For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. 26 I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came. Job 3:25-26 KJV

When you consider the story of Job, as recorded in the book of Job, it is clear to see that everything that happened and how he responded to it was not all inspired of God. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (Tim 3:16-17). Yes, all Scripture is indeed given by inspiration of God, but all scripture is not inspired of God. The uninspired of God-things in Scripture . . . “whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Rom. 15:4). God inspired the writers of the Scriptures to record the good, bad, ugly including the lies of the Devil. Faith comes by hearing God’s truth; but fear comes by hearing the lies of the Devil.

There are many principles truly recorded in the Bible but not “the truth.” There are positive truths inspired of God and there are negative truths not inspired of God. For example, Hebrews 11:1 says in positive truth: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” But it is also true that, fear is the substance of things not hoped for, the evidence of things we see and feel. Jesus told Satan that, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). You live by God’s inspired Words and you die by the Devil’s lies.

In the text above, Job made it evident that fear comes by hearing. Satan lied to Job and told him that he was going to lose everything. Did Job believe him? Absolutely! Job said it out of his own mouth (Matt. 12:34; (Ps. 116:10; 2 Cor. 4:13).). He was speaking what he believed; he was speaking his fears. His first response to his troubles were to accept it (Job 1:21); he was expecting it! Job listening to and believing the lies of Satan broke the hedge of God’s protection about his possessions, property, prosperity, his people and his health (Eccl. 10:8).

Fear will do to you what it did to Job: he lost his sense of security; he couldn’t find rest and quietness; he couldn’t sleep—he couldn’t believe God because he had been listening to the lies of the Devil. Fear brings torment! (1 John 4:18). Both faith comes by hearing and fear comes by hearing. Like Job, who eventually stopped listening to the lies of the Devil and his clueless three friends, found his faith and prayed for his friends, and God turned the captivity of Job and blessed him with twice as much as the Devil stole (Job 42:10, 12-13). When you stop listening to the lies of the Devil–this is what faith and perfect love of God will do when you overcome your fear!