PROOF OF YOUR ENEMY'S DESTRUCTION

Philippians 1:27-28
27 Only let your way of life be worthy of the Good News of Christ, that, whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your state, that you stand firm in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the Good News; 28 and in nothing frightened by the adversaries, which is for them a proof of destruction, but to you of salvation, and that from God. (WEB)

There are a lot of Bible verses throughout both the Old and the New Testaments that tell us not to fear. In Joshua 1:9, God tells Joshua to not be afraid to lead the Israelites into the promised land when He said... Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid, neither be dismayed: for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go.” (WEB)

In Psalm 27:1, King David declared... Yahweh is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? (WEB) In Luke 12:32, Jesus encouraged His disciples by saying... Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. (WEB) And in Romans 8:15, the Apostle Paul writes... For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (WEB)

In today's Scripture reading, Paul tells us that the very evidence that our enemy has been defeated is that we no longer fear him any more. That is the greatest testimony for his demise. The Amplified Bible translates Philippians 1:28 this way... And do not [for a moment] be frightened or intimidated in anything by your opponents and adversaries, for such [constancy and fearlessness] will be a clear sign (proof and seal) to them of [their impending] destruction, but [a sure token and evidence] of your deliverance and salvation, and that from God. (AMP)

There are many expressions of fear that can try to assault our soul. Fear of failure, fear of the future, fear of death, fear of poverty, etc. While fear is a very intimidating force to be reckoned with in our own natural mind, it is nothing to our Father. Fear cannot abide where God lives. In 1 John 4:18, we read about this when John writes...  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love. (WEB)

My prayer today is that we would know that Jesus came to destroy the power that has held us captive in fear (Hebrews 2:14-15). When we live in the love that God has for us, there is no room for fear to share the same space. Our Elder Brother Jesus came to set us free from the power that fear had over us. The more that we yield to God's protecting, ferocious love for us, the less we will be preoccupied with thoughts that cause us to be afraid.

May we know today that our God and Father has not given us a spirit of fear, but His Spirit of love and power and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

Hebrews 2:14-15
14 Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in the same way partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (WEB)