In the Face of Fear by Larry Ollison

In the Face of Fear
   

I would like to ask you a question. What motivates you - fear or faith?



There are two groups of people in the church today. Those who are accomplishing what God has for them to do and those who are not. Sadly, this ministry receives mail regularly from people who are distressed because they don't feel they have accomplished the calling God has placed on their lives. Well, I have this answer. Just do it! If God has actually told you to do something, then just do it!



It sounds simple doesn't it? Just do what God said to do, and all the guilt and self-imposed condemnation will go away. All we have to do to be set free is just listen to God's Word, see what He has for us to do, and just do it!



Once I counseled with a man who felt God had called him to be a teacher in the church. For years he had done nothing and had even avoided any situation that might bring up an opportunity to teach. He had natural abilities and really loved Jesus, but he had a fear of teaching. He was so afraid to teach that every time he even thought he would be asked, he would break out into a sweat. He let this fear keep him from doing what God wanted him to do.



What's the answer for someone like this? It's simple. Just do it in the face of fear. Fear is not an entity that is bigger and stronger than the Holy Spirit in you. Even if you have to stand up in the face of fear and tell the fear that you and the Spirit of God inside of you are in charge, do it. Tell fear to get out of your way. You will see what looked like an impenetrable wall crumble right before you and you'll be able to just step through the rubble into the place God told you to go.



Fear is not of God. The only reason you would be fearful of doing something that God wants you to do is because Satan doesn't want you doing God's will. Fear is not a natural response for the Christian. Satan is the master of creating fear. He knows that fear is a spirit that stops the work of God in the lives of many Christians. He knows he cannot stop God, but he attempts to stop God's work through believers any way he can. His greatest weapon is fear. When God calls a Christian to do a work for Him, Satan immediately uses fear to try to stop it.



If God has called you to do something for Him, don't let fear stop you. Don't try to figure everything out. Don't fear what people may say or what your friends may think. Don't worry about finances or fret about what you see. Just remember when God gives you a task to do, He also provides the tools to accomplish it.



God does not want us being held back because of fear. He wants us to do what He has called us to do. You may say, "I'm sorry, I just can't seem to get rid of the fear of failure." Well, let me say this once again. If you know God has given you something to do and it burns deep in your heart and you know this beyond any doubt, then just do it in the face of fear. Where did we ever get this idea that we can't do something if we are in fear? From Satan! Do what God wants you to do in spite of fear. Fear is just an illusion! Act in faith and fear will leave.



The apostle Paul said in 2 Timothy 1:7, "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."



Faith is of God. Fear is of Satan. Walk in faith.
   
This article is an excerpt from The Practical Handbook for Christian Living by Dr. Larry Ollison. It is available at a discounted price online from Barnes & Noble Bookstores.
 
Other books by Dr. Larry Ollison are available online from Christianbooks.com or at your local bookstore.
 
 
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