Over the last couple of years, 2020 and 2021 specifically, I have become increasingly aware, amazed and even surprised at the level of fear in the Body of Christ throughout the world. Not only the quantity of fear (both in numbers of people allowing it and also in the number of things of which they are afraid), but also in the intensity of fear. People are not only allowing but even justifying fear to levels I have not previously seen on a large scale. Fear to such extremes that it has been allowed to separate grandparents from their grandchildren, divide families and even keep church assemblies from meeting in direct violation of the Word of God!
Let me just say this right now and then we’ll continue – FEAR IS NOT OK!
As 2021 progressed, the passion and desire to see people delivered from fear grew and intensified. Then, during the latter part of of the year, the Lord gave Brother Kenneth Copeland a prophetic word for 2022, “2022 will be a year of correction, direction, protection and perfection . . . “ (For the complete Word from the Lord, I encourage you to go to KCM.org). And just before the conclusion of 2021, I was reminded that immediately after the September 11, 2001 attacks the Lord instructed Brother Copeland to launch a “War on Fear!”
When I was reminded of that, it immediately rose up inside of me that, as a part of the year of correction and direction after the 2020 and 2021 attacks, I was to reactivate the war on fear. We have let that slip!
FEAR IS NOT OK!
For the born again child of God, not even the smallest amount of fear is acceptable! Fear tolerated is faith contaminated! Fear will hinder every area of your life and keep you in bondage.
In this blog, I would like to deal with the biggest, ugliest fear of all. As a matter of fact, it is the master fear. By using a little synthetic virus, and taking advantage of our general laziness of preparation, satan has been able to kill quite a few people’s bodies over the last couple of years. By employing this strategy, he has been able to utilize one of his main weapons – the fear of death.
Oh, people may not put it in those words. Especially if they have been taught that they are not “supposed” to be afraid of death, but actions speak much louder than words! According to Hebrews 2:15, fear of death will keep a person in bondage their entire lives if they let it!
“But Brother Weeter, I don’t want to die!”
Well, I’ve never been much for “beating around the bush” about things so let’s just hit this head on. You ARE going to die! Actually, only your body is going to die. You should have known that by the time you were 5 or 6! The grass is going to die. Trees will die. Your dog or cat will die. The Bible says that it is appointed to EVERY man once to die! Not a time to die, but once to die! (Hebrews 9:27 KJV)
BUT THIS IS GOOD NEWS!
What?! How could this possibly be good news? Four very important reasons that are very clearly laid out in our blood backed promises that God has given us.
- Jesus, by the grace of God and through the death He suffered, physically experienced (tasted) death for every man (Hebrews 2:9 KJV)
- Through that death He suffered, He provided deliverance from the fear of death because He already experienced the sensations of death so we don’t have to (Hebrews 2:14-15 KJV)
- When this physical body dies, we are FINALLY able to be with our Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:8 KJV)
- We can live in the anointing on this earth with Jesus inside us but for this body to die and us to depart is FAR BETTER! (Philippians 1:21-23 KJV)
As a matter of fact, in reality, this problem that Paul was having should be our biggest problem as well when it comes to the physical body! The truth of this body dying and us finally going to Heaven to be with Jesus being FAR BETTER should become so real to us that we have to overcome the temptation to just go ahead and depart by reminding ourselves continually that we are on a mission for the Master on this earth! We have to understand that we are on a mission to help people! Help them come to know the Lord. Help them learn how to live in victory in every area of lives through the great and precious, blood backed promises of the Word mixed with faith!
This is what Paul was reminding himself of in verses 23 – 25, “For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;” – Philippians 1:23-25 KJV
He kept his mission and assignment before his eyes – and we must do the same!
By continuing to meditate on the deliverance from the fear of death that Jesus provided for each of us and on His great love for us; however, we can become absolutely free from the fear of death. The soldier on the battlefield with no fear of dying is the most fierce warrior there is and VICTORY is his reward!
Finally, we will come to the place where death is swallowed up in victory and we can shout, as the Apostle Paul did, “DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING? GRAVE, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY?!”
Well, I can’t seem to find a place to “wrap this up” so I guess I will just stop for now! Until next time, let me leave you with the encouraging words of Jesus in Mark 5:36 . . .