Is It Real?

Fear.  
It's everywhere. How real is it? Do we truly have any reason to not be afraid? What do we do about it?

The first of November (the day after Halloween) is celebrated around here as Day of the Dead. You hardly see kites being flown in Guatemala until they show up by the dozen around this holiday. The reason? "Kites are a way for the spirits of the dead to be released once a year." That's just one of the many traditions - some pretty creepy ones - that accompany the weeks leading up the 'big day.'


Fear.
It's everywhere. How real is it?

It has recently showed up in an extreme way in which several of our 'Bethany' families have been directly affected. Around this dark holiday, voodooism becomes more active.
Strange sightings - half human, half animal. Are they real? 
Like, the time that a schoolboy and his friends went to look for something on the mountain behind the school that one of 'our girls' attends. They came back running and screaming in terror, scared to such an extreme degree that they passed out as soon as they stopped. The next day it happened again. This time, the teachers saw the same 'thing' and sent all the kids home for the day. 

Or the strange knock during the night on the house of one of 'our families' living in a completely different village. When the oldest son opened the door, what he saw scared him to such an extreme degree that he couldn't even scream because of the terror - he too passed out. 

It's real. Reasons to fear or things to be afraid of are real. 
Multiple accounts of the same thing happening. 
Around the world similar stories are recounted. 
The Bible says it's real. 
     Ephesians 6:12 "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." 

So if it's real - if there really is a reason for fear -

Do we truly have any reason to not be afraid? 

In the first story, after the teachers sent the kids home for the rest of the day, all the pastors from that village gathered together on the school property and the property behind it. These pastors took to heart the meaning of the following verses and prayed. 
     2 Corinthians 10:3-4 "For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds." 
     Ephesians 6:18 "Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication." 
     Revelation 12:11 "And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony." 
'Our girl' refused to go back to school for an entire week after the incident. Her mother took God at His word. 
     Psalm 91:9-11 "Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place - the Most High, who is my refuge - no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." 
She intentionally woke up at 11 o'clock every night and prayed for an hour that her daughter would find her strength in Christ - that she would not be afraid. That she would know the truth of God's promises.
     1 John 4:4 "...you are from God and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."
There has been no recurring incidences at that school and 'our girl' is no longer afraid to sleep by herself. 

When we heard the second story, Tammy asked me to prepare a small segment on spiritual warfare to teach 'our families' at the monthly classes. She, Sonia, and I were driving to a luncheon together while discussing the topic. Sonia said that many people say these 'half human, half animals' are actually people. Instead of being demons (like they appear to be), they are people involved in satanism, demonism, and voodooism - she told us the story of her uncle - whom we'll call Uncle C. - as an example:

After hearing a noise outside his house one night, Uncle C. went out to investigate the problem. He found one of these 'beings' trying to steal his pigs. Only two words came out of his mouth but they were powerful enough to cause 'it' to shrink back in extreme fear. Those words? Jesus Christ. That's all this man said - Jesus Christ. But with that name on his lips, the fear inside him left and Uncle C. was bold enough to pick up a stick and hit 'it' on the shoulder before 'it' could ran away. After he went back inside the house, he remembered that one of his neighbors was involved in voodooism. The next day, Uncle C. paid a visit to this neighbor. Without making any mention of the previous night's incident, he shook Mr. Neighbor's hand and touched his shoulder. He winced in pain and gave some lame comment about falling, but his eyes betrayed him; Mr. Neighbor avoided making eye contact the entire time. He never bothered Uncle C. again. 

Whether it's dealing with actual demons (or people involved in satanism), fearing what could happen, worrying over what might happen, anxiety over losing control, or stressing about situations we aren't able to handle, the answer is still the same -
Yes, we truly have a reason to not be afraid! 
     Mark 9:23 "All things are possible for one who believes." 
     Ephesians 6:10-11 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil."


If fear is real but we truly have a reason to not be afraid -
What do we do about it?

As Christians, our enemy has one big goal; he wants to rob our peace. Why? Because God is all about peace. satan is against anything that God is all about. he is called the 'prince of the world' while Jesus is called 'the Prince of Peace.' 
     Ephesians 6:15 "and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of Peace."
     1 John 5:4-5 "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" 
     Matthew 28:18 "And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."

So, we take God at His word

     James 2:19 "You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!"
     Psalm 91:1-5 "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,"
     1 Peter 5:7-9a "Casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith,"

     James 4:7-8a "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you."

If you struggle with fear, let someone know - ideally, a Christian who has experienced the promises of God and will be able to stand with you in prayer.

     Matthew 18:18-20 "Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."
The "Number 1" promise to hold on to and never let go
     1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear."
     1 John 4:8 "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."

From preparing on this topic for next month's teaching segment, I've compiled an extensive list of Bible references on the promises of God through the realities of spiritual warfare. It doesn't contain every single verse but highlights most of the main ones. 
If you struggle with fear, listen to what God has to say about the subject. I am more than happy to send you a copy of that list so you can refer to it again and again. (visit the "Contact Info" tab)

The email address songbirdforlife94@gmail.com is set up specifically for prayer requests (everyone is held confidential) Reach out. 

But more importantly - Reach Up! 
To the one who says:
     "Because he holds fast to Me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name." - Psalm 91:14