Fear Not ." The course objectives are: 1) To gain knowledge on how to be totally free from fear; and 2) To learn how to stand against fear in every area of your life. For some people this will be a refresher course; for others it will be knowledge not previously attained.

In the secular world, people often take refresher courses in executive management, secretarial skills, or sales skills to update themselves on certain procedures. These courses are called "continuing education," and we never think anything about it. "Continuing education" needs to be pursued in the spiritual realm as well.

Some people say, "I don't have any fear," but there are certain areas where fear takes hold on their lives. They don't see lack of witnessing as a fear. They just think, "I haven't chosen to witness." The command to witness is to every believer. Part of being a Christian is telling the good news of Jesus Christ to others.

Then there is the simple thing of worrying about how you are going to make it through next week. Some people have lost marriages and homes as a result of a spirit of fear that has gripped their lives. Worry, anxiety and undue stress are all forms of fear.

In this hour, I have heard the term "panic attack" more than I've ever heard it in my life. A "panic attack" is nothing more than the devil's attack, but it is a real thing and there is an answer to it.

There are two primary ways through which fear is able to work in a person's life and become a stronghold:

1. Lack of knowledge. When people do not have proper knowledge, fear can gain an entrance.

Hosea 4:6 says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...." For the person who receives a bad doctor's report, if he or she doesn't know the healing Scriptures, fear will grip him or her like a strangler grabs hold of the throat. They will literally feel fear all through their being because of another person's words.

The same is true with a bad financial report. A few years ago when there was a gigantic drop in the Dow Jones, people were gripped with terrible fear. Some people lost thousands and others millions of dollars in a matter of hours. The people who did not have a knowledge of God's provision were gripped with fear. When their natural provision was taken away, they were bombarded with the thought, "What am I going to do?"

2. People forget what they do know. Some people know the truth of God's Word, but they forget about it in the midst of a crisis or mounting problems.

In the chapters that follow, we will examine portions of God's Word and give examples of standing against fear, overcoming it and walking free of it.

Chapter 2

"I Will Never Forsake You"

Let your conversation [lifestyle] be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Hebrews 13:5 ,6 KJV

Covetousness is a continual desire for "things" in an attempt to meet the inner needs of our lives. Covetousness and idolatry are linked together.

Some people think we don't have idols today. They look at the Egyptians and say, "Boy, they really were dumb to be so idolatrous! How could they worship a piece of wood, metal, or stone?" The truth is , Americans worship wood, rocks and metal. It comes in different forms. Some of it glides on water, some sits on lots, some rolls on wheels and some sings and entertains.

The Spirit of God through the writer of Hebrews said that covetousness isn't to be a part of our lives. God didn't say we're not to have things, but He was saying, "Don't set your heart on things, because they won't fulfill your life." He was saying, "Set your heart on the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you."

When covetousness comes into a person's life, then comes an opportunity for fear, because people begin to trust in "things" to meet their needs. They believe the "things" will satisfy or render the help, encouragement, or strength they need. "Things" will never fulfill your inner needs.

Psalm 94:14 TLB says, "The Lord will not forsake his people, for they are his prize." God is saying to you and me, "I will never abandon you over to the will or to the wicked desires of the devil. I am with you to help you."

Chapter 3

"I Will Help You"

So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?

Hebrews 13:6 AMP

What if someone rejects you because you testify of Christ? Are you afraid of being rejected? What if they don't speak to you anymore? What if they think you are a nut? If the Lord is your helper and He never leaves, forsakes, or abandons you, then you do not have to be afraid of what men say or do not say or what they do or do not do. Your primary responsibility is to do what God tells you to do.

God is not only with us, but He will help us. Fear has to have an answer. It has been said, "Fear knocked on the door, faith answered and no one was there." You must answer fear with faith. Fear paralyzes but faith activates. The way to deal with fear is not to ignore it, but to come right at it with the Word of God.

What is it that you are afraid of? Is it fear of the dark? Fear of being alone? Fear of being abandoned? Go after the fear that is tormenting you by speaking the promises of God's Word aloud. Boldly declare, "Lord, You are with me. Thank You for helping me."

It's time to break out of fear. Let the Spirit of God minister to you as you meditate upon Isaiah 41:10-13 AMP:

Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.

Behold, all they who are enraged and inflamed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; they who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish.

You shall seek those who contend with you but shall not find them; they who war against you shall be as nothing, as nothing at all.

For I the Lord your God hold your right hand; I am the Lord, Who says to you, Fear not; I will help you!

When people have come against us through the years, it has bothered me because you cannot come against the righteous people of God and not experience God's hand against you. God is saying, "I will deal with your enemies." You don't have to worry about them. The people who are incensed and ticked off at you will be ashamed. They will be confounded. They will be as nothing, so why are you worrying about them?

When we were getting a loan to purchase the facilities at 4400 South Sheridan in Tulsa to begin our own ministry (this was before we realized the importance of being out of debt), we encountered a seemingly impossible situation with the bank officer with whom we were working out of

Oklahoma City. We had already moved our schools and ministry offices into this facility and had done some major remodeling .

The day before all paperwork was to be signed, this banker said, "We're not going to complete the deal." We had 700 students in the Christian school, and the banker refused to close. It was a mess, so we prayed, "God, You've got to do something. Change his heart or move him."