Defeat Bad News With God's Promises!

Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

Have you ever received bad news or a negative report? Sure you have! We all have at one time or another. Bad reports seem to have a way to make your stomach twist in knots while working to steal your faith through fear.

In 2 Chronicles Chapter 32, we read about a very wicked King Sennacherib. He is evil and a liar. His first effort to destroy nations was through fear. He spreads a very evil report about all the harm he is going to do to the children of Israel and how Israel's God can do nothing to stop him. The report to the people is so evil that it sends chills of intimidation and fear down the backs of God's people.It’s an ongoing tactic that Satan has used throughout all time. He is a liar and there is no truth in him. He will say anything to present fear in the hopes that it will undermine our trust in God and instead steal our faith. He loves it when some believe and repeat his lies. And trust me, there are always plenty that do! That's how bad reports gain momentum. Satan's goal is to ultimately create feelings of helplessness and despair in order to rob all hope and faith in God.

In Mark 4:15 NKJV the Bible again exposes this tactic of the devil. Jesus taught that when the Word of God is planted in our heart, “Satan comes immediately and takes away the Word of God that was sown in their hearts.” Jesus tells us that one of the ways he accomplishes this is to load us up with the cares of this world. An evil or bad report will definitely bring cares which are used to steal our faith.

The entire Bible is written to encourage us to believe God’s truth that says, “With man things are impossible but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) 

When Hezekiah heard the bad report, he did what God wants us to do—to be still and instinctively begin to pray. When King Hezekiah did that, he heard from the Spirit of God. Even though a whole army was coming down on them, God spoke these words through Isaiah the prophet and tells King Hezekiah, “This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard--those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me… I will have him cut down with the sword." (2 Kings 19:6-7) God then intervened and delivered God's people from King Sennacherib and the evil report and destruction.

God so desires us to move away from responding to every negative thing our five senses tell us. He wants us to instead learn to pray and stand on the promises of His Word by faith. Remember that faith isn't faith unless it carries trust! What our spirit should be hearing is the voice of the Holy Spirit. If we are spending time in the Word of God, God will speak to us through His Word and promises. With God, things are not over until they are over, and even then they aren't over. His Words say that the enemy has no right to harm us. 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.” This is one of many covenant promises. Yes, I know that people are hurt every day. You can't answer for every person. To help others, you must personally learn to stand in faith yourself. It is all the more reason to pray.

If you are a believer, then you belong to God. Replace evil reports with God’s promises and then pray and believe. I am not saying to ignore circumstances. If there are steps to take to deal with a difficult situation, pray that God will lead you in those steps. I am only telling you to pray and believe that God’s promises are true and that He is greater than any circumstance in your life. He does love you! He wants you to believe that—more than the circumstances. A real revelation of His love will conquer fear and keep you in hope and faith! Be the bearer of hope, good news and the promise of God. If bad news comes, quickly grab the hand of someone who has faith and say, "I have a situation that needs prayer. Let's agree in prayer right now for this situation to change."

1 John 4:18 (NLT) "Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear..."

In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt

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Published by Pastor Tim Burt
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