—Franklin Delano Roosesvelt
Fear and fear alone" is an injury sufficient to cause death, according to a federal court jury in Seattle. Ralph Thompson, third mate on the steamship Chena, died of shock the day after his vessel was driven into the center of Valdez, Alaska, by a tidal wave.
An insurance company refused to pay accidental death benefits because Thompson had suffered no apparent injuries. However, the court concluded that Thompson had died of fright and it held the company liable.
Has fear kept you from fulfilling your Mission 3:16? Are you "scared to death" to tell someone about Jesus? If you are full of fear, it has not come from God!
The enemy of your soul wants to keep you in bondage to fear, thus keeping you out of his territory. He knows that fear can be fatal to your mission, so that's why he spends most of his time trying to intimidate and worry you.
The good news is, God knows this! And He has charged His Word with powerful promises to overcome all fear and anxiety. The fear of man is a snare (see Prov. 29:25) and you do not need to fear anything that man might do to you (see Heb. 13:6). These promises are God's Word to YOU.
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.You may be challenged by the awesome mission before you, but NEVER FEAR. God is near and He will keep you on track as you focus your faith on Him, take courage, and appropriate His strength for your task.
(Rom. 8:15 NIV)
Try this exercise this week. Each day find five "fear not"s in your Bible. I found eighty of them just today. Write them down and drive all fear out of your life by reminding yourself of the power, love, and sound mind God has promised!
Excerpt permission granted by Albury Publishing