Monday, January 25, 2021
Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”
1 Kings 19:1-4
Small Word, BIG Problems
Have you ever felt so much fear about what “might” happen that you just asked God to go ahead and take your life? Read this part of Elijah’s story -
Elijah was a prophet of God whose name meant “my God is the Lord,” and God used him in many mighty ways. He was as strong as they come, yet human, and fear got ahold of him. He has just confronted the evil king Ahab in a showdown on a mountain and the God of Elijah, the One True God, defeated the false gods of Baal and Asherah. Elijah then ordered all the prophets of Baal and Asherah killed. (as God had commanded in Deuteronomy 13:5) Ahab was married to an evil woman named Jezebel and when Ahab told her what Elijah had done, she was mad. She sent a message to Elijah letting him know that she would do the same thing to him that he had done to the prophets of the false gods. Elijah was afraid then and he ran for his life. Fear completely consumed him and he asked God to just let him die.
Fear is small word that can make a BIG mess of things, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Anyone who is breathing knows what fear is because there is much in this life that can cause us fear. God knew this and He gave us plenty of tools to help us.
Fear does not come from God. It is strictly the snare of Satan and it is a loud roar that drowns out all sensibility and shakes our faith, trust, and purpose in life if we let it. Elijah was in that place. He saw no hope, he couldn’t solve it himself, so he just wanted to die. It sounds a little melodramatic but if you have ever felt this way before, you understand. Fear causes us to act in ways we would not normally act.
From Louie Giglio here are four things fear causes us to do: (Fear Is On the Mic)
· Fear causes us to forget what God has done. We forget His power and what He has delivered us from in the past, or what He brought us through.
· Fear causes us to forecast all the terrible things that are going to happen to us. - We actually seeall these terrible things happening in our minds. Most of these things we see happening and spend a lot of time and energy on, will never happen. Yet we try to find any solution we can.
· Fear causes us to flee - We panic and we want to run. We want to be away from everyone and not see anyone. But sometimes there is nowhere to go, and our problems don’t disappear we hide our eyes.
· Fear causes us to fold - give up, quit. Even the strongest can’t stand under the weight of fear and worry and it causes them to want to quit everything. It keeps us from moving forward and living in our purpose. This is Satan’s plan, not Gods.
Four ways we can overcome the spirit of fear: (Some material taken from Fear Is On the Mic)
Train our spiritual ear to the whisper of God - to hear Him over the deafening roar of fear. You have control over what you choose to listen to so make sure you are choosing to listen to His voice over fear. Make sure you are not listening to things on social media or other platforms that add to your feelings of fear.
Go Back the way you came - go back to a place to where you saw God come through. I love that God came to Elijah that day when he was so afraid and hopeless and what did God say? He told him Go back the way he came, and that is what we need to do also when fear has taken hold. Go back to what God was doing in your life. Go back to fulfilling your purpose and set-in motion what God has planned for you.
Anchor our hearts that the spirit of fear is wrong - it is of Satan. Just like Jezebel was wrong about Elijah’s life, the roaring threats of fear in our heads is wrong! The one that says you are not going to make it, give up, just quit. God is the authority over all and the spirit of fear is powerless over Him. The lies of fear are powerless over all who belong to Him. Yet we stay like we are tied down because of fear.
Proactively engage in your assignment - Get busy! What is your purpose right now? How has He reminded you of His awesome power? What does He have for you to do right now that you need to get back to? Satan loves that he is consuming your time and keeping you away from God’s work. Get busy and make better use of the time God has given you. He needs you to get back to work for Him and His kingdom agenda.
Fear did not come from God - for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 Remember this and that when fear starts to take control of you, remember also that Satan is glad you are distracted from God’s purpose for your life.
God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah. Psalm 46:1-3
