i Appendix: Breaking Strongholds Exercise FEAR: Fear deceives – misleads by false appearance or statement; outwits, misrepresents, dupes, misinforms, misdirects. It blinds us to the truth of our identity in Christ: Our Security, Acceptance, Significance, Authority, and our status as loved children of God. The single most repeated command in scripture is. Do not fear. God designed us to be people of faith hope and love. Secure in the knowledge of Gods protection for us. Most of us do not realise how deeply fear is rooted in our everyday lives. Imagine a life truly free of Satan’s attacks of fear. Freedom from fear is gained as we: Allow the power of the Holy Spirit to uncover the presence of fear in our lives Bring these fears to the cross, captive to Christ, through forgiveness – received and given – and the affirmation of biblical truths about ourselves, the world, sin, the demonic and God Commit to take action to walk actively in the opposite spirit away from fear into freedom (replace) Where does Fear come from? It is not from God: For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. - 2 Tim 1:7 It comes from doubt and a deficiency of faith: But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” – Matthew 14:30-31 Some specific areas of Fear to recognise and walk free from: Fear of punishment: little peace, hope, faith or joy There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. - 1 John 4:18 Fear of Others / Fear of Rejection (insecurity) Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. - Proverbs 29:25 “Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have taken my instruction to heart: Do not fear the reproach of mere mortals or be terrified by their insults.- Isaiah 51:7 Lack of contentment and fear of uncertainty
Transcript
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Appendix: Breaking Strongholds Exercise
FEAR:
Fear deceives – misleads by false appearance or statement; outwits, misrepresents, dupes,
misinforms, misdirects. It blinds us to the truth of our identity in Christ: Our Security, Acceptance,
Significance, Authority, and our status as loved children of God.
The single most repeated command in scripture is. Do not fear. God designed us to be people of
faith hope and love. Secure in the knowledge of Gods protection for us.
Most of us do not realise how deeply fear is rooted in our everyday lives. Imagine a life truly free of
Satan’s attacks of fear.
Freedom from fear is gained as we:
Allow the power of the Holy Spirit to uncover the presence of fear in our lives
Bring these fears to the cross, captive to Christ, through forgiveness – received and given –
and the affirmation of biblical truths about ourselves, the world, sin, the demonic and God
Commit to take action to walk actively in the opposite spirit away from fear into freedom
(replace)
Where does Fear come from?
It is not from God: For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and
self-discipline. - 2 Tim 1:7
It comes from doubt and a deficiency of faith: But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and,
beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught
him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” – Matthew 14:30-31
Some specific areas of Fear to recognise and walk free from:
Fear of punishment: little peace, hope, faith or joy
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The
one who fears is not made perfect in love. - 1 John 4:18
Fear of Others / Fear of Rejection (insecurity)
Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. - Proverbs 29:25
“Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have taken my instruction to heart: Do not
fear the reproach of mere mortals or be terrified by their insults.- Isaiah 51:7
Lack of contentment and fear of uncertainty
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You will live in constant suspense, filled with dread both night and day, never sure of your
life. - Deut 28:66
Fear of the ministry we see Jesus doing in the Gospels and its reality today
Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they
were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left. - Luke 8:37
Fear of bad news or circumstances
They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD. Their
hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. -
Psalm 112:7-8
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we
wear?’ - Matthew 6:31
Fear of exposure / judgement / shame
“Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You
will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. - Isaiah
54:4
Sudden unnatural fears as direct attack from Satan
When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear
of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, - Proverbs 3:24-25
What does Freedom from Fear look like?
There are many scriptures which could describe this. Here are just three:
They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear
when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails
to bear fruit. – Jeremiah 17:8
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then
you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. – Romans
12:2
This is what the Lord says to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of
this people: “Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls a conspiracy; do not fear what they
fear, and do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you
are to fear, he is the one you are to dread. – Isaiah 8:11-13
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PRAYER EXERCISE:
Start by inviting the Lord in to the moment. Ask for his protection and revelation. Bind the
work of the devil, and any distractions of the world and flesh.
RECOGNISE: Ask the Lord to reveal if Fear has been given a foothold in your life?
Lord, when was a recent time I was afraid? (Can ask specific questions about this –
one very helpful request is simply: ‘reveal more truth’).
Lord, show me what lies I was believing
Lord, what is the truth?
REPENT: Ask for forgiveness, and commit to turning away from Fear and to the truth. (This
may also include the need to forgive someone or forgive self)
RENOUNCE: Renounce the Fear and associated lies you believed
REBUKE: Rebuke the spirit of Fear, and anything with it that the Lord revealed to you
(rejection, control, anger, shame, etc.)
RECEIVE: Accept the specific truth that God revealed, and the universal truths of
who you are in Christ.
REPLACE (Walk in the Truth): Commit to the journey of discipleship – in Gods strength –
walking in these truths, making decisions in line with these truths.
Finish with thanksgiving; and seal the time by binding the devils counter-attacks on you and
on those you love.
SPACE FOR NOTES:
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A SELECTION PROMISES TO WALK IN (Truths for ‘Replacing’)
Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not
be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you
wherever you go.
Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 46:1-2 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in
trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the
mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
Psalm 91:4-5 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you
will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will
not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
Proverbs 3:24-25 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie
down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the
ruin that overtakes the wicked,
Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am
your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my
righteous right hand.
Romans 8:15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you
live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your
adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
1 Peter 3:14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are
blessed. “Do not fear their threats[a]; do not be frightened.”
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because
fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in
love.
1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous;
