The Physiology Of Faith - Class 7 Series

XIII. EXPOSING THE ROOTS OF FEAR

There are many areas in which the enemy has used to cause fear to take deep root. These strongholds can be used against a Christian to harass, oppress or depress. It could be physical, emotional, or spiritual assaults that are being made. Finding complete healing for your body, mind, and spirit requires exposing these strongholds to deliver you from the damage caused. We have learned that worry, anxiety, stress, and depression are rooted in fear. Fear has its roots in a lack of Trust. Lack of trust has its roots in PRIDE!

A. Fear is the primary weapon of the enemy.

He is a master at using our fears

1. Satan uses two common fears to cause many people never to start or try anything to make us ineffective in our witness

a. The fear of failure can cause you to put things off. You will do everything you can to avoid facing the possibility of messing up.

b. Fear of rejection will make you afraid to do anything that could draw criticism or give someone a chance to laugh at you.

Ex: What will they think of me?

What if I turn them off?

What if I mess up?

They probably won’t listen to me anyway!

You’ve failed many times, although you may not remember. You fell the first time you tried to walk. You almost drowned the first time you tried to swim, didn’t you? Did you hit the ball the first time you swung a bat? Heavy hitters, the ones who hit the most home runs, also strike out a lot.

B. Pride

1. Pride always emphasizes what you have done and fails to acknowledge all those who made it possible.

To humbly acknowledge God and others in every success will help protect you against spiritual attack. Pride is why satan was thrown out of Heaven, Adam and Eve were thrown out of the Garden, and Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed.

The Scripture solemnly warns that "pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall." (Prov 16:18 NIV) m

Jesus sent 72 disciples to go into all the towns ahead of Him to fulfill the Great Commission. They came back with great joy because they had healed the sick and cast out many demons. But Jesus warned them of the danger of becoming proud because of the authority He had given them “to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy.” He admonished them not to focus on what they have done but on worshipping God; “do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." (Luke 10:17-20 NIV)

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself “ (Phil 2:3 NKJV)

2. We are to consider everyone, including those who hate us, have hurt us, know less than us, work for or under us, better than ourselves.

3. To find healing and deliverance, you must submit yourself “one another, and be clothed with humility.” (1 Peter 5:5-6 NKJV).

4. God hates “A proud look” (Prov 6:16-19)

5. God always “sets himself against the proud, but he shows favor to the humble." To “Resist the Devil” so that “ he will flee from you,” you must “humble yourselves before God” (James 4:6-7).

C. Gossip and Malicious Talk

Gossip and malicious talking are warned against in 1 Timothy 3:11, 2 Timothy 3:3, and Titus 2:3.

1. To keep demonic attacks from your life, you must avoid malicious and derogatory remarks about anyone. Solomon declared,

"A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit" (Proverbs 15:4).

2. What you say can bring either a blessing or a curse. It is very important to watch what you say and how you say it.

Jesus said, "But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned" (Matthew 12:36-37).

If you have been hurt by gossip or malicious talk and the memory is still vivid, forgiveness is the only remedy that will bring healing and deliverance.

3. Words can cause wounds that “go down into the innermost parts of the belly" (Proverbs 18:8) and be hidden from conscious memory.

4. These hidden hurts can often wreak havoc in your life without you even understanding the source.

5. You must pray for the Holy Spirit to search your heart to find “anxious thoughts.” He will show you if “there is any offensive way” that could be the root of this stronghold. (Ps 139:23-24 NIV)