The following is an encouraging word from Paul Keith Davis from earlier last month. I was blessed by this word and wanted to share it with you all. Pay special attention to his words about the spirit of fear. I have been seeing this spirit trying to work more and more in the last few months. Our enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. During this season he is using fear to rob our blessings from us. In addition, he is using this fear to divide the body. We must be aware of the enemy's strategies so that we may combat them. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against the powers and principalities.
Paul Keith Davis: "Our Consolation During Times of Darkness"
Jun 8, 2009
Historically times of spiritual darkness in the world also mark a time of incredible opportunity to develop intimate relationship with the Lord as "friend." Those who embrace this opportunity will be known as "disciples" (instructed ones) and partakers of His divine nature. It is through His Holy character that divine power is granted to us that provides everything we need "pertaining to life and Godliness."
The Scripture points out we have received His precious and magnificent promises by which we become partakers of His divine nature having escaped the corruption of this world and its lusts:
"Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and Godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust."—2 Peter 1:3-4
A friend is known as a close companion or comrade; those having a reciprocal relationship or mutual exchange one with another. According to Exodus 33:11, the Lord spoke to Moses face-to-face as a friend speaks to a friend! The Lord's friends can also be trusted. We must come to a place of trustworthy stewardship of His revelation and His glory. The apostle Paul admonishes us in I Corinthians 4:1-2 to not only become carriers of the mysteries and power of God, but to also be trustworthy stewards.
The friends of the Bridegroom assist in the planning and arranging of the soon coming marriage. The Lord must be able to trust His friends with His power and this divine message that is going to be delivered to His people for this purpose. Those who are mature and virtuous will perceive this to be a season of visitation and camaraderie with the Lord. Even with storms raging all around us we can say, "all is well with my soul... as long as Jesus is my friend." These will not care anything about the famine, the pestilence and the storms as long as they have Jesus for their friend.
Restoration and Recovery
The friends of Christ will initiate a season of spiritual and natural restoration.
"Return to the stronghold, O prisoners who have the hope; this very day I am declaring that I will restore double to you. For I will bend Judah as My bow, I will fill the bow with Ephraim. And I will stir up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece; and I will make you like a warrior's sword." —Zechariah 9:12-13
Our enemy, whose desire is to steal, kill and destroy, has successfully plundered the inheritance of God's people throughout the centuries. Nevertheless, divine justice requires recompense. This includes not only our spiritual heritage but also natural resources rightfully belonging to God's people. This will be a major source of resolution for the Church during economic crisis.
Past relationships that the devil has destroyed will also begin to be reconciled. Relationships destroyed by rumors, gossip, and propaganda will supernaturally be mended by the Lord if we petition Heaven through prayer and supplication. This is something important to the Lord that we must contend for.
The restorer of the breach will recondition us by the Spirit of Truth and a new wall of protection will be constructed to surround the Bride of Christ. The Lord is the restorer of the breach and the repairer of the broken walls. He is the restorer of former streets and dwellings and the One who un-stops old wells. According to Isaiah 58:12:
"And those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will raise up the age old foundations; and you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell."
The Lord's ultimate desire for His people is to restore and renew the breach between Heaven and earth and impart to them a spirit of valor and courage; then we will carry the battle to the enemy gates and plunder his camp by aiding and directing those who once failed to find their rightful place in the Body of Christ. We will begin to find those of our brethren living in fear and seclusion and rejuvenate them into a new walk with Christ.
Overcoming Fear
Many people are experiencing fear on multiple levels. Fear of failure imprisons countless Christians by inhibiting them from exercising their spiritual gifts and walking in obedience to the Holy Spirit. Others are overcome with feelings of dread concerning their marriage and/or the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of their children. Still others are struggling with insecurity concerning their financial well-being and future. All of these are legitimate concerns that we can and must transfer to the Lord for His care and oversight. 1 Peter 5:6-7 declares:
"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you."
Several years ago I wrote an article with Bob Jones derived from an experience he had with the Lord showing our anointing to deal with the "spirit of fear." The revelation portrayed and typified our spiritual adversaries by "Goliath," and like David, the young champion of Israel, God's people were being anointed to deal with the relevant issues of our generation with hearts of valor.
Clearly, spiritual giants are once again raising their ugly heads in a desperate attempt to keep God's people from our promises. Even so, impartation of grace and favor will see us through with the emergence of some of the greatest champions the Church has ever seen.
In this experience Bob was shown that one of the "Goliaths" of the last day generation is the spirit of fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 promises:
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
Fear is defined as, an emotion characterized by alarm, anxiety and tension, often caused by an expectation of danger or pain; it is a dread birthed through anxiety and tension, whether real or imagined, producing timidity and fearfulness.
The "spirit of fear" is a form of bondage and spiritual slavery. It is a ruthless taskmaster attempting to steal the seeds of destiny and purposes being awakened within the hearts of God's people. The Lord knew us before the foundation of the world. Those who belong to Him were in Him before creation was fashioned. He foreknew all who would desperately search for Him and to those He deposited divine seeds of Kingdom design and destiny. Those seeds are now being awakened and activated within many and it is our adversaries determined desire to prohibit that from coming into full fruition. We are on the threshold of another "Great Awakening."
The Debilitating Fruit of Fear
In these revelations, we were shown that there are many debilitating spirits that feed off of fear that will circumvent our calling and destiny. Awareness of this plot is mandatory so that we can embrace God's provision to overcome.
The first revealed fruit of fear was insanity and mental instability. The desire of the adversary is to create such fear in the hearts of people that he would actually cause impairment in our thinking that opens the door to various forms of delusion, depression and anxiety.
Insanity is birthed from a root of fear. A lack of sound judgment provides options that we would ordinarily shun or not even consider, such as drugs and alcohol. This is just one expression of "spiritual insanity." There can be many including unhealthy relationships, financial irresponsibility or the excessive pursuit of entertainment or the squandering of precious time that we need to redeem for His Kingdom.
The second spirit accompanying the spirit of fear was fear of sickness and infirmity. It is the plan of our adversary to create such insecurity and anxiety involving reports of sickness and disease that we would not pursue our divine destiny and heavenly purpose with determination and faith. This could certainly be the case with the numerous outbreaks of the bird flu, swine flu and other epidemics. The Church will come to know more ardently that by His stripes we are healed and greater is He within us than he that is in the world.
The final adversary revealed in the experience birthed out of the spirit of fear was fear of financial failure. Clearly, our nation is experiencing notable financial difficulties. Economic analysts and experts have openly acknowledged that this downfall is further fueled by public fear and misconceptions.
That instability has also been facilitated by reports of corporate abuse and unscrupulous business leaders and poor political decisions. We believe it is still the Lord's intent to use our nation to help facilitate the birthing of divine purposes and stand in strong support of Israel. Clearly, there are issues of repentance and a return to righteousness that must be realized within the Church which will release times of refreshing from His Presence (see Acts 3:19).
The Enemy's Plans
Unresolved fear will give place to one or all three companions that travel with it. These spirits attempt to defile the righteous and hinder the Church from entering her place of anointing and fruitfulness.
The first step in overcoming the designs of the enemy is to bring them out darkness and obscurity into light. The enemy hates for his plans to be exposed. This was explicitly demonstrated in 2 Kings 6:11-12. By obtaining a clear comprehension of his schemes we are more amply able to fortify ourselves through the Word of Truth and appropriate it through prayer and proclamation.
When Israel heard Goliath they trembled and when they saw him they fled. This analogy is given to portray our adversaries plan and purpose. It is the grace of God to allow us to understand these things so that we can take our position through faith and prayer to overcome.
"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.' The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together."—Romans 8:15-17
Champions in the Order of David
There will be a company of people who arise from the wilderness having conquered the "lion" and the "bear" with confidence in God's anointing and willingness to overcome His enemies. The future "Davids" will be both worshipers and warriors who have discovered the Lord's voice in the wilderness.
The spirit of fear functions as captain of satan's host. Like David, we are insufficient in our own strength to overtake this adversary. However, we do not come in our own name nor in our strength but in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom he has taunted (see 1 Samuel 17:45).
The Smooth Stone of Apostolic Authority
When we function in God's government through genuine apostolic authority, we will then destroy this antagonist and plunder the enemy's camp. David was able to bravely stand before "Goliath" because he knew his promise and to Whom he belonged.
Likewise, he recognized the seed of corruption and ungodliness from which Goliath came. The clear distinctions between the two are going to become apparent in the coming season. No longer will the line be blurred separating those who belong to the Lord Jesus and those who have yielded to ungodliness and corruption.
"To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS."—Luke 1:74-76
There is presently a challenge coming to the forefront to confront the intimidations and trepidations many are experiencing concerning their ministries, health, finances and families.
Although the brothers of David witnessed the anointing oil poured upon him by the prophet Samuel, yet they were the very ones who chastised David for his willingness to confront the champion of the enemy army. Nonetheless, that did not deter him from fulfilling his destiny and demonstrating the Lord's victory.
We cannot allow the chastisement from within our own camp to hinder us from this commission and purpose. The demonstration of the Lord's mantle as Warrior and Captain of the Heavenly Host will overcome "Goliath" and release the armies of God to plunder the camp of the enemy. Many of our brethren are held captive by the forces of the adversary. It is the Lords desire and intent to free them. Hebrews 12:28-29 declares:
"Therefore, since we are receiving a Kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire."
Presently, we are being given a choice—Faith or Fear. Faith works through love but anger and disillusionment is the offspring of fear.
Paul Keith and Wanda Davis
WhiteDove Ministries
Email: inquiries@whitedoveministries.org
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