Overcoming the fear of enemies!

In Daniel 3:19-30: we saw Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; four Hebrew young men who were takenas captives. The Book of Daniel begins with an introduction telling us how Daniel and his companions came to be in Babylon.

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, Daniel and his friends Hananiah, Mishaeland Azariah are taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon. The four were chosen for their intellect and beauty to be trained in the Babylonian court and were given new names.Their names were changed to give them a new identity and perspective:
• Daniel was changed to Belteshazzar
• Hananiah to Shadrach
• Mishael to Meshach
• Azariah to Abednego

The interpretation of their names:
• Daniel was a Hebrew name meaning God is my Judge.
• Belteshazzar, a Babylonian name meaning ‘protect the life of the king which is slightly different from Belshazzar meaning god of bel. Hitchcock’s Bible names Dictionary interpreted Belteshazzar to mean ‘who lays up treasures in secret. Considering these meanings this could mean that Belteshazzar means ‘someone who protects the life of the king by laying up treasures in secret.’
• Hananiah (Hebrew name) meaning God has favoured.
• Shadrach (Babylonian) meaning command of Aku and is associated with the Babylonian moon god. Which could mean ‘servant of the moon god’ or ‘servant of Sin’
• Mishael meaning in Hebrew- who is God’s (God’s Own)
• Meshach meaning ‘guest of a king,’ which could further be interpreted as ‘shadow of a prince.’
• Azariah in Hebrew means God has helped.
• Abednego in Babylon means ‘servant of Ishter’ or Servant of the god ‘nego,’ which was a corruption of the Babylonian ‘nebo.’Ishter or Nego refers to a god in Babylonian called the ‘shining light, morning star.’

Their names and identity were changed to suit their master’s plan and agenda.
I declare today — every force changing your identity to align with their evil plan may their power over your life expire by fire and may you be made free in Jesus’ name.

In Matthew 13:28, the master of the vineyard answered: “He said unto them, an enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?There are so many things the enemy does, which brings man into problem, distress and frustration; in the ploy of the enemy he tries to change identity just to accomplish their evil programme.

How The Enemy Can Change Someone’s Identity
• Peddling unverified rumour.
• Spreading hatred against someone.
• Promoting stories,which could be detrimental to progress.
• Callingsomeone pet and cancerous names.
• By associating with them for the wrong motive.
• Destroying their security and identity.
• Taking away their self-esteem.
Note This And Know Peace
• The enemy can only prevail when they meet you off-guard,
• When they alter (modify) some things concerning your spirituality, psyche, emotion, personality, esteem, especially without your consent.
• The wicked knows the prevailing power of identity;I declare every evil name or identification attached to your personality in any quarter be silenced permanently. May God rise for your defense and vindicate you.

In John 10:10, ‘the enemy comes to steal. Kill and destroy.’ There are powers and persons who only come close with these evil intentions.
Pray With Me:
• Oh, Lord, every evil personality around and within; ear-dropping to trap me and ruin me arise; Jesus!May their evil plot be exposed and destroyed; in Jesus Christ’sname.
• Oh, Lord, every personality seeking way to destroy me; Arise Lord disappoint them and frustrate their evil scheme, in Jesus’ name.
In 1John 4:4;the Bible declared: “Little children, you are of God, and have overcome them; for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world,” Revised Standard Version.
The ministry of the devil is to plot; steal, kill and destroy
• Venerable Stephen Wolemonwu is the Rector,Ibru Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State (08035413812)

(John 10:10); but if the Lord Jesus Christ; YeshuaHamashiach be with you victory is guaranteed.
When the devil wants to put you to sleep in other to sow tares in your beautiful garden he does the following:
• Brings evil laws and decrees that are destructive to your faith.
• Insist on obnoxious traditions and culture without values.
• Through evil views (what the eyes sees can attract the mind; blow the mind; become universally accepted over time by repetition).
• Through a way of life that may look very harmless; but it is a satanic environmental decoy.
• Through kings and leaders — they use this method to label you rebellious, violent, disorderly; and not submissive to authority.

The devil puts all these into play just to enslave men’s souls and turn them to enemies of God and unacceptable in society
In Daniel 3:11, we saw that the plot of the devil could be very scary howbeit God’s word in Matthew 10:28 said: “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

In the book of Prophet Isaiah 43:2-11,the Lord warned that you should not fear.2: When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.3: For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.4: Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.5: Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west.6:I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth. 7: Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. 8: Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.9: Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this,and shew us former things? Let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, it is truth.10: Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.11: I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

The enemy is an accuser of the saints: Rev 12:10 may God silence every evil accuser!
In Daniel 3:8-16, they brought accusations against Daniel, but who can curse whom God has blessed?The enemy,sometimes,underestimate your God (see Daniel 3:15-20). Beloved fear not; you are not alone; the Lord is with you for we have a high priest (Hebrews 10:19-23).
• Venerable Stephen Wolemonwu is the Rector,Ibru Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State (08035413812)