With today’s blog, we continue with God’s commands ‘FEAR HIM, & FEAR NOT!’
As I mentioned in my previous blogs on ‘fearing not’—there was more God was doing in me—to teach me courage.
Prior to marriage, I lived alone, in a rather dangerous town. I needed to exercise after work, and during the winter months, it was dark when I got home. I didn’t always feel safe when I walked around my apartment building at night, but there appeared no good option.
However, part of my job as a probation officer for the county was to peruse police crime reports. Sometimes they reported attempted attacks upon ‘born-again’ Christian women, who used the ‘name of Jesus’ as their only weapon. And the results were always the same. By welding the ‘name of Jesus,’ the offender was held at bay and unable to operate! One victim demanded her purse back ‘in Jesus’ name.’ The fleeing thief turned on a dime, doubled back, and returned it! (I filed all these incidents away in my memory.)
Eventually, it was my turn to experience deliverance by the power of Jesus’ name—twice!
The first episode happened on a beautiful, California afternoon. I was walking around a deserted football field when a young fellow materialized. He started walking with me. We discussed his dog, I invited him to our church youth group at church, etc. All very innocent, until I started to leave. That’s when he grabbed me, had his hands all over me, and insisted I wanted him to rape me! Uh huh!
Up cropped the memory of those attacks on other Christian women. Accordingly, I ‘rebuked Satan in him,’ and ‘bound him up in Jesus’ name!’ (I expected him to drop me like a hot potato—but in truth, it took a couple of seconds before he let me go.) But he acted both dizzy and all bound up. He couldn’t move! IT HAD WORKED! I was FREE! The ‘name of Jesus’ saved me!
I then wobbled to my car: got in, locked the door, rolled down the window, and because I’m so spiritual—yelled out, “You’re CRAZY!”
That was the first incident.
The second happened many years later, across the ocean in W. Malaysia, at my in-laws’ house. I was borrowing my Sis-in-law’s expensive Mercedes, in order to teach that Sunday morning at a Burmese church, in the interior of Kuala Lumpur.
Once inside the car, I opened the driveway gate. When I heard the pounding of feet, I knew I was in trouble. (That neighborhood was famous for what was about to happen.) After yanking open the two car doors on my driver’s side, two masked men with weapons hollered for me to get out of the car. I hollered back: ‘I rebuke you in Jesus’ name! I rebuke you in Jesus’ name!’ And I stayed put.
The enraged thief next to me put his machete to my throat and—from the fury in his eyes—would have sliced it open, but he couldn’t! So he made two deep gashes above my head in the window frame. I then turned around to the gangster behind me and ‘rebuked Satan’ in him. He brought his baseball club down on my head, but missed . . . though less than 2 feet away! Shortly, they gave up and ran off—having gained nothing of value. Actually, there’s a lot more to this story, but I’m sure you get my point.
Between those two incidents, my aged Mom was also attacked.
My 65-year-old Mom was walking alone in a wooded area, far from home. She was assaulted suddenly by a migrant worker, attempting rape. She screamed—which goaded him to choke her—so she lay still. Nevertheless, she began praying ‘Jesus, Jesus’—out loud. The laborer reacted with shock. “Are you a Christian?” “Yes!” “Oh, I’m sorry; I’m sorry!” He got up immediately, brushed her off, and ran into the woods.
In John 17:11, Jesus prays: “Holy Father, keep them safe by the power of Your name, the name You gave Me.” (GNT)
Again, ‘the name of Jesus’ saved!
So to recap—in this blog series on ‘FEAR NOT’–I’ve discussed the two things God commands about fear. I also reviewed why Jesus’ disciples got scolded by Him during the violent storm, how the Lord spoke His Word to me, rebuking my fear; how Jesus’ name kept me from possible rape, theft and death, and lastly—how Jesus’ name also defended my mother from rape.
QUESTIONS:
- Do you see how the Lord has made several provisions for us to FEAR NOT? Not only is His presence always with us, but here we see His mighty power for rescue / protection—by invoking the ‘name of Jesus.’
- Have you, yourself, ever used the ‘name of Jesus’ to rescue yourself (or anyone else) from harm? And if so, what were the results? (Share in my comments section.)
ACTION POINT: If you have never used the ‘name of Jesus’ for delivering yourself from danger or fear, may I recommend that you try it the next time you are (or sense you are) in danger? (Please share the results in my comments section.)