by Charlie Rogers

The last few weeks the Holy Spirit has been bringing up to me the subject of facing and stopping fear in the life of a believer. In the last year we have been faced with many calamities upon the earth. Everything from a massive tsunami, earthquakes, violent hurricanes the number of them setting a record and even the threat of an outbreak of a pandemic from the Asian Bird Flu, of which could kill millions on the earth before a vaccine could be developed. If you listen to television news broadcasts you would have every opportunity to live in a state of fear.

As believers all this that has been happening shouldn’t be a surprise to us! But rather a sign of the times. Nothing that we should fear. Some would tell you on television and from the pulpit that when these things happen, such as the hurricane and flooding hit New Orleans that it was God’s judgment. But yet the red light district in the city of New Orleans seemed spared and Las Vegas the sin city of the United States was not judged. Our nations capital in Washington D.C. was not destroyed when Congress legalized abortion, murdering millions of children!

John 12:47-48 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

John 3:17-18 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. NKJV

Jesus said that He came not to judge the world but to save the world, meaning those that are lost. They can reject Him or His words but there is one that already judges and that is the Word of God. God is believing with all that’s in Him that everyone of these sinners will be saved no matter how they treat His name, but there will come that day when those that have not accepted Him will already be judged by His word. So the murders of babies and the big party people of New Orleans are only getting by with it temporarily in this dispensation of grace that we are in, yes it to shall come to an end one day.

So what is happening if it is not God’s judgment upon the earth and why should we not be fearful. The Word of God prepares us for these things and tells us that these things will happen.

Matt 24:6-8 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.

8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. NKJV

These things are a sign of the times and that the end of this grace that we are in now are close to coming to an end. He said when you see these things that these are the beginnings of sorrow. He also said that these things would be in various places (meaning all places or unusual places). I want to point out that Jesus said these beginnings of sorrow would be happening including rumors of these sorrows.

Rom 8:2 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. NKJV

2 Peter 3:12-13 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. NKJV

These things are happening because we are getting close to the end and these sorrows will begin to happen and all of creation is like a pregnant woman in birth pains and some day will give birth to a new heaven and earth that will be filled with righteousness, we have God’s promise and that settles it. I point out these things to show that a believer should not be surprised at these happenings or be in fear because of rumors of these sorrows. We as believers are to not live in fear. It doesn’t matter if it’s a rumor of pestilence or disease, sickness attacking our body, financial bankruptcy or our family members doing their best to go to hell. We are not to live in fear or even let fear enter our lives for any reason. Yet we see in Luke 21:26 that some hearts will fail over fear.

Luke 21:26 men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. NKJV

John 16:32-33 Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.

33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." NKJV

Jesus intends for us to live our lives in peace no matter what tribulation we are confronted with on a personal level or a national level. He over came the world and all the tribulation in it. He took on at the cross anything we could be confronted with regardless of what area of our life. In Jesus is everything God our Father is and has, it would be a good thing to be in Jesus. In Jesus is the peace we are looking for and are in need of in the time of sorrows or rumors from a doctor, or a bank, or when our emotions are trying to tell us things are bad. He is our peace at all times and He prepared us for these tribulations by overcoming them and turning around and giving us all the victories He attained to. His peace is all that we need and is free of charge by His Grace. As a believer there is no reason to be in fear over anything in this world.

1 John 5:4-5 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith.

5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? NKJV

Jesus said in Him we have the peace, in Him we have the freedom from fear, we are the over comers, the ones who believe that Jesus is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do. It is our faith that causes us to overcome. How do we get that faith? By fellowship with Him, our Heavenly Father. You become like who you hang out with. If you hang out with a druggy you’re going to become one. It is my preference to hang out with God my Father. If I want the faith Jesus talks about, I must do what the Word of God says to do.

Rom 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. NKJV

James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. NKJV

We are not going to have the faith necessary to overcome unless we not only hear the Word and it becomes part of us, but also be a doer of the Word. One who does what the Word says. That is why when we teach about worship it is important that we start a life of fellowship with the Father through worship. When we teach and preach on taking time out to pray in other tongues, we take that time to fellowship with God through praying in that heavenly language. Other things we teach about, assimilating the Word of God through reading it over and over. Fasting, putting down the flesh giving the spirit more opportunity to rise above and dictate our lives. Through all these things we fellowship with the Father and become more like Him and increase in faith day by day.

1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. NKJV

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. NKJV

As we do those things to fellowship with Him, we increase in love for Him because of our fellowship with Him, and we have less torment and fear over things. We turn our cares over to Him more and more which then does not allow fear to come in over these cares. Our love for Him is perfected through our fellowship with Him. Perfect love is developed in this fellowship and perfect love casts out fear. At the same time our faith is increased as we get to know Him and fall in love with Him. Can you see how important your life of fellowship with the Father is to your life? I am writing this to tell you that right now regardless of what the rumor is or what the sorrow is in the land or what is trying to attack you personally it doesn‘t matter. Not even if it’s a pandemic flu outbreak. Jesus has already given you the victory over it and the freedom from the fear that might try to come with it. I’m telling you right now Jesus is on our side! Keep falling in love with Him and be in Peace!