Confronting Evil

As never before, the risk of terrorism is now real for each one of us in America and across the world. Fear is a powerful emotion with deep roots. In those difficult moments in our lives when there are no answers, or when unexpected change occurs, it is important that we fight the desire to live by our feelings, but instead, that we move forward to confront our fears, to meet them head on. It was a great revelation to me when I realized that I couldn’t control the feeling of fear but I could keep it from controlling me. The word fear means “to run or to take flight.” So when we give in to fear, we always run away from something that we should be confronting. God wanted the Israelites to go forward into the unknown. He wanted them to be so fed up with bondage, that they would be willing to risk drowning in the Red Sea rather than going back to slavery. God wanted them to be bold and courageous…and He wants us to be bold and courageous too!

As we delve into the New Testament, we see how Christ confronted evil. He met it head on…Jesus said, “”But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.”
We make a serious mistake when we shrink back or turn our back on evil, and here is why:

•When we believe that evil does not exist, ignore it, or cower from it, we become oblivious and vulnerable to it.
•When evil is dismissed as unreal or insignificant, good becomes irrelevant.
•Good is only understood in relation to evil.
•If nothing is evil, then nothing is good.

Since most of us are not in position to physically confront evils,
let us go forth in an even more powerful way…by confronting it with daily, fervent, Radical Prayer:

1) Praise God that He is sovereign, that He has ultimate control over all, and that nothing takes Him by surprise (Isaiah 45:5-7).
2) Ask God to break our hearts for His people, for the people of all nations, that we may be committed to intercede and pray daily on their behalf.
3) Ask God for a passion and love for Christ that DRIVES OUT FEAR.
(1 John 4:18).
4) As believers, let us boldly take authority through Christ to tear down the strongholds of evil and brutality that drive terrorism; may God destroy the darkness that permeates groups like ISIS, Al Shabab, Al Qaeda, and Boko Haram.
5) Ask God to bring unprecedented SPIRITUAL OPENNESS to people—a hunger for God and His truth in the midst of these terrorizing events. Thank God that he will use for GOOD, what Satan intended for harm. (Gen. 50:20-21)
6) Ask God to bless the ministry that has been thrust upon the church to help those affected by the terrorist attacks and the war.
7) Ask God to focus the minds of public officials and the military on the need for prayer in dealing with the challenging difficulties and decisions before them.
8) Ask God to stand against Satans attempts to make people experience unresolved anger or guilt over the loss of loved ones and friends, or a desire to seek revenge. Justice will be served, if not in this life, then in judgment for those who are not covered by the grace of God through Jesus.
9) Pray that those Arabs and Muslims who are innocent of these attacks will not be blamed or physically harmed.
10) Pray for the return of peace, both in America and throughout all the nations.
11) Thank God for the people who will be DRAWN TO SEEK GOD’S FACE because the overwhelming nature of these events leaves them nowhere else to turn.

Our greatest weapon against fear is the sword of God’s Word through Prayer….Our response to evil should always be to confront it!

Raise your sword…take a Stand….and Fight!