The inevitable battle between our ears
At some point today or this week, we will face fear or doubt. The inevitable battle between our ears.
Paul knew fear well. He inflicted it greatly against followers of Jesus. Read his own words below.
For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. Galatians 1:13
Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 1 Timothy 1:13
Paul violently brought fear to people. His mission was to put them in jail, destroy them. In fact, he was present watching the stoning of Stephen in Acts 6.
After his salvation, his encounter with Christ in Acts 9, the one who persecuted, who caused fear, would be the one who was persecuted, who should have been full of fear.
The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. Acts 16:22-24
Over and over, Paul entered cities to share about Jesus, and he was violently opposed, beaten, whipped, thrown in jail. He, too, faced fear.
And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
Paul feared, but any human fear that he had was extinguished by his fear of God. His fear of God was greater than his fear of man. He had a mission.
After the flogging and beating mentioned in Acts above, he was thrown in prison. Notice his resolve.
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Acts 16:25
No fear. No doubt. No dismay. Paul was promised that he would have to suffer for Christ’s name (Acts 9). He knew he would face obstacles. In the midst of the persecution, he was “praying and singing hymns.” Peace in the midst of the storm.
How? Paul wrote this later to his mentee, Timothy.
for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7
There is no way Paul faces the persecution, the abuse, the ridicule he faced in life without the Holy Spirit taking away the fear. The spirit of fear is opposite the Spirit of Christ. The spirit of fear wants to battle opposition with fighting, losing control. The Spirit of Christ battles with love and self-control. The Spirit of Christ removes fear and replaces it with love and self-control.
Jesus had this to say about the Holy Spirit.
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. John 16:7
The Helper, The Holy Spirit. He helps.
Jesus is crucified. The Helper comes in Acts 2. Paul is changed in Acts from a murderer to a follower of Christ. Then, he gives us a picture of what it looks like to deal with fear. Complete dependence on God.
Fear and doubt are inevitable. But the anchor exists within us to deal with it. We can’t take matters into our own heads or our own hands, responding with cowering or aggression. We must put fear and doubt in His hands that allow us to respond with love and self-control.
The ever-present Holy Spirit can remove fear and doubt. Let Him guide your life (Galatians 5:16).
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
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