Faith Casts Out Fear

One can hardly turn on the news without seeing the latest information about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Today the topic is Poland’s provision of MIG jet fighters being provided to Ukraine to help defend against the onslaught of Russian tanks, missiles and bombs being delivered on a daily basis. This is only a small but vital portion of the material response that has been made by nations from all over the world in support of Ukraine’s defense. Although significant effort has been made in this regard the amount of Ukraine’s weaponry seems grossly inadequate compared to the Russian arsenal.

Some gratification can be found from businesses around the globe that are suspending business with Russia while these atrocities continue in Ukraine. The hope is that combined with other imposed sanctions the economic support for the Russian military complex will be compromised enough to slow if not discontinue its self-imposed mission. The problem is that all these efforts seem to be too little and too late to effectively allay the fear that Russia will inevitably achieve its ultimate goal for Ukraine which is to occupy it and make it a satellite government under Putin’s control. Perhaps it is only when circumstances seem most dire that faith becomes most powerful. “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.” (Psalm 20:7)

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.” (1 John 4:18) God’s love is perfect. Faith in God is to enter into an experience with perfect love. Faith can overcome fear. Faith is fear’s antidote. Faith and fear cannot coexist, they are opposites. Faith unifies, fear divides.  Faith offers peace and understanding.  Faith is intended to build up, not tear down.  Faith is not critical; it edifies. People of faith pray and willingly join others in prayer. They understand that praying is an act of humility before the God of their understanding and before each other. It is a sign of surrender to God and each other. Where there is humility, there is a lack of pride. Where there is humility there is harmony. The remedy for healing of any divide does not come from the doctrines of our faith, but from the experience of our faith. Doctrinal arguments hardly ever change minds and hearts. Only God’s presence can do that at those intersections of the natural with the supernatural which is the place that I believe births faith in us. The answer is not found in the people of faith coming together to reason through our differences. The answer is found in the people of faith coming together and experiencing the presence and the life changing power of God together. Why does that make a difference? Because when God shows up, we are humbled in His presence. When He shows up, we are emptied of all pride. When He shows up, new revelation is imparted to our hearts and minds. When He shows up, all fear is removed, all anger is dissipated, and peace reigns and rules our hearts. It is only when the people of faith are positioned to receive their faith in God in this fashion, can we really experience our faith like God intends each of us to have. Once we arrive at that place, watch what can be accomplished through a united people of faith!

The people of faith have a unique arsenal of weaponry. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (physical) but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” (2 Corinthians 10:4-6) We may not be able to fly a jet fighter, but we can be anywhere in the world, and we can launch a spiritual attack through prayer to bring down those “strongholds” and “arguments” that are behind the military weaponry. That is, by faith we can bring down the lies and expose the murderous motives that occupy the “high places” in Russia through prayer. We can launch an all-out assault and render those tactics of Putin harmless and ineffective from our respective places of safety and he will never even see the attack coming. Sounds pretty lethal to me. Faith casts out all fear. Let’s deliver the Ukrainian people from all fear through our collective faith! Pray for them today and every day until they are delivered from this senseless assault!