“I’m surrounded by many
violent foes; mighty forces of evil are swirling around me who want to break me
to bits and destroy me.” -Ps. 22:12 TPT
We read every day in
social media and newspapers, as well as listen to the radio and watch on television, report after report of Americans hating Arabs, Whites hating
Blacks, Blacks hating Cops, and how we should limit or eliminate people groups
from entering the U.S. to prevent terrorism.
We (Americans) strengthen our military, increase our border patrols, and
build fences and walls to keep violent men away from us. Our leaders watch the world carefully, strategize,
and implement plans in hopes we can thwart the next terrorist attacks. Let me ask you to consider these two questions,
“What is the common element in all these troubles? “Just WHO is the enemy?”
“Now the king of Syria was
warring against Israel; and he took counsel with his servants, saying, In such
and such a place shall be my camp. And the man of God sent unto the king of
Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians
are coming down. And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God
told him and warned him of; and he saved himself there, not once nor twice. And
the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called
his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not show me which of us is for the
king of Israel? And one of his servants said, Nay, my lord, O king; but Elisha,
the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou
speakest in thy bedchamber. And he said, Go and see where he is, that I may
send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.
Therefore sent he thither
horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed
the city about. And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and
gone forth, behold, a host with horses and chariots was round about the city.
And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?” -2 Kings 6:8-15 ASV
The common element
in the troubles I listed above as well as the trouble the servant of Elisha
faced was NOT the large and overpowering physical enemy that could be seen. The enemy was that which could not be seen. It was fear.
Fear is defined as “an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that
someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain or a threat.” A much better way to understand fear is to
look at some of its synonyms: terror ·
fright · fearfulness · horror · alarm · panic · agitation · dread · dismay ·
distress · anxiety · worry · angst · unease · uneasiness · apprehension · nervousness
· disquiet · foreboding · misgiving · suspicion · the creeps · the willies · and
the heebie-jeebies. Ironically these are
only half of the synonyms the dictionary lists for fear but I think you get the
idea.
Fear can be
paralyzing. It stops people in their
tracks. It makes them feel
hopeless. We, as believers do not have
to succumb to its power; in fact, there is a much more formidable power that we
can grasp in fearful situations.
And he (Elisha) answered, Fear not; for they that are with
us are more than they that are with them. And
Elisha prayed, and said, Jehovah, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see.
And Jehovah opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the
mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” -2 Kings 6:16-17 ASV
“Be not afraid nor dismayed
by reason of this great multitude; for the battle [is] not yours, but God's.” -2 Chron. 20:15b KJV
Are you facing trouble
or do you have a friend or family member who is facing it? You can go to the One Who is more formable
than any enemy you face or will ever face.
“There’s no reason to fear
when troubling times come, even when you’re surrounded with problems and
persecutors who chase at your heels.” -Ps. 49:5 TPT
“The Lord is a man of war;
the Lord is His name … Your Right Hand, O Lord, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the
enemy in pieces. And in the greatness of Your excellence you have overthrown
those who rose against You; You sent forth Your wrath which consumed them
like stubble.” -Exodus 15:3,6 KJV
“The Lord shall go forth
like a mighty man; He shall stir up His zeal like a man of war. He shall cry
out, yes, shout aloud; He shall prevail against His enemies.” -Isaiah 42:13 KJV
Turn to the One Who
has ALREADY WON! Cry out to Jesus and He
WILL deliver you either out or through your trouble. Crying out to Him is an important,
intimate, and powerful part of Prayer. Crying out to this great Man of War is part
of THE BATTLE CRY.
“Once I was hemmed in and surrounded by those who don’t love you. But by Yahweh’s supernatural power I overcame
them all!” -Ps 118:10 TPT
“Often the battle goes too long
The courage all runs dry
Victories you should have won
Are memories to hard to fight
Dancing like shadows in the night
Fading dreams once thought right
Are pushing out the light
When it seems the day is lost
And your faith is almost gone
Set your eyes and his battered cross
Where the war is already won
Like a flood, His Word will come
Set the darkness on the run”
-Only the Overcomers, by Harvest
