Fresh Mannaby Pastor Tim BurtIs there anything worse than suddenly getting an evil report? The doctor hands you an evil report. The girlfriend or boyfriend says they want to break it off. The spouse says he or she has been in an affair. The boss says, I'm sorry but I have to lay you off. The evil report; we all hate them!Whenever I have been hit with an evil report, it has most often affected my heart in one of two ways: it was like a punch in the gut, or fear tried to cover me like a blanket. Either of these emotional states is absolutely unacceptable to me. They might come, but I will not allow them to stay. Why? Because as a child of God, I am not one without hope, and the evil report is not the end of my story or yours!2 Corinthians 6:2 (NKJV) says, "For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." What does that mean to you and me? It means God is present to help us now!The word Salvation means to be saved - to be delivered from the power of enemies or evil circumstances. To receive aid, health, welfare, prosperity, and victory. This is what happens when we let our today's be touched through belief and faith in what God speaks to our heart through His Word. It becomes "a day of salvation"—a day when we allow God to bring help, aid, health, prosperity, and victory to our lives. For this reason, I do not let an evil report become that which will govern my emotions and imagination or disrupt my faith."Today is the day of salvation." Today is the day in which we can be helped by God against evil circumstances and watch God turn what was meant for evil; be turned for good! Today can be the beginning of that change, but that depends on what we choose to believe. Will we believe the Lord? Will we believe the promises of His Word? The Lord reiterates that point in Isaiah 53:1 (NKJV) saying, “Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?" He was talking about two things when He said this. Who will believe in Jesus, and who will believe in the promises of God?
When times of an evil report come, whose report are you going to believe? Are you going to let the evil report melt your heart and cause you to fall apart, or are you going to remember that you are a child of God and that "today is your day of salvation?"When facing an evil report, it might seem devastating or extremely disappointing. You may momentarily be stricken with shock or grief, but that is when you need to remember who you are in Christ and say out loud God is my salvation today! His report is the report of the Lord. It's His report for me to believe. He will help me in my time of trouble – today! I may not see all that He is doing but I have the right by faith to ask and believe what Psalms 46:1 (NIV) says, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." Resist your anxious feelings instead, shouting, I believe His report! Don’t stop there. Thank Him for all the promises He speaks to you with GREAT sincerity! Proclaim then in your thanks! Lord, I thank you that you are with me in the midst of this storm. You are my ever present help in times of trouble! It will lift your heart immediately! Do so every time you feel that evil report trying to unravel the stability of your heart and emotions. Know that this is not the end of the story, but the beginning of God turning this evil for good in your life! Be patient. What God has ordained cannot be detained! He is working!That is what the Lord is saying when He is revealing we have a "day of salvation." That begins with receiving Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior but that is just the beginning. He is your help today! So, whose report will you believe? Will you let your heart melt? Will you let fear and discouragement push you into despair and hopelessness? Will Satan defeat you with an evil report and get you to quit? Or, will you know your God and will you let today be your "day of salvation?" Will you believe His report? Will you believe His arm (His strength) is not too short to reach you? Your heart, your faith, your prayers, and your words will reveal whom you believe! Believe the report of the Lord!Psalms 98:1 (NIV) "Sing to the LORD a new song, for He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His Holy arm have worked salvation and gotten him the victory."In His love,Pastor Tim Burt
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