For God has not given us the Spirit of fear; but
of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7
The devil seeks to rule over his kingdom through the use of fear...
of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7
The devil seeks to rule over his kingdom through the use of fear...
Fear, I believe, is one of his key weapons. It can overwhelm one's mind and heart and cause an individual to make rash and hasty decisions which he may later regret. Fear can also paralyze one's judgment, thus preventing him from fleeing what might be a potentially dangerous situation or relationship. It can also put its victim into a state of complacency, leaving an individual to remain in his so-called "comfort zone," as opposed to stepping out in faith and taking risks.
Lions do this with their prey. They will let out a loud roar whenever they begin their attack, thereby causing the intended victim to momentarily become disoriented and confused, and unable to react quickly. Their roar produces fear, and fear paralyzes the animal, giving the lion a few extra seconds to pounce.
While the devil likewise wants to keep the follower of Christ in a state of fear, too. He wants to keep him from making decisions that would be beneficial to both himself and the church. It could be a fear of stepping into a position of leadership in a congregation or leaving one's job to go into the mission field.
But the reality is, the follower of Jesus Christ need not have any fear of the devil. With the Holy Spirit inside him, Satan is no match for the servant of God. Honestly, it has taken me awhile to understand this. Nevertheless, the Scripture assures us that "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4).
D.B.
Lions do this with their prey. They will let out a loud roar whenever they begin their attack, thereby causing the intended victim to momentarily become disoriented and confused, and unable to react quickly. Their roar produces fear, and fear paralyzes the animal, giving the lion a few extra seconds to pounce.
While the devil likewise wants to keep the follower of Christ in a state of fear, too. He wants to keep him from making decisions that would be beneficial to both himself and the church. It could be a fear of stepping into a position of leadership in a congregation or leaving one's job to go into the mission field.
But the reality is, the follower of Jesus Christ need not have any fear of the devil. With the Holy Spirit inside him, Satan is no match for the servant of God. Honestly, it has taken me awhile to understand this. Nevertheless, the Scripture assures us that "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4).
D.B.
