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 and before the instructor actually said it, 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.” Of course it was the verse he had in mind and continued to teach from.
I instantly began to think about how a bad report can hit someone and paralyze them with fear. I’ve seen it happen in others a hundred times and experienced it myself! Is God the author of bad reports? Absolutely not! If you follow Jesus through the gospels, every time there was a bad report Jesus would say “Don’t be afraid.” We see one of those times in 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 (mocked) 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 be aware and recognize the devil’s devices and want us to depend upon Him in faith to withstand those paralyzing attacks of the enemy. We’ve all experienced them. When an evil report has ever come and tried to grip my heart, I’ve grabbed my Bible, turned to a promise of God’s Word, and read it loudly–so that it was louder than the disastrous imaginations running through my head. Romans 5:20 NIV 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 NKJV says, “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 our promise to stand on and I am determined that what the devil brings against me for evil, God will turn for good and bring blessing. 
God wants us to move away from responding to everything our five senses tell us and 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. 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 learn to stand on these covenant promises, you will see adverse circumstances change over time.
These promises are appropriated by faith, and 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 promises 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’ve become a carrier of good news, faith, and hope. You will be used by God and be a great blessing! And you’ll see God work in more significant ways in your own life! As Proverbs 15:30 NIV says, “A cheerful look (a positive perspective) brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.
Psalms 23:4 (NLT) “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.”
In His love,
Pastor Tim Burt
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