A Word To Leaders:

I am concerned about the leaders who have not dealt with their personal fears. I have a word for you: stop terrorizing the people under your influence. A number of ministries have submitted to the oppression caused by the terrorist attacks. As a result, they are speaking to their constituencies from a position of fear and trepidation. Leaders, please hear me: The people who are listening to you are already praying, fasting and repenting. Don't burden them with fear; empower them with vision and faith.

Fear is not the only motive that will stir people to repentance. Yes, it moves the soul, but it is only temporary; fear cannot sustain righteousness nor create true purity of heart. Grace may teach our hearts to fear, but grace our fears relieve. The fact is, people are already afraid. It is time for faith to arise, where we put our trust in God's goodness and power.

Jesus said all things were possible for him who believes. He specifically warned, "When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately" (Lk 21:9). He said specifically, "Do not be terrified." Do not submit to the spirit of terror -- have no part in it! God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind.

In Luke 18 Jesus asks a question. He says, "When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" There is a difference between prayer and faith. If we pray with faith, He said "all things are possible." My faith tells me God desires to break the stronghold of Islam so multitudes of individuals will come to Christ. Just as He used America to halt Japanese Imperialism, German Nazism and Soviet atheism, so God will aid us in our war against Islamic terrorism.

You say, "It's not possible. God cannot use America." God says, "All things are possible." You say, "America has sinned against the Lord." So had Israel under King Saul. Yet, when the Philistines sent forth Goliath to terrorize Israel, the Lord did not say, "Too bad, but I have sent this giant to defeat you because you are sinners." No. He raised up a deliverer, a young man named David, who loved and knew the Lord. David challenged his adversary, "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?" (1 Sam 17:26)

The rest of Israel was sinful; one soldier was righteous. God used the righteous to deliver the unrighteous. The Lord allows enemies to smite a nation when everyone in the nation is mired in sin. If there are righteous people, He makes them deliverers, warriors. He increases their strength and influence. He assures us that, where sin abounds, grace abounds the moreso. Today God is giving a grace to those who have loved Him. It's time not to fear, but to stand before the Lord prepared, spiritually clean and ready for spiritual war.

You Shall Not Fear Their Gods

It has been reported to me that some are teaching that the terrorist attacks of 9/11 occurred because some in the church had been doing strategic level spiritual warfare against Islam. If you hear this strange view, disregard it and pray for those who spread it. Just before the Lord raised up Gideon he sent a prophet who rebuked Israel:

"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'It was I who brought you up from Egypt, and brought you out from the house of slavery. And I delivered you from the hands of the Egyptians and from the hands of all your oppressors, and dispossessed them before you and gave you their land, and I said to you, "I am the LORD your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live. But you have not obeyed Me" (Judg 6:8-10).

God's command was specific: you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites. When the Bible speaks of the gods of the pagan nations, it is referring to the principalities and powers that ruled those lands. The specific command from the Lord was, "You shall not fear the gods" of the heathens. In the story of Gideon, after the prophet's word, the angel of the Lord immediately went to Gideon and empowered him not only to confront his fears, but to confront the stronghold of the enemy.

The story of Gideon is well known. He delivered Israel. God protected him when he confronted the stronghold of Baal and the Lord will protect you in your war as well. In the New Testament, Jesus assures His followers, "I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you" (Lk 10:19).

We must be wise, not foolish; prepared, not presumptuous. Yet, let us not be fearful nor heed the voice of those who tremble before God's enemies.