Free Indeed
Fear…where does it come from? When we cave into fear, what are we trusting in? What are we believing in? When we feel like we have nowhere to go or no one to turn to, to whom or where do we go? Romans 8:15 NKJV says this, “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’”
When we put all our expectations and hopes in an individual, we are setting ourselves up for disappointment. There is one in this scripture who we can turn to who will never let us down, He will never disappoint us and is fully capable of meeting ALL our expectations. We can cry out to Him, Abba, Father! He is God. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.
We all have something we are afraid of. Maybe it’s conflict or fear of what people will think or say. Maybe it’s fear of failure or never being good enough. Maybe it’s even fear of the consequences of our actions. Did you know that Jesus was in such agony that He sweat blood? Let me list some similar words to help paint a better picture of how Jesus felt. They are: pain, hurt, suffering, torture, torment, anguish, affliction, trauma, misery, distress, grief, woe, heartbreak, heartache, pangs, and throes. Now, let us read Luke 22:44 NKJV. “And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”
At this point, Jesus is praying in the garden of Gethsemane. Why was He praying? Why was He sweating blood? It was for you and I. He knew what was to come, what His future held. Ultimately His future was our future. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV says, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Jesus, knowing what was to come, gave His life so that through Him we might be saved, so that we could be set free from the bondage of fear! John 8:36 NKJV tells us, “Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
So let us go back to fear.
1. Fear of conflict: Jesus, who is truth, tells us, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32 NKJV).
2. Fear of what people say or think: “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe” (Proverbs 29:25 NKJV).
3. Fear of failure: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24 NKJV).
4. Fear of never being good enough: “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9 NKJV).
5. Fear of the consequences of our actions: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23 NKJV).
There is so much truth here that speaks to our fears. This truth, JESUS, can bring down strongholds in your life! And there is much more to be read in the Bible and to use in declaration over yourself, those you love, and your life! The question is, who will you believe? Who will you trust? Who will you surrender to?
© 2022 Leslie Wittenmyer—All rights reserved