If there is a sign that God is working in you, it is when you do not fear those who oppose you.
But what if there is someone who is your opponent at heart but appears to be with you. That is Judas. Those are the people that Paul called false brothers (2 Corinthians 11:26), and said they are dangerous.
These are people who are with you today, but they are like a spiritual time bomb waiting to explode and take you out.
But Jesus knew that Judas was not with him, even though he was one of the twelve. And he exploded like a bomb, but it was a controlled detonation, but an explosion nonetheless. It took out Jesus. Jesus said the soldiers who came with Judas should take Him only and leave the disciples (John 18:8-9).
This was the person who was both in the in-crowd of Jesus and also in with those who wanted to see the end of Jesus. That is pure satan in manifestation.
Look at what the serpent - the devil - did in Eden. The words he spoke seemed to be friendly, but there was a dagger hidden there.
And some people speak and purposely choose words that can be interpreted two different ways, so they can both strike at you and at the same time hide their intention.
And Jesus chose Judas, right? He chose him as one of the 12. That was his decision after an all-night prayer (Luke 6:12-16). He chose the one who would betray him, the one who would expose him and lead him to death.
If you think all was rosy because he rose from the dead, look at the agony in the garden and Jesus praying that the cup should be taken from him (Luke 22:42). Look at the fact that Jesus said woe is the one through whom he was going to die (Matthew 26:24).
We are talking about betrayal of the highest order here. And Judas died as a consequence, and another person took his place (Acts 1:15-26). And we see the devil, after his trickery in the orchard, God judged that he would be crushed (Genesis 3:15).
If you have been betrayed, remember that Jesus was also betrayed; if your closest ally has betrayed you, if you discover that your closest associate was on contract from your enemy to harm you, that the person you share your weakness, your heart with, is a schemer in the order of satan himself.
You may have suffered as a result, including a loss of business connection. The answer is not to strike back. Do not avenge yourself (Romans 12:19). Do not try to give them a dose of their own medicine. Put everything in the hands of God (1 Peter 2:23).
But pay attention to the focus verse. What if you now see that the person close to you is a ticking time bomb to end you (whatever way that comes) now or in the future - the one whose eyes glow with the mischief, mouth presenting a false smile, hiding a dagger in one hand and a kiss to the mouth (see Jesus and Judas). The instinct is to now fear the enemy and then try to strike out. Don't.
What you want is for God to work in you, according to the focus verse, to work fearlessness in you. It is natural to feel at risk and to try to use the weapons of the flesh. But deepen your prayer.
Again, I know, the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41). But we see Jesus press on in prayer before His betrayal, and an angel came to strengthen him (Luke 22:43-44). So he was prepared not to respond wrongly to the temptation of betrayal.
Realize that the betrayal of someone close to you is a temptation. When you realize that the one you shared your bed with is actually gathering information to use against you, the possibility of responding wrongly is nearly 100%, so Jesus said watch and pray so that you would not fall into temptation because the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41). Pray and pray hard.
And back again to the focus verse. What you want is for God to send his angel to strengthen you as he did Jesus. That would be a sign from God that your enemies are in big trouble when God works fearlessness inside of you. It would be a sign of their destruction and your elevation.
You are fearless because you are finding your security in the Lord, and not in humanity. Your dependence on God has become sharpened. That is a sign from God.
If there is someone you were supposed to fear, it is the one who is a close opponent. When the same button that gets you riled up no longer works, and the subterfuge and doublespeak no longer work, rejoice because God is at work in you.
