NOVEMBER 2
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 many Bible verses throughout both the Old and New Testaments that tell us not to fear. In Joshua 1:9, God tells Joshua not to be afraid to lead the Israelites into the promised land when He says... 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 declares... 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 encourages His disciples by saying... Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s 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 explains that the evidence that our enemy has been defeated is that we no longer fear him. This is the most substantial proof of his downfall. The Amplified Bible translates Philippians 1:28 as follows... 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 attack our souls. Fear of failure, fear of the future, fear of death, fear of poverty, and so on. While fear is a very intimidating force to face within our own natural mind, it is nothing before our Father. Fear cannot exist where God dwells. 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.
My prayer today is that we would understand that Jesus came to dismantle the power that has kept us imprisoned 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 control that fear once had over us. The more we trust in God's protecting, fierce love for us, the less we will be consumed by thoughts that make us afraid.
May we understand today that our God and Father has not given us a spirit of fear, but His Spirit of love, 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)
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 many Bible verses throughout both the Old and New Testaments that tell us not to fear. In Joshua 1:9, God tells Joshua not to be afraid to lead the Israelites into the promised land when He says... 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 declares... 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 encourages His disciples by saying... Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s 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 explains that the evidence that our enemy has been defeated is that we no longer fear him. This is the most substantial proof of his downfall. The Amplified Bible translates Philippians 1:28 as follows... 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 attack our souls. Fear of failure, fear of the future, fear of death, fear of poverty, and so on. While fear is a very intimidating force to face within our own natural mind, it is nothing before our Father. Fear cannot exist where God dwells. 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.
My prayer today is that we would understand that Jesus came to dismantle the power that has kept us imprisoned 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 control that fear once had over us. The more we trust in God's protecting, fierce love for us, the less we will be consumed by thoughts that make us afraid.
May we understand today that our God and Father has not given us a spirit of fear, but His Spirit of love, 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)