Second Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” This verse gives us a very basic principle of faith. Fear is a spirit and it is not sent from God.
Fear is used by the enemy to paralyze, immobilize and render our faith useless. Terror, bad reports and all negative words are for the purpose of developing fear. Fear will break you down physically, mentally and spiritually. The enemy wants to destroy as many Christians as possible. Even though he cannot steal their salvation, he can render them ineffective on this earth if he can only get them into fear.
Fear and faith are opposites. In an airplane there is a gauge that gives the rate of ascent and the rate of descent. The reason there are not two gauges is because you cannot be doing both at the same time.
The plane is either climbing to a higher altitude or descending to a lower altitude. It’s the same way with our faith. We are either facing faith with our backs turned to fear, or we are facing fear with our backs turned to faith.
Job was a great man of God. Job 1:1 says that he was blameless and upright and that he feared God and shunned evil. However, later after he had many trials come against him, he made an interesting statement. In Job 3:25 he said, “The thing I greatly feared has come upon me and what I dreaded has happened to me.”
Do not respond to the spirit of fear. When you hear words of terror and disaster, do not fear. Remember Psalm 91:7. Speak it and let it become rhema in your heart. “A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you” (Ps. 91:7).
Excerpt permission granted by Larry Ollison Ministries
Dr. Larry Ollison is founder and Senior Pastor of Walk on the Water Faith Church and founder of Larry Ollison Ministries. With over forty years in the ministry, he is a very popular speaker nationally and internationally and ministers the Word of Faith through radio, television, Internet, and daily e-mail devotionals. As the author of twelve books (including The Power of Grace, The Practical Handbook for Christian Living, Breaking the Cycle of Offense, Life is in the Blood, and recently released The Paradise of God), he is in frequent demand for radio/TV interviews, book signings, and magazine publications.
Dr. Ollison was raised a Southern Baptist. While majoring in theology at Southwest Baptist University, he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For many years he traveled extensively speaking at Full Gospel Business Men's meetings and conventions. He later earned an M.A. in Theology and a Ph.D. and Th.D. from Life Christian University.
Currently President of International Convention of Faith Ministries (ICFM), Dr. Ollison is also Vice-President of Spirit FM Christian Radio Network, Missouri State Director of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and a Trustee on the boards of several international ministries. He is also the host of The Cutting Edge Radio Broadcast and authors The Cutting Edge Daily Devotional.
As the owner of a marine dealership, his extensive business background brings a unique flavor to his teaching. He founded and served as chairman of the Missouri State Marine Board, President of the Marine Dealers’ Association, Vice-President of a bank holding company, along with holding several directorships in various corporations.
Dr. Ollison's strongest areas of teaching are the blood of Jesus, faith, relationships, the Hebrew language, the Holy Spirit, the end times, and heaven. During ministry, he operates freely in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. His use of humor and his ability to make a theological concept simple makes it enjoyable and easy for everyone to understand. Countless testimonies have been received from people who say their lives have been changed after experiencing Dr. Ollison's unique ministry.
Dr. Ollison is a pastor, pilot, teacher, and author. His number one goal is to meet the needs of the people through the teaching of faith in God's Word. He and his wife, Loretta, have two children and six grandchildren.