Text: Nehemiah 6:9 NKJV

Further Reading: Nehemiah 6:1-15

For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.” Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.

Nehemiah 6:9 NKJV

MESSAGE

Fear is one of satan’s strongest weapons to attack the believer. He puts the thoughts of possible failure and disappointment in the saint’s mind to destabilise him. In our text and reading, when the enemies of Nehemiah saw that they could not stop the work of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, they decided to play the fear card from the devil’s playbook. But Nehemiah prayed and remained resolute in God.

Among those who the word of God told us will be cast into the lake of fire and experience the second death are the ‘fearful’. Although God did not say that the believer will go through fearful phases in life, He assures us of His divine presence. David said,

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Psalms 23:4 NKJV

In another Psalm, he said, whatever time I am afraid, I will trust [put my faith and confidence] in you (Psalms 56:3). Don’t ever allow fear to settle over your soul because it will drain you of inner life and power, and you will not be able to accomplish those God-given visions in your heart.

Fear is the greatest torment. It is hell for a person bound by it. There is no greater bondage than fear: it is a constant war in the mind, it leads to depression and ultimately death. Jesus Christ came to deliver us from the bondage of fear.

The sinner is the most unfortunate victim of fear. This is because there is no peace for the wicked (Isaiah 57:21). He will constantly live in the bondage of fear because of his sinful ways until he accepts Jesus who came to release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Hebrews 2:15 NKJV

Those who have come into the love of God through His son are no longer afraid of the eternal consequence of sin because they are sure that God has forgiven them. 

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.
I John 4:18 NKJV

Though the devil may come to make us afraid, it is not because we are sinners; and we are assured of victory through the blood of Jesus. We can boldly say that we have not received receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but we received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
Romans 8:15 NKJV

REFLECTION

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

The Spirit of God in us does not sponsor fear, rather He gives us confidence in God to face whatever the devil throws our way. We also have the love of God that produces faith in times of distress.

PRAYER

Father, I walk in power and love. No more fear in my heart in Jesus’ Name.