In A Season Of Fear

In a Season of Fear & Terror, Live as a Faithful Disciple By: Jacquie Tyre Simply turn on the nightly news for five minutes, perhaps even less, and you will be confronted with a myriad of reasons to shirk back simply to avoid the onslaught of terrorproducing news and commentaries that flood the airwaves. Add to that, the conversations and monologues (even in our own heads) that surround us, and who wouldn’t want to find a place of escape? You’ve heard the questions, and probably asked a few of these yourself:  Will I have gas to get to work tomorrow morning? Can I afford to fill my tank, even if the station has gas (which is questionable around Atlanta these days)?  Are my investments safe? Or, will my bank or stock be the next to crash? Not to mention all the questions surrounding the $700 billion dollar bail out. And, what of the Dow plummeting by over $777 on Monday (9/29/08)? What are the true implications for the nation? …For my company? …For my personal budget? …For my future?  Is the reported threat of terrorism real? Are the prophets hearing clearly? Will the terrorist strike at Wall Street, another Embassy, a sports stadium, or perhaps the school bus that takes my kids to school? Or, are the warnings of terror actually pointing toward the financial crisis? Certainly, terror is being struck in the hearts of many, even among the most stouthearted.  And, what about the elections? Does either candidate have what it takes to pull our nation out of the tailspin we are in? Can either one work with the rest of the lawmakers in Washington to make significant adjustments in our course that will bring the much-needed reformation? Is there any hope? (Not if you listen to the media!) What will our future, or the future of our children, be like?  Is this the end of America, and the world, as we know it? Scripture tells us, very plainly, that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. (Romans 10:17) Personally, I believe Paul, in writing to the Romans, was alerting us that what we listen to dramatically affects what we believe and how we live. If we listen to the pontificators that flood the airwaves with half-truths, lies, unverifiable opinions, and perspectives that run counter to the wisdom of the Lord, then we will fall prey to the god of this age that comes to steal, kill, and destroy. If, on the other hand, we listen to the truth of the Word of God and to the voice of the Holy Spirit, faith will rise in our hearts and our minds will be transformed to live victoriously – even in times of fear and terror. In light of this, I would like to suggest a few simple action steps to fortify your faith and help insure that you are walking, living, praying, and declaring according to faith and not according to fear and terror. 1. Read, study, and meditate on the Word of God daily. This sounds so simple, but honestly, I am amazed at how many of us do not invest the time and energy necessary to really “study to show ourselves approved, workmen that do not need

to be ashamed.” (2 Timothy 2:15) It is not enough to simply read a short devotional passage of Scripture as you run out the door to work, school, or play. The Word of God provides our nourishment for faith-filled living, providing wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and counsel regarding the ways of the Lord and how we should live. Without the Word, the enemy can easily draw us astray down paths of discouragement, depression, and deception, even, destruction. (Psalm 119 is loaded with benefits associated with the Word of God.) 2. Be filled with the Holy Spirit – continually. Ephesians 5:18 in the Amplified version reads, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but ever be filled and stimulated with the [Holy] Spirit.” The Holy Spirit has been given to indwell us to lead us into all truth, as the Spirit of revelation, knowledge, understanding, counsel, might and the fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2). He empowers us to be witnesses, and through Him we have been given gifts to enable us to live as “more than conquerors” through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 8:37) 3. Give yourself to thanksgiving, praise, worship, and intercession – intentionally and consistently. When prompted to worry, or when fear and terror seem to sneak up on you, fervently press into the Lord. Thanksgiving keeps you focused on the goodness of God and shields you from the terror that seeks to destroy. Praise is a weapon to use in resisting the enemy causing him to flee. Intercession creates a connection between heaven and earth to release the wisdom and counsel of the Lord into the earth, causing a breakthrough for the King of Glory to come into the situations that surround you, and opening a pathway for those in positions and places of authority and influence to walk in ways of wisdom so that we might live “a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” (Psalm 50:14-15, 23; Psalm 138; Ezekiel 22:30; I Thessalonians 5:18, I Timothy 2:1-4) 4. Learn to operate in the Gifts of the Spirit. Christ has given gifts to us by His Holy Spirit – the gifts of the word of wisdom, word of knowledge, prophesy, discerning of spirits, tongues, and interpretation of tongues are particularly needful in this season to guide us through the raging storms. (I am not in any way discounting the value of the other gifts, just pointing out that these can provide much needed direction in times of fear and terror.) I Corinthians 12:7-11 5. Stay aligned and connected with the Body of Christ! Secure your alignments, communicate with them and pay attention to what they are communicating with you. Know who you are connected to relationally by covenant and fervently guard those relationships. Work on moving from relational connectivity to functional alignments for the advancing of the Kingdom. (Hebrews 10:25) 6. Develop and practice generosity – do not forsake tithing and go beyond – give offerings, alms to the poor, sow seed, and be faithful with your first fruit offerings. In 2 Corinthians 8:1-4, the Apostle Paul shares an incredible testimony of generosity at work in the midst of hard times. It reads, from The Message: Now, friends, I want to report on the surprising and generous ways in which God is working in the churches in Macedonia province. Fierce troubles came down on

the people of those churches, pushing them to the very limit. The trial exposed their true colors: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor. The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts. I was there and saw it for myself. They gave offerings of whatever they could—far more than they could afford! — pleading for the privilege of helping out in the relief of poor Christians. Remember, you cannot out-give God and He looks for those who trust Him with everything – and in hard financial times, the most difficult challenge for many is in the area of finances and generosity. Give of the greatest treasure we have by lavishly sharing the love of Jesus with those who are without hope and in need of a Savior. 7. Finally, be informed regarding the current events of our day, and be educated on how cultures, including our own, have walked through challenging times before. It has been said often that those who fail to learn from the past are destined to repeat it. Let’s learn from the past – out of Scriptures, yes, and out of the history books that tell the story of days gone by. (I Corinthians 10:1-13) Consider this account of a statement reportedly given by Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowdling, Commander-in-Chief of Fighter Command in the Battle of Britain, taken from Rees Howells: Intercessor, by Norman Grubb: “Even during the battle one realized from day to day how much external support was coming in. At the end of the battle one had the sort of feeling that there had been some special Divine intervention to alter some sequence of events which would otherwise have occurred.” Obviously, Rees Howells and those who interceded with him were well informed -- both by reports and news in the natural and in the spirit by revelation – and God used them to turn the tide of an otherwise inevitable defeat. The same is possible today in the battles that we face, whether in the throes of war, economic crisis, political battles, or local community issues Now the questions face us:  Will we, as believers, give into the terrorism of the media pundits that spew opinion as facts, aggravation as answers, and manipulation as wisdom that stymies our ability to hear the voice of the Lord, to rightly discern and to think clearly? Or, will we press on to walk by faith and not by sight in the midst of trying times?  Will we allow the storms of this season to take us off track by fear, or will we allow the winds of adversity to propel us into our destiny in God, even as Joseph did?  Will we cry out to the Lord – not for a quick rescue or escape, but for great grace to stand fast and grow in maturity to demonstrate His love, mercy, grace, and power to a lost and dying world by the Holy Spirit that lives within us?  Will we press into the Lord to learn how to “war a good warfare” against the forces of darkness utilizing the weapons of our warfare that are not

carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:3-4)? Let’s rise up in faith and defeat the forces of fear and terror that are raging against us in this season. It is time for the Church to rise up, put on her armor and advance with boldness in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Let’s become “faith-filled, fed-on-theWord, Holy Spirit led and empowered, obedient, worshiping, praying, aligned and connected, giving informed disciples” available for service at the bidding of our King. The next article in this series will be on waging a good warfare – getting off the sidelines and into the battle, equipped and prepared for victory.