Battle

Battle by Karen Schatzline

There is a battle raging. The enemy is not concerned about where you have been, but where you are going. Fear is a liar!
I have learned that fear is a learned or perceived aberration (hallucination) that grows into an absolute. Fear is the thief of yesterday's dreams. The intimidator of today's promises. The emasculator of tomorrows warriors.

In Matthew 14:28-31 Scripture tells us:
Peter, suddenly bold, said, "Master, if it's really you, call me to come to you on the water."

He said, "Come ahead."

Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, "Master, save me!"

Jesus didn't hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, "Faint-heart, what got into you?"

I have learned that fear is not the absence of courage; in fact, fear is the embryo of courage. Fear is courage waiting to be awakened. Someone reading this today needs to awaken and see your battle in the spirit realm. Satan is at war with your future courage!

For years, I battled fear. You see, I have had a nemesis my whole life. This nemesis has been with me as child, teenager and adult. It has traveled with me as I have traveled the world ministering. It caused me to wear a mask when underneath the mask were tears. It has caused me at times to shrink back in crowded rooms. It has delayed my destiny at times and even shrouded my potential. Its name was fear. Sometimes God has you minister to the very thing that tried to destroy you.

You see, I am here today to declare that somewhere beneath the layers of insecurity is a bold "For such a time as this" interrupter of pain. Somewhere beneath the shy exterior, there is a declarer of truth! Somewhere between "I can't" and "I must" is a warrior preparing for battle! Somewhere between what others have said and what God has declared is a freedom fighter!

If you recall, the disciples were on a ministry trip. Jesus had sent them on ahead. Jesus went into the mountains to pray all night. The disciples were floating along. They were probably asleep. Jesus decided to go hang out with them. They were suddenly awakened by a "ghost" in the distance. Matthew 14:23-26 tells us:

When He sent the crowds away, He went up into a mountain by Himself to pray. And when evening came, He was there alone. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was turbulent.

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost" And they cried out in fear.

They were afraid, because in their night season, they had misplaced Jesus.
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Never negotiate your anointing away because you do not believe Jesus is close by. The disciples are freaked out. They think they see a ghost, and Jesus says, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid" (Matthew 14:27).

Fear is courage waiting to be awakened! Remember Peter on the water; don't ever forget that if He called you out, He will meet you at the point of your doubt. Jesus will always speak to your heart before He convinces your intellect. He said, "Faint heart, why did you fear?"

We are living in the day of faint hearts. Our affections and our passions so often do not match His heart. That's when fear takes over. The pounding of your heart will always grow faint when your heart is lost (and found) in His.

Peter allowed the chaos around him to make him forget who it was who called him out. The enemy is wearing out those who are supposed to be strong and bold. But I have great news for you today: God has given us all we need to defeat fear.

God Has Given You Three Weapons to Defeat Fear:

Power: "God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7). The word for "power" in the Greek, dunamis, means the ability to see and walk in miraculous signs and wonders, the ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events—to change the atmosphere.

Love: Perfect love cast out all fear, because 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

Sound Mind: In the Greek, the word is sophroneo: a mind that has been delivered, rescued, revived, salvaged, protected and brought into a place of safety and security so that it is no longer affected by illogical, unfounded and absurd thoughts.

2 Corinthians 10:5 says, "casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."

It is time to cast down fear and restore the faint heart. People are watching you. You are the revelation of who they can become. It's time to step out. He is about to meet you in your sinking. He is about to grab your hand and pull you up. Peter would go from being "faint heart" to being the "rock" and a "lion heart."

Like Peter, God is calling you to rise up, take courage and defeat fear!