Dealing with Worry

By Arthur J Licursi

The Bible tells us Satan, that "old Serpent," was defeated at Calvary and his headship over the world of humanity was powerfully dealt with. Hebrews 2:14 says that our Savior, by His death, "destroyed" him who "holds the power of death." We know from the word of God that the Devil himself is not actually "destroyed," because he will only later, at the end of the ages, will be "cast into the lake of fire" (Rev 20:10). 

How can we explain this apparent contradiction? Is the Devil destroyed or not?

Doctors in the western USA treat a large number of patients each year suffering from bites of rattle snakes that were thought to be dead. Sometimes the snakes had their heads cutoff; but, the snake head retains a reflex action. One study showed that snake heads could still make striking-type motions up to sixty minutes after decapitation. The Devil is such a similar serpent.

We need to recognize that the word "destroy" in "destroy him that has the power of death... the devil" (Heb 2:14) is the Greek word "kartargeo," meaning "to be made of no effect." The Devil's power has in fact of truth been judged and crushed... but his full sentence will not be carried out until the end of the ages. Now, since the cross, the Devil's power today has been "made of no effect" toward the believing Christian who then endures all things by continuing to trust in Christ as his ever-present indwelling consolation and as his guarantee of eternal security.

Satan, the Devils name as "the adversary," can still bring distress to the born-again by poisoning their minds with his lies. He can easily attack believers with his "firey darts," (lying thoughts) that may be interjected into their minds. Believers are vulnerable to these lying thoughts if they don't know or don't trust the truth of their eternally secure relationship with Christ. We have the eternal security of Christ's life... within us right now, and forever. True believers have no "fear of death" because they know the Devil has been disarmed of his power over them and the Lord holds their destiny in His loving hands, always working for our eternal good through "all things."

Worrisome fear usually involves speculation on the future. It can cause Christians anguish. If we don't know the truth our security in Christ or don't really trust Him and His provision for us; we're then viewing the future as if we were without Christ's provision for us.

Paul plainly says we wrestle with "the Spirit Forces of Wickedness" not with " with flesh and blood." We know the spirits behind séance, necromancy, and palm reading can speak lying thoughts into ones mind. The same lying spirits can tempt us with lying thoughts of the future. Paul here below calls these lying thoughts "firey darts" (v16 below), which may be fearful thoughts that may be adopted by those who do not know how to deal with them. Paul says the answer to the Satan's "firey darts" is to "quench" them by continuing in genuine "faith" in the Lord, trusting the truth and His love, whatever may come.

¹¹ Put On God's Whole Armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. ¹² For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the Spirit Forces Of Wickedness In The Heavenly (Supernatural) Sphere. ¹³ Therefore Put On God's Complete Armor, That You May Be Able To Resist And Stand Your Ground On The Evil Day [Of Danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]. ¹⁴ Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God, ¹⁵ And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace. ¹⁶ Lift up over all the [covering] shield of FAITH, UPON WHICH YOU CAN QUENCH ALL THE FIREY DARTS (flaming Missiles) OF THE WICKED [ONE]. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation and the SWORD THAT THE SPIRIT wields, which is THE WORD OF GOD. Ephesians 6:11-17 (AMP)

Many believers are unaware that they are being under attack in their mind. Satan can be very subtle. The lie is that they think such thoughts are "just me." Satan's devices take on many forms but "worry" is one that he uses quite effectively. When we're tempted with worrisome thoughts, at first we may resort to our old way of living by self-reliance; we mull it over and try to reason our way to a solution, as if we were without Christ. But there is no peace in this. If the enemy can distract us from the truth of our security in Christ, he can hinder our awareness of our secure position in the Lord. Actually, we should simply turn out heart to the Lord in trusting prayer to let Him console us as He leads us through whatever situation and circumstance we may face.

“Be careful (Gk., merimnao, anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. ⁷ And The Peace of God, which passeth all understanding, Shall Keep Your Hearts and Minds through Christ Jesus.” Phili. 4:6-7

Notice in verse 7 (above) that the answer to our "prayer" (v6) is not that we  get what we want materially, medically, or relationally, but rather to arrive at "the peace of God," by which we can endure all things. Christ in us "is our peace" and He is always close at hand. If we trustingly take His hand we will enjoy the "peace of God" that is ever-present with us and we can endure all things. Those who learn to "endure (suffer)" will one day "reign with Christ" (2Tim 2:12) in the heavenly abode of "our citizenship" (Philip 3:20-21).

The Greek word for "careful,” merimnao, means to "be anxious' for nothing." Paul says, “Be careful (anxious) for nothing” (Philip 4:6, above), meaning, “Don’t worry about anything.” Worry will tear us apart both emotionally and physically. Christ, as your peace, is in "the present."

Lao Tzu once said; if your depressed your living in the past; if your anxious your living in the future, and if your at peace your living in the present. Most of us struggle with worry to one degree or another. Worry almost always dwells on thoughts of the future, regarding what may or may not happen. We mull over worst-case scenarios. Yet Christ is found only in the present as the eternal "I am" who is so close at hand... within every believer.

Since that dreadful day of Adam's fall, man’s life has been a constant struggle. Everything tends to go wrong rather than right. Each has his share of trouble, sorrow, sickness and then — death, the greatest humiliation of all, when in sickness and pain, or at best in utter weakness, he must give up this life itself.

In the light of inevitable troubles of life we all face, as Jesus promised, how is it that a Christian can overcome anxiety and worry? Is this fact of sin and the fall that God has so graciously provided for in Christ? Yes, He took all the suffering and shame, paid all the penalty for our sins, and then rose from the dead so that we might rejoice in the hope, the eager anticipation, of glory to come! Peter wrote; "[He] hath begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” I Pet. 1:3

The answer, as Jesus said, is that we'll have troubles but that He has "overcome the world (depriving it of its power)" (John 16:33 below).

³³ I have told you these things, so that In Me You May Have [Perfect] Peace and Confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I Have Deprived It Of Power To Harm You And Have Conquered It For You.] John 16:33 (AMP)

¹⁴ Since, therefore, [these His] children share in flesh and blood [in the physical nature of human beings], He [Christ Himself] in a similar manner partook of the same [nature], that By [Going Through] Death He Might Bring To Nought And Make Of No Effect Him Who Had The Power Of Death—That Is, The Devil— ¹⁵ (so) that He (Christ) Might Deliver And Completely Set Free All Those Who Through The [Haunting] Fear Of Death Were Held In Bondage Throughout The Whole Course Of Their Lives. Heb 2:14-15 (AMP)

Christ has disarmed "the world" and its god, the Devil, of its power over us by giving us His eternal life... and He has "sealed" us securely (Eph 1:13) by dispensing His eternal Holy "Spirit of life" into our spirit. There's nothing for us to fear. The fact is that no person can well deal with this life until they've received salvation in Christ in truth, and His power to deal with their thoughts of their life on earth in full confidence... without fear of death.

Paul in fact writes of the truth of the promised Rapture of the members of "the body of Christ" (1Thes 4:15-18) to "dwell eternal in the heavens" (2Cor 5:1b) as a source of "comfort." Only such knowledgeable staunchly believing Christians have the means to "comfort one another." (1Thes 4:18). Believers can count on the eternal "blessed hope" of their destiny to be with the Lord in heaven with confident expectation. We look to our eternal end... in confidence.

¹³Awaiting and looking for the [fulfillment, the realization of our] BLESSED HOPE, even the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus, Titus 2:13 (AMP) ¹⁶ the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: the dead in Christ shall rise first: ¹⁷ Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 1Thes 4:16-18

Isaiah wrote: ³ You (Lord) Will Guard Him And Keep Him In Perfect And Constant Peace Whose Mind [Both Its Inclination And Its Character] Is Stayed On You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and Hopes Confidently In You. ⁴ So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages]. Isaiah 26:3-4 (AMP)

When we worry we are on the Satan's turf, our mind is "set" in the wrong place. The Apostle Paul advised the believers in Rome as to how to "think" and where to "set their mind."

⁵ For those who are according to (those who live by) the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires Set Their Minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit Set Their Minds On and seek those Things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit.
⁶ Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is Life and [soul] Peace [both now and forever]. Romans 8:5-6 (AMP)

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, Think On These Things. Philippians 4:8

² Set Your Affection On Things Above (the heavenlies), not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:2

Paul wrote; ⁵ Let this mind (Gk., phroneo, mindset) be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Phili 2:5

Paul says we need to adopt the attitude or mindset that Jesus of Nazareth maintained. What was Jesus' mindset. It was one of utter dependence upon and obedience to the Father. Jesus said; "the Son can do nothing of Himself." Jesus trusted the Father to the uttermost, "unto death of the cross." ⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, he (Jesus) humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:8

Jesus' mindset was upon the will of the Father alone even "unto death of the cross" because He knew God's eternal plan and purpose. Until we can face death in knowledge by viewing it from heavens balcony, with Christ's mindset, we can be tormented with fear and anxiety. May we all come to trust Him to the uttermost.