The cry of my heart recently has been Ephesians 4:15 (New King James version) to “grow up into Him in all things.” Even as “babes desire the pure milk of the Word” (1 Peter 2:2) I am entering this 15th year of my salvation, and am desiring “solid food” for those “who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Hebrews 5:12-14) And one of the things I am learning, is that with a growing understanding of the Lord comes a growing understanding of your enemies and how to fight them. Perhaps one of the most dangerous and in danger believers is one that does not know their enemy or perhaps is ignorant to the understanding that they have an enemy in this life. While some “Christians” deny the existence of the devil, this ignorance also applies to those who don’t understand how the devil desires to attack the plan of God in their life. But we must come to this understanding because the Bible says we are “not ignorant of his [Satan’s] devices.” (2 Corinthians 2:11)
What is his mission? Satan comes only “for the Word’s sake” (Mark 4:17). The plan of God for our lives is ultimately evangelistic, to profligate the Gospel. And in Mark 4 Satan comes to steal the Word that was sown through offense, persecution, and thorns because he knows, no Word in you…no Word coming out of you. All of these specific methods succeed because of one basic reason. even as “it is impossible to please [God]” “without faith” (Hebrews 11:6), it is impossible then to displeasure Him without there being some element of fear. And even as God manifests Himself in the form of the Trinity: (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit), so God gives us an arsenal of weaponry that is a triple threat to fight our arch enemy---fear. These spiritual weapons are delineated clearly in 1 Tim. 1:7.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but power, love and a sound mind.
Unfortunately, I feel highly qualified to discuss this subject as over the past year I have faced every type of fear imaginable and some I never imagined—fear for my physical well being and health, fear for my spiritual life, fear for my sanity, fear for my marriage, fear of what I might do and fear that I might never do anything at all. Yeah, I’m psyched about 2009 being over! But what a miracle to see God bring me right through this web of fear and He did it with His power, His love and His sound thinking.
The Greek word for “power” is “dunamis,” where we get our word for “dynamite;” and indeed, it is strong enough to blow your fears out of the water. How dare we fear cancer, when “the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead now dwells in OUR mortal bodies” (my emphasis added to Romans 8:11)? How dare we fear poverty when “He became poor so that we could be made rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9? How dare we fear calamity when “He gives His angels charge over us, lest we dash our foot against a stone” (Psalm 91:11-12)? This is why the castrated gospel of well-if-it-be-the-Lord’s-will and miracles-and-tongues-are-passed-away, is so dangerous. If we can read the Bible, we can know what God’s going to do and if we can pray in tongues we can know all the rest of it too!
“Perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18)
“Perfect love drives out fear” (New International Version)
“Full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror!" [Amplified]
“There is no room in love for fear.” [The Message]
‘Nuff said. But I would like to tip my hat to a FABULOUS book that I recommend to all living creatures called “Captivating” by John and Staci Eldredge (Special thanks to my book guru Lisa Kinsey). These are people that in my mind “get it.” That Christianity for the mature believer is no more rules & regs, no more parent/child, no more fool and deliverer, but it becomes a divine romance. Imagine any of your favorite romantic movies where the heroine has gained faith in their beloved, like Last of the Mohicans or The English Patient. There is no fear in their presence, and when Jesus whispers “I’ll come back for you.” Your heart just melts and it’s like “Devil what?” “Fear who???” “Worry? Not a chance!!!” That’s a picture of perfect love driving away any fear that presents itself.
And a sound mind…This has manifest in my life by asking God always to help me agree with Him. “Help me see it your way God,” is my prayer when I’m frustrated or confused. Isaiah 55:8 says “His thoughts are not our thoughts, His ways are not are ways,” and yet He reveals His thoughts and ways to us in His Word and through our spending time with Him. His ways are not unknowable, except apart from Him. Why was Jesus sleeping through the storm? (See story in Matthew 8:23-27.) What does He know that we don’t know? What are His eyes seeing while ours are fixed on the rain that’s beating us down? He’ll tell you…gladly! “The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him” (Psalm 25:14) “And He [the Spirit] will show you things to come” (John 16:13) Who do you share secrets with? Who do you share your future plans and dreams with? You were made in God’s image, and so you can understand why God reveals things to those who are close to Him. If you are not enjoying that kind of fellowship with the Holy Spirit admit this to yourself and to God. Prayer is just talking to God like you would any other King who loves you so dearly and wants to see you succeed. And please feel free to contact me at dreamsonfirepl@yahoo.com if you need to partner with someone to pray for you as well. “One puts 1000 [enemies] to flight and two 10,000!” (Leviticus 26:8) (I love God’s math!)
“…and a 3-fold cord is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12) Put this triple-bonded cord of power, love and a sound mind around fear’s neck and watch your new year be an “affair [with the Holy Spirit] to remember!”
