Last week we looked at scriptures that instructs and encourages us not to fear. Several of you responded that they were timely for you. Faith is the opposite of fear and Romans 10: 17 reveals that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. God’s Word is truth. Jesus said in John 8: 31-32 “…If you continue in My Word, then are you my disciples indeed; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make your free.” Truth rescues us from fear and the father of lies who is the god of this world. Horace Greely said “It is impossible to enslave mentally or socially, a Bible-reading people. The principles of the Bible are the groundwork of human freedom.” In these times of misinformation and disinformation, we must turn to the Bible as our source of truth. Biblical specifics enable us to put into perspective the chaos and the terror surrounding us every single day! Paul gave a special instruction to Timothy and to all that battle with a spirit of fear—an impending sense of threat or danger whether real or imagined. 2 Timothy 1:7 says “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” God’s Spirit brings freedom. “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3: 17) So the question is today is how do we find unsinkable faith in treacherous times? The responsibility lies with pastor/teachers who are committed to adhere to the instructions that Paul gave to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3: 15-17: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth. All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” This means to handle the Word properly—line upon line and precept upon precept—recognizing and understanding God’s plan of the ages from Genesis through Revelation. Paul further confirms this in Acts 20: 26-27: “Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.” Like the prophet Ezekiel, Paul had been a faithful watchman: “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel, so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me…(Ezekiel 3: 17) God has appointed shepherds to warn the flock and equip them for treacherous times. Peter addresses this in 2 Peter 1: 19-21: “And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining into a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, no prophecy of scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation for no prophecy of scripture was ever produced by the will of man, but man spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
Truly we are in need of pastor/teachers, shepherds and watchmen who can prepare and equip us for such a time as this. With this in mind, in the last year God has brought me to the teachings of Dr. Anthony George who Dr. Charles Stanley brought to First Baptist in Atlanta in 2012 and mentored him to take over his 50+years of sound and respected ministry in 2020. Dr. George said “I believe that Scripture is the Spirit-inspired revelation of God to us. I always say there are two 3:16’s that every Christian should know. The first is John 3:16, but the only reason we can believe the promise of John 3:16 is because of 2 Timothy 3: 16. Without the latter, we truly cannot be confident of the former.” Dr. George so humbly adheres to all the aforementioned qualifications outlined in scripture and provides God’s prophetic framework which will enable us to remain calm and serene as we cast our burdens on the shoulders of Jesus and leave them there. As the prophetic hard times rolls over us, the Spirit induced heart peace will attract unbelievers who will want to experience the peace they see in our lives. I was deeply moved and comforted by his simple and skillful exegesis of Ezekiel 38 and 39 in light of the current world situation with Russia and Ukraine. I am including a link to that message, and I pray that it will set your mind at rest as it did mine. God is real, God has a plan, God is in control and God loves us! Be blessed! https://youtu.be/0GCt_IcTX88