The real battle we are fighting is against fear. Evil people want to control the world through fear. As one of our great President of war once said, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself." To the degree that fear controls our actions, that is  the degree to which fear has become our lord.

The devil uses fear to control people in the way the Lord uses faith. That is why terrorism and tyranny always work together. Satan dwells in darkness because the light destroys his power. Truth sets us free from the tyranny and oppression of the devil. When we begin to recognize fear as the work of the devil, we begin to recognize the true nature of the enemy and his intentions. Our goal is to "Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). We submit to God by living by faith, and we resist the devil by refusing to let his fears control us and take the place of our faith in God.

Several years ago we began having conferences in Jacksonville, Florida because it had been revealed to me that an evil principality over that region was "irrational fear." I was shown this when I was flying a plane over Jacksonville on my way to South Florida and was suddenly hit by a gripping fear that I was going to fall out of the airplane (which was impossible).  Even though I could not remember ever feeling anything like that before, I went on and forgot about it. On my way back it hit me again right over Jacksonville. I then asked the Lord what had happened.  He spoke to me immediately and explained that I had been assaulted by a ruling spiritual principality over that region.

When I shared this with Paul Zink, pastor of New Life Christian Fellowship in Jacksonville, he seemed stunned, and then began to tell me stories of how irrational fear had been a serious problem for himself and the other churches in the region. So we decided to hold one of our Worship & Warfare Conferences in Jacksonville to reveal this irrational fear and impart faith to the believers in that city. We knew then that this battle against fear was going to be one of the ultimate battles in the last days because the Scriptures are clear about it.

As we are told in Luke 21:26, there will be "men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world." However, this should not be the case with Christians. The promise of the Lord to us is:

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to
you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful" (John 14:27).

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you
have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7).

 During the first conference that we held in Jacksonville, I asked how many people had been subject to "panic attacks." We were all amazed when more than a third of the people raised their hands. Two years later when we were back I asked this same question and there were not more than a handful of people who were having them. What was the difference?

Our main strategy against this irrational fear was to first expose it, and then replace it with vision and purpose. Once an evil stronghold is exposed, the devil  begins to lose his power. Truth will set his captives free. However, as the Lord explained in Matthew 12:43-45, when a devil is cast out it will always try to return, and if it can, will be even stronger than before. Fear must be replaced by faith.

During this time when the devil is obviously trying to dominate the world by fear, we must resist him, not just by determining that we will not live by fear, but let us resolve to grow much stronger in faith. Because America has obviously become the main target for this fear, the American church should especially resolve to grow much stronger in our faith in God. Think on the following Scripture in Luke 1:68-79 that declares the very purpose for which the Lord Jesus was sent to earth:

"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited us and accomplished
redemption for His people,

And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David His servant --

As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old --

Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us;

To show mercy toward our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant,

The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,

To grant us that we, being delivered 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;

To give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins,

Because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the sunrise from on high
shall visit us,

To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet
into the way of peace." (Luke 1:68-79)