THE FEAR OF DEATH

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Today’s Reading:

Jeremiah 26:20-24

"And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men and all the princes, heard His words, the king sought to put him to death; But when Urijah heard it, he was afraid and fled, and went to Egypt" (v. 21)

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In the passage read, God instructed prophet Urijah the son of Shemaiah to prophesy against the city and the land which he did successfully. King Jehoiakim with all his mighty men including all the princes heard his words and wanted to kill him. Instead of him waiting on the Lord for the next instruction but he was afraid of death and fled to Egypt for security, forgetting that it is only the Almighty God that can preserve his life from death.

Prophet Elijah was also afraid when Jezebel sent a messenger to him in 1 Kings 19:2 “So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "May the gods deal with me, and ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like the lives of those you killed!" This man of God when to the King to say there will neither be dew nor rain for three and half years and God honoured his word. God later used him to send down fire on the altar and sacrifices filled with water which led to the killing of four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel. Because of the fear of death by Jezebel, he fled to Beersheba and God told him to anoint three people (Hazael, Jehu and Elisha) to complete the work he should have done for the Lord. ( 1Kings19:18). Fear of death will never allow a person to complete his or her assignment for the Lord. May it never be your portion in Jesus’ name (Amen).

The fear of man brings a snare: but whosoever puts his trust in the LORD shall be safe (Proverbs 29:25). The Lord will always protect, hide and shield his people who trust in Him from destruction and death. Truly, there is insecurity, joblessness, kidnapping, regular killing etc but it is only God that can hide us. When King commanded Jerahmeel, Seraiah and Shelemiah to seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet, but the Lord hid them. (Jeremiah 36:26).

Urijah was afraid of death and he was later killed. As children of God, we should not be afraid of human beings who can only kill the body but rather we should fear God who has the power to kill both the body and soul in hellfire. ( Matthew 10:28) “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”.

OLAJIDE OGUNFUWA

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Prayers:

1. I refuse to be afraid at the battlefront, in Jesus name. Amen

2. Father Lord strengthens to complete my assignment faithfully, in Jesus name.

3. I receive for every member of my family the spirit of boldness and not of fear, in Jesus name.

4. I pray for all our Church leaders, not to fear those who can kill the body but rather fear God in all their decisions, in Jesus Christ. Amen

5. God, set Nigeria free from insecurity, kidnapping, joblessness, in Jesus name.