And Fear Them Not

“And fear not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matt: 10:28 

Reasonable people would not argue the fact that, for most of us, there are a few, very powerful emotions that shape our behavior and are instrumental in shaping our overall lives. Of those emotions, two of the most powerful are love and fear. Although we move through a variety of emotions on any given day, love and fear seem to be the bookends of our life. 

Emotions in themselves are not bad. In fact, they are a necessary part of our existence; and, unless you are a sociopath, undoubtedly responsible for many of the decisions that we make each day. Love and fear are not only powerful emotions, but they are, in my opinion, the exact emotions that determine who, or what, we serve; for whether you believe it or not, we all serve something or someone.

Since the dawn of time, our spiritual enemy has been trying to separate flesh man from the Creator. And, in large part, the plan has been successful. America, for most of its existence, has been a staunch hold-out; but sadly, the evil deeds men perpetrate are now consuming even this nation, as it has the rest of the world.

And we are to blame because we, individually and collectively, have allowed those who run this planet to trick us into embracing our fears because when one is gripped by fear of a threat, real or imagined, their rational and higher cognitive capacities shut down, making them easily manipulated by anyone that promises safety from the threat. 

“No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear”, wrote the 18th century philosopher Edmund Burke.

Oppressive governments often maintain their grip on a nation by continually invoking fear, and then proceeding to claim that only they, the ruling powers, have the means and ability to protect the population from such a threat.

“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.  Behold all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded; they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.” Isiah 41:10-11

We must not expect those who attempt to put us into captivity to save us.  God expects us to turn to Him as Paul writes in Ephesians 6:11-18; to put on the whole armor of God so that we can stand against the wiles of the devil (evil) for as He warns, we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rules of darkness of this world and against spiritual weakness in high places.

In the upcoming battle between the forces of good and evil, only spiritual weapons will make a difference, and they’re not manufactured by Smith and Wesson.  Our only chance to defeat the enemy is with God’s help and guidance. 

As the saying goes, don’t be the one who shows up at a gunfight with only a knife; or, in this case, don’t show up to a spiritual battle with weapons of this world. One way or another, there will be numerous difficulties ahead. Arm yourself now, for time is short and the battle is imminent.

source: Whoever You Fear is Who You will Serve by James White

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