The War Against Fear

“The War Against Fear”

Fear is the great tool of The Enemy to bring down the walls of Christianity in America and The World. Since the terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and The World Trade Center, the words of promise from 2 Timothy 1:7 has been speaking to my heart: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Notice it is not “a spirit of fear” that the Apostle Paul is talking about but “the spirit of fear” – the source of “the spirit of fear” is from the enemy himself -- Satan!

American is now threatened daily with the spread of biochemical warfare and an escalation of terrorist attacks that could literally destroy thousands and thousands of unsuspecting and innocent people. Biochemical warfare alone could incapacitate our hospitals and make people fearful to leave their homes or even breath fresh air due to the potential threat of airborne viruses. All signs point to the fact that America is not ready for such an onslaught of terrorism! One could conclude that “the spirit of fear” is having its way in America – the land of the free and the home of the brave. There is a prevalent fear for sudden loss of life, loss of economic wealth and sufficiency, loss of personal employment and loss of civil liberties. Many people have a fear of traveling or even trusting in their fellowman. Further, “the spirit of fear” is spreading and taking captive thousands of people even Christians everyday into its clutches.

Let us not forget that fear is the great enemy of faith for fear breaks down our trust in God. The Bible tells us to “be anxious for nothing” and that “God has not given us a spirit of fear.” The psalmist, David, said “the Lord delivered me from all my fears.” But fear is a reality in life and as we have seen since September 11, 2001, it is very much alive and confronts the Christian in his daily and moment-by-moment walk with the Lord. The Enemy, who never plays fair, uses “the spirit of fear” in the lives of God’s people to hinder the Great Commission and keep us from becoming all that God wants us to be. The Lord has set us free but The Enemy wants to bring us back under a yolk of bondage. Yet, fear is a topic that each of us can relate too and none of us is immune too. Thankfully, the Bible has much to tell us and instruct us in waging war against “the spirit of fear.” In the following passage of Scripture, the Apostle John is going to reveal to us six results of “the spirit of fear” in the life of the Christian and why we must wage war against it. Listen to these beautiful verses in John 11:6-16:

“So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was. 7. Then after this He said to the disciples, Let us go to Judea again. 8. The disciples said to Him, Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and are You going there again? 9. Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10. But If anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him. 11. This He said, and after that He said to them, Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep. 12. The disciples then said to Him, Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover. 13. Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep. 14. So Jesus then said to them plainly, Lazarus is dead, 15. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him. 16. Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”

First, FEAR BLINDS US TO THE NEEDS OF OTHERS. This is a subtle truth that is revealed in verses John 6-8: “So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was. 7. Then after this He said to the disciples, Let us go to Judea again. 8. The disciples said to Him, Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and are You going there again?” Notice, Jesus is not motivated by fear or even sentiment but by love and a desire to do the will of the Father. Upon hearing Lazarus was sick, the Scripture says, “…He (Jesus) then stayed two days longer in the place where He was.” Of course, Jesus knew that Lazarus was dead but at the same time He knew “…This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” (Vs. 4) Jesus was going to literally show His disciples, Mary and Martha, and the many mourners who God used as witnesses His Son, Jesus Christ, is The Resurrection and Life – Jesus would raise Lazarus from the dead.