"Your Own Worst Enemy"

2 Tim 1:7   For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. NKJV

I used to think that our own worst enemy was our self. Over the years I've come to realize it is the spirit of fear disguising itself as ourselves and convincing us that this is the way were made! This really is our own worst enemy! Do you know that "Fear not" is used far more than any other instruction in the Bible by God to us? The spirit of fear keeps us from truly who God made us to be! Now let's take an in depth look at the spirit of fear and expose it for the real enemy it is.The first thing is to look at the above scripture because it gives us the true indicators of a spirit of fear. The spirit of fear will try to convince us that we do not have the power to overcome. This is true if were relying on our own strength or power. But if we know that we have the power of the Holy Spirit in is and that God is waiting to express himself through us to overcome every obstacle or crises or giant that would rise up against us, then we have nothing to fear!

Do not rely on your own strength. This is one of the mind sets that will keep you in bondage to the spirit of fear. We have supernatural power available to us. We are to be led by the Spirit and not by the flesh. The Spirit we have on the inside of us is the Holy Spirit, which is power, love and a sound mind.  Remember the spirit of fear will disguise itself as you.

Example: "Thats just the way I am!"  This is not true! You are a powerhouse! God made you to be an ambassador for Christ! This will involve walking in power and authority! You were made to reign in life!

Let's look at love  according to the 2 Tim. 1:7. We have a spirit of Love. 

(Agape)

Agape means: NT:26  (ag-ah'-pay); from NT:25; love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast: KJV - (feast of) charity ([-ably]), dear, love.This is the Spirit we have in us! (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance)

A lot of Christians have never received in their deepest being that God loves each and every one of us! He loved us while we were yet sinners. Does He love you any less now that you're a Christian?  Absolutely not! He loves you just the same because He loved you with a perfect love from the beginning!  He made you special!  All of us were made special!  We were fearfully and wonderfully made! Do you think that he made you not to win? You are a winner and its time you receive the truth that God loves you and made you this way!  Not to shrink back but overcome! God is for you and He is your rear guard! Ask God to deliver you from all your fears! He will!  This is what holds you back and its time to break on through to the other side!

1 John 4:17-19 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 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. 19 We love Him because He first loved us. NKJV

Now lets examine fear involving torment. This is that feeling we get when we can't breathe.  Lets define torment.

Torment: 1 severe physical or mental suffering. 2 a cause of torment.  subject to torment.  annoy or tease unkindly. -ORIGIN Latin tormentum 'instrument of torture', from torquere 'to twist'. (Webster's )

This gives us a basic picture of whats involved when fear has a hold on you. Many people have been under the bondage of fear for many years and have learned to cope or survive in it. This is what the Bible calls a stronghold. It comes about because of a mindset that basically lines up with a spirit of fear and allows this spirit to rule and reign in that specific situation. 

There are many examples I could give you, but  I want to examine one.  Lets say you grew up in a household that your father may have ruled with a fist of iron. He may have said  "You will never amount to anything!" "You're stupid!"  "You can't do anything right!" This scenario might give you a mindset that you are invaluable and would not have what it takes to succeed at anything. This mindset coupled with spirit of fear would make you feel like you're a failure. You probably would be very insecure when it comes to trying to do anything. This usually would cause you to be very defensive when someone would try to help or encourage you. If this mindset is not changed, you will most likely set yourself up for failure.  It is all about how you "see" when it comes to success or failure. Ask yourself:  "Do I "see" myself as a success or failure?"  How did you answer and why?

2 Cor 10:3-6  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. NKJV

Your own worst enemy is not yourself! It is the spirit of fear! For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh!  It has always been interesting to me how we can realize that we need Jesus to save us before we get saved, but forget we still need him to deliver us from bondages after we get saved. We cannot overcome our flesh with our flesh! We must realize we in our in a war!  The weapons of our warfare are not carnal (fleshly).  They are divinely powerful for pulling down strongholds! This word stronghold means a fortified castle.

If you look at the way most castles were built, they had several lines of defense before you even got to the structure of the castle. The first thing they had was a mote. This was filled with water.  Second they would build an outer wall.  Then a second wall that was much higher with a space between the first and second wall. Then inside of all of this is the castle structure itself!  Deep inside the castle resides a king. My question has always been if we were to destroy this stronghold with weapons that are divinely powerful, then who's the king that's been ruling and reigning in the stronghold?  Could fear be the king inside the stronghold? 

The next verse says what a stronghold really is. It is arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. Then it goes on to say: Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ!  Remember if fear is the king in the stronghold, it will get you to defend him through your thoughts! The enemy only seems like its you, because it is ruling inside your mind! You need a revelation of Jesus in that area, to over throw the lie you have been hanging on to. The next verse says He is ready to punish all disobedience, when you obedience has been made complete!

These arguments that we have, are the walls that we have constructed to protect the spirit of fear that we think is just us!  I've have experienced over the years that when you start getting close to a stronghold in another person, that they start defending the spirit of fear with arguments and justifications! This usually leads to them getting offended with you at some point.  It's all part of the defense of the stronghold and the king ruling in it!  If we truly want to be free, we will come into truth and be set free. This is going to take obedience to truth. We must take every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. This is going to take an attitude of humbleness.  

Ask yourself this question: Why do I do what I do?  You can narrow down your answer to just two choices: Faith or Fear.  If its faith, you've heard the voice of God.  If its fear, it probably carries a very convincing argument that gives you justification for doing it even though it is fear based. If it is faith it will carry with it a hope and a trust. If it is fear it will be more survival oriented and be very limited in hope. It also will be much and more structured and comfort focused. 

The truth is, we are being changed from one degree of glory to the next into the image of Christ. If this is true (and it is!) We will be like him in this earth realm. Now the last part of the scripture says: He is ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is complete.

The weapons are the weapons of truth that will set us free! When we come into agreement with truth, the mindsets (castle walls & motes) are destroyed and the spirit of fear has to go! Your mindsets that protect it are gone and so is the spirit of fear! ,He is ready to punish all disobedience, when you obedience is made complete!  He will destroy this enemy, when we obey His truth!  He is waiting for us, instead of us waiting for Him!

1 John 4:17-19  Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 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. 19 We love Him because He first loved us. NKJV

Lets start with verse 18 because it really is the truth that deals with the spirit of fear head-on! There is no fear in love, but perfect love cast out fear! When we really come to the revelation that God loves us and He always has, fear no longer has a place to live in the castles of your mindset. He loved you and I so much while we were yet sinners that he sent his own Son to die on a cross for us! He wants to have relationship with us! Receive the love of the Father today and be set free!

I want to sum up this article up by once again stating: You are not "Your Own Worst Enemy"  The spirit of fear disguising itself as yourself is! This is the king in the castle of mindsets,which are the walls, motes, and defense measures  that are set up to protect it. This spirit of fear disusing itself as yourself will keep you from doing what God has called you to do by convincing you that this is just the way you were made. The most common argument that a person will use is: "That just the way I am." That may describe your current state, but that is not the way God made you! He made you to be an overcome in all areas of life! 

When you find out who you really are and overcome this spirit of fear that has kept you in bondage, you will recognize it in other people and will have a steadfast resolve to help them. 

Prov 29:25  "The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe. NKJV

Snare: 1 a trap for catching small animals, consisting of a loop of wire or cord that pulls tight. (Websters Dictionary)

You can recognize a spirit of fear disguising itself as yourself, by how it makes you feel when you get into certain situations. Do you feel like your suffocating or trapped? This is the spirit of fear. Do you ever avoid certain situations because you feel uncomfortable?  This is most likely the spirit of fear keeping you from your destiny. Don't stay in bondage any longer! Don't buy the lie that this is just the way you are! 

God loves you and made you to be an over-comer! Face the giants of your life knowing that God loves you and is for you! He is your rear guard, your strength and your ever present help! He made you just the way you are and if people reject you, so what! He will never reject you because you're the apple of his eye! He made you with your own distinct DNA!  No one was made like you! Be all that God made you to be! You are the head and not the tail!  God goes before you and He is your rear guard!  As He is, so are we in this world! 

AS HE IS, SO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD!  AS HE IS, SO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD!   PERFECT LOVE CAST OUT ALL FEAR! YOU ARE LOVED!  Now Fear you've got to go!   You've been dethroned by the LOVE of God! 

"Fear Not!" "Says the Lord for I am with you to deliver you out of every situation!" "You must trust in me, because I love you and I want to bring you to the destiny I have for you!" "You must let go of discouragement and step out in what I've said you can do!" "This is the day and this is the time of my presence says the Lord!" "You have waited secretly for these days says the Lord and now that they are here you must step up to the plate and swing for the fences!" "Do not go back to timid and passivity!" "I did not make you that way!"  "You have the heart of a Lion and that is authority!" "You must pick up the authority that I have given you and have dominion over the earth!"  "I have given you the helper and I am with you says the Lord."  "I have always loved you so Fear Not!" "Be strong and courage's for I have given you the land to posses says the Lord!" "You will arise and you will shine!"  Says the Lord!


(While I was writing this article the Spirit of Prophecy came on me so I felt led to include it) We do have power because it has been given! God has given us power and help, so receive it!  Fear Not!