In this time of increasing trouble and gross darkness ~ a time when many tyrants intoxicated with hitherto unknown powers have suddenly sprung up amongst us like prodigious weeds, threatening not only our ancient liberties but our very lives as well: there is doubtless for many a great temptation to fear. Fear is something much more than an emotion: fear is, in fact, a temptation . . . .
I will shortly explain how it is that fear is a temptation. First, I think it is important to understand where fear comes from and how it works. Fear (as every kind of emotion) never occurs spontaneously. No emotion arises ex nihilo (from out of nothing); but, every kind of emotional feeling necessarily has its origin in, and derives its power from, thought.
There is a mental exercise I like to use when teaching these (unfamiliar) concepts. (I will walk you through it as though you were actually present with me.)
"Please, be seated on this very comfortable sofa.
"I want you to imagine that, for the next few hours, you will have absolutely no interruptions whatsoever.
"Just close your eyes and sit back. I want you to feel entirely relaxed. Your cell phone will not ring. There is no one you need to see, and nowhere you need to go. You just ate an hour ago, and you will not be hungry or thirsty during this time.
"You feel rested, but not sleepy. It is quiet. Even my voice is beginning to seem distant....
"You are so comfortable that you are hardly aware of the couch on which you are seated ~ or even of your own body..."
[By this time in the exercise, about two minutes have passed. As I observe you, you are now sitting motionless, with your eyes closed. Your breathing is slow and regular. You are visibly very relaxed.]"You are not in a dream state ~ though it feels as if you could be. But I want you to, as best you can, imagine that your mind is inactive, you are not really thinking about anything at all; except, perhaps, how very relaxed you are, and how quiet and still you have become....
"Your mind is at rest. You are not thinking about anything. You are so detached from your thoughts, in fact, that you don't even think that you need to scratch your nose...."
[By now, about four to five minutes have passed. As I observe you, you have moved almost not at all throughout the entire exercise. I allow you to continue in that silent, motionless state for another minute or so, without saying anything further to you... And, then, I ask the following question:]"If it were possible (though it is not) that you could actually achieve a state of mind such that you have NO THOUGHTS WHATSOEVER; How long would you sit there exactly as you are, that is to say, completely motionless?"
Answer: You would sit there until you were nothing but a skeleton ~ sitting exactly as you now are.
The point of that exercise is to demonstrate that virtually EVERYTHING we do, EVERYTHING we feel or desire or purpose ~ even such an insignificant action as scratching one's own nose . . . begins with THOUGHT.
No one ever suddenly, spontaneously experienced fear, or joy, or any other emotion, for that matter. If you will think about it carefully, you will realize that in every case emotion must be preceded by thought.
Fear emerges within the mind through some or another portal of thought. That knowledge is very important, for it suggests that the way to defeat fear may have to do with controlling one's own thoughts. And so it does.
Above, I claimed that "fear is, in fact, a temptation". I mean that, in every case, fear is a temptation to look away from God. Thus, fear has its origins in the demonic realm. The best way to explain that, I suppose, is, to consider the following examples:
Sickness
It is a fact that every individual, sometime(s) during his or her lifetime, will suffer sickness. Very often it happens that the devil will attempt to bring one into bondage to fear, in connection with sickness. The TEMPTATION, in such cases, involves THOUGHTS of disability or death; or, of a lifetime of perpetual suffering; or, of financial loss; etc.. Meanwhile as the devil attempts to bombard the (unguarded) mind with such thoughts, he will furthermore strive to wear down one's willingness to trust in the promises of God concerning the wonderful salvation of God. All such efforts on the part of the devil occur entirely within the realm of one's THOUGHTS. The devil's goal is to cause one to DOUBT God and, thereby, to bring such an one into bondage to fear. Fear is to unbelief, what peace is to faith. The Scripture says: "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost" (Romans 15:13).
"In believing..." what? In believing God: "I am the LORD that healeth thee" (Exodus 15:26); "By whose [Jesus's] stripes ye were healed" (1 Peter 2:24); "...this is my body, which is broken for you" (1 Corinthians 11:24); and many others.
One must be armed with the Word of God ~ and know how to use the weapons of the Spirit, in order to successfully withstand against the devil's attacks in the realm of thought. ALL SPIRITUAL WARFARE involves the mind.
Human cruelty
The world truly is experiencing a real pandemic: a "pandemic of Fear". The psychological warfare related to that is very intensive. Regardless of what anyone may suppose is the agenda behind the so-called "pandemic", yet it is certain that the devil is using FEAR as a principal weapon in that ongoing warfare. Moreover, the devil is using FEAR as a temptation to doubt God. In addition to fear of some "mysterious virus" which threatens to kill; the devil is seeking to provoke many to fear the imposition of tyrannical government and other forms of human cruelty.
I do not mean that no one should be concerned about the very real threat related to tyrannical government and other forms of human cruelty. Nor do I mean that no one should attempt to withstand against such. But my purpose in this essay is to shine light upon certain spiritual realities which affect individuals, personally. One may or may not be capable to withstand against the imposition of tyrannical government. But EVERY CHILD OF GOD ought to be able, through God, to withstand against FEAR. "Fear hath torment" (1 John 4:18). "Fear not" is a COMMANDMENT of Jesus Christ, repeated several hundred times throughout the Bible!
A commandment? Yes.
A true story brought that understanding and perspective powerfully to my mind. At the turn of the twentieth-century, Marie Monson, a female missionary to China, was taken prisoner by pirates as she was en route to China by means of a sailing ship. In her own words, she related how it was that she endured (and survived) that ordeal. Of course, she was tempted to fear. But Marie viewed Christ's words, "fear not", as a commandment! As she related her story in her book, Marie said to God: "Lord, you have commanded me to 'fear not'. I will obey you."
How beautiful! How powerful! How honoring to Christ! How strong in its effect to withstand against the wiles of the devil!
The Lord told us plainly that we would suffer in this present world; he furthermore told us how to overcome it:
- "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind" (1 Peter 4:1).
- "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might [if you will embrace it] have peace. In the world, ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
- "That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto." (1 Thessalonians 3:3)
- "...it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled." (Revelation 6:11)
"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God...." (Romans 14:17-18)
Peace and joy (in the Holy Ghost) is not only our great privilege in Christ; but, I sincerely believe, it is our solemn duty. Jesus gave his life that we might "have life, and have it more abundantly". Fear is not God's will for us. Fear is the work of the devil. And we are commanded by God: "Neither give place to the devil" (Ephesians 4:27).
Fear is a temptation to doubt God. Resist it! The devil is a liar. Overcome fear by the Word and Spirit of God ~ and, so, live (and die, if need be) in peace.
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