24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ 26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Matthew 25:24-30
The bottom line in the parable of the talents we read above is that God has given every man what he or she needs to be effective in life, which we can refer to as Potentials in this context. However, fear can render these Potentials of God useless in anyone's life, as we saw from the life of that one servant. The MAN in the story was GOD and the talents were the various GIFTING each servant were given. Even though the whole arrangement looks like a trading arrangement, the underlying tone of the story is that God has given each and every one of us all that pertains to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
Listen to Podcast: THE 7 BIBLICAL STEPS TO FULFILLING YOUR FULL POTENTIALS
The very first understanding that we must have about fear is that it is nothing but an illusion. It is simply an incorrect idea that is based on something that is not true. If care is not taken, fear has the capacity to cripple any man, any woman and prevent them from fulfilling their God-given destiny. Many people today live their lives in fear, despite the fact that the Bible makes it categorically clear that God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). The Bible says "God gives us all things that pertains to life and godliness", but fear is definitely not one of the.
Fear is an instrument in the hands of the devil, and he only uses it to get you out of the bigger picture of God’s plan for your life and destiny. Fear is actually the opposite of faith. God wants you to walk by faith and Satan wants you to walk by fear. Apostle Paul said "for we walk by faith and not by sight." Faith is in the realm of the spirit, but fear is in the realm of sight.
1 Do it Afraid
"And when the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem. 2 Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brethren, arose and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. 3 Though fear had come upon them because of the people of those countries, they set the altar on its bases; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and evening burnt offerings."
Ezra 3:3
A number of times, I have heard motivational speakers say something like this “do it afraid”, to spur people into fulfilling their life goals and becoming all that they can be, but I usually don’t take them serious until I came across this Scripture. Now, it is possible to still entertain fear even though God had told you that He has your backing. Don’t forget, the devil is the author of fear; he will always come with all his gimmicks in order to stop you from reaching your destination. The devil will give you a million reason why he thinks you cannot do what God wants you to do. The word of the Lord had come to Zerubbabel and others that the temple at Jerusalem shall be built again. Zechariah the prophet had told Zerubbabel these words in Zechariah 4:6-9, saying:
“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit; says the Lord of hosts. Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you.”
Now, what was the above passage telling us? It is simply saying that a man could have the word of God, have the backings of God and still be afraid to step out into fulfilling what God has said to him. The devil will whisper to him a million times why he or she should not step out yet. And this is how the devil operates and has held many people down under the web of fear. But the good news is this: Zerubbabel and his friends began the work, even though amidst the fear of their enemies round about; and they completed the building of the temple. Never forget that fear simply means false evidence/idea appearing real. Fear is an illusion; don’t let it hold you down.
2 Don't Give In To Fear-Compromise
“Now, when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the descendants of the captivity were building the temple of the Lord God of Israel, they came to Zerubbabel and the heads of the fathers’ houses, and said to them, “let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do; and we have sacrificed to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.” But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the fathers’ houses said to them, “You may do nothing with us to build a house for our God; but we alone will build to the Lord God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.” Then the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building, and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.”
Ezra 4:1-5
One of things that will happen when you have taken that bold step of faith in doing it afraid, those who originally have opposed you will then show up to want to partner with you. When you allow them, what you have done is simply giving in to FEAR-COMPROMISE. The Bible says we should not be ignorant of the devices of the devil. When the devil discovers that he cannot stop you anymore, he would want to present himself as an agent of light in order to penetrate you and frustrate God’s plans for your life. Apostle Paul warned us in 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 to beware of him. The moment Zerubbabel confronted their enemies, the Bible tells us in verse 4 how these same people went ahead to discourage the people of Judah and instigate them against the work.
Never get to a point where you begin to negotiate with your fear. At some point, Jesus was not sure whether He still want to proceed to the cross. In Matthew 26:39 He said "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." later in the chapter that follows; Matthew 27:46 he said "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Now, it will be funny if we assume in those instances that Jesus made those statements, that the devil was not somewhere very close to Him telling Him to give up on the assignment, showing Him how He wouldn't fulfill that assignment. I believe Satan was actually there!
But notice Jesus did not give in to his compromise. When the devil constantly whispers it to you "you cannot amount to anything, nothing much can come out of your family, or your endeavor." Never allow him. Take charge of your thoughts and move on with executing the assignment that has been placed in your hands.
3 Be Confident That God Is With You
Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Isaiah 41:10
When you aren't sure if God is with you, the devil will use that avenue to oppress you with fear. Remember the story of Elisha and his servant who was afraid. Elisha needed to pray to God to open the eyes of the young man so that he could see that there was nothing to be afraid of (2 Kings 6:17). And one of the SKILLS I believe everyone must learn is how to absolutely rely on God and believe that He is with us, even though we cannot see Him physically. CONFIDENCE is like that engine that powers our relationship with the Almighty God. Even though we cannot see Him, He is always present. He is an ever present God.
It is so easy to lose sight of God when we are not sure whether He is with us.
4 Love Unconditionally
"Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."
1 John 4:17-18
There are a number of things the Bible documented as tool to overcoming fear and one of them is the tool of love. The passage above says love ministers boldness. No wonder 2 Timothy 1:7 says God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, of love and of a sound mind. Love displaces fear the same way light displaces darkness.
5. Magnify God Rather Than Your Fear
"Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”
1 Samuel 17:45-47
For a period 40 days Goliath and the Philistines have challenged the children of Israel to a battle. It was recorded that Goliath will stand at the other side of the battle ground and scream against the children of Israel to come out and fight, and the Israelites would run for their safety simply because they could not face Goliath. Even though they have the Almighty God on their side, and many of them are professional soldiers, they still could face their enemy. Why is it so? Because they magnified their fear (Goliath) rather than magnifying their God who would give them victory over their enemies.
And so, David, a young lad, came to show them an example of how to win such battles. David didn't have to display his CV to Goliath the way he had displayed it to King Saul when he asked him what assurances he had that he would defeat Goliath. He didn't have time to tell Goliath I had killed a lion and a bear before. He simply magnified the God of Israel whom Goliath had spoken against, and that was all he needed to clinch the victory. The bottom line of the story is this: When the devil confronts you with those fears, don't magnify the fears because when you do, you would be magnifying the devil. Simply magnify God and you would see yourself overcoming that fear.
6. Make Use Of What You Already Have
"Then Moses answered and said, “But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you.’ ” 2 So the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A rod.” 3 And He said, “Cast it on the ground.” So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it."
Exodus 4:1-3
Many people complain about what they don't have to the extent they forget all that they have. But the gospel truth is that you do have something and sometime, it would be fine if you can adequately articulate the things you have rather than concentrate on the things you don't have. Moses had a rod in his hand. David had a sling and five pieces of stone. And so, they confronted their fears at different times and occasion based on what they have. Many people won't start that business because they are afraid they don't have all it takes to sustain it. But the truth is you have to make USE of what you’ve already to get what you want.
In Matthew 25:24-30 that we read, the master asked the other servant "what have you done with the one talent I gave you." And he began to give all manner of excuses as to why he didn't make judicious use of it. And that is how many people are really today. The fear of launching out had made them to forget everything that is in them and concentrate on what they have. Make use of what you have.
7 Don’t Underestimate Your Capabilities
If you are ever going to triumph over fear, don't ever underestimate your capabilities. If you do, fear will make you remain on the same spot for a very long time. And I want to read the story of the children of Israel and show us how we can overcome fear even though there are oppositions all around.
"Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” 31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” 32 And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. 33 There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight."
Numbers 13:30-33
A group had reported that they cannot take over the land. But Caleb quieted them and said “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” That means even thought there are opposition here and there, we have the capacity to take over the land. We have all it takes to triumph over fear, if only we can look within and harness those potentials, we will overcome.
An angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon in Judges 6:12 and said “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!” Even though they all have been afraid of the Midianites before this time, residence inside one man was the strength to liberate the entire nation. But he did not know until the angel pointed it out to him.
Thanks for the gift of your time, I am Obayomi Abiola Benjamin!
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