COVID - SPIRIT OF FEAR

When it comes to covid-19 where do you stand. How are you dealing with?

It was March 1st this year when I had just recently returned from a mission trip in Africa. I thought to myself, this is great, I still have plenty of time to rest and prep for my next international trip coming up in fifteen more days. The next thing I knew, friends were contacting me about the reports of a virus called Corona that had made its way to Europe and the United States from its original starting place in China. They informed me of its deadly impact that had already affected so many lives. I was thankful for the news watchers that warned me as I don’t make time to watch TV or listen to the news too often. As I made an attempt to assess what was going on, I was not moved too much about the news. I rather prayed whether I should still go on my trip to bring the message of hope and salvation to people around the globe. By the time I would decide on my next step, it was already decided for me as my flight was cancelled and the destination airport closed to foreigners from abroad.

Disappointed of course, but definitely understood the safety measures taking place, I realized it was obviously not meant for me to go right now. Honestly, the only thing that would have kept me from getting on that plane was the talk of a quarantine of fourteen days awaiting me which would have taken up my scheduled visitation time or being stuck in another country not being able to return home where I was needed. These two things were my only concerns. Catching the virus or dying from it was the least of my worries.

It is not that I want to die, nor is it because I didn’t believe the virus was real, but because I was set free from the spirit of fear regarding death some time ago. I refuse to allow it to control or dictate what happens in my life. First of all, as a born- again Christ follower, I am acutely aware that the God I trust in and serve has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind. (1 Timothy 1:7) Fear does not come from God. Anyone who is afraid of catching the virus or dying has not been perfected in love according to God’s word. There are many professing believers in Jesus who have not received the perfect love of God yet. None of us, including myself have completely arrived. There are other things that scare me in my life, but I refuse to allow them from keeping me from doing what I am supposed to do. To live in fear is to be tormented in one’s mind. Fear has the power to make one feel helpless and hopeless and unable to move forward. It can cause us to be frozen, desperate, and running away from facing anything we deem to be too difficult. It may keep us from confronting an enemy head on who is interfering with our continual progress. When we focus on the problem, we are doing the wrong thing. We may even find ourselves sacrificing the joy of life and our personal freedoms for the fear of what might happen. Some people have described FEAR as an acronym for False Evidence Appearing Real.

I will never forget the 6th grade bully at our school named Dana. I was afraid of him. He intimidated me. One day out of fear, I allowed him to make me tie his shoelaces. My classmates teased me after that. This is where my gift of communication kicks in (when I didn’t want it to). I began to mouth off about how I was not afraid of the bully and would not take any of his stuff anymore. Of course, my classmates were more than happy to share this new information with the bully. That particular day after school I made it safely to my bus, but I knew I would have to face him the next day. My parents were not the kind that would let me miss school unless I was dying. I had a hard time getting to sleep that night, knowing what I would have to confront the next day. The next day came and I just thought about how I was going to save myself. I finally decided if we were going to get in a fight and I was going to lose, I would make sure that I got some good licks in and he would know that he was in a fight. He confronted me on the school ground. I rushed him and we fought. We were friends after that. There was no more problem.

Like David did, I had fought my Goliath and I was still alive. This young boy David had so much faith in his God, even when his king and the military men were afraid of the giant. The giant reminded God’s people daily how great he was, sort of like the nightly news does about the virus. David wasn’t preoccupied with what was being advertised about the threat because he was too busy declaring how great his God was. He did not back up, instead he moved in the direction of the biggest threat he had ever faced. Do we have any David’s out there? I’m sure we do.

Many people would argue that I am being foolish and that we should be afraid. Others would say they are smart and using common sense to protect themselves and their family. I see this talk many times as a disguise to cover up not dealing with the real issue of how the spirit of fear has been allowed to enter and dictate how they are functioning in ways that are contrary to how God has instructed us.

The opposite of fear is faith. Many people in our church today have redefined faith as believing in a God that understands where we are at and operates with us on that level. I disagree. Jesus challenges us to raise our level of faith where it is worthy of his lordship. Jesus repeatedly used these two phrases over and over again with His disciples: “Where is your faith?” or “You of little faith” and “Why are you afraid?” or “Don’t be afraid.” The fact is, we are unable to operate in faith and fear at the same time.

I humbly submit to you that the biggest disease today is not Covid-19, Ebola, HIV/Aids, or any other man-made disease but the spirit of fear that is being used to control people, especially those who see themselves as disciples of Jesus Christ. The disciple Peter asked the Lord to allow him to walk on the water as he did. God allowed him. Peter took his eyes off the Lord and began to sink when he was moved by what was going on around him and the Lord asked him, “Why did he doubt?”

The great prophet Elijah prayed to stop and start rain, caused fire to come down on a wet altar, and received food from birds during a famine. However, he ran in fear after receiving the threat of death from a pagan woman with a dominating spirit. Hiding in his shelter in place, God asked him, “What are you doing here?” Why did you leave the plan I called you to? Elijah was not afraid of a famine, a wicked king, or false prophets but of a controlling spirit.

Five lepers were facing death from hunger as their country’s enemies had cut off their food supply, yet they decided they would go into the enemy’s camp and try to get some food even if that meant they would be killed. They were willing to take that chance. It paid off wonderfully as they ate plenty and shared with the rest of God’s people.

Recently, I spoke to a friend who lives in Haiti. He told me that shelter in place was all around, but people against the government and local police orders were going about their business telling officers that they would rather die of Covid-19 than die because of starvation and isolation. I applaud their ability to survey their dilemma and make a conscious decision about how they want to live even if that means death.

Mother Teresa, great humanitarian said, “The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis, but rather the feeling of being unwanted.” She had the courage to look after those affected with life threatening and contagious diseases when everyone else left them due to fear of being infected. By the time of her death in 1997, 4000 sisters had joined her charity, over 600 mission care facilities were open, and her missions were in over 120 countries. How did Mother Teresa never get affected with the diseases she kept coming into contact with? How about her sisters and volunteer aid workers? I believe when you fearlessly give to help others and you are not solely worried about yourself and your life, amazing things happen. God can protect you and get all the glory.

My Godson John has a sister by the name of Claudine. Claudine is a nurse and operates a clinic in Poteau, Haiti. In 2008, their area was hit with a Cholera crisis. The government told them not to receive any such people. The public hospitals were even afraid to take care of people. Things were bad and it was really dangerous and a contagion as people were vomiting and had diarrhea. Those who came in contact with it were easily receiving the disease in houses, cars, and all over. My Godson had people throwing up on him. His sister, a God-fearing woman, took as many as she could in her clinic and treated them. She nursed them all back to health. I would argue her Biblical faith is the exception today where justified fear and dependence on secular organization orders is the preference.

Paul, the apostle, was bitten by a venomous snake, after visiting an island during a voyage to Rome. He shook off the snake and kept going while the natives waited for him to fall dead any moment. God had a purpose and plan. He had also made Paul a promise that he would testify before a king. Paul knew he could not die until God’s promise had been kept. Has God made you a promise? He can’t lie so what are you worried about?

Leprosy was a contagious disease during Jesus day. It made whoever was affected unclean to the rest of the population. Jesus touched people with leprosy and this was a no-no. Would we say Jesus did not use wisdom? Aren’t we supposed to listen to his voice and do these types of things as well without fear? I think so.

We are told by Jesus in Luke 10:19, Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. God has given us authority to do this. Now, if we as his disciples, don’t use it, we won’t have a fighting chance. Many people die not because it is God’s will but because they lack authority or don’t use the authority they have been given, due to ignorance or unbelief. We have been given authority to overpower things created to harm us. Do you believe you can pick up a snake (not purposely) and not be harmed? How about drink a deadly poison (not purposely) and it not hurt you at all? How about lay lands on sick people and watch them get well? Mark 16:18 suggest all this is possible for the believer in Christ. It is not only possible, but it should be expected of Christian believers.

Many professing Christians don’t even believe this, so why should it be surprising so many are hiding out in fear in homes, afraid to come out, remove their masks, or get within a few feet of anyone outside their home. We have ceased fellowship while planning to return to our houses of worship with plans supported by corrupt world health organizations with an ungodly agenda assisted by media lies to instill fear. We bring this fear into our sanctuaries adding more cleaning, separating chairs, and instructing ushers to wear masks; all under the world’s wisdom of safety. If God can’t protect His people in His presence of worship and the word, how can this other stuff protect us? The spirit of fear is alive and well in our churches.

When the disciples were commanded not to speak any more about Jesus, they told the religious authorities judge between God and man what is right. When persecution against the early church broke out, they spread the word even more.

The Bible tells us, “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:25) I was convicted that our house fellowships should continue despite outside discouragement. Absolutely nothing has been done differently hygiene wise. It has been eight months and there is not a sniffle from anyone but instead outpouring, miracles, and salvations. For those who say I am rebelling against the law, Would you also say underground churches in communist nations are breaking the laws of authority in the land? No. Instead we send money to support them. It is not rebellion when done out of obedience to God with the right spirit and desire. God's law is always greater than mans. I do believe that in decisions such as these we should give each other liberty as we are not always going to agree on how we are led by God and who are we to judge each other’s hearts. However, my challenge is for us to make sure we are not masquerading wisdom for fear. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. (Romans 14:23)

I don’t plan to die before my time, but dying is not the worst thing in the world, dying without Jesus is. Those of us who truly have a relationship with Him, should not fear death since we not only are set free from the spirit of fear, but we know that to be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8) This is far better, Paul said. Nothing here compares to there. I recently heard a testimony of a twenty-five-year old share how he died, went to heaven, and was disappointed he came back to earth. I’m with him. If I must go, I must go.

Here is the real case for so many in churches, we are fearful and don’t want to go because we love this world too much. Jesus says, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Remember where we started, perfect love, which is God the Father, cast out ALL fear; no matter what it is. Where the absence of the Father’s love is, fear is able to reside there. Jesus also said, “Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.” (John 12:25 NLT) Are we willing to lose it for Him? How about for freedom? In the words of Patrick Henry, “Give me liberty or give me death.” If I become so afraid of death that I can no longer live, how can I enjoy the life God gave me?

Lastly, we are told in Revelations 12:11, “We overcame him - the enemy who comes to steal, kill, and destroy our life - by the blood of the lamb (sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ) and by the words (confession) of our testimony. It also says, “AND we did not love our lives even unto the death. I can ultimately die from fear or a disease. I choose to die from neither. If I do die of something, I have no control over, that is one thing, but I refuse to die and forfeit my life over something I can control. I thank God for not giving His children the spirit of fear, but instead the gift of faith.