Acts: 12: 1-4. Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to persecute certain of the church. 2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
What was the purpose of Herod, by killing James?
His purpose was to spreading fear among the church and scattered them That was what happened when they killed Stephen
Acts: 8: 1. And Saul approved of their killing him (Stephen) On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
Satan’s first attack is making God’s people fear and scare them and losing their faith and
confidence and then scatter them, Satan know that if they unite together, if they stand together,
Satan’s scheme will not be succeeding.
Satan is like a roaring lion – first he makes sound to scatter the prey, scatter the animals all over
the side.
1Peter: 5: 8. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Satan will use the worldly power to scare and destroy God’s people –
If we are scare and losing our mental strength, it is very easy for our enemy to defeat us. Do not be afraid, (fear not) 365 times God speaks the same thing to the children of God.
Mt: 8: 25-26. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid? Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves and it was completely calm.
Jesus first rebuked the waves of fear in the heart of his disciples then he rebuked the waves of the sea
The real problem is not from outside but inside! We don’t need to afraid of the outside enemy if we have strong faith and full confidence in the Lord in our heart.
War really starting inside with fear – fear has equal opposite power of faith!
Very often we heard that this pandemic made people a great fear, most of the people died
because of fear. Fear attacked people more than virus and weaken their immune (immunity) power
Ps: 34:4. I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
Ps: 138:3: In the day when I cried, thou answered me, and strengthen me with strength in my soul.
Lam: 3:57. You came near when I called you and you said, “Do not fear.”
God told to Joshua, to be strong and Courageous and do not be terrified, do not be discouraged.
Josh: 1:7, 9. “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
8:1. Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid do not be discouraged.
Deut: 20:1. When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army
greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the Lord your God, who brought you up
out of Egypt, will be with you.
2 When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army. 3 He shall say: “Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be faint hearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them.
4 For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”
Deut: 3:22. Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you
Deut: 7:21 Do not be terrified by them, for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God.
2Chr: 32: 7-8. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. 8 With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said. (Not the words of king or army commander)
2Kg: 6: 15-17. When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.
. 16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet (Elisha) answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
God told Jeremiah to go ahead with my Message and do not afraid or terrified of people.
Jer: 1:8. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
Jer: 1:17. “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them.
Ish: 41: 10-11. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 11 “All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and-perish.
“See, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff. 16 You will winnow them, the wind will pick them up, and a windstorm will blow them away. But you will rejoice in the Lord and glory in the Holy-One of-Israel. Zek: 4: 7.
Many times, we afraid to share Jesus with others or worship the Lord before others because of their look, we fear men than the Lord.
Ezk: 2:6. And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
David said: Ps: 27: 1-3. The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.3 Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me , even then I will be confident.
Ps: 18: 29. For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.
Look what Jeremiah said: Jer: 20: 11. But the Lord is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore, my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail (KJV)
But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. (NIV)
Remember the following facts:
The devil’s weapons:
1. The devil only uses tricks.
2. The devil tries to spread falseness.
3. The devil tries to spread lies among God’s people.
4. The devil tries to criticize God’s people.
5. The devil will only show the shadow of evil things.
The response of God’s people:
1. Do not listen to the devil’s voice.
2. Listen to encouraging words from God’s
Anointed ones.
3. Do not stop trusting God.
4. The unity of God’s people is powerful.
5. Have full confidence that the final victory belongs to us.
Ten important information we should know about the Devil:
01. He is a defeated foe (Defeated candidate has no power and authority)
02. No weapon in his hands
03. Only he uses the tricks by lie
04. He cannot stand against God’s anointed one
05. He will flee if we resist him
06. Unless give him a room he cannot come in
07. Making sound to fear people
08. He didn’t have tooth to bite
09. Prowling around
10. He cannot lock any door because the keys are with my Lord