We find ourselves living in a time of radical religious organizations like ISIS and deadly diseases like Ebola. They both originate from the pit of Hell and are striking terror and fear in the hearts of many people. Some opposing Armies are even laying down their weapons and running in fear of ISIS. And yet in other cases, young children are showing unbelievable courage in the face of being beheaded because they will not renounce their Christian faith. Christian doctors and nurses are fearlessly on the front lines in Africa and the USA fighting the Ebola virus. It is imperative that we understand the present situation from a spiritual perspective because you will never be able to fully understand it through intellectual or political reasoning. Spiritual eyes and ears are needed in this day and time to see and hear what is really happening and who the real enemy is.
There is an invisible Spirit world out there that is more real than what you see in the natural because it is eternal and what you and I see is temporal. We have an enemy in that invisible world! His name is Satan, Lucifer, or the Devil. His job and nature is to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10). He is the Father of lies (John 8:44) and he is very good at it. He was kicked out of Heaven by God because he was a rebellious angel that wanted to be just like God. He is still trying. He is not the creator, like God, so he is left with trying to imitate God and the ways of God. The Bible tells us that God will take the things the enemy means for evil and turn them to the good (Genesis 50:20). Satan does the exact opposite. He takes the things God means for good and turns them to evil. He uses lies and deception to accomplish his goals.
Let’s look at fear as a prime example. The word fear appears in the Bible over 300 times. If you look at the Hebrew and Greek definitions of fear you will find that this word is a powerful two-edged sword. On one side of the blade it means to fear or be afraid but on the other side it means to revere or honor. You have a choice to be on one cutting edge of the sword or the other. If you are on the “honor God” side the “fear” side is defeated because you know that God did not give you a Spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7); that Jesus defeated death (the root of all fear) on the cross (Hebrews 2:14-15); and for you to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (II Corinthians 5:8). If you choose not to honor God then fear becomes your master because you are in bondage to the fear of death (Hebrews 2:15). This is where you become susceptible to the lies of the enemy which offers a counterfeit Heaven with counterfeit rewards to foster a “no fear of death” belief system that can eventually establish a fearless, but deceived Army.
An army of people who are not afraid to die is a very formidable foe and Satan understands that principle very well. So the trick is to deceive people into having no fear of death through a false theology. He also understands the power of fear. He understands that the fear of death can paralyze people and cause them to panic and run. At the same time he understands the deceptive reasoning of a works theology which is linked to promises of Heavenly rewards. His argument is that surely you must believe that you have to do something to gain acceptance from God and qualify for entrance to Heaven. You also have to be responsible for making people do right. You cannot give them a choice because they will always choose wrong. They are either with us or against us and if we die trying to enforce our spiritual rules we will go to Heaven as martyrs and be rewarded for our actions. The Bible tells us that the letter of the law killeth and this type of false theology is a prime example of how it kills both literally and spiritually.
Let me ask you a couple of questions. Who do you think are the real martyrs in today’s world, the beheaded children that would not renounce their faith in Jesus, or the terrorists that died on 9/11 and killed thousands of people? Secondly, would you rather serve a God that requires you to kill and die for him, or a God that died for you?
God repeatedly tells His followers that He has not given them a Spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind (II Timothy 1:7). We are also told throughout the Bible that we are to revere and honor the one and only true God (Jehovah). It is the goodness of God (not the harshness) that leads men to repentance (Romans 2:4); it is the freedom that God gives each one of us to choose between life and death (Deuteronomy 30:19) that draws us to Him; it is the fact that Jesus died on a cross for all of our sins that gains us entrance to Heaven. It is all about grace and not about works (Ephesians 2:7-9). We will never be able to do enough good works or be holy enough to qualify for Heaven!!! Jesus accomplished that on the cross. It is finished!!
I will never forget a situation that happened while we lived in Collierville, TN. We were attending a small church on the outskirts of town and there was a large billboard on the highway just a few feet from the church property. This billboard had been used for years to promote the local John Deere Tractor company. When they stopped using it we went to the owner of the billboard company (who was supposedly a Christian) and ask if we could buy the space to promote our Church and the gospel. I will never forget his comments. He refused to let us advertise on his billboard and said, “That type of thing will never work because you have to make people do right!” This type of thinking by the billboard owner is legalistic and letter of the law. It will never bear good fruit or produce fruit that remains.
Here are just a few things God has to say about terror and fear:
Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you. (Deuteronomy 3:22)
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. (Deuteronomy 31:6)
And Joshua said unto them, fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies against whom ye fight. (Joshua 10:25)
And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. (2 Kings 6:16)
In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. (Psalm 56:4)
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. (Isaiah 41:10)
Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any. (Isaiah 44:8)
Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. (Joel 2:21)
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 8:15)
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (II Timothy 1:7)
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. (I John 4:18)
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. (Hebrews 13:6)
Be encouraged today! God is on your side, if you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and savior. He has not given you a Spirit of fear so if fear is a problem in your life you can be assured it is not from God. Read every scripture you can find where God says to fear not. If you will read and meditate on those scriptures they will drive out fear. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty and freedom (II Corinthians 3:17). Fear cannot stay in the same room with liberty, freedom, and the love of God. It has to go!!!
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39)
We hope this article will give you a little better understanding of the war on terror and fear that we are facing in today’s world. Remember, you are more than a conqueror!!! Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. And please remember to pray for all the medical personnel that are fighting Ebola and all the military and security people that are fighting terrorism.
SUGGESTED BOOKS/AUDIO: Fearless (Book), Max Lucado, $24.99 On Sale for $12.99; Fearless (Audio) $24.99 On Sale for $14.99; Fear Fighters (Book), Jentezen Franklin, $21.99; The Fearless Life (Book), Jentezen Franklin, $12.99; Fearonomics; Dr. Bill Moore, $14.99.
In His Service,
Rev. Ed & Cheryl Henderson, Directors
New Life Network, Inc.
