Understanding Fear

And lastly, we need to address one more topic before continuing: the fear part of AWDF. Fear is a close companion of anxiety, and it can also be its cause. Understanding how this world uses fear as a tactic to try to control and manipulate you is essential to getting a handle on things.

THIS WORLD TRIES TO CONTROL YOU THROUGH FEAR

Now, I am not talking about physical fear, such as the fight-or-flight response you get when a grizzly bear is charging you. I’m talking about how this world and the “spiritual forces of darkness and wickedness [evil]” (paraphrase; see Eph 6:12)—which are very real—try to control you via fear. The unfortunate reality is that this fallen, corrupt, fraudulent, greedy, prideful, political, and nationalistic world often uses scare tactics to try to control and manipulate you and steer your mind1 and behavior to accomplish various agendas—the agendas of corrupt men,2 councils, committees, and institutions. This is also often conducted through coercion, intimidation, threats, force, violence, and war, as well as through lies, subterfuge (fraud, deception), misdirection, misinformation, disinformation, and other sneaky measures combined with various political, social, economic, and nationalistic means and pressures.3

Additionally, while Jesus defeated Satan at the cross (Joh 19:30; cf. Gen 3:15), and the devil can no longer “deceive the nations” (Rev 20:1–3) as he has in times past,4 make no mistake: Satan is still very active in this world (1Pe 5:8; Jas 4:7; Rev 12:7–17),5 and he still works through the men, committees, and institutions of this world who do not know Christ to do his bidding (Joh 8:44). However, we must “stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” (1Co 16:13; cf. 1Co 15:2, 58; Eph 4:14; 6:11–14; Php 1:6; 4:1, 13; 1Th 1:3; 3:8; 5:21; 2Th 2:15; 1Pe 5:12; 2Pe 3:17; Heb 3:6, 14; 4:14; 6:19; 12:2; Col 1:11, 23; Jud 3; Jas 1:2–4; 5:11; 2Ti 2:1–5; Psa 62:2) and not give in to fear. In fact, that’s what many of the chapters of this book are essentially about—standing firm in faith even in the presence of danger and fear.6

Wayne Jackson writes on Luke 12:4–9: [1, 112]

There is also a warning about persecution. Men may kill the body, but that is the extent of their destruction. Thus, be courageous and do not fear them. It would be far better to reverently respect him who has the power to punish in eternal hell (v. 5). Do not live in slavish fear. God watches over the sparrows that scarcely are worth anything when sold in the marketplace; surely, then, he will watch over his faithful people. With strong hyperbole, the Lord emphasized the protective care of God by noting that he even counts the hairs of our head (v. 7). Those who are courageous enough to confess Christ will be likewise acknowledged before the angels and God himself (Mt. 10:32). “Confess” literally means to “say the same,” i.e., to endorse the claims that Jesus made for himself. Those who deny him will suffer a terrible consequence (vv. 8-9).

WE HAVE BEEN SET FREE

Looking forward a bit, we see it written:

• “The Lord is for me; I will not fear;
  What can man do to me?” (Psa 118:6)
• “If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” (Joh 8:36)
• “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” (Rom 8:37)
• For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2Ti 1:7 NKJV)
• “The fear of man brings a snare,
  But he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.” (Pro 29:25)

I hope this gives you a small taste of the power and freedom that await you as we go further in the book, leave the anxiety asylum behind, and begin to walk as a “child of God”7—where AWDF no longer rule over you. You will soon see and understand that you, too, can say:

• “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me” (Psa 23:4);
• “Because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1Jn 4:4); and further,
• “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (Joh 8:32).

This includes freedom not only from the burden (and penalty) of sin8 but also freedom from AWDF and from the fear and control tactics others will try to use on you.9 Amen.

CHAPTER PRAYER

Abba! Father! Thank You so much for the gift of salvation through the blood of Christ shed on the cross for me. Thank You for Your lovingkindness, mercy, patience, grace, and forgiveness of my sins. Thank You for striving with me when I was a sinner and didn’t even know You! Thank You for teaching me the truth about Jesus and giving me wisdom from Your Word. And Father, thank You for adopting me into Your family—what an amazing privilege and honor that is, and because of this, I no longer have to live in fear of men.

Father, please grant me godly wisdom when I have to deal with others who do not know the truth or Your Son. Help me be patient with them and give them the respect they are due while standing rock-solid in my faith and the truth of Your Word. Help me to see through their evil schemes, deceptions, and fear tactics, as it is written: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me.” Help me to truly be an ambassador for Christ, having been set free not only from the bondage of sin and Satan but also from bondage to fear. And lastly, please help me treat everyone with the respect they are due, whether I agree with them or not.

In Your Son’s most holy name, I pray. Amen.