Overcoming the Spirit of Terrorism

The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul provides a very important and often quoted admonition in his second epistle to young Timothy. In it he profoundly declares, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16-17)

This eternal Truth provides the key in our ongoing battle to defeat the “spirit of terrorism” and the spiritual forces of darkness attempting to hinder the birthing of God’s Kingdom purposes in our nation and the nations of the earth.

TERRORISM DEFINED

Terrorism is defined as the real or threatened use of force or violence to coerce, control or command others for the purpose of accomplishing a certain agenda. In other words, using fear, threats and intimidation to change or obstruct certain behavior or beliefs. This makes terrorism a spiritual battle. Therefore, we look to the Scriptures for the strategy and authority to defeat this enemy.

THE “SPIRIT OF TERRORISM” IN BIBLICAL HISTORY

We can easily discover the “spirit of terrorism” at work throughout Biblical history, although identified by different labels. In Job 1:11 we discover Satan plotting to use intimation and violence against this great Patriarch in hopes of destroying his righteous walk with God. Likewise, we find many of the saints of old who yielded their lives to martyrdom in their struggle against this prevailing enemy.

Perhaps one of the clearest examples of the rise and defeat of the “spirit of intimidation” can be found in the book of Daniel during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar and then again under the leadership of King Darius. In both cases, we can detect this spirit attempting to shroud the land in fear to manipulate and control the behavior of the people.

Dan 3:4-5— Then the herald loudly proclaimed: “To you the command is given, O peoples, nations and men of every language, that at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up.

Dan 6:6-7— Then these commissioners and satraps came by agreement to the king and spoke to him as follows: “King Darius, live forever! All the commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the high officials and the governors have consulted together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall be cast into the lions’ den.

RESOLUTION TO FAITH RATHER THAN FEAR

In both cases, as with that of Job and the Martyrs, the keys to withstanding and defeating the “spirit of terrorism” are found in the reactions of Godly men with a resolution to faith rather than fear.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego came face to face with this demonic influence as illustrated in Daniel 3:15. The lives of these men were not just “affected” by this evil occurring in the land, they were “confronted” with terrorism. It was one thing for them to proclaim “In God We Trust” but the proof to the world of His being a “trust-worthy” God came only in the fire. To compromise their beliefs because of fear would have alleviated their fiery trial and made things easier… it would have also empowered the “spirit of terrorism.”

The same is true of the Prophet Daniel, the one whom the scriptures describe as a man highly esteemed. Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously. (Dan 6:10)

FUEL FOR OUR DELIVERANCE

Concession to the decrees and plots of men certainly would have provided the greatest peace for Daniel and the path of least resistance. Likewise, it would have empowered the very spirit of darkness that demands compromise to fulfill its agenda. Thankfully, as it is with God, the things that the Devil meant for the destruction of God’s people will be used as fuel for their deliverance.

Ezek 39:9-10— Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and bucklers, the bows and arrows, the javelins and spears; and they will make fires with them for seven years. They will not take wood from the field nor cut down any from the forests, because they will make fires with the weapons; and they will plunder those who plundered them, and pillage those who pillaged them,” says the Lord GOD.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego came to the place where they had to prove that their God was the Most High God and able to deliver them from the hands of their enemies. Nonetheless, it was also their resolve that He was worth dying for if that was indeed their destiny. The enemy called them on their confession (claim) and they were thrown into the fire. Not just any fire (circumstance), one seven times hotter (worse) than any normal one.

It is their responses to the threat and reality of terrorism that provides us with keys to victory in our struggle. The enemies zeal to destroy these three faithful men of God caused the King to command the fire to be so intense that it actually destroyed their executioners. (Dan 3;22)

Through faith and prayer, the very circumstance the enemy has devised for our destruction can be turned and utilized in victory against him. The enemy has designed a way to put us in a furnace. For some, it’s a circumstance family or business; for others it may be sickness or disease; for some it could be finances. All are conditions fashioned by the enemy to manipulate us to a place of compromise by abandoning the Word and will of God for our life. By remaining in faith and knowing the victory of an “overcomer,” these areas will be the very weapons of strength we may use to defeat the kingdom of darkness.

FREEDOM FROM SHACKLES

These same spiritual principles apply in our national contention with radical Islam and our battle with terror. The “spirit of terrorism” conceives conditions to cause us as a nation to resist standing on convictions of righteousness and abandon our support of God’s covenant land, Israel. Our Lord will not only use the furnace to defeat this spirit, thankfully, He will also use it to consume the means the enemy used to get us there. The very bonds and shackles by which the enemy constrained the men of God were consumed in the fire of the furnace. (Dan 3:25)

Freedom from the strongholds, addictions, compulsions and sins which so easily beset us, oftentimes come as a result of the fire, not from avoiding it. We realize from the scriptures that being in the fire (circumstance) did not hinder the walk of these men but liberated them.

Dan 3:25-27— He said, “Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!”

Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace of blazing fire; he responded and said, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, come out, you servants of the Most High God, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego came out of the midst of the fire.

The satraps, the prefects, the governors and the king’s high officials gathered around and saw in regard to these men that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men nor was the hair of their head singed, nor were their trousers damaged, nor had the smell of fire even come upon them.

AN OPEN DOOR

The fire was their open door to the spiritual arena and a close encounter of the God kind. The
Fourth Man that appeared with them was the evidence of divine protection, revelation and perspective that comes from walking and living in the spiritual realm.

Advancing through the fire brought great promotion.(Dan 3:30) It also promoted the Kingdom of Heaven as well. As wonderful as the benefits were to them individually and corporately, the effects on the world and the spirit of terrorism were kingdom size.

Nebucadnezzar and his entire nation discerned which Spirit truly deserved worship. They witnessed the claims of these men of God while in the hand of their enemies. Their faith in God was based on who God is, not on where they were. That resolve to faith defeats all the power of the enemy.

God’s men surviving the fire answered the arrogant question of the “spirit of Terrorism”…If it be so our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. (Dan 3:17-18)

AN END-TIME ENCOUNTER

The “spirit of terrorism and fear” lost authority and power in Babylon because of this encounter. Defeated, but not gone, it was again given authority in the court of King Darius. Once again, Daniel’s non-compromising, unwavering faith in God provided the same circumstance for the defeat of this Spirit. Like his friends, Daniel feared compromise and its consequences more than the edicts of men.

Daniel’s right response displaying God’s faithfulness brought about this notable concession of the King…”I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to
fear and tremble before the God of Daniel.” Daniel 6:26

The fall of the spirit of Terrorism in yet another kingdom. The demonstration of these same sound spiritual principles provide the keys in every other successful encounter with the spirit of terrorism, intimidation and fear that would seek to alter or change our faithfulness to the Lord. The fear of the Lord is mutually exclusive with every other fear.

To possess the fear of the Lord is to shield one’s self from the curse of all other fear. It is the manifestation of Isaiah 11:2 in the lives of these men of God that not only gave them great wisdom and understanding, counsel, strength, and knowledge, but imparted to them the fear of the Lord. This empowered them in the face of adversity, making them victors instead of victims. In the admonition of our Lord “And do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Matthew 10:28

The “spirit of terrorism” now works to undermine the Word and will of God concerning Israel, America and our individual Churches and families. It is imperative that we learn from our Scriptural heritage the blueprint and keys to victory in defeating this foe. To aggressively pursue the manifestation of Isaiah 11:2, is to prepare ourselves for what is destined to be one of the great battles that will characterize this end-time generation.