We all face fear. Sometimes it manifests as a phobia, like the fear of spiders, and sometimes it is an irrational fear of the unknown. Fear can freeze us in our steps and render us silent when given the opportunity to share the gospel, and therefore fear is one of the enemy’s favorite tools. The power of God Almighty resides in every Christian and He is greater than anything in this world, but we have to trust Him.
“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” 1 John 4:4.
The apostle John wrote these words to Christians and the warning is against spiritual dangers. John says we are of God and have no need to be afraid. Fear can stop even the bravest person from witnessing for Jesus because Satan has whispered lies into one’s mind. Yet how many times does God tell us not to fear? Our victory is through Him; God is greater than any fear that may enter our minds.
When we’re faced with the unknown we can become uncertain, even disorientated and confused…afraid. Satan can recognize the symptoms of fear and capitalize on it until he maximizes the fear within us. When fear is enabled we become disabled. If we aren’t fully grounded in Christ.
Fear of what others might say can convince us to change course, take another path, and even persuade us to discontinue our Christian walk. Fear can cause a Christian to be consumed with doubt, doubt that will cause denial of the abundant life God has promised to those who have faith.
[Jesus said,] “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” John 10:10.
When we allow fear to become a factor in our lives the enemy will steal, kill, and destroy us by causing doubt. As born-again believers in Christ, God has sealed His Holy Spirit within us, so what have we to fear? God is greater than any of His foes. His Holy Spirit is not a subset of a greater God, He is God and we are indwelt by Him. “… greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” Don’t forget that.
Satan can have no hold over us as long as we remember that Jesus our Savior is our shield and in Him we find safety. When we keep our focus upon our Lord and Savior, the enemy cannot control us. There is no doubt that there is a demonic supernatural presence alive in this world, but that power trembles at the Name of Jesus.
“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble” James 2:19.
Most people dismiss any thought of supernatural demonic evil as pure myth and will laugh at anyone who believes that a demonic presence is real. Satan is real and so are the minions who follow him. This force of pure evil has one goal, and that is to come between Christ and humanity.
In the end Satan will not win, but for now he is able to use fear to cripple many people. Christians need to be aware of this evil force and come against it in the name of Jesus. Denial of satanic forces won’t make them go away, but they can be overcome in Jesus’ name.
“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.
“Fear not” as well as other variations is a phrase which appears numerous times in the Scriptures. God does not want us to fear, yet many Christians are still quite fearful. Why? Perhaps you are not well-grounded in God’s Word. When Jesus went into the wilderness and Satan confronted Him, Jesus answered every satanic attack with Scripture. God’s Word is powerful.
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart” Hebrews 4:12.
As believers in Christ we need not be fearful of anything in this world nor should we fear the supernatural. Study God’s Word and use it as a weapon against Satan. The two-edged sword is in your possession, but you have to use it.
David knew where his strength dwelt.
“The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted” Psalm 18:46.
Jesus is the Rock of Ages and the shield for all those who follow Him. When the enemy attacks, Jesus is our strength and shield. Carnal weapons will do us no good against supernatural attacks. When we are compassed about by the enemy and his minions of supernatural darkness,
God and His holy angels are there as well and ready to fight for you. You need to believe this and call upon Jesus. Head knowledge tells you that God is real, but it is total faith and belief within your spirit that gives you power. The enemy will make a speedy retreat when you wield your two-edged sword.
God has already won every skirmish and battle, so don’t allow fear to come between you and victory. When we allow doubt to creep in through fear, the enemy finds an easy target to weaken us and render us ineffective. While filling the children of God with fear, Satan can hinder the commission by our Lord to spread the gospel.By flooding us with fear of persecution, our silence may pave the way for many people to spend eternity in Hell because we are too afraid to tell them the truth.
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” 2 Timothy 3:12.
We who follow Jesus with all our hearts are His ambassadors, and as such we carry a message from God to be delivered to anyone who God chooses to place in our path.
“And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” Ephesians 6:19-20.
The gospel is a message of hope. No matter how tough it gets while we sojourn this world we mustn’t allow fear to stop us from sharing the gospel. Your confidence will grow when you study the Bible and understand answers to common questions. Is Jesus God? (Yes). I’m a nice person so I will go to Heaven, right? (Not without Jesus as your Savior). Why does God allow suffering? (Don’t blame God…blame Satan). You need to settle these questions more in your mind and be able to defend God’s truth.
Satan attacks in other ways than just making us fearful to stand up for Jesus. Demons are real, and don’t doubt for a moment that they won’t manifest before you. Demon possession can easily happen so don’t open any doors to them. Stories that are dismissed as myths and legends have their origins with Satan. If confronted by an unseen spiritual force that instills fear in you, rebuke it in the Name of Jesus.
“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth” Philippians 2:10.
Don’t hesitate to call on the Name of Jesus when you encounter something you don’t understand. It is better to rebuke and be wrong, than keep silent and regret not calling on our Lord.
Many people are afraid to acknowledge that there is supernatural evil around even though the Bible makes it clear that Satan is real. They like the good that comes from God, but live in a dream world where there is only good and no evil. Because of that fact, God’s power is ignored and the evil grows stronger.
“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” 2 Timothy 3:5.
Paul was warning about life in the last days. He was right; many people no longer hold fast to God’s truth and deny His power. This will only get worse as we draw closer to the Rapture. After the Rapture those who are left here will face real fear…horrors that you and I can only speculate about today.
Jesus told us that the end times would be frightful. Like a woman about to give birth, the birth pains become closer and more painful. High magnitude earthquakes are now commonplace, war is everywhere, disease is widespread. The pains are getting closer and the time of the end is near. We are approaching a time that Scripture tells us will be like none other in history. Because we have been spoon fed a diluted view of Scripture, many people don’t understand that evil is a real force and it will soon be unleashed upon the world with no holds barred. We need not be afraid as long as we understand the power of God.
“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth” Luke 21:25-26.
This is just small example of what people will experience in the last days before the Lord’s return. There will be many manifestations of evil, and fear will rule the hearts of men. We can see that time is drawing nearer today. Today, Christians are being persecuted and beheaded by men who follow Satan. Christians have never been exempt from persecution, but we cannot allow fear to lead us to deny our Lord. Jesus knew we would experience persecution because of Him.
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” Matthew 5:10-12.
A state of fear placed upon the “in Christ” believer will only serve the enemy during those times of persecution. As we face these days filled with persecution and supernatural evil, remember that to overcome fear we must call upon Jesus’ Name.
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind” 2 Timothy 1:7.
All the evil Satan has to throw at us can’t create an atmosphere of fear in any of us unless we allow it to happen. Fear is of the enemy…overcome fear in Jesus’ Name.
God bless you all,
Ron & Nathele Graham