In 2020 We Saw the Promotion of Fear Like Never Before

By May of 2020, many started to realize that we had been taken. Yes, Covid-19 was a real disease, of a new type, and we realized we needed to handle it wisely, but many also realized the “sky was not falling” Yes, thousands were getting sick, and we didn’t know much about treatments (thanks to the sold out media, word of available treatments was surpressed), and many did need serious hospital care as the virus invaded their lungs. But the fact was, millions were not dying in the streets. Such fear mongering was not based in reality.

Even now, in mid 2021, as the virus is well under control, treatments like Ivermectin and HCQ are becoming available, and the experimental vaccines are being pushed out by big pharma and their supporters in government, people are still acting fearful. They still wear masks where ever they go, they stay 6 feet apart, and “fear for their skin” – even if they have recovered from the Covid-19, have been vaccinated, or are under no threat.

The reality is that many have become conditioned to give up their freedom, in exchange for a hollow promise of safety, and they have bowed to the state and the spirit of fear that is blanketing the whole world.

I for one am so sick of seeing and hearing everywhere I go to “stay safe”. As a follower of Jesus, we have not been given a Spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. The evil in this world would love for me to give into this, but I do not receive this spirit of fear that is being promoted around me – and neither should you if you place your trust in Christ..

I don’t need to “stay home and stay safe”. I do not need to fear. I have Christ in me, the hope of glory. I believe that the Christian life is meant to be lived as an “adventure”, living life to the fullest, but also relying on the common sense of a sound mind God gave me, and Gods Spirit to overcome any trials or tribulations which beset me. He is my Shepherd, and yours, if you put your trust in Him (Psalm 23).

Let’s look at

• How Fear is the major weapon of our adversary, the evil one;
• How some of the people of faith in the Bible handled the attack of fear upon their character, or their calling,
• Understand how to combat this “spirit of fear” – know your identity in Christ
• Recall what the Bible records about how He delivers us from fearful situations;
• What practical steps you can take to deal with fear.

Realize that Breeding FEAR is the Evil One’s Favorite Weapon

The book of Job in the Bible is said by many to be one of the oldest, if not the oldest, book in the Bible. In this story we have a servant of God by the name of Job, who was “blameless and upright” according to the Lord, and there was no one that could measure up to him.

But then we have the evil one who challenges God, saying that Job is only that way because of all the God has blessed him with. And that if God should with hold His blessing, and allow Job to lose everything, and have his very skin (life) threatened, Job would surely “curse God” to His face.

Job 2:3-5: 3:Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job?
For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who
fears God and shuns evil. He still retains his integrity, even though you
incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.” 
4“Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give up all he owns in exchange for his life. 
5But stretch out Your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse You to Your face.”…

The evil one’s most potent weapon is to attack your flesh, and cause you to FEAR for your life. He figures if he can get you to be fearful, he can pretty much get you to do anything. “Skin for skin, a man will give up all he owns in exchange for his life”.

And isn’t this precisely what we are seeing today, since the dreaded Covid 19 pandemic stuck in 2020? Every night on the mainstream news, you have heard about the exploding number of cases, and the deaths. TV anchormen have been delighted to show pictures of children in hospital beds, hooked up to breathing machines, fighting for their life. The governments around the world, aided by politicians and the media, have gone to great lengths to try to instill FEAR for their life into everyone…

• Lockdowns were implemented around the world, forcing people to be confined to homes for fear they might lose their life otherwise
• The media proclaimed “Stay home and Stay Safe”
• At first, people were told not to worry about wearing a mask (unless you were in a hospital as a caregiver). But then, the fear mongering struck. Suddenly everyone was told “you must wear a mask” if you venture outside your home. “Its for your own safety”, we were told
• Even when it has been proven through multiple studies that DIY masks are ineffective at preventing you from getting, or spreading the virus, people have now been conditioned to wear a mask everywhere – at home, alone driving in a car, walking across a lonely stretch of beach.
• For a phony promise of “safety”, people around the world have been giving up their freedom to speak, to assemble, and to wear what they choose
• The evil one has clearly demonstrated that people even today, will “give up all he owns” in exchange for a promise to keep his life.

As you know, Job did NOT give in to this attack by the evil one on his possessions, family, and even upon his own skin. He stood strong, and was faithful to the Lord His Maker:

Job 1:20-21: Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head.
He fell to the ground and worshiped,  saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”  In all this, Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing

The evil one lost the test of Job, as he will in the end when the Lord comes back to judge the living and the dead, take back the earth, and set up His Kingdom upon the earth for a 1,000 years. And on top of that, He will do even one better, creating a “new heaven and new earth”, and “make all things new”.

Knowing this, believers should take heart, and stand strong in the Lord. Yes, Jesus said that we would have “life more abundantly”, but that also meant that the abundant life also comes with trials and testing, “for the perfecting of your faith”.

How to Combat This? First, Know Your Identity in Christ

The number one thing believers need to know to combat fear is their identity in Christ. You must be very clear about this, know the scriptures, and know not only in your mind, but in your heart who you are. Knowing your identity equips you to be the warrior for Christ that you are intended to be in this life, for the Bible says that we are in a “spiritual war” – a battle between good and evil in this world…

Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, 
against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, 
and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 
13 Therefore take up the full armor of God,
so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground,
and having done everything, to stand.…

Most of the battle that takes place stands in your mind. This is where the enemy attacks, with thoughts of doubt first, than of worry, and fear takes hold as a result. “Has God said?” said the possessed serpent in the Garden of Eden, planting seeds of doubt and confusion into Eve’s mind. The evil one twisted the words of the Lord, and Eve became confused, and then was vulnerable to temptation as a result.

So the first thing is, know who you are in Christ. Know what God says you are – don’t listen to the enemy. When you know – mentally, and in your heart – that you are the Lord’s, a child of God, and that He will take care of you, you need not fear! From the book “Who I am in Christ”, by Neil T. Anderson, here are just a few quotes from God’s word about WHO YOU ARE as a believer:

I am God’s child (John 1:12)
I am bought with a price; I belong to God {1 Cor 6:19-20)
I am united with the Lord (one spirit) ( 1 Cor 6:17)
I am a member of Christ’s body {1 Cor 12:27)
I am assured that all things work together for good for me (Rom 8:28)
I am free from any charge against me (Rom 8:31-34)
I am born of God; the evil one cannot touch me {1 John 5:18}
I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind {2 Tim 1:7)

Know these scriptures. Commit them to memory. Meditate on them. They are your helmet. Your buckler and shield. Your sword of the Spirit. When fearful thoughts come knocking, recite these scriptures out load. Proclaim them, in Jesus name! If you are in Christ, – that is if you trust Him and have given your life to Him – the Bible says you have been “born again”. You are a new creature! You are His, and He will take care of you. Do not fear!

Second, Remember How God Delivers Those that Trust in Him!

God’s word tells us as believers that “we are to walk by faith, and NOT by sight”. To look beyond the things that are seen, to see the things that are unseen. One sees repeatedly in the scriptures how when people walked by sight, their fears often overcame them, paralyzing them with fear. But in many of these same stories, one or more persons refuses the fear, and instead walks by faith, relying on what God has told them. And with that, they were able to conquer giants, overcome threats against their life, and win seemingly hopeless battles.

The Bible records over and over how God protects and delivers those that trust in Him. Here are just a few examples:

God’s People Let Themselves be Paralyzed by Fear When They Saw Giants

Israelites were paralyzed by fear when they saw the giants, even though God told them they would possess the land. Rather than remembering and focusing on what God had promised them, they focused instead on what they SAW, and this lead to what they perceived themselves as: “we were as grasshoppers” in our own sight.

Numbers 13:33 (NKJV) “There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants);
and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”

They saw, and their perception was that they were “as grasshoppers”. In other words, food for the giants. Notice that they had the thought first, and then the giants picked up on this fear and as a result considered them “grasshoppers”..

But what had God told them and promised them? That they would go in and possess the land. That He would be with them. Don’t let your sight intimidate you, for we are to “walk by faith, and NOT by sight”. Read the word and commit to memory God’s promises to you, that He will be with you, and comfort you, and be you strength and your strong tower.

Elijah Ran into the Wilderness When Jezabel Threatened His Life

Elijah was afraid, even after slaying the godless pagans.. until God said get up and out of here.

1 Kings 19: Then Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done,
including the fact that he had killed all their prophets with the sword. 
² So Jezebel sent a messenger to say to Elijah,
“May the gods punish me severely and even double it,
if by this time tomorrow I have not made your life like one of theirs.”

³ Elijah was afraid,^[a] and he ran for his life.

Elijah had previously shown himself to be fearless, standing up to 400 pagan priests. Calling on God to send fire from heaven. He seemed fearless. But then he listens to this messenger from Jezebel, and fearing for his life, runs into the wilderness. Why? Because he listened to the fear, and gave it room.

An angel visited him in the wilderness to comfort him in his distress. The Lord will be with you in your sorrows, and in your deep valleys. Elijah made it to the mountain of God to seek the Lord, and God spoke to him:

Then the word of the Lord suddenly came to him, saying,
“Why are you here, Elijah?”

God was asking Elijah, why are you here? What are you doing? Why are you not listening to My Voice, and following My guidance? Then God gave him specific directions to get on with his mission, and do God’s will. Don’t let yourself be intimidated by the fear the enemy is throwing at you. Realize you are God’s prized possession. He will be with you and comfort you, and see you through.

The Israelites Were Terrified When they Saw the Giant Goliath – but not David!

The Philistines and the Israelites were arrayed on two hills opposing one another. And they sent out a “giant” by the name of Goliath, who appears very large (they say over 9 ft tall). He also spoke words of defiance against Israel:

1 Sam 17: Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Sokoh in Judah.
They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Sokoh and Azekah. ² Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. ³ The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.

⁸ Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. ⁹ If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” ¹⁰ Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” 

¹¹ On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.

Why were God’s people so afraid? Because the looked, and SAW that the giant was so tall and fearsome. They were walking by sight, and NOT by faith. However, God’s knew this would come to pass, and so He had prepared in advance a small boy, ignored and cast aside by the Israeli army, none other that the future king of Israel – David.

1 Sam 17: 45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, 
but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty,
the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 
⁴⁶ This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands … All those gathered here will know
that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; 
for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

David believed God would defend him and them, and be their salvation. He not only walked, he RAN by faith to the battle. He trusted that God would deliver the giant, and the enemy into their hands. David did not allow the size or fearsome looking giant to intimidate him – he RAN to the giant, slinging his rock and struck the giant on the forehead, killing him with one blow. David did not walk, but RAN by faith into the realm of the enemy, and God delivered him.

Steps to Take When Fear Comes Knocking

Remember, fear is not from the Lord. He wants you to be fearless! So often in the Scripture we are reminded, “do not fear”! Remember and recite the Scripture:

“God has NOT given us a spirit of fear,
but of power, and love, and a sound mind.”

FIRST, Remind Yourself Mentally of your Identity in Christ

• Recite the scriptures listed above
• Do it out loud, speaking to the baseless spirit if fear that is trying to intimidate you

SECOND, Read God’s Word the Bible daily to Transform Your Mind!

• Reminding yourself of who you are in Christ
• What He has already done for you, and
• What He promises to do for you in the future

THIRD, Knowing your security in Christ, pray about what concerns you, turning your cares over to the L:ord

• “In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”
• “Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.”

FOURTH, Fellowship with Other Believers to Encourage Each Other

• One of the tools of the enemy has been to lockdown and isolate people this past year
• As a result, many churches unfortunately closed their doors, making it difficult for Christ followers to assemble together to build each other up
• The Bible says “do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together“. This is not a request – it is a command. We are in a spiritual war, and we need to regularly get together, encourage one another, as members of one body, the church, with Christ as our head. This is not optional.

FIFTH, Stand Strong in the Lord, and act in Faith to Confront the Fear

• Remember, God has not given you a sprit of fear, but of power, love, and a strong mind
• Recite the Scriptures above about your identity in Christ – if you are in Christ, you are a child of God!
• Take action to let others know that if they are in Christ, there is nothing to fear. Promote sound thinking with love and care for others. Take sensible steps to protect yourself and others. But do not give into the fear mongering and fear bating. That is not your life in Christ.

“If the Son Sets you Free, You Shall be Free Indeed!”

Giving into a sprit of fear makes you a slave of fear. This is what the evil one wants, people that become slaves to him and sin, doing his bidding and destined for an eternity apart from God. But if you are a believer, you have NO part in this. You are NOT a slave to sin, but you are God’s child. A member of His Body. Destined for an abundant life on this earth, yes with trials, but also joy and happiness. And life everlasting in heaven and the New Heave and New Earth.

If you are not a believe in Jesus the Messiah, and do not have God’s Spirit dwelling in your heart (or you are unsure), realize that Jesus said “You must be born again”. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, and dwell in God’s presence. You must …

• Realize you are a sinner, in need of God’s saving grace
• Repent and turn from your sinful past, and be willing to follow Jesus no matter what the cost
• Confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, that He is your Lord, and that you are turning your life over to Him, no matter what the cost
• Ask Jesus to come into your heart, and receive Him as you Lord and Master (“to as many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become the sons of God” – John 1)

Give Jesus a  chance!  Don’t put it off.  Allow Him to come into your life and make you “a new creation”!   You have nothing to loose everything to gain.  Here is a  link to Billy Graham’s web site that can show you how you can invite Jesus into  your life and be the creation He has always intended you to be …

Take Me to Steps to Peace With God ==>  http://www.billygraham.org/SH_StepsToPeace.asp

God bless you.