Immune to Fear: Getting Stronger in Christ

We are living in a remarkable time. I have never seen the entire world so gripped by fear and uncertainty. The pundits and prophets are all weighing in on what this means, why it is happening, and how long it will last. I don’t know all the answers, but there are some things we can know for sure. As Children of God we have access to a peace that passes understanding – that is, it is not natural or carnal. It is supernatural, surpassing what the mind and intellect can comprehend. That is important because what we need right now is not more information – we are being bombarded with news. What we need is something that goes straight into the core of our being and fortifies us from within. That is what the Word of God does.

Over the next few days, I am going to bombard your heart and mind with timeless, unchangeable truth from God’s Word that will act as a heavenly vaccine, inoculating you against fear, anxiety, and worry. These words were true before COVID-19 (Coronavirus) came along and they will be true long after it is gone. But in moments like these, we need to remind ourselves of these truths more than ever before.

Some people begin to waver in times like these. Some question God, His Word, His love, and His faithfulness. But this is the time we need to cling to Him as never before. I remember an exchange Reinhard Bonnke once had with a man who was sick and suffering. The man said he was having “a crisis of faith.” Reinhard said, “My brother, when you are drowning, that is the worst time to let go of the lifeline.” If you are struggling, grab a hold of God’s Word and His truth with all your might – it is your lifeline!

Jesus says in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

The Lord made a clear contrast between His mission and the devil’s mission. Satan’s plans for us are in complete opposition to God’s plans for us! It is paramount we believe this foundational truth: Jesus came that we may have life and have it abundantly!

We see the declarations of His love for mankind all over the scriptures, both in His words and in His actions— and most profoundly, when He laid down His life for us on the cross. Jesus loves us! He is for us! He gave us His word as our solid rock to stand on so that when the thief comes to attack, we can stand in unwavering trust in God’s faithful promises.

Often, what makes people susceptible to an attack of the enemy, is the onset of doubt and unbelief in the goodness of God and the truth of His word. Immunity, on the other hand, is the lack of susceptibility, especially to something unwelcome or harmful. Satan knows He has no legal right to steal, kill, and destroy you, unless he can persuade you, to hand over to him, your God-given power and authority as sons and daughters of God. The devil plots and schemes to deceive the masses by planting false accusations, twisting the truth, and most often, by employing fear tactics. He uses fear because it tends to work so well on the wavering. Ultimately, those who succumb to unbelief help him accomplish his mission. Once Satan has convinced a person to misplace their trust in the Lord, then they become susceptible to the contagions of fear, doubt, and unbelief. The way to become immune to these attacks from the enemy is to holdfast in unwavering faith in Jesus and his word! In the days ahead, we are going to press into the truth, so that we can stand firm against all attacks, securely fortified in the victory we have in Jesus!

When a person is exposed to a pathogen and they survive, their bodies learn how to fight that contagion and they become immune to it from then on. This is where we get the old cliché “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” I believe it is very similar to our spirits. As we go through life, overcoming trials and difficulties, emerging victorious, walking hand-in-hand with Jesus, we become stronger, spiritually tougher and more resilient in faith. That is why a season like the one we are in now is so important. It can be a training ground for the more significant battles to come in the future. Jeremiah asked, “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in a safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?” (Jer. 12:5)

Join me for the next 5-days as we confront the pathogen of fear head-on and eradicate it with the antidote of God’s Word. May God use this season in all of our lives to build unwavering trust in our hearts for Him as never before.

Source: (Adapted from Slaying Dragons. Chapter 3, pg. 44-45)