Face Your Fear, And You Shall Overcome

2 Kings 7:3-10 (KJV)

3 "And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? 

4 If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but due.

5 And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.

6 For the LORD had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.

7 Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.

8 And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.

9 Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household.

10 So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were."

INTRODUCTION

Fear is a natural emotion, but it becomes a problem when it stops us from moving forward. Many people are stuck in life because of fear—fear of failure, rejection, uncertainty, or the unknown. But God has not given us a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7). When we trust in God and take bold steps, He will guide us to victory.

1. The Four Lepers: A Lesson in Courage

In the scripture above, four leprous men were in a desperate situation. There was a famine in Samaria, and they were outcasts. They had two choices:

1. Stay where they were and die.
2. Take a risk and go to the enemy's camp.

Instead of allowing fear to paralyze them, they decided to move forward. When they acted in faith, God performed a miracle—He made their footsteps sound like an approaching army, causing the Syrians to flee.

Lesson to Learn:

• Fear keeps you in bondage, but faith sets you free.
• The miracle did not happen until they moved forward.

2. Fear Is Not From God

The Bible clearly tells us in 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." This means that fear is a tool of the enemy to keep us from fulfilling our purpose. Instead of fear, God has given us power, love, and self-control.

Take a look at David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17)

• The entire army of Israel was afraid of Goliath.
• David, a young shepherd boy, faced his fear and stepped forward.
• His faith in God gave him victory.

Lesson to Learn:

• Giants in life will always try to intimidate you, but when you trust in God, you will overcome.
• Victory belongs to those who face their fears with faith.

3. Fear Paralyzes, but Faith Moves You Forward

The children of Israel missed their blessing because of fear. In Numbers 13:31-33, ten spies came back with a negative report about the Promised Land. They said:
"We were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight."

Their fear caused an entire generation to miss out on God's promise. But Joshua and Caleb, who had faith, entered the land.

Lesson to Learn:

• How you see yourself determines your outcome. If you see yourself as weak, you will fail, but if you see yourself as strong in God, you will overcome.
• Faith requires action—just like the lepers stepped out, we must step out in faith.

4. The Reward of Facing Your Fear

When the lepers entered the enemy’s camp, they found food, riches, and abundance. Their decision not only saved them but also saved an entire city. When we overcome fear, we not only bless ourselves but also others.

Isaiah 41:10 (KJV): "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

Lesson to Learn:

• When you face your fear, God will fight for you.
• Your breakthrough is often on the other side of fear.

Conclusion

In concluding this piece, I ask you: What fears are holding you back today? Like the four lepers, you have a choice: remain where you are and suffer, or take a step of faith and trust God. Fear is a liar, but God is faithful. When you step out in faith, you will overcome.

A Call to Action:

• What step of faith do you need to take today?
• Trust that God is with you and move forward.

May God give you the boldness to face your fears and overcome in Jesus’ name. Amen!

N:B Contribution from ChatGPT