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Link Hudson | PentecostalTheology.com
Is Fear a Spirit?
I was in an English-language church overseas many years ago that had a lot of English-speaking preachers. They’d get WOFers, too. One of them said, “Did you know that fear is a spuurit? The Bible says, “God hath not given us a spirit of fear….”
I was trying to wrap my mind around the logic of this statement. I suppose a Constitutional lawyer could tell a crowd, “Did you know that the United States is a president? The Constitution mentions the President of the United States.”
The passage tells us that the Spirit is not a spirit of fear. It doesn’t say that there is a spirit of fear. If it is reasonable to infer that there is a spirit of fear, that doesn’t mean that fear is a spirit, or that all types of fear are caused by a spirit.
Something I notice is what then you say ‘spirit of’ this or that, some Charismatics think you mean a demon or principality, and some take it in a looser sense like ‘school spirit’ or ‘the spirit of your mind.’
Levi Allen Goff [10/01/2015 11:20 PM]
There are demonic powers that attempt to provoke fear, and will demonstrate the weaknesses of man’s heart, taking advantage of people just to give a person fear as to strip an individual of their faith.
Fear should not be found in the heart of any Christian, because that is not the Spirit God has given to us as you said, and as it was written. That statement I believe is to serve as confirmation and reassurance to the faithful that they should not worry, God is in control. Somewhat in the same way the Constitution reaffirms the duties of power in the government.
In all things, we are to reverence the Lord in all ways, only fearing him.
Varnel Watson
About as much as Jerusalem is the church Ricky Grimsley
Ricky Grimsley
New jerusalem is the bride of christ? Revelation 21:9-10 KJVS
[9] And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. [10] And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
CrossTheology
not so bad OP 🙂
Varnel Watson
So what say ye?
CrossTheology
I find it strange people often say: that’s a spirit of … with terms that aren’t even in the Bible
Varnel Watson
You mean like the Lausanne statement on engaging territorial spirits http://www.pentecostaltheology.com/clinton-arnold-lausanne-statement-on-engaging-territorial-spirits/ David Lewayne Porter
David Lewayne Porter
Although yes there are territorial spirits, what I see Biblically is casting them out, wrestling against them, resisting them, discerning them, reminding them of what God has said and done – is saying and doing – and what God is going to say and do.
I don’t see binding them.
Varnel Watson
Yes, this is on ongoing discussion with Clinton Arnold on the Lausanne statement on engaging territorial spirits in spiritual warfare http://www.pentecostaltheology.com/engaging-territorial-spirits-in-spiritual-warfare/ Do Christians need to feel a responsibility or a call to engage in a direct confrontation with the principalities and powers over a city, region, or a country OR do We appeal directly to God, who will direct his angels to fight the battles against the high-ranking powers http://www.pentecostaltheology.com/engaging-territorial-spirits-in-spiritual-warfare/
Mary Ellen Nissley
1John 3:8 “…For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
Modern man seems to have a problem thinking that his problems are related to demonic activity. I have come to find the best results are obtained by addressing root issues, instead of trying to medicate mental or physical symptoms.
I used to have anxiety attacks. Seriously, my heart would race, palms would sweat, and I would begin to feel physically ill and faint. When I recognized I was under spiritual attack, I addressed that spirit, and found complete deliverance.
Since I found deliverance, I told my sister who suffered worse than I ever have, from the same thing. (Heart rates over 110, lying down.) She took to rebuking the demon of fear, and has also found deliverance.
I also battled thoughts of suicide for over 20 years. Daily, I thought of killing myself. One day, those thoughts got so strong I nearly killed myself and my two children, by intentionally driving in front of a semi-truck. The overwhelming urge to do so came over and over as I drove for ten minutes on a very busy highway…
I got to my friend’s house and said, I have got to have someone pray with me right now! Will you help me pray? We got started, and suddenly, I found myself shouting,
“Demon of suicide, I command you to get your hands off me! I have been redeemed by the Blood of Jesus Christ! My body is the temple of the Holy Ghost! My mind belongs to Jesus Christ. He bought it and it is HIS. I command you in Jesus Name to leave me and Never come back! And don’t you touch any of my children!”
Suddenly, it was as if something went out of the room, and a door slammed shut. SOMETHING HAD LEFT! I found myself beginning to laugh. I felt so light and free!
I opened my eyes and looked at my friend, whose eyes were HUGE. I asked, “Did you feel that thing leave?” She just nodded, wordlessly.
And it has been 14 years since that day. Not once has the thought of suicide entered my mind.
You cannot tell me there is no such thing as a spirit of fear.
My mother has dementia, and severe anxiety can come with that. She doesn’t live with me, but with my sister.
We have found that it is possible to rebuke that spirit of anxiety over mom, and she turns into the docile, placid sweetheart she has always naturally been.
You’ve come along too late to turn this into a mental exercise of human reasoning. I already have my battle scars. And I know the enemy.
Varnel Watson
Mary David Here are some more Bible verses related to Demonic Spirits from the King James Version http://www.pentecostaltheology.com/bible-verses-about-demonic-spirits/
Ricky Grimsley
Does anyone agree with Dr michael heiser as to why the demons and fallen angels are territorial?
Jessica Michelle
They desire power. Angels are soul protectors. Demons soul destroyers.
CrossTheology
Im not talking about territorial and I don’t know his arguments.
Ricky Grimsley
Angels territorial but not demons?
Ricky Grimsley
My opinion is that there is no actually spirit that causes fear but they all can. Like in 1 kings 22 when one says i will go be a lying spirit.
CrossTheology
Interesting take on it! 🙂
Jessica Michelle
No the spiritual world is real. Danger is real. Fear is not. Fear is imaginary. It’s something we choose to feel.
Mary Ellen Nissley
Jessica… sorry. I had no victory over fear until I confronted it as a demon. And when it left, it was evident it was an actual spirit I had been battling.
Mary Ellen Nissley
Funny things is… I shared with my sister how I got victory over panic attacks, and she also got victory by doing the same thing: rebuking the spirit of fear, in the name of Jesus.
Now, my brother is very much controlled by his fear issues… his panic attacks are debilitating. But when we try to tell him how we got free from it, it’s like talking to a brick wall… he is too afraid to face the possibility that it’s a demon, to even listen. He takes shelter in the idea that it’s a medical condition. and he could be free.
Jessica Michelle
You was in a fight with yourself. We all battle our demons. Some ppl say drug addiction is a demon. Nope it’s also a feeling being chased by many. Just an emotion.
Jessica Michelle
I’m like your bro. I called it bipolar. It wasn’t until I found my faith in the Lord that I had clarity. I seen what I was dealing with. It was a monster alright. I was looking at her in the mirror, I didn’t like what I saw so I changed it. Internally I’m free. Physically my soul is still trapped in this body.
Mary Ellen Nissley
My mother has dementia, and has always been an anxious person… but now it’s really bad. Her caregivers were beside themselves, as she was driving everyone up the walls. I was asked to come in and care for her.
(She’s 91.)
As she lay in her bed, and fell asleep, I suddenly got the idea to rebuke the demon of anxiety that was tormenting her. I went in there and did so. Half an hour later, she awoke in an unusual state of peace, and remained so for many days.
Jessica Michelle
I believe you. Its our faith and follower ways that gives us this power. I’ve experienced something similar. I was visiting my home boys mom with him at a nursing home and she shared a room with another lady. When her roommate awoke she sat with a cup of coffee moaning theses were her words… HELP ME GOD OH GOD OH LORD OH GOD….. she said this over and over in a whisper. I said to my home boys mom what the world. She said she’s waiting to have surgery on her back. Her discs are out. My heart broke as the neighboring lady continued her chant to Christ to help her pain. So I stood up and faced the curtain towards her bed and put my hands in front of my shoulders and began praying under my breathe. I did that for 3 minutes or so then I took my seat again. Still she’s asking God for help were visiting. About 2 minutes later she stopped. I said listen. She stopped. And they said yea she did. I feel bad for her. She normally does that for about 3 hours every morning. My home boy said his mom told him her roomate still asked God to relieve her pain until her surgery but not the way she previously had been. I totally dig where you’re coming from. Thank you for sharing your story. Blessed are the believers.