Exceedingly Precious Promises and Fear

During one of my times in Romania, I ran into a situation with a dear, older sister that I have not forgotten. Her village was saturated in Voodoo. These demonic superstitions had made entrance into her home through her daughter-in-law, a VooDoo witch. I don't think any profit would come from giving the details of some of what she was experiencing. Suffice it to say that our visit consisted mostly of her uncontrollable crying and pleading with us to never leave her alone. Though her frame was frail, she clung to us with all her might. Her life was one of craven fear.

I can remember situations, before and after becoming a Christian, in which fear seemed to control me. I don't want to make uninformed generalizations that many people live their lives in fear. On the other hand, I've had countless conversations with countless Christians who, in one way or another, experience frequent fear. In light of this, I thought I would list some of the New Covenant promises pertaining to fear as it relates to spiritual warfare.

Ezekiel 34:23-28
I will make a covenant of peace with them and eliminate harmful beasts from the land so that they may live securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods...they will be secure on their land. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bars of their yoke and have delivered them from the hand of those who enslaved them. They will no longer be a prey to the nations, and the beasts of the earth will not devour them; but they will live securely, and no one will make them afraid.

Isaiah 35:8-10
A highway will be there, a roadway, And it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, But it will be for him who walks that way, And fools will not wander on it. No lion will be there, Nor will any vicious beast go up on it; These will not be found there. But the redeemed will walk there, And the ransomed of the LORD will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion, With everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Hosea 2:18
In that day I will also make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, the birds of the sky, and the creeping things of the ground. And I will abolish the bow, the sword and war from the land, And will make them lie down in safety.

Zeph 3:14-19
Shout for joy, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away His judgments against you, He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; You will fear disaster no more. In that day it will be said to Jerusalem: "Do not be afraid, O Zion; Do not let your hands fall limp. The LORD your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy....Behold, I am going to deal at that time With all your oppressors, I will save the lame and gather the outcast, And I will turn their shame into praise and renown In all the earth.

Luke 1:68-74
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant—As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old—Salvation FROM OUR ENEMIES, And FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US...to grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.

Luke 4:18
And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD."

There may be a question that arises from these promises. If peace and safety are set in the context of promise for all of those in the New Covenant, why do we still fear? I think that would be an excellent topic to address in a future post : )