Fear has become the great enemy of our generation.
I’ve seen it first-hand at home with one of my children and in the many lives of people God brings across my path. And in all honesty, it angers me. Fear can be a debilitating disease, hindering people’s growth and endangering their future. And in the famous words of the Apostle Paul: “These things ought not be so…”
I want to give you a scripture today and break it down in pieces so you and I can really meditate on its truths: “In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear…” (Isaiah 54:14).
Righteousness
By definition: Righteousness is the quality or state of being right; right-standing with God, including the ability to stand before Him without guilt or sin.
This is God’s design. It’s the major reason Jesus came to earth. He became what we were so we could become what He is. And as believers in Jesus Christ, this is how God sees you and I (regardless of how we see or feel about ourselves). In both the old and new testaments, righteousness is the keyword in scripture that ties believers to God and God to His children.
Established
By definition: Established means to bring into being on a firm or stable basis; to cause to be accepted or recognized; to ordain for permanence.
If righteousness is the end-result, then to be established is the goal. God doesn’t waver like man. He sets our feet upon a rock and establishes our steps (Psalm 40:1-2). When we grow in our understanding of the righteousness we’ve received through Jesus, it is hard to shake us. Trials and tribulations just don’t faze the believer who knows he or she is the righteousness of God in Christ. They are established in this truth and come hell or high water, they are immovable.
Oppression
By definition: Oppression is the feeling of being heavily burdened, mentally or physically, by troubles, adverse conditions, or anxiety.
This is why I get mad. God’s people are strong and victorious! So when the devil deceives, manipulates, and burdens God’s people because of their lack of understanding or knowledge of His truth, it hurts my heart. Mainly because I’ve been there –and can be tempted to dance with the devil every day in this arena. BUT… I refuse. Not because of anything I am or can do in my own strength, but because of what Jesus has done for me –and my firm persuasion of it.
Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor…” (Luke 4:18). The word poor here literally means those who are crouched and broken in spirit. This is the epitome of oppression.
But “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38).
Fear: The Great Enemy
By definition: Fear is a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, or pain; whether real or imagined, feelings of dread or apprehension. Denounce the great enemy today.
The mere mention of fear makes me want to kick the devil in the teeth. It is an awful evil and should never be associated with God’s children, yet I see them plagued by fear every day. Fear of man… fear of pain… fear of rejection… fear of fear!
God has NOT given us a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7), so in reality fear is a choice. I realize it’s real, but we don’t have to accept it. We need to learn to hand that plate back to the devil and say NO THANK YOU.
Fear can keep us up all night long, but faith makes one fine pillow. -Unknown
“In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear…” (Isaiah 54:14).
Let this be your focus today. Quote it. Speak it. Memorize it. Meditate on its truths. THIS IS WHO YOU ARE and HOW GOD WANTS YOU TO LIVE EACH DAY. For you are the righteousness of God in Christ!
