Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt
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 (NKJV) 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 producing fear from the enemy. We’ve all experienced them. When a bad report would come at me, 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 KJV “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.” This is God’s will promise made to those in covenant relationship with Him. If you’ve made Jesus your Savior and Lord, that’s you also! I am determined that what the devil brings against me for evil, God will turn for good and bring blessing. I don’t just think it, I declare it every time the enemy tries to stir up trouble.
God desires for us to move away from reacting to everything our five senses tells us, and wants us to instead 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. Hindsight always eventually reveals God’s goodness! God’s Word says 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 their covenant in God through Jesus Christ. Many don’t know they can resist the devil and he will flee. Many don’t know that miracles happen today! They just take life as it comes and with what it dishes out to us! Don’t try to answer for every other person’s life. Instead focus and learn to stand in faith trusting in God’s covenant promises for your life! If you do, you will see evil reports and negative circumstances change, and you’ll experience more victories through Christ Jesus!
Proverbs 15:30 “A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good report gives health to the bones.”
In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt
