Before we can be the strong, bold, fearless people God intended us to be, we must recognize fear as a demon spirit and understand how Satan is using it to attack us. If you allow it, the spirit of fear will spiritually immobilize you until you are unable to release your faith and receive what you need from God. If you let it gain a stronghold, you will be in terrible bondage.

Today there are millions of people suffering from phobias — fears which cause people to lose control of their wills. One example is the story of a woman who suffered from agoraphobia which is the fear of open spaces. She was so controlled by this fear that she left her apartment only three times in thirty years!

The spirit of fear will try to torment you until you no longer have any peace. If you fail to resist and take authority over it, it will gain entrance, first into your thoughts, then your emotions, and finally you will be under its control.

Through Christ, we have already been set free and released from the tormenting bondage of fear. Fear has no place in our lives! Paul told the Romans:

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Romans 8:14-15)

We have not received a spirit of bondage to fear. There is no reason why we should ever be fearful. The spirit of fear came upon man as a result of his rebellion and sin against God. When Adam and Eve were perfect, they did not possess fear. As children of God, Adam and Eve enjoyed the loving provision and protection of their heavenly Father. They were not afraid of the lions, bears, or any other animals. They were not afraid of anything. They enjoyed perfect peace.

After they rebelled against God by yielding to Satan, Adam and Eve realized what they had done and they experienced a new feeling — guilt. Along with guilt, a spirit of fear came upon them and they hid from God. That day in the garden of Eden a spirit of fear was loosed upon this earth, and it has tormented and oppressed countless millions through the ages.

Under the old covenant, God's people lived in bondage to the law and it brought great fear to their hearts. They feared the wrath of God. Today, in the covenant relationship we have with God, this fear has been abolished. We do not serve God as slaves bound by fear. Through Christ we have been set free from slavish fear and have entered into a new relationship as sons of the living God!

Fear has been abolished. I am living in new covenant relationship with God, my Father.