Pastor Sam shared the sermon "Freedom from Fear" just a few days before Reverend Gabbidon shared the final session of the School of Prayer class. During the prayer class, we spent time in discussion concerning reasons why people experience hindrances to holiness living. The hindrances-- anger, peer pressure, compromise, immaturity, busyness, and several others mentioned-- are means by which the enemy of our souls seeks to block us from reaching our full potential in Christ. (One example given during class was that of a person who had been a Christian for thirty years but never grew into maturity, so the person's behavior taught new Christians that spiritual immaturity was acceptable.) For those of us who were able to attend both Sunday and Wednesday, we experienced a wonderful juxtaposition of insights. In one hand we held Psalm 27, and in the other James 4.
Our constitution. From Psalm 27 we learned that, because the LORD is the strength of our life, we have no need to fear. Therefore, our prayers must be prayed from a position of strength. Further, prayer is not a chore-- it is a joy! Our desire is to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to enquire in His temple, for in the day of trouble He will hide us (Psalm 27:4). As Pastor Sam shared, "principalities don't have to rule us; no darkness is too dark- we can sing in the dark because Jesus is with us." Fearful prayers are ineffective prayers. Fearless prayers are not swayed by external circumstances.
Our character. James 4 underlined the characteristics of those Christians who are capable of praying from a position of strength and singing praises in the dark. James says, "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." (James 4:3) He then follows with a list of the characteristics that will identify the believer as an authentic child of God: submitting to God, resisting the devil, washing our hands and purifying our hearts (holiness as a lifestyle), and humbling ourselves before God (James 4:7-10). In other words, the Christian who has not "gone on to maturity" (see Hebrews 5:11-6:6) really doesn't stand a chance.
When we are free from fear, we are free to intercede for others. We are empowered to break down the gates of hell, set people free, and do damage to the kingdom of darkness. And fearlessness is a necessary trait, because there is always backlash when a true Christian steps in and claims territory for the kingdom of God. In Psalm 27, we see that King David endured slander and defamation. In Acts 16, we read of Paul and Silas being beaten and thrown into prison. Prayer is warfare, and it is not a joke. Sometimes it costs us everything. But hey, welcome to the war zone. Fearless Christians rejoice not because their life circumstances are comfortable, but because they have an assurance from Christ of His presence and covering. His covering trumps everything else.
At the close of Wednesday's class, Pastor Sam asked us all to pray about our potential to be intercessors. For some of us, that means we will need to deal with the fear issue. For others, it may mean we have to deal with the forgiveness issue. God has an interest in His children being well, whole, and capable of successful engagement in warfare prayer. What grace, that He allows us to participate in this ministry of prayer! Will you join the team?
When darkness seems to veil His face, I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale, my anchors holds within the veil.
His oath, His covenant, His blood, support me in the 'whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand! All other ground is sinking sand. (Edward Mote)
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