Freedom from the fear of man

CHAPTER 4 OF FREEDOM 25

‘Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn’t come. Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away. So he demanded, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!” And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself. Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived.

 Saul went out to meet and welcome him, but Samuel said, “What is this you have done?” Saul replied, “I saw my men scattering from me, and you didn’t arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle. So, I said, ‘The Philistines are ready to march against us at Gilgal, and I haven’t even asked for the Lord ’s help!’ So, I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering myself before you came.” 

~ 1 Samuel 13:8-12

The fear of people is a major challenge that can limit and thwart the calling of God on anyone’s life.

The life of King Saul is one of the best and extensive examples God documented in His Word for us to see the cost of being afraid of people. It’s amazing that this fear is not a respecter of title or position, it’s an inward thing and it doesn’t matter how high you climb, if the fear of man is not thoroughly dealt with, you would not be truly free to be and do, neither would you be able to arrive and function in the fullness of your identity, calling and uniqueness. You would be robbed of joy and life.

So, in the book of 1 Samuel we see a king, called and appointed by God yet a slave to his subjects, unable to obey God completely. It’s negatively interesting how the fear of people puts us in a position where we cannot even hear God and obey Him freely and fully, instead we find ourselves in this limiting cage of people’s thoughts and approval.

Jesus rightly said, “Out of your belly would flow rivers of living water.” There is a hunger and cry for expressions in your spirit and you might not see it because you are blinded by the fear of people. So, when you sense God calling you to this weird thing- big or small, you shove it or refuse to pay attention because you are scared of what people will think and say plus what you would lose because of your obedience.

Your spiritual baby keeps crying out for maximum expression and sometimes you can insensitively answer that cry by stuffing yourself with things that are good and even of God but not the accurate answer, you can also try convincing yourself that you are doing enough and not ready for more, but the cry goes on. It’s time to listen and follow.

Through this chapter, I would show you how to defeat the fear of man so you can walk in the fullness of your identity and divine calling.

1. Exercise your Authority

After God, you are the highest authority over your life, what you say and do over your life is more important than anyone else. In fact, what you say and do over your own life has more impact that what God has said and done- to explain: God gave you a will and until you bring that will into agreement with His Word, He won’t have room.

Jesus doesn’t tamper with your choice and will, you have to offer it and so, even though He has said a lot about you and done a lot for you, if you don’t accept, receive, submit and walk in line with them, it won’t produce any fruit.

You have to learn to man your life- it is your first territory and how you care for this territory will determine if God can trust you with other territories. You are not an addition on this earth, you are not another woman or man, you are not another mom or dad, you are not another anything.  You are a child of God bought by the Blood of Jesus. You are a force. A powerhouse. A carrier of divine energy and an authority in the realm of the spirit and the physical because of the Blood of Jesus.

So, you don’t let fear dictate your life, you don’t negatively subject yourself to oppression and let people stop you from being who God has called you to be.

To exercise authority is to submit your life to Jesus, develop a relationship with sweet Holy Spirit through the Bible, conversations and prayer. You discover what God has said about you, what He is presently saying to you, you receive instructions from Him and run with it. You exercise authority by agreeing with God on your life, seeing yourself through His Eyes and staying within the jurisdiction of complete obedience no matter what comes at you.

For a long time, I didn’t exercise authority over my life, I was a slave to fear of what people felt, thought and said about me; as a result, I couldn’t carry fully the mandate of God over my life, I had so much inner struggles, doubt, and criticisms.

When I finally broke out (and see this breaking out involved everyone, no matter the person or their position in my life), I shut out and chose to follow God. I set healthy boundaries, I took charge, I came into agreement with God’s Words, I saw myself as it, acted as it and walked as it because that is me. I stopped tolerating intruders and refused to fear anyone’s views or thoughts of me. I would not let any flesh decide who I am or what I can do.

This doesn’t take away submission and counsel but don’t use that as an excuse to be a slave.

2. What God gives, God keeps

‘Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine.’

~ Psalms 16:5 NLT

As a leader of people, I understand the fear of Saul in our core scripture above, that’s why the best person to receive from is God. His blessings are complete, and He watches over them. Sometimes I have the fear of losing people and this affects my ability to lead properly. I always have to remind myself that God gave me this, not me and if He did, He would preserve it, He would make up for my inadequacies as well. I don’t need to let fear dictate my actions and how I exercise authority in my territory.

The fear of losing people, things, positions etc. affects your submission to God in your heart and performance, you do less and sometimes more than He instructs. You find yourself fighting to please people and be irreplaceable to them. Well, if God didn’t give that, I can’t assure you but if He did, He would keep it through its time. 

Over 2 years ago, Daddy led me to shut down my business and go into ministry, but I was holding on; trying to figure how I could handle both and things just began to go off in my business. As I was processing everything in the midst of a burnout, my finance head sent her resignation letter and I remember reading the email with resentment. I reflect on that resignation with joy seeing how things unfolded, when the time for something is up, God takes His hands off, as a result, there is no flow of grace anymore.

This doesn’t mean we don’t have challenges in God’s Will because we do, but when God is in it, you would know, and you have no need to fear losing it. When the time is up however, release it knowing that no matter how good it has been, if God is saying move on, He has prepared something much better for you; remember that your life as a child of God is from GLORY to GLORY.

3. Why are you afraid?

God calls us to honor and respect people but never to fear them. We are called to fear only God. Sometimes, you can fear people more than you fear Jesus and you need to ask why. Don’t run from it, process it. Why do you care? Why do you want their approval? Why are you scared of their disapproval?

This year I have learned that God doesn’t need a specific person to take care of me, sometimes we are scared to go against certain people’s thoughts, feelings and opinions because we would lose the gain we have in those relationships. And that’s where you need to learn God as your source and sustainer.

Now, I am not saying be rebellious to people especially your parents and spouse, but do not raise them above God. Early this year, my dad was saying somethings to me that were not in agreement with God’s Word to me, it hurt, and we even had arguments because my dad is lovely and doesn’t shut out our voice.

However, I got to a point where I just told God I didn’t want to fight or convince anyone anymore, I asked Him to defend me and confirm things to my dad. I kept doing what I could, it took months, but God did confirm things to him, and that experience reinforced my own belief in the calling and words of God over my life.

King Saul was afraid of the people he was anointed to lead, He let them drive him to sin, his fear compelled him to disobey God by breaking protocol. How much limitation has the fear of man placed on you? How has it shut down your voice, your calling, your divine assignments and passion?

I have had people negatively criticize my unique voice and divine assignments, the journey has taught me to stick it out with God, to keep going with His Word, no matter the challenges that come at me, I remain anchored, yes, I have lost myself and shut out the anointing of God within me at different points and that’s why I am writing Freedom 25.

I want you to know that I see your struggles, your pain, your fears, how much you want to obey God and step into your spiritual calling but there are so many voices limiting you. This article might not give you the clear-cut answer but seeking Jesus would. So seek Him, talk to Him about it, pray, get instructions and obey. Step after step, and you will conquer.

Fear God. Not man.

If you are dealing with the fear of man, I highly recommend studying the book of Galatians and the life of Saul. 
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal His truths to you.
Also, click the Freedom 25 category below to read previous posts and look forward to chapter 5 next Tuesday on ‘Freedom from the opinions of people.’

_{‘For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable. ‘}

_{~ Hebrews 4:12-13, New Living Translation Bible}