Take Fear Captive. Rise Up, Warrior!
When we set out to do something for the Lord, it can seem daunting, especially when the people around us “know better” and yet have chosen to normalize compromise. When I think of the Minor Prophets podcast or Remnant Radio podcast and what they’ve been able to accomplish in the last few years and in particular, the last few days, I’m shocked and in the best way. They lovingly, with sound doctrine, sounded the alarm on yet another abuse in a Christian church that was swept under the rug. They aren’t posting for clickbait or fame; you can tell that they simply want the Body of Christ to be healthy. They did such a great job that the leader they called out, repented today, and even referenced their podcast (in a subtle but not so subtle way) and even quoted them, “I’m thankful for those who directly called me out on my mistake, sending emails, posting videos, and making me aware of something I was truly unaware of. God has used them to help me see what I could not see…”
It took great courage to do this. Depending on what God is asking you to do, it might take a great deal of courage. For some, it’s simply the fear of rejection or the fear of failure. Addressing a problem, especially when it’s a gross moral failure, takes a ton of courage. We see this in the life of Gideon in the book of Judges. I tell his story in great detail in The Process Of A Leader. Here it is in a nutshell.
Gideon was the runt of a family, and even the family was the runt of the town. No military strength. No financial swagger. No claim to fame. In fact, the only thing they were famous for was losing. Over and over they were losing to enemy armies who were taking their harvest, separating families, promoting pagan worship and polluting Israel’s culture and faith in Jehovah.
God showed up to talk to Gideon. He spoke to him as if he was already living in the future “Greetings Mighty Warrior.” God calls him this while he is hiding in the depths of a hole in the ground! God always speaks to us for who we can be and helps us see that our present doesn’t have to be our future. God inspires him to pursue the enemy but as you might now, He takes the people of Israel through a sifting process, removing everyone who lives in fear. Their army was stripped down to 300. Grossly outnumbered, they miraculously defeated the enemy in a surprise attack that God used to bring confusion.
So many fear failure or fear rejection…
“What if the board says ‘No” Forget it. I’m not going to even try.”
“What if we lose money on our first project. I can’t deal with that kind of stress.”
“What if they retaliate? What if my name is drug through the mud and they lie about me.”
“What if I build this business and it totally flops. People will mock me.”
Gideon had to endure the opposing enemy and those within his nation that wanted everything to remain status quo. He had to endure people being upset with him for removing their idols. He had to have the courage to endure criticism from people who wanted to remain in their sin. He loved integrity too much to remain still. He loved the people of his city too much to continue watching them suffer. He had an encounter with God, and it changed everything! You are one encounter with God away from an entirely different life. When you venture out to obey the Lord, obedience is success. You will succeed or learn but as long as you’re faithful to do what the Lord said to do, you can’t go wrong.
God knows the questions that haunt your mind. He knows the fears. Gideon realized that they could continue to suffer or agree with the promise God was speaking - a promise of a brighter and better future - one where they enjoyed the fruit of their labor and the peace of life without war.
BIBLE READING: JUDGES 7:9-22
Imagine the roar that broke the midnight silence. Imagine waking to a battle cry! They broke clay pots! They blew the trumpets and they shouted God’s praise! The enemy was so shocked and confused that they killed themselves! The soldiers had to stand there in total amazement! Where the enemy had won in the shadows, God brought victory in the light - in openness, integrity, and honesty.
Gideon wasn’t just aiming to stop the theft and get their food back. This was about worship - theology - it was a matter of right and wrong. He destroys the false idol of Baal and burned up the Asherah pole, a sexual symbol for a Sex God. The word from the Lord had given him the courage to confront. Spiritual warfare is real. Heaven and hell are real. The supernatural is real and when you worship Jesus and lift up His name, you are agreeing with Heaven and that brings victory to battles on earth! As the Leader of your organization, church or company, it’s you that has to begin to align your heart and mind with truth and believe God for more. Are you a parent? You’re the leader of your home. What is the spiritual temperament of your home? Is God “winning” there?
2 Corinthians 10:3-7 “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. 7 Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we."
Remind yourself of Christ’s victory and let Him renew your mind. You and I are in a spiritual battle and at times we feel like we are losing - in those times remember that worship is the key to victory. The weapons we have been given are not “carnal.” They are not temporary or earthy. Quit taking a knife to a gun fight. God has given you the Holy Spirit. God has given you discernment - it’s a promise for every believer. God has given you the ministry of prayer. God has given you His Word. Take the problem you’re facing before the Lord. Tear down Satan’s stronghold in prayer and worship! How do we do that? We take every thought captive that doesn’t honor Christ - even our own thoughts - and we repent of disobedience in our life. If we need to forgive someone, we forgive and we ask God, “What is the truth in this matter? What is it you want me to know or learn in this?”
If we don’t take our thoughts captive our thoughts will take us captive. When Satan plants a thought in your mind that tells you that you’ll always be in defeat, take that thought captive and remind yourself that Jesus has already won the victory. Truth wins. Right defeats wrong, and compromise is never a good idea. Hiding the truth to the detriment of others is never a good idea. Remind yourself of truth and take that though captive, submitting to the truth of Jesus and His work. When you do that, replacing the wrong thought with scripture, you are ensuring the thought won’t take you captive. When you step out to achieve something big,
Afraid to do something - the right thing - for God - for truth? Do it afraid. God will give you the courage to push past the fear and the strength to keep going - even when the critics come and tell you “shut up” to “get in line” to “be quiet” Sometimes the right thing to do feels like rebellion if the culture you’re in has become immoral.