In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee, (Isaiah 54:14)

Around 700 B.C. the Holy Spirit through the prophet Isaiah spoke to the redeemed of the Lord promising us that we could look forward to a life without fear—here and now.

Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me…(verse 15).

The Lord is telling us that fear, terror, oppression will come against you but He did not send it.

This agrees with the character and nature of God described in Psalm 145:8-9, The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

To oppress means “to keep someone in subjection and hardship, especially by the unjust exercise of authority.” Oppression is also defined as mental pressure or distress.

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him (Acts 10:38).

This verse tells us:

• Sickness and oppression in all of its manifestations is from the devil.
• One of the predominant assignments in Jesus’ earthly ministry, culminating in His death, burial and resurrection, was to free mankind and permanently end satan’s reign of fear and oppression.

The current pandemic known as Covid 19 is not really about a viral infectious disease.  The real disease is fear.  That is what we are dealing with.

Fear—“a panic that grips a person causing them to run away, be alarmed, scared, frightened, dismayed, filled with dread, intimidated, anxious and apprehensive.”

Let’s contrast fear and faith:

• Faith is the substance of things hoped for (desired) based on the promises of God (Hebrews 11:1).

• Fear works like a negative magnet —the substance of things not desired.

Job said, For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me (Job 3:25).

• Faith comes by hearing and thinking on the promises of God,(Romans 10:17)

• Fear comes from satan’s lies—any information contrary to the Word of God (Matthew 14:27-30).
• Faith activates God to bring His Word to pass in your life (Matthew 9:22, Luke 1:38).
• Faith changes circumstances (Mark 11:23).
• Fear agrees with the problem (Mark 4:37-40).
• Faith believes the promises in God’s Word to protect you (Psalm 91, Acts 27:20-25).
• Fear is faith in satan’s ability to harm you (Job 3:26, Prov. 29:25, Luke 21:26).

With the devil it is all about control.  He uses fear to control people.

Politicians use fear to control people and keep them dependent on the government for security and provision.

Preachers use fear to control people when they make people their Source. They’ll say, “you had better stay away from those Word, faith and prosperity people….” knowing that if they find out the truth about the abundant life that belongs to them, they will leave and the pastor will no longer be able to meet the budget.

Satan is not just interested in making people sick. His agenda is much larger and this pandemic would be one means of attempting to bring down the world’s economies moving closer to his one-world vision—one government–one economy–one religion. Governments are seizing the opportunity to exploit the Coronavirus epidemic, and use it as a distraction to implement their political agendas through the back door.

For example within the last couple of weeks, after promising not to change the “approval of class of place” where abortions can be carried out, within days the UK government made a U-turn designating home as an “approved place.” When a few pro-life groups recognized it—the government pulled it from their website as an “administrative error.”

Then they made a second U-turn and under the pretext of fighting Covid 19, with no debate in parliament and while everyone was looking elsewhere they reinstated DIY abortions, stating that home is now an  “approved class of place” where abortions can take place with the administration of two pills prescribed by a doctor via video link or telephone conference. (For more detailed information go to ChristianConcern.com.)

In America, the same like-minded organizations are making similar moves.  While elective medical procedures have been postponed to concentrate on the Covid 19 response, Planned Parenthood the largest abortion provider in the world continues to be open for business. To top it off, they are complaining they should be supplied with protective equipment and clothing, diverting it from the medical profession caring for Covid 19 patients. Left-wing politicians are also trying to fund this organization  through the back door by attaching taxpayer financial assistance buried deep within the Covid 19 aid package. They are essentially bribing the Trump administration to fund their pet projects in order to get aid to the American people in a time of crisis.

There is also concern about governments exercising greater control over people and their movement, especially Christians. The UK government already fears Christians and sees us as a danger to society by labelling the preaching of the Gospel as “hate speech.”

There is another power grab attached to the UK Coronavirus Bill while no one was looking. With the opinion of one doctor (previously two were required) a person can now be forcibly detained(sectioned) on mental health grounds—indefinitely (previously six months). Of course this is all intended to be in the interest of the individual and other’s safety.

Should this public health emergency drag on for months, this could be an opportunity for the governments of the western world to over-reach and extend their police powers permanently in prohibiting the assembly of Christians together and the preaching of the Gospel publicly.

That is my long-term concern along with other ministries that teach the Word of God uncompromisingly.

But this is not satan’s time to take control, it is time for the Body of Christ to wake up and seize this opportunity to take control.

In II Corinthians 4:4, Paul describes satan as… the god of this age(NKJV). How does satan use fear to control people?

• He endeavors to make the consequences of fear so great and heavy in your mind that you will bow down to him and abandon your faith in God’s Word.
• He pressures you with threats to make you afraid to rely on God’s Word.

We find a classic example of this in Daniel 3 where King Nebuchadnezzar ordered all of his government officials to bow down to an image of gold. Perhaps this decree from the king was a response to his fear of an attempted coup and loss of power.

Nebuchadnezzar could represent satan.

The gold image/idol could represent the spirit of fear.

After demanding that they bow down to his image, the king threatens anyone who refuses to cooperate.  …And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace (Daniel 3:6, 15 NKJV).

This is a classic example of the use of fear and intimidation to control people.

Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament words defines fear as, “that which is caused by the intimidation of adversaries.”

You don’t have to experience harm or failure to have fear. Just the THREAT of either is enough.

Why does satan use fear as his primary tool to gain access in your affairs?

Because he cannot do anything to you apart from fear.

If he cannot access your life through fear, he cannot do anything to you.

Let’s phrase this example in Daniel 3 this way—satan has issued his THREAT of death to those who refuse to bow down to fear.

Intimidate—“to make timid or fearful; to discourage or suppress by threats or by violence.”  Make note of the word THREATS.

We should respond to fear the same way Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did.

If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. …let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up (Daniel 3:17-18 NKJV).

These men of faith believed in the Word of God whom they served more than the threats of the devil. They believed in God’s ability to protect and deliver them more than the devil’s ability to kill them.

THEY DIDN’T BOW—AND THEY DIDN’T BURN.

Neither will you if you refuse to bow down to satan’s demands.

Refuse to allow satan to intimidate you with threats of harm, violence or death.

It doesn’t matter what satan threatens you with—threats cannot harm you.

If satan threatens you with a diagnosis that has no medical cure—it won’t move you. If someone drops a package of Covid 19 through your letter box or a 25 lb bag of anthrax on your doorstep —it won’t move you.  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were not moved by the king’s threats.

Like king Nebuchadnezzar reacted toward Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, satan will be shocked and infuriated with your response of faith over fear.

When you refuse to compromise God’s Word and you refuse to cooperate with fear’s demands, God will always deliver you and you will come out without even the smell of defeat on you!

In the midst of current public health measures we will have faith, continue to take precautions and act wisely–but we will not bow down to fear’s demands!