Why Christians Should Fear The Lord

Fearing God Almighty

Visions you can found it here

I (Brother Glenn) received a vision from the Lord early Thursday morning (13/02/2020). In the vision, I was standing in our back yard when my attention was drawn to thick dark clouds which were gathering and breaking up into sizable chunks covering the entire sky. As I looked at the phenomena right in front of me I felt a deep fear as it turned day light into total darkness (Joel 2:2; Zephaniah 1:15). 

I then immediately ran into the house to tell my family and just before I could speak, I heard a man as if announcing on television to the whole world, "This is the end of the world as we all know it". Soon after this announcement, I went outside again and I saw many people going about their lives as if nothing is going to happen (Revelation 22:11) And the vision ended!

Brief interpretation

We believe the dark clouds that are gathering and the announcement is a warning to the world that we are in the beginning  stages of the end times. As a ministry and family, we have been attacked by some brothers for sharing visions from the Lord especially related to the end times (Jeremiah 26:8-24) but we will continue to obey the Lord. 

Vision to Claudia 14/02/2020

During the early hours of Friday, I received a vision from the Lord. A warm, pure white bright light appeared to me and took me to a city with very tall buildings in the USA. While being in this white warm cloud, I looked down a very large and big hole opened up and I saw countless people and their cars falling into this hole (Numbers 16:32), then the vision ended! 

“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28 NLT). And 

"Fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment" (Proverbs 9:10).

We pray that the will of the Lord God be made clearer to you all, and that you be found perfect in His will. We pray that you celebrate life through Christ this new year. 

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God (Ephesians 5:18-21 NKJV).

A simple search of the online Bible reveals that the word “fear” is used well over 100 times in reference to God. The Bible admonishes us not only to honor all people (including our leaders) and love our brothers and sisters in Christ,but to fear and honor the Lord as well (1 Peter 2:17 NKJV). Furthermore, the Word of God also teaches us that fearing God is required for one to gain wisdom (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10; 15:33; Psalm 111:10).

Initially, when we fear God, we spontaneously and submissively yield to His will in humble reverence and awe to His authority. The single best freedom humanity can enjoy for all time is Truth! Why? Because Truth sets us free (John 8:32)—no guilt, worry, fear, possessions, or fleshly desires are attached to truth. That Truth is Jesus Christ, and it is only through Him that we can have true freedom and eternal life (John 8:36; 14:6).

Naturally, when we correct our children (who have been taught in the ways of the Lord) after they have misbehaved, their response to our rebuke is often with reverence and with a sense of fear for God. As our Lord said, children are humble and more responsive to the fear of God than adults (Matthew 18:3-4). The Lord’s promise to us, as parents, is that if we bring up our children in the ways of the Lord, we would reap the benefit of them walking in the fear of God all the days of their lives (1 Samuel 1:21-28; Proverbs 22:6).

How We Lose our Fear of God

From the Bible, we learn that the fear of God is the foundation to attaining wisdom (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10; 15:33; Psalm 111:10). Alluding to this fact, the Word of God warns us to guard against and avoid “godless chatter” or “profane and idle babblings and contradictions” or “irreverent empty speeches” that the world considers to be “knowledge” or “staying informed”; these types of talks and arguments will surely dilute and deviate our faith (1 Timothy 6:20-21). In my experience, and from what I have observed, we indeed start losing our fear for God when we are drawn to other interests which direct us away from God. Some of these distractions are well explained in the Bible; for example worldliness, love of money, and addictions (1 John 2:15; James 4:4; 2 Corinthians 6:14). In addition to these, I have identified a few other influences that also contribute negatively to our relationship with God.

Desires: To us Christians, the Bible is God’s infallible Word which carries a life-changing and life-giving instruction to mankind. We read in the Bible how several people, who knew God and had a relationship with Him initially, defied His will and chose to walk contrary to His ways (2 Chronicles 24:17-19; 2 Timothy 4:10). Exercising God’s will is a choice, and defying sin brings us two victories: God’s acceptance of our obedience and freedom from guilt. Our weakness as humans is that our choices are often influenced by our desires, which come either through someone or something that our senses capture. For example, Adam and Eve gave into the devil’s temptation when Eve "saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom...."(Genesis 3:1-6). Likewise, David gave in to lust and committed adultery when he saw that “…the woman was very beautiful…” (2 Samuel 11:1-4).

Influence from others: Bad influence from others can also detract our choice for obedience (1 Corinthians 15:33). For example, two arrogant men, Azariah and Johanan, falsely accused the Prophet Jeremiah of lying, and they influenced the people to flee to Egypt, contrary to God’s warning (Jeremiah 43:1-7). Also, in the Garden of Eden, the serpent influenced Eve to sin, and in turn Eve influenced Adam (Genesis 3:6). Rehoboam, who succeeded his father Solomon as king over Israel, was influenced by the young men he had grown up with to impose greater burdens on the people. He rejected the wise counsel of the elders who had urged him to be a servant leader and serve his people with equity and kindness (1 Kings 12:1–15).

Fear of man: Many people often fall into the trap of rejecting Godly counsel in exchange for human counsel and sympathy; this is giving victory to the devil. In the Scriptures, such an attitude is best described by these words from King Saul: “I have sinned. I violated the LORD's command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gavein to them” (1 Samuel 15:24). During the time of Exodus, of the twelve men sent by Moses to spy the land of Canaan, only two (Caleb and Joshua) expressed confidence that God would help Israel conquer the land, and they urged the people not to have confidence in God and not rebel against Him, because the Lord was with them (Numbers 13:30; 14:6-9).The remaining ten spies were afraid and scared of “the giants”, so they discouraged the people and influenced them to rebel against Moses and Aaron (Numbers 13:31-33; 14:1-4, 10). The Hebrew midwives (Shiphrah and Puah) stood faithfully; they “… feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live” (Exodus 1:17). The prophet Daniel also, when he learned of the plot against him, was not afraid. Instead of giving in to fear, “he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days”(Daniel 6:10 NKJV). The Bible warns us that “fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe”(Proverbs 29:25). We should not fear man or seek to please others, but God alone (Isaiah 2:22; Isaiah 51:12; Galatians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:4; Colossians 3:23; 2 Corinthians 5:9; 2 Timothy 1:7).Moreover, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself reiterated that we should“not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).

Possessions and power: Today’s economic environment is quite enticing to many. The explosion of goods, services, and flashy new technologies in the market makes it very easy for the devil to tempt us. Consequently, material things and thirst for power can separate us from God’s will (Matthew 19:16-23; Luke 8:14). There are some wealthy and influential people in this world whose power is their possessions and they have no fear of God. In their lust and greed for more material things, they reject eternal life—the most precious of all gifts—for worldly gain and the short-lived pleasure of sin (Luke 12:13-21; Hebrews 11:25). Sadly, many people are following them.

As a fact, today’s booming worldly entertainment media, such as television, movies, the Internet, videos and social media, promote the breakdown of family relationships and have become great stumbling blocks to godly living. In personal messages to many of us, the Lord admonished and encouraged us not to fear men. Although we are commanded to respect all men (1 Peter 2:17), we must not be afraid of their opinions of us, nor should we be ashamed of our convictions and our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 5:26-32).

Are You Living for God or for Your Own Pleasures?

Not too long ago, the Lord spoke to us in a vision, saying that we are hated by many Christians because of sharing His strong messages of rebuke against sin and wicked practices in the Church (John 17:14). We love doing the Lord’s work and our fear is for the Lord God alone. The Lord’s message is a strong warning against worldliness among Christians (Matthew 13:18-22; Romans 8:7).

As a ministry, the value we attach to truthful living and holiness far exceeds the luxuries of this life. While some may boast about their [temporary] power and earthly possessions, we know they are also driven by guilt and a strong fear of death. We should not value useless things above God and allow others to sway us from the path of truth; even in caring for others we must seek to please God (Matthew 7:13-14; 13:18-23). In the Book of Acts, we read about how Ananias and his wife Sapphira lost their lives as a result of greed for money and love of worldly possessions (Acts 5:1-11); what they treasured controlled them (Matthew 6:21). Using their example as a warning, we should not exchange the fear of God for anything; be it riches, power, or fame (Matthew 16:26). Instead, we should strive to faithfully and obediently serve God and allow nothing to separate us from Him (Romans 8:38-39). Like Job, we are encouraged to be wise by fearing the Lord and shunning evil (Job 1:1; 2:3; Proverbs 14:16; Ecclesiastes 12:13).

There are many Christian leaders who encourage us to “follow your heart” and “pursue your dreams.” The question we should ask ourselves is this: how do those dreams and plans in our hearts measure up to God’s will? Are those dreams only in pursuit of worldly happiness, comfort, and “success”, without the Cross of Jesus? If so, as the Lord Jesus explained in the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:16-21), your dreams are self-serving and for your own glory, and they will only inspire those who seek praise from man! In contrast, pursuing godly dreams through the cross of Jesus, despite persecution and hatred from the world, will lead to the salvation of others, resulting in glory to Christ. The Bible teaches us that Truth through the cross comes at the cost of insults, hatred and blood (Luke 6:22; John 15:18; 2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 3:16; 4:12-14; 2 Corinthians 4:8-12). Do you think any of Christ’ followers conquered the world being applauded by the masses, without insults and hatred from the world which hates the truth? (Matthew 5:11; John 15:18).

Are you struggling with sins or temptations, be they thoughts, habits, addictions, or behaviors that drive you from the fear of God? Repent and conquer them in Jesus’ name, for the power is in your possession—choice (Genesis 4:6-7) and the Lord is willing to set you free (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 8:22; 1 John 1:9; Romans 6:6-7). Is the fear of man and of persecution holding you back from fearing God, serving Him, and doing His will? The Lord Jesus can set you free if you receive Him into your heart and follow Him as your Master, Lord, and Savior (John 8:32; 36). I, therefore, urge you to “...fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods… Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:14-15 NKJV).

If you are not yet born again, please pray this Prayer of Sincere Repentance to get started. For any questions or comments on this article or our ministry, please contact us.

Have a blessed New Year in God’s fear.

Brother Glenn and Preparing for the Kingdom Ministry.

Cast Aside Your Fear Of People

“I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you should be afraid of a man who will die, and of the son of a man who will be made like grass? And you forget the Lord your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth; you have feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor when he has prepared to destroy. And where is the fury of the oppressor? (Isaiah 51:12-13)

“Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).

10 02/2025

NOTICE: PLEASE TAKE NOTE THAT THE VISIONS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED ANYTIME THE LORD GIVES US A REVELATION. PLEASE CHECK IT OUT HERE. I WAS SHOWN THAT MULTIPLE PEACE TREATIES WILL BE SIGNED THIS YEAR TO "END THE WARS" THE VOICE SAID, BUT GOD SAID HE HAS TAKEN PEACE AWAY FROM THE EARTH, FOR WARS AND DESTRUCTIONS ARE DECREED UNTIL THE END OF TIMES (DANIEL 9:26). BRETHREN, LET PRAY AND DISCERN THE TIMES TO AVOID SUDDEN DESTRUCTION (1 THESSALONIANS 5:3).

Previously, we shared a message on fearing God, in which we mentioned the fear of man as one of the factors that can hinder us from experiencing a strong relationship with the Lord. The truth is that if you don’t have reverence and fear for God, then most certainly you will live your life in fear of man and the uncertainties of life. In this week’s message, we will emphasize what the Bible teaches us about fearing man.

As the day of the Lord’s return draws near, Christians all over the world are finding themselves encircled by a permissive society that is hostile to God’s truth (2 Timothy 3:1-4; Matthew 24:12). If you don’t agree with these “modern” lifestyles and sinful behaviors, you will find yourself being looked down upon, isolated, or even being hated. We are living in the days when we have many who “call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter” (Isaiah 5:20 NIV). Additionally, we are seeing an upsurge of violence against Christian believers as Satan continues to use deceived individuals and false religions to discourage or destroy God’s children. These may seem like isolated incidents and the world’s media tries to “cover-up” or ignore the many cases where Christians are being targeted for persecution because of our faith. However, for those who are discerning the times, you will remember that the Lord Jesus forewarned us that there will come a time when we, His followers, will be “hated by all” for His name’s sake, and He encouraged us to endure to the end in order to be saved (Matthew 10:22; Mark 13:13). He also forewarned us to “stay awake at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36 ESV).

Should we be Afraid of Man?

The Lord created man to have free will, and He operates with us on the principle of choices and consequences (Deuteronomy 11:27-28; 30:15, 19; Joshua 24:15; Galatians 6:7-8). On the other hand, Satan uses force, coercion, manipulation, and other schemes and devices in order to force us to comply with his will (Job 1:13-18; Job 2:4, 7). Persecution of believers is not new; throughout the ages, Satan has used wicked men to abuse and misuse power in order to force their will on others. Children of God who stand firmly on God’s Truth have been threatened, excommunicated, insulted, abused, tortured, and persecuted in all forms, even by being put to death because of their faith (Hebrews 11:36-38).

In both the Old and New Testaments, we see righteous men being mistreated by others, for example, Abel being murdered by his brother Cain (Gen 4:4-10), Peter and John being beaten and threatened not to preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 5:28, 40), Daniel’s three friends being thrown into a fiery furnace for disobeying a king’s order to worship an idol (Daniel 3:13-20), Jeremiah being thrown into a cistern for prophesying truth (Jeremiah 38:1-6), etc. In these examples and several others, the Lord encourages us not to fear man. As human beings, naturally, we are fixated with life here on earth, but God sees from the beginning to the end, and He is the Righteous Judge who ultimately avenges the righteous (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19).

As King Saul experienced, fearing men can cause us to be rebellious and disobedient to the Lord, hence displeasing Him while losing His favor and promises (1 Samuel 15:1-3;10-11;17-24). Fear of man also causes us to be snared, trapped (Proverbs 29:25), and to carry out shameful things (Matthew 14:6-10).

Instead of fearing man, we should take courage in God’s Word and promise, and not given to the spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7). The Lord Jesus came to lay down His life for His sheep (John 10:15-17; 1 John 3:16), and He admonishes us to pray for our enemies and for those who persecute us or mistreat us (Matthew 5:44). As a result of sin, the ungodly reject the message of repentance and turning to our Lord Jesus Christ for salvation (Romans 10:16; Acts 2:38; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10), but our duty is still to love them and pray for them as the Lord commanded.

Fear of Man when Witnessing

For those of us who go out to share the gospel, there are many instances where we are threatened or kicked out of certain places and warned not to witness there. In such instances, it is important to remember that we are sharing a life-giving message, and we should therefore take courage, like Peter and John, to obey God rather than human beings (Acts 5:29). As an encouragement, some of us at times have learned to quickly walk away and leave when we see someone who seems to be walking towards us to stop us (John 10:39).

There are also times when you might feel intimidated to witness a certain person, especially if they appear to be of a higher social class. Following our Master’s example of boldly sharing the good news with the rich young ruler, we likewise are called to share without fear because the Lord Jesus is able to save all who choose to follow and obey Him (Luke 18:18-27). You may also have friends or church members who you are afraid to correct for fear of losing them. Prosperity preachers avoid rebuking sin in order to maintain members and financial offerings. However, for true children of God, it would be good to pray for deliverance from the fear of man and simply obey the Lord as He leads us to share in the love and for the sake of eternal life (Ezekiel 33:7-9). We see in the Bible that the Lord shared truth even at the departure of many of his disciples (John 6:60-66). But those who are the Lord’s will humbly accept the truth and remain in Christ (John 6:67-69), for the Lord Jesus said: “..no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them” (John 6:65).

Finally, turn away from the fear of man that you may enjoy the blessing of fearing the Lord, walking in obedience to Him (Psalm 128:1-4), trusting Him, and being kept safe (Proverbs 29:25). To begin a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, please start by praying this Prayer of Sincere Repentance. For any questions or comments on this article or our ministry, please contact us.

In Christ,

Brother Glenn

Fearing The Hidden World Of Our Hereafter

Why Are We Fearing Death

 "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14-15).


For the  past few weeks, the Lord has heavily burdened me to reflect on the spirit of death and our natural fear of it. Please read on as we are sharing that the journey of death need not be feared by any born again Christian, but yes it becomes a dreadful thing to the unsaved (John 8:24; Revelation 21:8).

As human beings, our most common fear and enemy is death (1 Corinthians 15:26). Death is experienced daily, and oftentimes it happens unexpectedly and without warning. It comes upon human life a thief (Luke 12:20). Death is like an accident; though we may expect it to happen any time, it often (if not always) catches people totally unprepared. Readiness for the event of death is best expected and celebrated if we wait for it in Christ (Philippians 1:21). Some people choose to talk about death in preparation and expectation, while many others, out of a superstitious fear of inviting it earlier, avoid any talk of death.

During one of our witnessing rounds some time ago, I shared the gospel while handing out tracts to a few young men. One of them lividly voiced his position telling me that what I talked about could not be true since I never saw Jesus, nor did I know if there was life after death. I explained to him that the message of the Bible is to be taken by faith, and if it is not taken by faith, then we would have no hope (Hebrews 10:23). Furthermore, I also shared with him that I am convinced that Christ is real and that there was life after death, while recalling some of my own experiences with the Lord, and a near death experience I had when I had breathing problems after overdosing on marijuana back in the early 1990’s (I briefly shared my testimony of deliverance from smoking in the article, Deliverance Through Jesus Christ - Part 1). After sharing my testimony with him he could not advance his argument, so he attacked the Bible, and at that point I just blessed him and encouraged him to read the tract.

At the heart of the Christian message and the gift of salvation is God’s gift of eternal life (John 3:16-18). The Lord Jesus Christ came to tell you, and all humanity, that your death is certain:” … I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance”. That is, if we would only believe and accept God’s gift (John 10:10).

Man’s Sin Leading to Death

Brethren, I know this particular subject has been thoroughly dealt with by many fine scholars and ministers of the gospel. Therefore, for the benefit of this article and considering those who never read the accounts of the fall of man from a biblical perspective we briefly relate it here.

In the Bible record of the temptation and fall of man (Genesis 3:1-24), God commanded Adam and Eve, our first ancestors, not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. After eating from the forbidden tree, Adam and Eve lost their innocence before the Lord God as guilt and shame plagued their conscience (Genesis 3:8-11). Prior to them eating from the tree, Adam and Eve enjoyed a perfect life totally with the Lord God: guilt-free, carefree and fearless (Genesis 2:15-25). As it is,after the fall this guilt, shame and fear possessed the entire human race until One from above came who was sinless, guilt free and fearless to take away our guilt and God’s anger (Isaiah 53:4; John 3:31; 1:29). "But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many" (Romans 5:15).

Therefore, man’s violation of God’s law led to death, and God’s solution was peace through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23). Through Christ, our fear of death has been absolved (John 11:25); this is the hope of all Christians who walk in fear of God daily.

The Lord Confirmed Life After Death

Last weekend my family and I attended a funeral for one of my beloved aunts. We had a close relationship; she was like a mother to me, as she helped my mother raise my sister and I when my father was in prison. So I was deeply saddened her passing. She died after suffering a stroke along with with many other internal complications. For the approximately three months that she was bed-ridden, she literally wasted away. Even though the stroke robbed her of her speech, we could still understand some of her murmuring, especially when she called names of individuals, and while begging for mercy and even death to be delivered from the suffering.

When we visited her on December 30, 2014, I asked her if I should pray for her healing. She responded by raising her right arm towards the roof while rolling her eyes upwards indicating to me that she preferred to die; she refused healing.  Later on, I sadly learned from the Lord that she did not have faith. At that point, I asked her if she wanted to accept the Lord in her life and she declined, indicating a "no" by shaking her head sideward.  During our various visits to her, I encouraged her to read her stop drinking, start reading her Bible and some of the tracts I would leave with her, forgive those who wronged her, and make her life right with God. The weeks leading to her death were marred with excessive screaming and calling of some dead people's names.

It is important to know that God gives perfect peace to those who trust in Him (Isaiah 26:3), but there is no peace or rest for the wicked (Isaiah 48:22). During my aunt's excessive screaming and calling for deceased, people, she had no peace. You may recall our testimony regarding Aunt Lily. Well, in her state of having no peace, this aunt reminded and pleaded with me to go and pray for Aunt Lily.

Before I proceeded to pray for her, I cautioned her that only the Lord decides on whether she must live or die (Luke 12:20). Since I could not pray for her healing or for her death, I asked the Lord to exercise His will and to have mercy on her. As it is, seven (7) days after praying for her, the Lord gave me a vision on January 7, 2015, that He had granted her request and that she was going to die. I was shown in a prophetic vision people gathering at her house and I heard the Lord say: “My daughter Joyce (not real name) is no longer in this life”.  The Lord confirmed this same thing to one of my daughters that very same evening in a dream.

You may note that the Lord did not say she was dead but "no longer in this life", meaning she has gone to another life. After considering this vision, I called my aunt's granddaughter on the phone and informed her of the Lord’s decision. I asked to speak to my aunt as well, telling her that death was imminent. Since she could not speak properly but murmured words, the granddaughter told me she shook her head saying she was afraid to die, while I heard her crying and sobbing. I comforted her that the Lord was on the other side waiting for her and that she needs not fear death. After praying for her, I further encouraged her to repent of her guilt and forgive those who wronged her (Luke 6:37; Matthew 6:12). Exactly twenty one (21) days after this vision we received word that she went on to the other life.

Brethren, as a family and ministry, we prayed over several weeks and asked the Lord after a three-day fast which side of the afterlife she went to (Heaven or Hell). This morning (February 16, 2015) around 5:00 AM,  I received an answer to this prayer, and this is what the Lord revealed in a short vision. In my desperation for my aunt's salvation, I had prayed every day for her deliverance, healing and salvation. The worst tragedy for any person who dies without Christ, and who never attended church or read the Bible, is that  they find it very hard to love God and to fear Him (Deuteronomy 10:12-13). This is a very dangerous position to be in! We must never underestimate the value of BIBLE READING and obedience to God's commands and instructions. These drive away sin, replacing it with a desire to obey God and do right.

Vision of My Aunt's Eternal Destiny

Given to Brother Glenn on February 16, 2015 around 5:00 AM

"I found myself standing in a very dim and untidy room with clothes and things strewn all around. Suddenly, my deceased aunt entered the room shabbily dressed and called me in Afrikaans, as was her custom, using my nickname and saying, "B...Kom, kom ek wil ook nou Bybel lees" (Come, come I also want to read Bible). When she called me, I was frightened to get closer to her, and as she got closer to me I could smell a very foul stench that I cannot explain emanating from her (Isaiah 3:24). I bent down to reach for a cardboard box in front of me, looking for a Bible to give her. After searching through the various items lying all around, I came across a Bible with a black cover, but I was not able to give it to her. The vision ended at that point."

Brethren, I was hesitant to share some of the details here, knowing that some people would label me insensitive, and some will even mock us and regard this vision as false. However, I have permission from the King of Kings and Lord of Lords to share and WARN you all. Everyone who dies without seeking His forgiveness and repenting of their sins, including mockers, unbelievers and worldly Christians, will end up in hell! While the Lord did not show me that she was literally in the flames of Hell, the vision above is confirmation that she did not make it to Heaven.

Right now. while you are still alive and well, is the time to stock up on spiritual oil for your lamps, so that you are not afraid of eternity, but are ready when the Lord Jesus returns or death calls, whichever happens earlier (Matthew 25:1-13):

"For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice: “Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, as in the day of trial in the wilderness" (Psalm 95:7-8; Hebrews 3:7-15).

Jesus Christ, Our Risen Savior, Our Hope

The Lord Jesus Christ is our eternal hope, "...who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" (2 Timothy 1:10). Even though many people today deny the resurrection of the dead and judgment, this kind of thinking is not new, and indeed even in the days of Paul there were such people (1 Corinthians 15:12). In response, Paul boldly asserted:

"But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable (1 Corinthians 15:13-19).

In Christ, not only will we be alive after death (1 Corinthians 15:22), but death itself will be destroyed (1 Corinthians 15:26), being cast eternally into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14). After death has been destroyed forever, the Lord will comfort His chosen people, removing all shame, reproach and disgrace they suffered for His name (Isaiah 25:8)—"The Lord will wipe every tear from (our) eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things (will have) passed away" (Revelation 21:4). We

Avoiding Eternal Death

The Bible message about victory over death through Christ Jesus is not fictional; it is real! (1 Corinthians 15:56-57). Your fear of death could be turned into joy if you believe and accept God’s gift and Christ’s victory over death for your freedom from it. Without the Lord Jesus, whom both the Bible and historical accounts acknowledge as having died and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:6), you would have reason to fear death. In Christ we believe in the hope of receiving eternal life; He took our guilt, and we know guilt stimulates fear, and that fear is death (1 John 4:18). The fear of the Lord and word of God is a well of life, to keep a man from death and save one from the nets of death (Proverbs 13:14; 14:27). As we continue to seek and follow the Lord faithfully, we can look forward to the following:

He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken. In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation” (Isaiah 25:8-9).

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory ”(1 Corinthians 15:54).

In conclusion, are you still afraid of death? Are you one of the few living your life holy, partaking of the heavenly calling (Hebrews 3:1) and walking on the narrow path that leads to everlasting life (Matthew 7:14); or are you among the many who embrace friendship with the world (James 4:4) and are walking on the wide highway that leads to destruction? (Matthew 7:13). Rest assured that "...the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation" (John 5:28-29).

If you would like to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and escape the snares of death, please get started by praying this Prayer of Sincere Repentance. For any questions or comments on this article or our ministry, please contact us.

Blessed grace and peace in Christ,
Brother Glenn and Preparing For the Kingdom Ministry Team.

Spirit of Fear

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15).

The online dictionary defines fear as “an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm.” Some Bible translations also use a closely related word—“timidity”—the feeling or showing a lack of courage, confidence, boldness or determination. Fear can be caused by something known, unknown, or simply not knowing what to do.

In this article, we will look at fearful situations and events in the Bible that were conquered by faith and courage. This is an important subject, therefore we deemed it important to expound on the Scriptures.

Vision of Having Faith Against Fear

A few weeks ago, on February 16, 2015, we wrote an article on the “Fear of Death”. In a short vision yesterday morning (March 22, 2015), the Lord gave me this week’s message. In the vision, I saw a note with the words “Spirit of Fear” written on it. Along with the note I was shown a terrifying demon, and I knew that the Lord was telling me not to be fearful of this creature in spite of its morbid and frightening appearance.

Additionally, I was shown another vision on Wednesday, March 11, 2015. In this vision, I saw myself visiting a town that I've never been to before, where violence and bloodshed was the order of the day. Everywhere I looked, I saw people fighting and killing one another. As I walked, a man spotted me and fear suddenly gripped my heart. I immediately started to run for my life as the man started chasing me. I was given the ability to run in the clouds as he pursued me. As I ran in the clouds, I yelled “Hallelujah! Hallelujah! If I have been forgiven, why should I fear?” I then felt a mighty wind blowing, with the Lord appearing in white and disappearing again. As the wind blew, I stopped running and stood firmly, facing my pursuer (enemy). As he got closer to me, he disappeared and then appeared briefly before finally vanishing. I was left crying with the joy of overcoming my fear. In this simple vision, the Lord is encouraging us, telling us that we should never run in fear from the enemy when we have received His forgiveness (Romans 8:1). We must face all the struggles and storms of life with faith, because He is standing ready to rescue us (Hebrews 13:5).

Naturally, we face a variety of dangers daily and most of us use survival skills that we have learned to cope or overcome some of those dangers. Often, people resort to lying, cheating and applying other deceitful or malicious ways to survive some of these human threats. Consider this example: when you are regularly late for work or school, do you not resort to fabricated excuses to make up for your delay? Or do you simply say, “Sorry I’m late again!”, without giving a valid excuse? Would such an answer not provoke immediate action against us?

Whom Should We Fear?

The Bible admonishes us not to fear man—fear that people will hurt, insult, embarrass/humiliate, ridicule/mock or reject us, or the craving to please others or receive their acceptance, validation and praise:

• “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe” (Proverbs 29:25).
• "I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies And of the son of man who is made like grass, ...” (Isaiah 51:12).
• “You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid in any man’s presence, for the judgment is God’s...” (Deuteronomy 1:17).
• “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.” (Luke 12:4)

However, in Scripture—both the Old and New Testaments—we are repeatedly encouraged to fear God alone, that is have reverence for Him, respect Him, honour Him, obey Him, submit to His authority and discipline, and worship Him. We should not fear anything or anyone one else!

• "You shall fear only the LORD your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name” (Deuteronomy 6:13).
• “You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him, and to Him you shall hold fast, and take oaths in His name” (Deuteronomy 10:20).
• “... learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully observe all the words of this law, ...that their children ... may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live ...” (Deuteronomy 31:12-13).
• “... that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever” (Joshua 4:24).
• “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord!” (Joshua 24:14).
• “Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you” (1 Samuel 12:24).
• “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints, for those who fear Him have no lack!” (Psalm 34:7-9 ESV).
• “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).
• But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him! (Luke 12:5).
• “...Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water” (Revelation 14:7).

Why is it important to fear God? Because the fear of the Lord equips us with knowledge, instruction and wisdom (Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 15:33); this not only helps us to overcome the schemes of the enemy in these last days and have a close relationship with God, but it also prepares us for heaven.

Biblical Examples of Overcoming Fear

Fear often leads us to willful sinning (Genesis 18:15), the denial of our faith in Jesus Christ or not testifying of our faith especially when under pressure (John 9:22; John 12:42). Even Peter and Barnabas fell to fear when they began to withdraw from the Gentiles for fear of the Jews (Galatians 2:12-13), but Paul powerfully rebuked and corrected him (Galatians 2:14-21).

Our Lord Jesus, knowing that death was fast approaching, wept before our Heavenly Father vehemently, resisting the spirit of fear of death and not allowing it to overwhelm Him. Remember, the Lord was tempted just as we are, and He set an example for us not to give in to fear (Matthew 26:38-45; Hebrews 4:15).

Let us recall, Moses the man of God fled Egypt to Midian because of his fear of Pharaoh after he killed an Egyptian man (Exodus 2:14-15). After being convinced by God’s power, Moses put his faith in God and obediently returned to Egypt (Exodus 3:7-17; 4:1-21). Moses’ fear of man disappeared and his faith rested in God’s power (Exodus 20:20).

Furthermore, when Paul faced trials and persecutions, he consciously set aside the fear of man and boldly stated, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13 HCSB). His faith was unshaken in the midst of death and rejection.

Similarly, we are also encouraged by the boldness of Peter and John after fleeing when the Lord was arrested; they stood their ground and declared the faith of their conviction in the resurrection and life giving sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ (Mark 14:50; Acts 3:12-16). The gospel of salvation gave them boldness and hope, delivering them from the fear of man and the sting of death (1 Corinthians 15:55).

In like manner, Stephen bravely endured martyrdom, praising the Lord while being stoned, and even forgiving and pleading for those who hated his faith in Christ as he defied death (Acts 7:51-60). This priceless and precious gospel came about by the BLOOD of the Lamb of God and the victory of our faith is eternal life (1 Peter 1:9; 1 John 2:25).

In his lifetime, King David confronted many enemies, both from within and without. He addressed fear in some of his Psalms, such as: "The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1). His answer: No one, but only the Lord! David expressed confidence in the Lord to overcome fear and gain courage and victory over his circumstances, and this encouraging message applies to us as well: "Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!" (Psalm 27:14).

Fear of Satan and Demons

Christ came to BREAK the spirit of fear and to give us a new freedom; that of truth leading to salvation: ”... He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14-15). Furthermore, Jesus asserted that when we know the truth, the truth makes us free (John 8:32), and when He makes us free, we are free indeed (John 8:36).

Before Christ’s death and resurrection, Satan exercised his power over humanity through the fear of death (Hebrews 2:15). However, after the Lord Jesus Christ was manifested, He destroyed the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). He stripped the devil and his demons, and freed humanity from every power of the enemy: “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:15). What they were left with was just to induce guilt, fear and terror- causing “tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword” (Romans 8:35-36) or to “throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation..”( Revelations 2:10). “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). And the Lord Jesus Christ encourages us not to be afraid, but to “...Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

The Lord, knowing that the devil would use fear to control and subdue the human soul, gave us faith and power over all the works of the enemy (Luke 10:19), without which we have to endure the torment of fear (1 John 4:18). That is why today and in some centuries past, those who don’t know or have Christ use death to control and demand obedience – indeed some religious sects today still threaten to (and in fact do) kill those who accept, believe and follow Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. This very same enemy, fear of death, was challenged and overcome by true soldiers of faith and followers of Christ (Daniel 3:16; Hebrews 11:35-40).

Brothers and sisters in Christ, do not be deceived! As we wrote in the “Discerning of Spirits” article last week, we need discernment through the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. There are some believers who are busy battling demons day and night, without much rest, in the name of spiritual warfare, using all kinds of strange powers and “supernatural” weapons that the Bible doesn't mention. The Bible encourages us to magnify and exalt the Lord (Psalm 34:3; Psalm 18:46; Psalm 97:9). Being involved in these kinds of beliefs where Satan and demons are magnified causes one to be in a state of constant fear, both in the real world, during prayers, at night when sleeping, and even in dreams.

The Bible says that Jesus has “delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14). The Lord has given us “authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy...” (Luke 10:19). Instead of fearing Satan, we should “submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

Fear of Others

The Bible sheds light on instances where people sinned as a result of fearing man. For example, King Saul disobeyed God’s command sparing the king of the Amalekites. Saul’s excuse was that he “feared the people and listened to their voice” (1 Samuel 15:24). The Prophet Jeremiah also gave King Zedekiah sound advice (Jeremiah 38:17-18), but King Zedekiah’s fear of the Jews (Jeremiah 38:19) eventually led him to disobey the prophet’s words and rebel against King Nebuchadnezzar. He was subsequently captured, tortured, and died in prison (Jeremiah 52:8-11).

This message comes as an encouragement to many Christians who live in fear of man. When referring to fear of man, we are certainly not encouraging lawlessness or disrespectful behavior. The values of decency and respect that we learn from the Scriptures restrain us from wicked manners (1 Peter 2:17) (see also our article on Good Manners). What we are referring to is our fear of being rejected, ridiculed and insulted by others because we are ashamed of ourselves, the way we look, and/or the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In reality, this fear or phobia has driven many Christians underground. They only resurface when they hear the voices of the fearless believers combating the spirits of doubt and faithlessness. I know countless Christians who are ashamed of the gospel. They are ashamed because they fear what others might think and say when they find out their association with Christ, as if the Lord has done something sheepishly shameful. Brethren, let me encourage you: the noble act of sacrificing His life and leaving His glory in order to grant us eternal destiny is worth celebrating and shouting Hallelujah! for the whole universe to hear and to participate (Revelations 5:9-13).

Encouragement to Overcome Fear

"You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4 NKJV). I boldly declare, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, let all Christians resist the tormenting spirit of fear and pick up the shield of faith to destroy the insults, shame and arrows of doubt that Satan uses to stifle the spread of the gospel (Ephesians 6:16).

In various messages to brethren in this ministry and around the world, the Lord has encouraged many brethren not to fear any human being, the devil or any circumstances. In some instances, I have witnessed how fear has led people to make desperate decisions, resulting in some losing their jobs, houses, children and spouses. These brethren acted on a false faith. Let me counsel you: if your faith is motivated by fear, love is absent and so is God. That move you take will fail, for faith is pure and guilt-free, and to know if it is real we must experience joy and peace and NOT FEAR (1 John 4:18; Philippians 4:7). The will of God is not burdensome; it relieves the yoke! (Matthew 11:26; 1 John 5:3)

So, why are you allowing fear and anxiety to yoke you? Shake it off and walk in your Heavenly victory! (Ephesians 2:6). Remember: “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). The Lord God is your comforter, so don’t be afraid of man, who perishes (Isaiah 51:12), but fear God alone, who says to you:

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. ...For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you” (Isaiah 41:10; 13).

Finally, please heed the wisdom of this warning: But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death (Revelation 21:8); also, "Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and shun evil" (Proverbs 3:7).

If you would like to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and be freed from fear, please get started by praying this Prayer of Sincere Repentance. As always, for any questions or comments on this article or our ministry, please contact us.

Blessed grace and a fearless heart to you in Christ’s peace,

Brother Glenn and Preparing for the Kingdom Ministry Team.