Philippians 1:28 - "And in nothing terrified by your adversaries..."

John 14:27 - "...Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Ezekiel 2:6 - "...be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house."

Psalm 34:4 - "I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."

                                                                                               

 

We are not to dread nor be terrified by what people say about us or the manner in which they treat us as God's servants. We must never allow them to break us or shatter us emotionally and spiritually by their intimidating ways and mannerisms.

 

Rebellious people will oftentimes ill-treat us because of our message, but we must not let the fear of this happening cause us to stop speaking for the Lord.

 

The people we minister to may be as "briars and thorns" - scratching, tearing, and vexing our souls at every turn. They may prick us and cause us much pain at every opportunity. Like scorpions, they appear to be venomous and malicious. Their sting is intended to cause us intense emotional and spiritual pain to hinder us from speaking or to totally wipe out our ministry for the Lord.

Matthew 3:7 - They are a "generation of vipers;"

Genesis 3:1 - "more subtle than any beast of the field";

Romans 3:13 - "the poison of asps is under their lips." 

 

They don't want us to tell them of their faults and sins. Therefore, they try to spoil our souls by their threatening looks and words. Because they are under severe conviction of the Holy Spirit and feeling the fiery wrath of God for their rebellious ways, they are worse than any in persecuting His spokesman.

 

Like Ezekiel, we are exhorted by the Lord not to be afraid of them. We must not be deterred from speaking the truth nor be cast down, dispirited, discouraged, or depressed by any or all of their threats against us.

 

2 Timothy 1:7 - The Scriptures definitively tell us - "For God hath not given us a spirit of fear..."

On the other hand, He has given us "..the spirit..of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

 

We have the power to encounter difficulties, dangers, and foes on every side.

We have the power to overcome in trials and to triumph in persecutions.

The Love of God that is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost gives us the power to overcome the fear of man and all of the hurt and rejection - the malicious words and acts - that he would throw our way. We have a "sound mind" to help us keep all things in perspective - God has everything under control. 

Hebrews 13:6 - "...THE LORD IS MY HELPER, AND I WILL NOT FEAR WHAT MAN SHALL DO UNTO ME."  

 

God has promised us power in the presence of our opposers.

Micah 3:8 - Like the Prophet Micah, we can declare - "But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin."

Luke 10:19 - The Lord Jesus promised us power to overcome all of the wicked devices of "scorpions" or the "rebellious house" - "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

 

Luke 24:49 - God promised to pour out His Spirit upon us whereby we would be "endued with power from on high."

Acts 6:8 - Instead of being timid and afraid, we would be "full of faith and power."

Acts 9:22 - Instead of being dismayed at their words and looks, we would increase the more in strength,

2 Timothy 2:1 - "be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus,"

Acts 4:31 - and be enabled with all boldness to speak the Word of the Lord.

 

Philippians 1:28 - In nothing are we to be terrified by our adversaries.

John 14:27 - We are never to allow our hearts to be troubled or to be afraid.

We must never allow anyone or anything to drive us from our post of duty - speaking the Truth for the Lord no matter who likes it or receives it.

 

Read the account of the young soldier as recorded in the Illustrations Of Bible Truths -

 

"A young soldier who was showing signs of panic on the eve of his first battle was chaffed by a veteran. 'Why, sonny,' he said, 'you're shaking with fear. Don't be such a coward.' 'I'm not a coward,' hotly retorted the youth. 'If you felt half as scared as I do, you'd run away!' He was right. That young man was not a coward because he felt fear, but he would have been a coward if he had allowed it to master him and drive him from his post of duty."

 

Martin Luther once said - "I know not the way He leads me, but well do I know my Guide. What have I to fear?"

 

 

The Scriptures repeatedly characterize God as a Mighty Protection for His people.

 

Zechariah 2:5 - He is a "wall of fire" about His people.

Isaiah 26:1; Isaiah 60:18 - There is no adversary who can penetrate and break through His wall to harm the child of God. His wall is called "Salvation."

 

Hebrews 12:29 - He is a "Consuming Fire."

Isaiah 10:17 - He is the Holy One of Israel who will be for a "flame" that will "burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day."

All those who trifle with Him or rebel against Him are consumed entirely.

All those dry "thorns and briers" cannot resist His heat, and are utterly powerless in His midst.

       

Isaiah 32:2 - He is a "hiding place from the wind" and a "covert from the tempest."

The servant of the Lord will surely find Him to be a place of shelter, security, and protection - a refuge from the "winds" of oppression and persecution coming from his adversaries.

He will find God to be his haven from the "tempest" of injury, hurt, rejection, malicious lies and defamation, and violence from his foes.

Isaiah 25:4 - He is also a "refuge from the storm" as well as a "shadow from the heat."

Whatever dangers, perils, and troubles are threatening or alarming the child of God, He is there as a place of safety, retreat, and protection for him.

 

Exodus 17:15 - He is "Jehovah-nissi" - the Lord our Banner.

The servant of the Lord fights the enemies of Truth under God's direction and in defense of His Word.

In His name and in His strength, he conquers every foe. 

He is animated by the very Presence of his God on Whom he depends and in Whom he trusts. 

 

Victory is assuredly his at all times and in every place. Why?

Ezekiel 48:35 - Because Jehovah Shammah - "The Lord is there" - promises to never leave him nor forsake him. His Mighty Presence is recognized by all - especially His enemies - as He rules, governs, protects, and defends His own. The child of God dwells in God and He in him.

 

Psalm 144:2 - He is a "high tower" for His people.

No enemy can ever scale His walls to reach the child of God.

Psalm 115:11 - He is a "shield" about His people - protecting, supporting, guarding, and defending them against any and every fiery dart and assignment to slow them down or destroy them.

He is a constant covering to and around His people.

He is a Mighty "shield," sufficient to silence all of their tormenting fears.

 

Psalm 121:5 - Lastly, He is the "shade upon thy right hand."

The "right hand" is the working hand.

On the "right hand" is the place of the protector. 

King David said in Psalm 16:8 -  "I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." 

We don't ever have to be moved by our adversaries or our circumstances.

God is our "shade" - our shadow - so near unto us, offering us protection on every turn. 

 

As Martin Luther once said - "I know not the way He leads me, but well do I know my Guide. What have I to fear?"

 

Be not afraid nor dismayed at their words or their looks.

 

Zephaniah 3:17 - Be assured of this - "The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save..." 

Romans 8:31 - "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?"

Romans 8:33 - "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth."

Romans 8:35 - "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?..."

Romans 8:37 - "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us."