THE TACTICS OF GOD’S STRATEGY OVER FEAR
This is a companion piece to “God’s Strategy to Overcome Fear.” Most of what you will find in this article is expanded in the original text, with a few exceptions. It’s helpful to understand that in warfare tactics are the day-to-day, moment-by-moment choices leading to actions which are played out with a carefully chosen strategy in mind. Without a sound strategy we are just yielding to fear and shooting in the dark. Our hope is we are shooting at the enemy and not a friend or family member. Choose God’s strategy and learn the tactics which advance God’s purpose from which His strategy arose. God’s purpose and vision are to bring His children home through the shed blood of Jesus Christ (Heb 10:19-22; 1 Tim 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9). His strategy and tactics always advance His kingdom purpose.
God’s Strategy
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18
God’s primary strategy to overcome fear is to know Him (Ephesians 1:17).
To know God is to know His love (Ephesians 3:19).
Thereby, we will come to know our sins are forgiven (Hebrews 8:10-12).
The Apostle John wrote, “I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sakes.” 1 John 2:12
Believe Hebrews 4:15 and 16; that you can come boldly to the throne of Grace – without fear of punishment. At the throne of grace you encounter the perfect love of Jesus and your Father in Heaven together. Perfect love casts out fear.
So
the primary strategy for a believer in Jesus to overcome
fear is to come to the throne of
grace with bold confidence, no matter what is going on in the
believer’s life and rest in His love. This is the price Jesus paid in His blood for
us to come to our Father in Heaven with full assurance of faith. Hebrews
10:19-23
The Tactics of God’s Strategy
- Don’t harden your heart.
A solid healing ministry friend of ours, Liz Gregg, from the UK, encouraged me to reinforce the truth concerning God’s character. As she said, “Fear can come from thinking God is a punishing, harsh God and not the good loving Father that He is. If we have a view that says He is going to punish us, then in circumstances like this (Coronavirus) we will be afraid that He is punishing us. However, if we know that God is always good, He’s a good Father; always good in all His ways. Then we will not fear punishment and be able to know that such circumstances were not caused by Him.”
We must not allow sin to deceive us about God’s nature.
13. but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15. while it is said:
“Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
- 2. Listen to God, He’s still talking!
Is it possible that God was offering Cain different choices? But was Cain listening?
6. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?
9. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
15. But the Lord said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over. Genesis 4:6, 9, 15
- 3. Choose your partner.
If Cain could have listened to God he would have found a partner to help him solve his problem. Why not listen to God and partner with Him?
Don’t you realize that grace frees you to choose your own master? But choose carefully, for you surrender yourself to become a servant—bound to the one you choose to obey. If you choose to love sin, it will become your master, and it will own you and reward you with death. But if you choose to love and obey God, he will lead you into perfect righteousness. Romans 6:16 The Passion Translation
We can repent of listening to sin and turn and listen to God.
Sin leads us to be afraid of God, family, friends, our employers (or employees). On the other hand, God is constantly offering us a way out; a strategy to defeat fear and walk with Him in righteousness as dear children.
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16.
- 4. Remember what God has said.
1. But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; . . . Isaiah 43:1-3
35. That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36. Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. . . . 37. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”39. He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.40. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41. They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Mark 4:35-41
- 5. Discern the voice of fear, turn away and choose to listen to God.
Fear has a voice. Fear digs pits, sets snares and lures us toward them with noise and words. Will we learn to seek God for His ways and His answers?
Surely
he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler,
and from the noisome pestilence. Psalm 91:1
Fear
and the pit and the snare
Are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth.
And it shall be that he who flees from the noise (voice) of the fear
Shall fall into the pit, and he who comes up from the midst of the pit
Shall be caught in the snare; Isaiah 24:17, 18
Surely thus said Jehovah: A voice of trembling we have heard, Fear–and there is no peace. Jeremiah 30:5
GOD’S ANSWER
He who dwells in the secret place
of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.
Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; Psalm 91:1-10
- 6. Remember Who lives within you.
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for (within) us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31
Today the Holy Spirit is within us in every trial to speak faith into our hearts. He is our strategy to overcome storms, fire and every fear we face. What does He have to say when we hear the devil’s lies of fear? Take hold of the Holy Spirit’s word and step into your freedom!
- 7. Shift the Atmosphere! How?
a. Recognize fear (stress, worry, jealousy, anxiety, terror, fretting, etc.)
b. Submit to God. “Father God, I trust you to cover me with Your wings.”
c. Renounce partnering with fear. “I recognize you, voice of fear. I will not partner with you. I send you back.”
d. Listen to Holy Spirit. “Holy Spirit, what is Your word of faith and love for me?”
e. Declare what God says over your situation and life. “Holy Spirit, I declare Your word of (love, peace, faith, etc.). I will follow You. I praise You and thank You for Your goodness.”
- 8. Talk to God and listen: Take your fears and your questions directly to Him. How? See the exercise on the next page.
- 9. Seek Help!
If nothing changes, find someone to minister inner healing and deliverance. Bethel Sozo prayer ministry is effective; maybe schedule a Sozo session. That’s a quick and easy approach.
If you prefer to tackle fear alone with God, download “Fear No Evil” from keminternational.com.
An Exercise to Dethrone Fear
What you can do here is very simple and effective. However, you may need some assistance from someone who knows their authority in Christ the first time you do this. Those who are trained in Bethel Sozo prayer ministry are certainly able.
1. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal a specific fear in your life. “Holy Spirit, what fear has power in my life?”
2. Ask Holy Spirit what event(s) gave the spirit of fear an opening to put fear on you. “Holy Spirit, what happened in my life that opened a door for a spirit of fear to have some measure of control over me?”
3. Ask Holy Spirit if there are any people who were involved that you need to forgive. “Holy Spirit, who do I need to forgive?”
4. Forgive those people. “Holy Spirit, I choose to forgive (name the people) for being part of fear getting power in my life. I release them from the hurt and the effects that fear has had on me since then.”
5. Hand the spirit of fear to Father God or Jesus and ask what He gives you in exchange. “Jesus, I hand this spirit of fear of (name the fear) to You. What do You give me in exchange?”
6. Finally, be brave and ask, “Father God, what do You think of me?”
Write God’s answers to the last two questions for meditation in His presence. The first thing you hear, see or sense is likely God’s answer. Do they bring peace to your heart? Write them down and thank God for His answers. You may need to allow more than just a minute or two. It’s worth waiting. When God speaks, His words are more powerful than anything even a prophet can say to you. Go back to step one. Why be content with exposing one fear? There are usually more.
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If nothing changes, find someone to minister Bethel Sozo prayer ministry, maybe schedule a Sozo session. That’s a quick and easy approach. If you prefer to tackle fear alone with God, download “Fear No Evil” from keminternational.com.