Dried Flower Pressed

The Book of Job is an instruction manual on how to avoid unnecessary suffering as a result of courting the spirit of fear. Fear is the common denominator for many of man's mental and physical diseases, ranging from phobias to asthma, high blood pressure, strokes and nervous conditions. Fear-filled words have power to curse, destroy, tear down, discourage, depress, malign, and even call into being death and disease.

A dangerous misconception of fear is that it is a natural necessary emotion. Many people allow fear to control their lives and accept fear as a normal way of life. If fear were natural, then it would be listed as one of God's gifts to man- however, God's word warns of the destructiveness of the spirit of fear and announces that, God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of love, power and a strong mind. (2Timothy 1:6-7)

A sound mind is a mind that is "free from fear." A mind tormented with fearful thoughts is anything but sound. Fear enters our mind as a seed (thought), it sprouts, takes root and begins to grow. When we act on this thought or speak it out, acknowledging it, the fear now becomes a stronghold. The Bible warns us to cast down every thought that exalts itself above the knowledge and truth of God's Word. 2Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Fear itself has no power- the power comes from our spoken words that are motivated by the spirit of fear. Satan can use these words against us to bring to pass the negative words that we speak, just as God uses our faith-filled words to manifest His power through us.

The number one goal for Satan is to destroy our faith in God. His second goal is to destroy our faith in as many of God's promises as he can. God says, "I will provide all of your needs according to my riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Satan will get you to confess lack and give you the spirit of poverty and depression. He wants to rob you of your joy and peace and replace it with fear, worry, stress, concern, care, anxiety, lack, depression and hopelessness. Jesus took your sickness, disease and infirmities on the cross. Like salvation, healing is a gift that cannot be earned, only freely received by faith. Satan wants you to believe that God allows him to put sickness on you to teach you some kind of a lesson so you won't ask him for healing, because if you do, you will be praying against God's will for you.

Fear is the foundation of unbelief and Satan's most powerful weapon of choice. Satan counterfeits all of God's blessings, promises and holy attributes. What is the greatest thing you could do for God? Love Him? Serve Him? Seek Him? Honor Him? Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the LORD tends to life: and he that has it shall abide satisfied- he shall not be visited with evil. Proverbs 15:33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom- and before honor is humility. The fear of God is a righteous, holy fear, a wise fear. A fear of God brings wisdom! Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Do you now see why Satan's weapon of choice is fear? Because our source of the greatest power is from fearing God. However Satan's fear is perverted fear: fear that terrorizes, paralyzes, horrifies, destroys our hope, steals our joy, and brings pain, suffering, sickness, disease, calamity, devastation and death. Holy, righteous, Godly fear, results in wisdom and understanding- for The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom:and the knowledge is understanding.

There are hundreds of phobias or spirits of fear that literally control peoples lives, keeping them in bondage. Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear- but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Hosea 4:6 says, My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee. 2Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. So, if God says, He has not given you the spirit of fear, then where did it come from?

Fear is the exact opposite of faith- fear is to faith what darkness is to light. God said "let there be light" and His Word created light, His Word is light, Jesus is light! Jesus said in John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. Until God spoke His Word, Let there be light...the earth was without form, and void- and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. Genesis 1:2-4

God's Word separates the light from the darkness- God's Word is light, Satan's word is darkness (void of light). 2Samuel 22:29 For you are my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness. We all have experienced Achluophobia (fear of darkness) at some time in our life. Why is this one so common or universal? Darkness is the absence of light! How profound. Actually it is not so much the darkness that we are afraid of as it is not being able to see. The darkness renders us blind, unable to see what the darkness is concealing. Then the spirit of fear enters our mind, controlling our thoughts until we are consumed by the reality of darkness. Our thoughts begin controlling our imaginations which, in turn, fuel the "fear factor."

This vicious cycle continues unchecked until we are paralyzed by fear and surrender to panic and hopelessness. Is it any wonder that Satan's favorite weapon of choice is fear? 1Peter 5:8 warns us to be sober, be vigilant- because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour...Satan has come to kill, steal and destroy. The root of Job's misery was fear: Job 3:25 For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I feared has happened to me. With the use of fear Satan will get you to confess poverty or lack, sickness, disease or infirmities, sadness, depression, hopelessness, suicide, or defeat- the results are anxiety, stress, high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, mental illness, or death! Jesus said, I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly and the thief [Satan] has come to kill, steal and destroy.

To give you some perspective of Satan's stranglehold on man through fear, I have listed the phobias beginning with the letter "A". If you respond as I did, you will find most of these ridiculous and may even think they are мейд up. Sadly, each of them are someone's "real" fears and Satan has them in bondage and humiliation from others who judge the validity and authenticity of their fear.

Ablutophobia- Fear of washing or bathing.

Acarophobia- Fear of itching or of the insects that cause itching.

Acerophobia- Fear of sourness.

Achluophobia- Fear of darkness.

Acousticophobia- Fear of noise.

Acrophobia- Fear of heights.

Aerophobia- Fear of drafts, air swallowing, or airborne noxious substances.

Aeroacrophobia- Fear of open high places.

Aeronausiphobia- Fear of vomiting secondary to airsickness.

Agateophobia- Fear of insanity.

Agliophobia- Fear of pain.

Agoraphobia- Fear of open spaces or of being in crowded, public places like markets- Fear of leaving a safe place.

Agraphobia- Fear of sexual abuse.

Agrizoophobia- Fear of wild animals.

Agyrophobia- Fear of streets or crossing the street.

Aichmophobia- Fear of needles or pointed objects.

Ailurophobia- Fear of cats.

Albuminurophobia- Fear of kidney disease.

Alektorophobia- Fear of chickens.

Algophobia- Fear of pain.

Alliumphobia- Fear of garlic.

Allodoxaphobia- Fear of opinions.

Altophobia- Fear of heights.

Amathophobia- Fear of dust.

Amaxophobia- Fear of riding in a car.

Ambulophobia- Fear of walking.

Amnesiphobia- Fear of amnesia.

Amychophobia- Fear of scratches or being scratched.

Anablephobia- Fear of looking up.

Ancraophobia- Fear of wind. (Anemophobia)

Androphobia- Fear of men.

Anemophobia- Fear of air drafts or wind.(Ancraophobia)

Anginophobia- Fear of angina, choking or narrowness.

Anglophobia- Fear of England or English culture, etc.

Angrophobia - Fear of anger or of becoming angry.

Ankylophobia- Fear of immobility of a joint.

Anthrophobia or Anthophobia- Fear of flowers.

Anthropophobia- Fear of people or society.

Antlophobia- Fear of floods.

Anuptaphobia- Fear of staying single.

Apeirophobia- Fear of infinity.

Aphenphosmphobia- Fear of being touched. (Haphephobia)

Apiphobia- Fear of bees.

Apotemnophobia- Fear of persons with amputations.

Arachibutyrophobia- Fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth.

Arachnephobia or Arachnophobia- Fear of spiders.

Arithmophobia- Fear of numbers.

Arrhenphobia- Fear of men.

Arsonphobia- Fear of fire.

Asthenophobia- Fear of fainting or weakness.

Astraphobia or Astrapophobia- Fear of thunder and lightning (Ceraunophobia, Keraunophobia).

Astrophobia- Fear of stars or celestial space.

Asymmetriphobia- Fear of asymmetrical things.

Ataxiophobia- Fear of ataxia. (muscular incoordination)

Ataxophobia- Fear of disorder or untidiness.

Atelophobia- Fear of imperfection.

Atephobia- Fear of ruin or ruins.

Athazagoraphobia- Fear of being forgotten or ignored or forgetting.

Atomosophobia- Fear of atomic explosions.

Atychiphobia- Fear of failure.

Aulophobia- Fear of flutes.

Aurophobia- Fear of gold.

Auroraphobia- Fear of Northern lights.

Autodysomophobia- Fear of one that has a vile odor.

Automatonophobia- Fear of ventriloquist's dum mies, animatronic creatures, or wax statues - anything that falsely represents a sentient being.

Automysophobia- Fear of being dirty.

Autophobia- Fear of being alone or of oneself.

Aviophobia or Aviatophobia- Fear of flying.

My favorite was: Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia- Fear of long words.

If you resist fear, Satan has no access into your life. When you refuse fear, you paralyze Satan- and he can't harm you. The fear of the LORD tends to life: and he that has it shall abide satisfied- he shall not be visited with evil. 2Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 1John 4:18 There is no fear in love- but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not мейд perfect in love.

You can't believe God's Word and be fearful at the same time. For you to say "I am afraid" is for you to enter into unbelief and deny God's Word. For a believer not to believe God's Word and to fear is opening the door for Satan's attack. Anything that doesn't line up with the Word of God is an invitation to the enemy. For a believer not to believe God's Word and to fear is wicked and has potentially serious consequences. Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please God: for he that comes to God must believe that he is who He says He is, and that he rewards those that diligently seek him.

Fear denies God access into your life. He can't move on your behalf if you won't believe Him. The thing you fear the most will come upon you. (Job 3:25) Fear will connect you to whatever it is you fear, just as faith will connect you to God's promises. The fear of loss and what is familiar will connect you to poverty- conversely, belief in God's promise in the Bible that if you seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33 Fear will connect you to sickness and disease and faith in God's Word will connect you to the promise that no plague shall come near your dwelling. Jesus said I have taken your disease and sickness on the cross. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Job submitted to fear and lost his family, property, possessions and health!

You are not subject to the world's belief system which is orchestrated by Satan. The world wants you to believe that the flu is out there waiting for you and you should get your flu shot. The world says that you may already have this disease, or statistics show you will more than likely get it so you should "ask your doctor if this drug is right for you." One out of four commercials is promoting drugs or health-related products. Psalms 112:7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD. Hebrews 2:14-15 For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same- that through death Jesus might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil- And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Sickness and death is a curse and Jesus took our sickness on the cross and died for us, becoming the curse for us that through Him we might have healing and eternal life. Galatians 3:13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us.

There is no need to fear death, because you hold the power of life and death in your tongue. Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. You are the establishing witness- you can either produce life or death with the words of your mouth. Your words will determine your destiny for you have a free will to choose life or death: Things don't work for Christians who break the laws or don't understand them. Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing- therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.

What you are afraid of is directly related to your lack of faith in God's Word or what you don't believe to be true. Discover the promises in the Word of God and put your trust and faith in Jesus Christ- then fear will flee, along with doubt and unbelief, and the promises will become a reality in your life. Fear is designed to create doubt and doubt destroys faith and trust. A barometer of your faith is the words of your mouth. They will reveal what is in your heart, for: A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good- and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45

Examine your life and determine if the negative circumstances are in direct proportion to your words and the confessions of your mouth. Are you experiencing financial problems or some other lack in your life or relationships? Are you confirming these situations and predicaments verbally and announcing from your mouth to others how bad things seem to be? You're not alone! Job and millions of others have done the same thing and got the same results. The thing that you are afraid will happen, will happen, and the thing you are afraid will come upon you, will come upon you. That's how fear and fear-filled words work! So repent for your unbelief and move on.

Psalms 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Proverbs 2:1-5 My son, if you will receive my words, and hide my commandments in your heart- So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding- Yes, if you cry after knowledge, and lift up your voice for understanding- If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures- Then you shall understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

This is an excerpt from the new release, Why Do Bad Things Happen To So-Called "Good" People?

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Douglas C. Hoover- CEO of Aquamedia Corp, Master Waterfall Builder, architect, engineer, freelance writer, author, designer & builder of well over 1,900 waterfall and ponds in CA (26 years). Author of "Waterfall and Pond Construction Manual" and developer of the "Water Feature Digital Design Library 4.0" Free downloads, no sign in- ,