A recently licensed pilot was flying his private plane in a cloudy day. He was not very experienced in instrument landing. When the control tower was to bring him in, he began to get panicky. Then a stern voice came over the radio, “You just obey the instructions, we’ll take care of the obstructions.”
The pilot in this illustration only had to obey and do what he was told, everything else that was going to undermine the flight and obstruct the landing was out of his control, he had to allow himself to be guided by someone with more experience, more knowledge and probably even someone superior to him.
This reminds me of the world we are currently living in. A world that is ever changing, that is becoming more and more difficult to live in, scripture becomes more and more clearer, that we are to obey God, submit to God, surrender to God. Often, we try to live by our own strength, and we want to be able to make sure that the way out is clearly defined, and we have it in black and white what the solution is. But friends, we serve a supernatural God, who is in control.
1 Peter 5:7 (AMP)
casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].
1.External Danger
The last year has been difficult for many people. From the discovery of Covid-19 resulting in lock-downs, restrictions on movement, massive loss of life, employment and generally the livelihood of people, to both Kwa-Zulu Natal & Gauteng being rocked by massive looting, business’ being burned to the ground, loss of lives and again livelihood. We are certainly living in the last days, what is happening around us should come as no surprise. If you read you bible, Paul writing to Timothy tells us exactly what we are seeing around us.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 (AMP)
But understand this, that in the last days dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear]. 2 For people will be lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed], boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane, 3 [and they will be] unloving [devoid of natural human affection, calloused and inhumane], irreconcilable, malicious gossips, devoid of self-control [intemperate, immoral], brutal, haters of good, 4 traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of [sensual] pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them.
These dangerous moments that we are going through in our lives, the questions these situations bring – Where is God? Why doesn’t God come through? There are times and seasons in our lives when we will go through situations that would expose us to danger, that would take us out of our comfort zone, and put us on a path that directly links us to this issue of fear, concern, worry & anxiety.
Paul tells us as he writes to the Corinthian church:
2 Corinthians 11:26 (AMP)
many times, on journeys, [exposed to] danger from rivers, danger from bandits, danger from my own countrymen, danger from the Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger on the sea, danger among those posing as believers.
Pauls life was filled with affliction, persecution, and rejection. He was no stranger to danger, the things that he was exposed to, many of us would never go through those things, but in all off these things Paul did not become fearful, his life was characterised by what he said, “for me to live is Christ, to die is gain”.
David in Psalm 91, speaks about many dangers that he faced, and that we face in our daily lives:
He speaks about the fowlers snare, pestilence, terrors, plagues and even death. You see friends, there will always be danger around us, as long as we are in this world, danger will present itself. But the key today, is how do we react when we are faced with physical danger? How do we react, when a pandemic is coming against our livelihoods, when it causes the closure of churches and the gathering of the saints, when it effects our jobs? How do we react, when loved ones and familiar faces are dying around us?
Scripture tells us that our adversary, the devil, roams about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. And I want to tell you today, if you are a born-again believer, this battle is real. And the enemy that we face, we must understand is not flesh and blood, but, principalities, powers of darkness and rulers of high places.
Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
2. Internal Danger
Our minds are the entry point that the enemy would use in order to bring fear to our lives. There is a constant battle that we face in our minds. The enemy of our soul will always plant thoughts in us, and he would do this constantly, until these thoughts become a part of us, it becomes what we constantly focus on. What we must understand is that thoughts that are planted in our minds and the thoughts of the enemy, they are filled with fear, and anxiety, they are thoughts that are not aligned to the will of God, and do not glorify God.
There are two ways in which the enemy will attack our minds:
- The first way in which the enemy will attack your mind, is through deception. He will deceive you into thinking that you are of no value, that you are not worth anything, that God does not love you. Remember, in the garden of Eden, Adam & Eve hid from God. They did this because they were fearful, and the reason they became fearful, is because they were deceived. The enemy of our soul will use our past, our mistakes our failures to bring us to a point where we doubt the love of God, and we doubt that God wants to have a relationship with us, because we have become so filled with fear.
2 Corinthians 11:3-4 (GW)
3 However, I’m afraid that as the snake deceived Eve by its tricks, so your minds may somehow be lured away from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 When someone comes to you talking about another Jesus whom we didn’t tell you about, you’re willing to put up with it. When you receive a spirit that is different from the Spirit you received earlier, you’re also willing to put up with that. When someone tells you good news that is different from the Good News you already accepted, you’re willing to put up with that too.
2. The second way in the enemy will attack our minds is by shifting our focus of God. The world that we are living in is constantly seeking our attention and demanding more and more of us. And this ultimately means that we spend less and less time with God, building on our relationship with God. So how does he shift our focus away from God:
- By making us believe that we have enough time to worry about the things of God and that we should primarily concern ourselves with the pursuit of wealth.
- Making us believe that we are too young to worry about God now and we have enough time later to give our lives to God.
- He shifts our focus on to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.
The minute we allow our minds to become focused on these things we become so obsessed with it that when chaos is happening around us, we become anxious, we become, concerned, we become afraid.
Do not get me wrong today, I am not telling you not to have money, or a good job, or a nice house, and want the best for you family and children, but when these things begin to consume our every thought and emotion and all we concern ourselves with is the physical, then friends we have a problem.
Romans 12: 2 (AMP)
And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs] but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].
These are the last days friends, our minds are the target of the enemy. We need to be constantly focused on God and the things of God. Be aware of the thoughts that enter your mind.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV)
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 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,
3. You Are With Me
I was thinking the other day, about David, a man after God’s own heart. He faced many dangers, from the lion and the bear to coming face to face with a giant, that gripped the entire nations of Israel in fear. Yet he was never afraid. And we find the reason why he was never afraid, why he didn’t become worried and anxious and terrified, when he had to go into battle, in the famous Psalm that he wrote” Psalm 23”.
Psalm 23:4 (GW)
Even though I walk through the dark valley of death, because you are with me, I fear no harm. Your rod and your staff give me courage.
There are two things that David teaches us here, two things that I believe we need to hold on to today.
- “Even though I walk” – You see, David was going through the battles he was going through times and seasons in his life where he had to face battles, but the battle never stopped him. The battle did not paralyse him. He never once went into a corner, put his thumb in his mouth and cried like a little baby. No, he tells us he walks through the dark valley, he does not stop, he does not become fearful, but he is constantly in motion, he is constant on the move.
- “I fear no harm” – The reason he is on the move is in that same verse. He understood, he came to the revelation the knowledge that God was with him. Even on the verge of death – he will fear no harm – not because he was a good fighter, or that he had strength, but it was because God was with him. The rod and the staff, where his guide to keep him safe, this gave him the courage and the strength to push on. David tells us in 1 Samuel 17:37 – David said, “The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and may the LORD be with you.” – that was his faith and trust in God.
Today, it does not matter what the battle is, what matters is who is with you in the battle. Always remember these three characteristics of the nature of God:-
- Gods plans for you are good. God wants you to prosper to live without fear and to be blessed.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
- God cares for you – he will watch over you. He will protect you.
1Peter 5:7 (AMP)
casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].
- God works through all things. No matter what is happening around you, the world can be in chaos, but God is still in control.
Romans 8:28 (GW)
We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God–those whom he has called according to his plan.
I want to leave you with these two scriptures. Life might seem uncertain, the world might be in turmoil, there might be death and strife all around you, but God is still God!!!
Psalm 91:1-4 (GW)
Whoever lives under the shelter of the Most High
will remain in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the Lord,
“You are my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.”
3 He is the one who will rescue you from hunters’ traps
and from deadly plagues.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge.
His truth is your shield and armour.
Philippians 4:6 (AMP)
Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.
Remember the pilot. As you navigate through this life and all its challenges and uncertainties, our only constant is Jesus, he never did and never will change. He is the same God, yesterday, today and forevermore. Allow him to be God in your life today, and to clear the obstacles and take you through the challenges. All you need to do is to obey the instructions.
God bless
Feel free to comment or share a testimony
Trevor Naidoo
20.07.2021
The Potter's House Church 