Deliverance from Fear (Part 1)

 Deliverance from Fear (Part 1) 

Main Scripture Reading: Judges 6: 11-40

Introduction

According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, fear is defined as an unpleasant and often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger.

In many spheres, fear has been talked about or experienced in various degrees and from various capacities.

In this article, our main character of reference from the Bible is Gideon. 

It is fascinating to note that throughout scriptures, individuals are told do not fear. Researchers often say that the Bible quotes this phrase over a hundred times.

‘And there came an angel of the LORD,

and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah,

that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite:

and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress,

to hide it from the Midianites.’ 

Judges 6: 11-12

 

When we read this passage of Scripture, we note many signs of fear in Gideon.

We will delve more  into these as we continue.

 

Implications of fear

1. Fear causes failure to focus

Fear in Gideon causes failure to focus on God, whose message is being delivered to him.

Gideon, how many times have you seen an angel ?

Why are you not moved to think differently?

 

Someone once answered a donkey. How many times has a donkey spoken to anyone? You dare to answer the donkey without thinking things through! (Numbers 22:29)

Stop, open your eyes, perceive…

 

2. Fear has a vocabulary!

In its basic form, fear can let out a scream ! But it does have a vocabulary too!

Due to fear, Gideon checked his background and spoke…

15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.

Judg 6:15

Who was speaking here ?

The voice and vocabulary of fear…

Who is speaking through you ?

Back to Gideon…

My family is poor (the least) in Manasseh, Gideon Stop talking! God’s word is final!

Due to fear, Gidoen was busy Checking his own credentials and noticing gaps. He was looking at the size of the enemy / challenge.

 

Gideon…Stop 🛑

You were never going to win against the enemy because you were coming from the biggest or strongest tribe. God knew the biggest tribe and could have cherry picked a judge from there. When it comes to this battle It’s not about your capable support system. Is there any tribe that is a stronger support system than God?

There are many Gideons who need to stop talking and start perceiving!

If God said yes, so will it be!

 

3. Fear can move you to start Fleecing God

36 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,

37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.

Judg 6:36-37

 

So Fear has actions. Sadly, sometimes even religious actions !

Some of us when we get into sin, our repentance to God is out of fear that some mischief might happen to us and not so much so that we stand in right relationship with God !

Even when giving our offerings in church, some give out of fear of what could happen if they don’t give.

Fear has religious actions!

Who or what is acting through you ?

To act or not to act can mean fear expressed.

Do you know that God is not obliged to jump through your hoops ?

Granted, He will meet you where you are, but,  what if He does not give you a sign ?

Does that stop you from fulfilling the call ?

What if He does not wet the fleece? What is the implication?

Some of us look for endless confirmations… wasting time in the process…and only confirming we are very fearful!

I have a friend. Her friend was praying the other day and God said something to him. He then went on to say if only you were like sister X …while I am speaking she gets up to act on the word!

How many times have we been instructed but just could not do it or delayed at it because we were nursing some fears?

 

4. Fear causes you to put in extra effort

9 And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand.

10 But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host:.

11 And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened to go down unto the host. Then went he down with Phurah his servant unto the outside of the armed men that were in the host.

Judg 7:9-10,11

 

Gideon is told by God that if he was afraid he was to go to the camp of the enemy and hear something that would strengthen him. Then he hears a dream and he is strengthened.

Fearful people, if they act at all, they only act as per assurance and reassurance !

 

5. Fear causes people to play hide and seek

Gideon’s father’s bull was sacrificed at night for fear of the people.

 

27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the Lord had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.

Judg 6: 27

 

Is fear arranging your itinerary ?

Fear in Gideon caused him not to come out in the open.

6. Fear causes you to dwell in the wrong position

11 And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.

Judg 6:11

 

Gideon was in the wine press which is meant for processing grapes. He was there with wheat though, ordinarily he should have been in a threshing floor which is specially made for threshing wheat. However, due to fear, he had to make shift the place for grapes for him to thresh wheat. I can imagine how different the equipment found in  wine press is from that on a threshing floor.  It must have been so difficult to process wheat in this place. Possibly, some equipment had to be shifted from the threshing floor to the wine press to make things better.

His environment was pregnant with fear of the Midianites and that caused him to be mispositioned.

 

How to get delivered from fear

What are your fears?

Anyone can be set free from fear.

1.        Know your purpose.

 Here is a man who is pregnant with purpose but busy threshing wheat in a wine press. Wrong place for that. Everyone else is doing that, but it’s not for you! Sometimes we run away from what is supposed to run away from us. If we are ignorant of purpose the enemy can eat our lunch and pop the bag!

 

2.        The knowledge of the word of God dispels fear.

Gideon ‘go in this your might’.

Gideon, the ability has already been bestowed upon you!

Remember this,

4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

1John 4:4

 

Gideon was instructed to go to the camp of the enemy so that he could hear an assuring word!

There are areas where you might not have had an adequate revelation of God and that gives room to fear.  

If you are fearful that you will lack Provision…Haven’t you heard that He is Jehovah Jireh ?

If you are fearful of sickness…Haven’t you heard that He is Jehovah Rapha ?

The intimate knowledge of the word of God will help you to get revelation about His person and this will dispel fear.

Casual knowledge will not do it!

Have you not heard that He is in you and you are seated high above principalities and powers?

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

Eph 1:19-21

 And

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Eph 2:6

Hallelujah !

Spend time in His word.

Get a revelation of Him.

The things you fear should melt in the face of this knowledge.

 

32 Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.

Judg 6:32

Gideon ends up getting a name that resembles his victory

Hallelujah!

Jerubaal (if Baal is a god let him fight for himself)

It is time for you to stand high and above your fears!

 

Conclusion

Gideon, the mighty man of valour who was so fearful, just like everyone else in the land at that time, could actually get up and do mighty exploits, Hallelujah! Remember that it is not about you and your capabilities but about Him who sent you on a mission.