Overcome Fear With Faith

Fresh Manna© by Pastor Tim Burt
http://www.freshmanna.org

2 Kings 19:6 NIV “Isaiah said to them, “Tell your master, ‘This is what the
LORD says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard…”

When I was in Bible school, I had a class I was taking on leadership. Of all the classes I took, I probably remember more from this class than any other. My instructor was telling us about the roar of a lion and its power to paralyze its prey with fear from the intensity of its roar. As He was talking to us about this, the Lord instantly brought a verse to my remembrance – 1 Peter 5:8 which says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.” It made me think of how a bad report can hit someone and paralyze them with fear. Is God the author of bad reports? I think not. If you follow Jesus through the gospels, every time there was a bad report Jesus would say “don’t be afraid.” Here is an example:

Luke 8:41-42 49-55 (NLT) “And now a man named Jairus, a leader of the local synagogue, came and fell down at Jesus’ feet, begging him to come home with him. His only child was dying, a little girl twelve years old. … a messenger arrived from Jairus’s home with the message, “Your little girl is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.” But when Jesus heard what had happened, he said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just trust me, and she will be all right.” When they arrived at the house, Jesus wouldn’t let anyone go in with him except Peter, James, John, and the little girl’s father and mother. The house was filled with people weeping and wailing, but he said, “Stop the weeping! She isn’t dead; she is only asleep.” But the crowd laughed at him because they all knew she had died. Then Jesus took her by the hand and said in a loud voice, “Get up, my child!” And at that moment her life returned, and she immediately stood up! Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.”

Jesus wants us to know the devils devices and want us to be dependent upon Him in faith to withstand those paralyzing attacks of the enemy. We’ve all experienced them. We all probably remember them. When those evil reports came, I’d let the promise of God’s Word come more. Romans 5:20 tells us that “…where sin increased, grace increased all the more.” My attitude is, if evil reports come, then God’s good reports come all the more. God doesn’t want us paralyzed by Satan’s roar. He wants us to remember the roar breakers. Luke 10:19 “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Amen, this is God’s will and my promise and I am determined that what the devil brings against me for evil, God will turn for good and bring blessing.

Today’s Fresh Manna verses are from another story of an evil report designed to defeat King Hezekiah and God’s people. King Sennacherib was the evilest of kings and spreading a very evil report of his coming to destroy them. He put out a report that sent a chill down the backs of God’s people and King Hezekiah. It was a roar of the worst kind. It is an ongoing tactic of the enemy and one he has used over and over again. He brings an evil report and then gets as many people to begin to repeat it as possible. The result becomes a bad report that gains in momentum. The enemy’s desire is to deeply plant a report that robs all hope and faith.

In Mark chapter 4 the Bible again exposes that tactic of the devil. It says, “Satan comes immediately to steal the Word of God from our hearts.” It tells us that one of the ways he does that is to brings the cares of this world. An evil or bad report will definitely bring cares which are used to steal our faith. Yet, the entire Bible is written to encourage us to prove out this truth – that “with man things are impossible but with God all things are possible.” (Mt. 19:26)

When Hezekiah heard the bad report, he did what God wants us to do. Keep our mouths shut – don’t spread the evil report but instead, pray! When King Hezekiah did that, he heard from the Spirit of God. Even though the enemy’s army was advancing on them, God spoke the words – today’s Manna – “Do not be afraid of what you have heard…” He then delivered them from destruction.

God so desires us to move away from responding to everything our five senses tell us and learn to stand on the promise of His Word. With God, things are not over till they are over, and even then they aren’t over. His Words say that the enemy has no right to harm us. It is a covenant promise. Yes, I know that people are hurt every day. Not everyone knows that God has a way out. You can’t answer for every person. You can learn to stand in faith and pray yourself. If you do and you learn to stand on these covenant promises, you will see negative circumstances change.

Our faith in the promises of God change things in the realm of the spirit resulting in change in the natural circumstances that we face. These promises are appropriated by faith and the faith comes from the knowledge of what God promises you. You have to find that out for yourself. As you do, be the bearer of hope, good news and the promise of God. Don’t repeat a bad report. Instead grab the hand of the reporter and say, “come on, this situation needs prayer. Let’s agree in prayer right now for this situation to change.” Now you are a carrier of good news, of faith, and of hope. You will be used of God and be a great blessing! As Proverbs 15:30 says, “A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good report gives health to the bones.”

In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt
http://www.freshmanna.org