A Word from the Lord: Stop Bowing to Man & Break Free from the Fear of Man

I was seeking the Lord recently while on a trip to plant a new Jesus House center in another region. In the middle of that obedience, I got hit with an attack from the enemy that tried to make me doubt what God had called me to do.

The enemy began speaking through another person saying horrible, accusing things, twisting what we were building. It hurt deeply because it came from someone who once called me friend.

In that moment, I went before the Lord, asking if I had done something wrong and that’s when the Lord took me straight to Jeremiah 17.

He spoke clearly and said,

“What you are doing is for My approval, not man’s.”

And I began to weep, realizing how many people never do what God has called them to do because they live for the approval of pastors or man instead of the voice of God.

The Lord says,

“Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh, and whose heart turns away from Me.” — Jeremiah 17:5

Many in this hour have bowed to man instead of Me. They’ve trusted in personalities, platforms, and systems more than in My presence. They’ve traded intimacy for influence, obedience for opportunity, and dependence on My Spirit for dependence on human power.

You cannot drink from two wells. Either you’ll draw from the Living Water, or you’ll sip from broken cisterns that cannot hold My glory. The fear of man has replaced the fear of the Lord, and many have forgotten that I alone am the One who appoints, anoints, and promotes.

Stop bowing to Saul when I’ve already rejected his system. Stop chasing titles and recognition from those who carry no oil. My glory does not rest on charisma it rests on consecration.

Those who trust in Me will be like trees planted by the waters. When the heat comes, they will not fear. When drought strikes, their leaves will remain green. They will still bear fruit when others wither.

This is the hour to rise not for man, not for religion, not for approval but for Me. Return to your first love. I’m raising up a people who won’t need a stage to be seen, because their light will shine from the secret place.

⚔️ The Spirit of Control and Fear in the Church

There are some who never step into what I’ve called them to do because they care more about hurting man than obeying Me. They’ve been trained to tiptoe around egos instead of walking in authority. They’ve been silenced by politics in the pulpit and manipulation in leadership.

There are leaders who think they own regions, who believe they are the only shepherds over the land. They do not raise sons and daughters; they control them. They do not empower; they suppress. They do not release; they restrict.

But hear Me clearly, many have confused healthy covering with control and manipulation.

True covering protects, mentors, and empowers; false covering restricts, intimidates, and isolates.

When leadership begins to demand allegiance instead of cultivating relationship, it ceases to be covering, it becomes captivity.

I never called pastors to build kingdoms unto themselves, I called them to build Mine. I am removing the false sense of territorial ownership and raising up apostolic mothers and fathers who will equip and release, not dominate and destroy.

This is why many have left the system and are birthing house churches, hubs, and movements of My Spirit outside of man’s approval. I am breathing on those who have no name, no platform, no network but who carry My fire.

💔 My Testimony: What Religion Tried to Silence

I know this pain personally. There was a time when the church tried to control me, when leaders tried to silence what God was doing in my life. They never cared to know my heart, never built real relationship, never even asked who I was or what I carried.

They only wanted to control me. They wanted me to sit down, be quiet, and fit into their system. I was labeled rebellious simply because I refused to bow to man when God had called me to obey Him.

Then one day, in the middle of all the confusion, God audibly spoke to me and said,

“Who do you answer to? Me or man?”

That moment changed everything. The fear of God came over me so strong that I fell to my knees. I realized I had been living for the approval of man instead of the approval of God. That day, something broke inside me, the fear of man was replaced by the fear of the Lord.

I understood then that I didn’t need their permission to walk in my calling. I only needed His yes.

God used that season to show me that true authority doesn’t control, it covers. True leadership doesn’t silence, it sends. And true spiritual fathers and mothers don’t compete with the anointing on your life, they celebrate it.

🔥 Breaking Free from the Fear of Man

The Lord says,

“I am delivering My people from the fear of man. For too long you have bowed to opinions, titles, and expectations that I never placed upon you. You’ve walked on eggshells, afraid to disappoint people, when I was only ever asking you to please Me.

But I am breaking those chains now. I am removing the muzzle off your voice. You will no longer shrink back to make others comfortable. The days of hiding your fire to keep their approval are over.

The fear of man has caused many to stay silent when they should have spoken, to stay seated when they should have stood, and to stay stuck when I said, ‘Go.’

But I am raising up a remnant who fears no one but Me, sons and daughters who will walk boldly in truth, even if it means walking alone.

You are coming out of the prisons of people-pleasing. You are being delivered from the opinions that kept you bound. I am healing you from rejection that once controlled your obedience.

The fear of man brings a snare, but perfect love casts out fear. And My love is casting it out of you now. You will move in confidence, speak with authority, and obey Me even when others don’t understand.

No longer will you need validation from the crowd when you’ve already been chosen by the King.

You were not created to bow to man, you were created to walk with Me.”

A personal Note to pioneers: The religious spirit will always be angry when you obey the Lord - Keep Going!

Sharell Barrera

October 28, 2025