WHO is your fear?

“Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.

Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.”

 - Isaiah 8:12-13

There has been an increase in fear manufacturing and distribution ministries in recent times. We see and hear ministers that dedicate more airtime - off pulpit or on pulpit - to discourses on Lucifer, the occult, the church of Satan, demons and principalities, the Illuminati elite, etc than the finished work of Christ. And unwittingly, these ministries end up magnifying the darkness above the light. Folks that listen to them fear the powers of darkness more than the God with the power to dispel darkness. 

Sometimes fear-mongering takes the form of propaganda instead of ministry. The propaganda looks like exposés on the unseen forces behind the world we live in. If you go searching, there’s an exposé for practically every subject matter under the sun: be it colonialist powers impeding modern Africa’s progress, the CABAL behind Nigeria’s current state, corporations making cancer-causing foods, poisoned vaccines, the list is endless. The storyline and subject matter varies, but the key message is the same: “There’s a conspiracy of those more powerful than you to harm you. And you are helpless”.

I love the opening Bible verse so much and the comfort it holds for times like this that I had to find 4 variant bible translations to ensure the message doesn’t get missed. The LORD of Hosts is the One to be revered! Not man, or any banding of man, or any principality - physical or spiritual! These are inconsequential in the face of the LORD of Hosts. 

“Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.”

We have a growing challenge in the body of Christ. Folks fear everything and everyone else except God. They fear the approval of others, they fear their pastors’ reprimand, they fear demonic powers and generational curses, but they do not fear GOD! And that’s literally the only fear we are to have. 

But some might say: doesn’t the Bible tell us to “fear not”? That’s a biblical injunction that must be applied with balance: see Luke 12:4-5 for the right context. Fear of God yields intense consciousness of consequences. The root word for fear described in our key passage occurs in the KJV Bible 12 times, and describes the fear God put on animals on the planet so they would not harm Noah and his family after the flood, the impact the ten plagues of Egypt had on the Egyptians, and the regard the Canaanite nations had towards the Israelites as they journeyed through their lands into the promised land. It’s fear that breeds regard, honor, and setting apart for distinction.

The fear of man brings a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe - Proverbs 29:25

We must get back to fearing God. And magnifying Him above every single other power, authority or force. Because He is LITERALLY matchless in majesty, power, glory, might and strength. If we ever experience any emotion of dread, it should be about how God will execute judgement on the world, and not on how the wicked will conduct their machinations. And the former always leads us to the right spiritual posture - intercession and worship.

How do we magnify God daily? 

Acknowledge His authority first in the face of any circumstance or crisis. Openly declare in the midst of a seemingly helpless situation that “The LORD is our help!” Refuse fear-based responses like denial, panic or outrage, but choose to “…be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” (Ephesians 6:10). Boldly proclaim God’s truth on hearing of perilous news: His assurance of protection (Psalms 91), His ability to deliver (Psalm 18), and His power to upturn the schemes of the wicked (Psalm 27).

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.

 Selah.”

(Psalm 46:1-3)

Don’t fear man, fear God!