MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2025

When Fear Knocks, Let Faith Answer: The Divine Strategy for Silence and Victory

Author: Pastor E. A. Adeboye

MESSAGE: HANDLING THREATS

Life on earth is synonymous with warfare. As believers, we are guaranteed the victory, but we are not promised a life without battles. At one point or another, we will face opposition, intimidation, and direct threats—from sickness, financial ruin, destiny hijackers, or spiritual adversaries. The way a Christian responds to a threat is the ultimate test of their faith.

The devil is a bully, and like all bullies, he does not like being confronted. When a threat comes, the natural human response is to fidget, panic, or hide. But for the child of God, a threat is not a signal to retreat; it is a divine summons to pray and engage the power of a higher authority.

Our guiding principle is found in the promise of the Lord: “Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.” (Isaiah 41:11). The enemy’s threat is the prelude to their shame.

1. The Apostolic Response: Prayer for Boldness

The book of Acts provides the blueprint for handling threats directly aimed at the work of God. In Acts 4:1-31, the apostles faced the highest human authority—the chief priests and elders—who commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus again. This was a severe, life-threatening ultimatum.

The Threat: Complete cessation of their God-given ministry.
The Response: Did they start to fidget, hide, or compromise? No. They gathered together to pray. Their prayer was not for safety or comfort; it was for courage and power to continue the work. They prayed, “Now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word.” (Acts 4:29, NKJV).
The Result: As they prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31).

If someone threatens you for doing the will of God, that is not the time to start fidgeting or hiding; that is the time to pray for a fresh anointing and renewed boldness to continue your assignment. A divine confrontation is a divine acceleration.

2. The Jehoshaphat Strategy: Turning Fear into Faith

Our Bible reading in 2 Chronicles 20:1-30 presents a classic, comprehensive case study in handling existential threats. King Jehoshaphat faced an overwhelming crisis: three great enemy nations—the children of Moab, Ammon, and Mount Seir—came against him with a great multitude.

A. The Trigger: Fear Leads to Focus (Verses 1-13)

Fear Acknowledged: When Jehoshaphat heard the news, he feared. This is the honest, human reaction to a threat that exceeds your ability to handle.
Focus Chosen: Critically, his fear did not lead to panic; it led him to set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah (Verse 3). A true leader knows that when human might fails, divine help is the only recourse.
The Prayer of Remembrance: Jehoshaphat’s prayer was a masterpiece of faith. He did not beg God; he reminded God of His track record and His covenant. He affirmed God’s sovereignty: “O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms… is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?” (Verse 6).
The Confession of Helplessness: He concluded with the most powerful confession of faith: “…for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.” (Verse 12). When you know what to do, you rely on yourself; when you are completely dependent, you rely on God alone.

B. The Divine Counsel: The Battle is God’s (Verses 14-17)

God responded instantly through the prophet Jahaziel: “Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not your’s, but God’s.” (Verse 15).

God gave them a detailed, counter-intuitive strategy:

Position Yourselves: Go down against the enemy at the cliff of Ziz (know your location).
Stand Still: “Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you.” (Verse 17).

The divine strategy for this threat was total non-involvement in the fighting and total reliance on God’s intervention.

C. The Execution: The Weapon of Praise (Verses 18-24)

Jehoshaphat’s response to the word was immediate: he bowed his head and worshipped. The Levites stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high (Verse 19).

The King and his council then consulted and appointed singers unto the LORD to go out before the army, praising “the beauty of holiness” and saying, “Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.” (Verse 21).

The miracle happened when the music started: “And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir… and they were smitten.” (Verse 22).

The enemies turned on each other: “…the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them… every one helped to destroy another.” (Verse 23). God silenced the threats of the enemies without Jehoshaphat having to lift a sword.

D. The Victory: Spoils and Rest (Verses 25-30)

Abundant Spoils: Judah came to the watchtower and saw the dead bodies fallen to the earth; none escaped. They found so much spoil—riches and precious jewels—that they spent three days gathering it! (Verse 25). The threat was turned into an unprecedented transfer of wealth.
The Valley of Blessing: On the fourth day, they assembled in the place they named the Valley of Berachah (Blessing), and the kingdom found rest round about (Verse 30).

In the name above every other name, my Daddy will arise to silence every threat of the enemy against your life and destiny, turning your battleground into a valley of blessing, in Jesus’ name.

3. The God Who is Stronger Than the Strongest

The principle is timeless: when the enemy threatens, respond with faith, prayer, and praise. Never let the threat paralyze you; let it propel you to the throne of grace.

I recall the story of a woman who came to me, shaking badly. Her enemies had issued a terrible, diabolical threat concerning her pregnant daughter: “We will see where she will deliver – whether on the ground or in the air. We will use every diabolical means to ensure she never gives birth.” The woman was frightened, but I assured her, “Fear not! Your daughter will deliver safely.”

When she asked how I could be so sure, I replied, “Because the Lord of Hosts will fight for you.” Indeed, the Lord fought for her, and she delivered safely, putting the enemy to shame.

Beloved, I know a God who is stronger than the strongest. He can handle every threat that comes your way, whether it’s a threat to your health, your marriage, your career, or your very life. When the enemy threatens you, do not be afraid. Instead, put your trust in God because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4). Your fear gives the enemy authority; your faith gives God the stage.

PRAYER POINT

Father, please arise and silence every threat of the enemy against my family and destiny, turning my battles into abundant blessings, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

MARK 1-3

HYMNAL: 27 – WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS

1 What a Friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry