Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

Funk—It’s defined as: a slump, a state of paralyzing fear, a depressed state of mind. Have you ever been in a funk? I run into people that are in a funk more often than I would have imagined. Over all the years, I’ve had times when I felt like a funk was trying to come on me. And what’s weird is that it can happen when absolutely nothing is wrong! What’s up with that? 

Before I gave my life to Jesus, I thought a funk was something you had no control over—something that settled upon you when life got discouraging. That may happen to people but as Christians, we don’t have to become its victim! If we knew who we were in Christ, and just how much God loves us and desires to help us, we’d chase the funk away the same way we’d swat at a fly that landed on our dinner plate—with great determination!

Repeated disappointments, frustrations, problems, and confusion over what to do, can lead to feeling like you’re in a funk. So what should you do about it?

First, realize that you aren’t stuck in a funk. It’s just trying to come upon you. I’ve said this before but I’ll say it again. Your mind was given to you by God to be a blessing to you and this world, and to glorify the Lord. It’s not Satan’s playground and you can learn to control your thoughts. You are the gatekeeper of what you allow yourself to think upon. When you learn to guard it like Fort Knox and cast out thoughts that are hurtful or unfruitful, you will have taken a giant step in having a better life in God. This is why the Apostle Paul was saying in Philippians 4:6-8(NIV). “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will GUARD your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” 

Secondly, know and have great faith that the love of God is so great within you, and His willingness to help you is so real and available, that your faith dominates the funk and casts it in the garbage like a piece of junk mail from your mailbox. Have great expectations for God to prevail in your life and lead you to places of peace and blessing!

Now let me give you some funk-destroying scriptures verse by verse to provide insight and backing to support this.

Ephesians 3:12 NKJV “… in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.” This means there is an option to the funk! It’s called coming before the Lord with boldness and confidence! It’s the funk breaker!

Ephesians 3:13 NKJV “Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.” Paul is basically saying, Don’t get in a funk because of what you see me going through. I might have a tough going right now but I am not in a funk! God will see me through this! And so don’t you be in one either! I have confidence that it’s all going to work out to glorify God.

Ephesians 3:14 NKJV (Paul still speaking says) “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” That’s how the Apostle Paul handles difficult situations. He bows his knee, prays, and has great faith that God will turn what the devil meant for evil, for good! That kind of heart and attitude is a funk-breaker!

Ephesians 3:15-16 NKJV “… from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man. Paul is saying that because you belong to the family of God, God will grant YOU great strength by the working of His Holy Spirit within you—in your inner man! That is where the funk desires to take residence! So it’s going to be the contest between the inner man who God will strengthen and the funk. Who do you think should win? Put up the “No Vacancy” sign!
Ephesians 3:17-19 NKJV “… that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height– to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”  These verses reveal that Christ dwells in your heart, BUT it’s through your personal faith—your belief in what He says to you through His Word that you experience strength to evict the devil and instead experience victory!

He goes on to say that He wants you to know how great God’s love is for you! It’s when you confidently know the greatness of God’s love toward you that you become filled up with the fullness of God.

And we finally come to the grand finale, in Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV, we read, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” We learn that because of God’s great love, He is able to and will do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think! BUT, it’s according to the power that works in us. That power works in us is by our personal belief—our faith in what God promises us.

So what are you going to do? Sit in your funk or believe that Jesus loves you and desires to help you. Are you going to remain discouraged and confused and a doormat for the devil, or are you going to believe that He will do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us? Funk is a choice. Squash it like a cockroach! Do so by meditating on God in you, and knowing that you have the very power of God at work within you!

Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV  “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…”

In His love,
Pastor Tim Burt

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