2nd Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
The spirit of fear does not emanate from God, and it does no one any good to indulge in fear, because it often crystalizes faith, especially at times when faith is needed most. On the contrary, the spirit of power and of love comes to us from God, and we are to be partakers of His Spirit, which gives us resilience, and fortitude and an indomitable outlook on life.
Even though we should not be naïve to the realities of life in an age of pandemics, yet we should be very careful lest we lose sight of God’s omnipotence and His power to mitigate any and all adverse conditions we may encounter. But to dwell in fear all day long will cause our problems to loom larger and larger, until we will start to plan an act from a perspective of fear.
In the scripture we are told that those who sincerely honor God in their lives, who obey His laws from an intelligent understanding of His principles are not to be lumped in together with the general public, as if there is no difference between true Christians, and those who serve, love and obey God.
Since God’s people are a peculiar people there must be something peculiar about them, and as such, the herd mentality that exists in the world should never be applied to the servants of The Living God. It was Christ who said ye are the light of the world, a city that is set on a hill, and another prophet says that ye are a spectacle unto the world, unto angels and unto men.
Now, since these statements are true, then they are to translate into something palpable that the world may see that it is a blessed privilege to serve God in sincerity and truth. But for us to indulge in the spirit of fear-mongering will place us on the same platform as those who do not walk by faith, and as a result of this, great disservice can be done to the kingdom of God. Let’s read:
1st Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Deuteronomy 4:5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.
6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely, this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
7 For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for?
Thus, The Lord has given us a completely different modus operandi to live by. The Bible tells us that a person who is genuinely in Christ is not of the world and another scripture tells us that our citizenship is in heaven. Therefore, our mantra, and perspective on life ought to be wholly different to the world, as demonstrated in the following observations.
[1] The world lives by fear, we live by faith.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith.
[2] The world trusts in man, we trust in God.
Jeremiah 17:5 Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart departs from the Lord.
6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.
7 Blessed is the man that trusts in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.
8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreads out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
[3] The world relies on insurance; we rely on the blessed assurance.
Isaiah 32: 17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever.
18 And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.
[4] The world multiplies by hoarding, but we multiply by giving.
Proverbs 11: 24 There is that scatters, and yet increases; and there is that withholds more than is meet, but it tends to poverty.
25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that waters shall be watered also himself.
[5] The world loses by winning, we win by losing.
Mark 8: 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
[6] The world dies by living, but we live by dying.
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Romans 8: 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
[7] And while most individuals focus their affections and interests in the here and now we look beyond that which is seen to that which is eternal.
Hebrews 11: 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
This amounts to two very different outlooks, and perspectives on life, and that is why we reiterate again that the remnant people of God are not to be lumped in with that herd mentality which exists in the world because there’s a big difference between the two, if and when we truly believe in the Bible.
The true Christian, under God, should be able to tackle difficulties, and solve problems which the average person may struggle with. At the direction of God, we are to confront disease, devils, dangers, and any other adverse situation that may arise, for the gates of hell will not prevail against the kingdom of God.
In fact, the scriptures from which these words are lifted point to an imminent and ongoing invasion of satan’s kingdom on all levels, from diets and foods, to faith and obedience to dealing with psychological problems and all infectious diseases. It is all there in the Bible if we would only believe. Let’s read:
Matthew 28: 18 And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo I am with you always even unto the end of the world.
Matthew 10: 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Luke 9: 6 And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.
17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
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.
How is it, that with all of these promises, assurances and direct mandates from Christ, that so many are living in fear? How is it that so many have come to evaluate things on the same level with the world, as if God’s hand is shortened that it cannot save?
It must be that God is calling us back to revisit our call to service and to take up the commission He has given us in earnest. Thus, we ought not to be overly consumed with self-preservation, but rather with an entire surrender to the will of God.
And in doing so, there is sacred history, written for our admonition and instruction, especially since we are standing on the borders of the eternal world. It is a fact that human nature prefers to dwell on bad news, and of late, we have been so inundated on the right and on the left, that it’s quite possible, the constant barrage of negatives may have begun to affect our psyche.
The root of the problem may very well be the basic philosophy that is driving our thoughts, actions and decisions. In very many instances in the Bible where logical and rational thinking were employed without God, to solve difficult problems, the result was fear. In contrast, wherever faith was employed we would see boldness, victories, and resulting praise to God.
This begs a detailed definition of the words “Logic” and “Rational” before we proceed.
Rational: Logical, sensible, reasonable, intelligent, wise, common-sense, well advised, sound, practical Pragmatic, matter-of-fact, sane in one's right mind.
The antonyms, which are the opposite to “rational” are just as important for us to observe:
Antonyms to Rational: Insane, absurd, crazy, half-witted, harebrained, loony, mad, nonsensical, nutty, preposterous, simpleminded, stupid, weak-minded, senseless, thoughtless.
There are several examples given in the scriptures of instances where “rationality” and “logic” were employed, without bringing God into the equation. In such instances we find that logic turned out to be the diabolical enemy of faith and like it always does, it caused the human agent to severely limit God’s power.
Nothing so strengthens unbelief nothing so stirs up fear and trembling as when God’s people leave Him out of the picture when facing grave challenges. In fact, faith is the key which unlocks the resources of heaven, whereas logic and rationale often stifle an opportunity for great victory.
Thus it was when king Saul was facing an insidious threat from the giant, that he reasoned strictly from a rational perspective without bringing God into the equation and the sure result was fear and trembling to the point where his mentality and outlook had invaded the entire army.
As Goliath shook his steroid-laden fists at Israel they only saw their teeny-weeny capabilities, and when contrasted with the challenger before them, they could only see certain defeat. Thus, they reasoned along strictly logical lines, without trusting in God, to the point where fear effectually crystallized their faith. Let’s read:
1st Samuel 17:4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
5 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail.
8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.
11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
In stark contrast was the bravery, and fearlessness of David, who through an experimental knowledge of the God whom he served, was neither fazed nor intimidated by the threat. In fact, his outlook on the very same problem was that a golden opportunity for God to be glorified had presented itself, and as such he was eager to make the most of it, at God’s direction.
But then again, you have logic and rational begging to differ, as they reasoned and came to conclusions based upon finite human limitations. And as Saul saw cute, little David in contrast to the knucklehead in the philistine army, he concludes as most would have done, that it would be a grossly uneven match.
Thus, whenever God is eliminated from the picture, problems, difficulties, and challenges always loom larger and larger, until our decisions and actions are based upon strictly logical modes of thought. This is what caused the men of Israel to flee, in the face of what they saw as an existential threat. Let’s read:
1st Samuel 17:32 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
In other words, what Saul was saying to David was tantamount to the antonyms to rational we read of earlier, which were “Insane, stupid, nonsensical, looney and crazy. Even after David convinced Saul that God would defeat Goliath, the wavering king thought it necessary to arm David with his own sword and shield, for he just couldn’t see past the frailty of humanity.
When David decided to go to battle with only five stones and a slingshot, Saul was greatly dismayed, and even Goliath became deeply offended, for as he thought, the Hebrews were adding insult to injury by not only sending an inexperienced young man to fight him, but he is also coming with a slingshot, an insult to Goliath’s intelligence.
But the scriptures teach us that that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but spiritual, and thus, if and when we face our own giants, we must reach for spiritual weapons, not carnal, for if we presume to fight in our own finite strength, we will become entangled in the snares of the fouler, who has been in this business for nearly six thousand years.
The experience of David and Goliath, with the fears inculcated by the vast majority of the others, closely mirrors the experience of the twelve spies, only two of which were able to grasp unseen realities, while the rest dwelt on their frailties, and reasoned along strictly rational lines, until God was eliminated from the equation.
Therefore, any battle, emergency, trial, temptation, difficulty, challenge, disease, pandemic, and any of those adverse situations which may come our way from time to time, must be seen, dealt with, and overcome through the eyes of faith, by which the human agent can take hold of omnipotence through faith and obedience.
This is the absolute, and only way for the Christian to fight and win any battle, for we are up against foes that are wiser, stronger, and more experienced than we are, if God is not brought into the picture. Let’s read:
2nd Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh.
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to obedience of Christ.
Covid has presented unprecedented challenges and hurdles for everyone, and life might not get back to normal anytime soon. Yet, as we face this giant, it is important for us not to leave God out of the picture, for as we just read in the scriptures, “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but spiritual”
This is not the last pandemic, or epidemic, by any means, according to the Bible, and many of those that will be coming down the pipe will not be able to be mitigated by using vaccines, drugs, and other man-made efforts.
There are invisible forces at work in these turbulent times of earth’s history, and they will tighten down the screws, and turn up the heat, seven times more than we are accustomed to. We have been given a heads-up, both in the scriptures, and through the pen of inspiration. Let’s read:
2nd Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
Matthew 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in different places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
[The Great Controversy pp 589>590] While appearing to the children of men as a great physician who can heal all their maladies, he will bring disease and disaster, until populous cities are reduced to ruin and desolation. Even now he is at work.
In accidents and calamities by sea and by land, in great conflagrations, in fierce tornadoes and terrific hailstorms, in tempests, floods, cyclones, tidal waves, and earthquakes, in every place and in a thousand forms, Satan is exercising his power.
He sweeps away the ripening harvest, and famine and distress follow. He imparts to the air a deadly taint, and thousands perish by the pestilence. These visitations are to become more and more frequent and disastrous.
Therefore, instead of reasoning, deciding and acting along strictly logical, and rational modes of thought, without bringing the God-factor into the equation, let’s remember that the same God who took down Goliath is still more than able to slay any and every giant that may challenge those who believe in Him.
And just like how David was able to grasp unseen realities, by trusting, reasoning, and acting along lines of faith, let us likewise do the same, for God is the same yesterday, today and forever.
The following therefore are five smooth stones given in the scriptures, by which any giant can be vanquished, for with God nothing is impossible. The just shall live by faith, not by logic or rational, that is based solely man’s finite limitations. Let’s read:
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
[1] Truth.
Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth.
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
[2] Righteousness, which includes obedience to all the light that has been shed upon our pathway.
Ephesians 6:14 And having on the breastplate of righteousness. (It’s critically important, when facing any giant to have a clear conscience, void of offence before God and man).
[3] The shield of Faith.
Ephesians 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
[4] The sword of the Spirit.
Ephesians 6:17 And the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.
[5] Prayer.
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
We end with a passage of scripture that should enable us to walk by faith, not by fear, logic, or rational without the God-factor. Let’s read:
Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.
God Bless!