Over the next few days, we are going to bombard your heart and mind with timeless, unchangeable truth from God’s Word that will act as a heavenly vaccine, inoculating you against fear, anxiety, and worry.
CfaN Christ For All Nations
Day 1
Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:12
Stand on the Solid Rock
We are commonly told today to keep an open mind about our beliefs and how we interpret the word of God. We are told to never be dogmatic. Some have no problem cherry picking the scriptures or changing the meaning or validity of it all together! There has been a practice of using the word of God only when it’s agreeable or relatable to the listening audience. This is totally perverted! It’s a liberal view that means, “you can never be sure,” and worse, “if you don’t like it, you can change it.” What use is the word of God if it can be changed? What use is faith in the truth if truth is variable?
The word of God is meant to assure us about both God and our future. If we keep an open mind about it, we brush aside all of Christ’s wonderful promises and enjoy nothing at all of what He guarantees. True Christians do not keep an open mind. Keeping an open mind regarding God or His Word is just an excuse for sin and unbelief. Christians embrace the entire word of God! We embrace the positive blessings of Christ. Our minds are settled, not open!
Some people act as if believing nothing for sure is a virtue! It certainly is not a virtue in an airplane pilot! How many would board an aircraft if the pilot decided to keep an open mind about how to fly, the destination, and how to get there? Passengers want a very dogmatic pilot! He must be certain they will not end up dead! Keeping an open mind about our journey through life is equally perilous. What is our destination? We must know!
The Bible does not encourage anybody to be dogmatic, but its language is always that of a sure and certain hope. “We know” is a typical New Testament expression. Being sure is not being presumptuous or arrogant. Being sure that the sun will rise tomorrow makes us neither dogmatic nor overconfident. And such surety is the simple attitude of Christians, who are confident of tomorrow and of God. What He has done, He will do, and what He is, He will be!
The common Christian testimony is that of the apostle Paul: “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Timothy 1:12), or the day when Christ comes. That kind of certainty is no more than we would expect from any God worth calling God! An open mind is a mind susceptible to the attack of the enemy. An open mind is an open door to doubt, fear, and unbelief. We are to have a sound mind! “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
Our belief in Christ is our sure foundation! Jesus is a solid rock to stand on! He is the peace of a settled mind fixed on Him. He is the anchor of hope for the blood bought soul! He is the everlasting rock for those who fear Him! And those who put their trust in Him will not be shaken! Psalm 18:2 says, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
There’s nothing wishy-washy about Jesus or His word. We must trust in the Lord wholeheartedly without any doubt, “for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that He will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:6-8).
We can choose to have a settled mind! We can choose to take every thought captive to obey Christ! (2 Corinthians 10:5.) We can stand unwavering on the word of God, because God Himself backs it up!
Source: (Faith: The Link with God’s Power. Part 3, Faith and Knowing.)
Day 2
Scripture: Hebrews 13:8
God’s Promises are Reliable
“Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass.” (Joshua 21:45)
Faith is a personal issue. Somebody may have proven himself or herself up to now, but the future holds only personal assurances. We trust certain people because we know them personally. If we thought these people would change, we would not trust them. We read in the Bible who God is, and we may have proven Him for ourselves in our own lives, yet for the future, we still must trust Him.
No faith is needed to believe two plus two make four, but life is a degree more complicated than basic math. Circumstances change like the ocean. The vast variables of all things affect their outcome. However, God is all-wise and all-powerful, so much so, that we have to leave things to Him to sort out because ultimately, He holds the future. We may not understand all that He is doing, but we look to Him in trust, and that is something God takes into account. He made the world that way. There is no doubt that God can do anything, but He does not work apart from those who believe. Prayer and faith will enable Him to do what He could not do otherwise because He is sovereign and just. You see, He designed prayer and faith to go hand in hand— this is His planned providence.
It is human nature to depend on people’s promises until we are disillusioned. Tricksters and conmen depend on this innate trust in people who give us their word. We should be able to trust the Almighty God! Not only has He given us His Word, but a hundred generations have also proven Him to be reliable! “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
He has given us all the same reason for relying on Him—expressed declarations of what He will do for us. Somebody went through the whole Bible and found a total of 7,874 promises that God had made to us. That glittering array of promises covers our understanding of God and what we can expect of Him. The scope of 7,874 promises should be wide enough for all the circumstances in our lives in need of God’s help. Many of God’s promises come in the form of a covenant. God does a lot for us without us needing to ask Him.
“Your Father in heaven…makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45).
God is good and good to all. Millions give Him no credit, though they are quick to blame Him when things go wrong. The processes of nature seem unchangeable and regular. To this day, nobody has shown that God has no part in this. He keeps His promises to “the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth” (Genesis 9:10). “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease” (Genesis 8:22).
Jesus took it farther and included the flowers, saying, “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these” (Matthew 6:28–29).
However, God has other good things. The promise is, “Seek and you will find” (Matthew 7:7), for they are obtainable only by direct application. Actually, they are promised, and most of them are listed in Scripture— “No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11). When we come to the end of natural provision, Jesus said, “Ask and you will receive” (John 16:24). “Everyone who asks receives…If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him” (Matthew 7:8, 11).
If we ask for good, He will not send evil—ever! “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17).
The exercise of faith in prayer is paramount! The bird in the nest must learn to fly and gather what is available. Having to ask is an excellent reminder to us of our dependency on God, and prayer is designed to bring us to seek Him. It gives birth to a spirit of childlikeness, causing us to look to our heavenly Father at all times. It is fellowship—family fellowship with our Father. And Glory to God! He has proven Himself to be a good Father Who’s promises never fail!
Day 3
Scripture: Lamentations 3:20-24
Anchored by Hope
Due to the Coronavirus, in just a short span of time, the entire world has had to adjust to a new life style of being quarantined. Everyone has been affected by the changes in our societies. We have experienced event cancelations, restaurant and business closings, school closings, mandatory absences from the workplace, and adjusting to “attending” church online at home in our pajamas. Even the stores that remain open look a lot different than before this crisis. Entire sections of market shelves, that used to be fully stocked with everything from toilet paper to ketchup, are being found empty.
Indeed, we have discovered many new inconveniences, but we have also discovered that we can live without a lot of things! The luxuries that our lives sometimes revolve around may often inadvertently be regarded as vital, but the truth is, it’s not a matter of life or death if we don’t go out to dinner, see the latest blockbuster movie, or spring for that epic new jacket — it won’t make or break us. Even necessities like food and water can be sidestepped under the right circumstances — a case in point is fasting either for health considerations or biblical pursuits.
However, there is one thing we cannot live without under any circumstances…hope! Hope is so fundamentally vital to our inner man, that if we cannot find true hope, we will default by nature to grasp on to false hope. To hope is to be human, God has woven the need to hope in Him, into the tapestry of our heart. And because we are hard-wired to hope in this way, those who don’t know God will revere something they perceive as greater than themselves and place their hope in it. It may be money, a dream, prestige, or even another person, but as sure as the night is dark, we will find something to hope in. Yet, in God’s deep abiding love, He longs for us to hope in Him as any other hope is built on a lie that will deceive and ultimately betray our trust in it.
In His Word, the Lord chronicles the vast extent of the hope He has brought into our relationship with Him, from His mercy to His coming. There are many scripture passages that express the heart of God in the many ways He yearns for us to hope in Him.
We believe, in the midst of uncertain times, we can remain anchored in His love, anchored in His Word, and anchored in Him. We can rest in the knowledge that hope in His promises will never let us down, and always lift us up, bringing us even closer to Him.
Source: (God’s Promises for Healing & Hope pg. 45-72)
Day 4
Scripture: Psalms 121:1-2
The Testing of Your Faith
The scripture tells us that the testing and trial of our faith will come, and it also tells us why… 1 Peter 1:7 says, “So that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
I remember when the testing of my faith came. I was sitting on the side of my bed in Malawi. I had a three-dollar-per-day room in a Baptist hostel. I had to sit down because a shock had just hit me. An urgent phone call from my office in Frankfurt, Germany, had brought me news that I could not take in. We were hundreds of thousands of dollars in the red! How could that be? At the beginning of that year, the Lord had assured me it would be “a year of twelve full baskets, a basket for each month.” I could not see how we could be in debt. “Lord,” I said, “why? You said that there would be full baskets, but they are all empty. How can that be?” In such moments, the Lord opens our eyes. He instructed me by saying, “The baskets of the disciples started filling only after the multitudes had all eaten. Keep on feeding the multitudes with My Word, and I will see to filling up the baskets.” I was amazed. The divine wisdom made sense. I said, “Lord, I will do what You say, and I know You will do what You say.” But—hundreds of thousands of dollars! It seemed beyond reason. Yes, but God reasons differently. The baskets stayed empty for twenty-four hours, and then came the news that God had filled them again. The year ended without debt. We kept on feeding the multitudes with the Word of God, and the Lord kept handing the supplies to us. When we are breaking the Bread of Life to the spiritually starving, God cannot let us down.
That year, we saw one and a half million precious people respond to the call of God to be saved in our African crusades alone. Each of us, no matter the manner in which we have been called to serve the Lord, will have our faith tested— and most certainly more than once! Jesus spoke to his own disciples about the testing of their faith that would come.
Luke 22:31-32 says, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
Jesus knew that Simon Peter was about to face a greater trial and test of his faith than ever before. This trial of faith that was still to come would be bigger than the storm they had faced on the sea. This test would prove more difficult than their instruction to feed the multitudes with only a basket of food. This test would be more challenging for Simon Peter than stepping out of the boat to walk on water with the Lord. However, Jesus had prayed for Simon, that his faith would not fail, and that when he turned, he would be able to strengthen those around him. Jesus prayed for him, that his faith would not fail. Jesus is praying that our faith will not fail! We must hold on to our faith!
In every season, in every trial, in every circumstance, Jesus is interceding for His church—that we would keep trusting Him, keep standing on His word, and keep looking up!
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2)
When we face trials of various kinds, when our faith is being tested by fire—we keep looking up and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus! We hold fast to our faith, believing our help comes from the Lord! We will make it through this trial to the other side even stronger than before, and we will go forward encouraging the rest of the saints!
Source: (Evangelism by Fire pg. 248-249)
Day 5
Scripture: Psalms 16:1
Do Not Be Afraid; Only Believe
The Lord moves in action on our behalf when we pray and believe!
“So, Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” (Mark 11:22-24)
It is the Lord’s good pleasure to do for us what we ask when we step out in faith! Faith is pleasing to God and it gets His attention. When our attention is on Him, His attention is on us. When we seek to please Him, He seeks to please us, and grant us what we ask.
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”(Hebrews 11:6)
Our faith in Christ identifies us as being those on the winning team! He has overcome the world, so that all those who have been won into the Kingdom have, in the same token, won victory over the world! “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4). Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Matthew chapter five gives an account of two people who acted in faith despite the devastating circumstances they were experiencing. Jairus had just implored the Lord to come heal his daughter, who was at the point of death, when the woman with the issue of blood reached out and touched the Lord. The bible says that she believedthat even if she could only touch the garment Jesus was wearing, she would be healed! What incredible faith! Jesus immediately stopped and asked who had touched Him. When he learned of her story, He told her, “Your faith has made you well…” “While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, ‘Do not be afraid; only believe.’” (Mark 5:35-36)
Jairus had a choice in that moment to believe the Lord or believe the messenger who had just been sent by the eye witnesses who were with his daughter. Which word would carry more weight? Jesus immediately spoke to Jairus— “Do not be afraid; only believe.” In essence, He was saying, “I know what you’ve seen Jairus, I know what you just heard from the messenger, but I need you to keep your eyes on Me. I need you to trust my word over every other word right now. Don’t let that report bring any doubt into your mind, because I’m still headed to your house! I haven’t changed My mind. I’m not swayed by this news, and I’m not too late. Just trust Me!”
“Preserve me, O God, for in You, I put my trust.” (Psalm 16:1)
When we hear reports that seem impossible to overcome, we must not rely on our own understanding. The power of God defies all human reason. He is capable of doing more than we can ask, think or imagine! “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). We must continue being grounded in this faith, standing steadfast in our hope in Christ, because He who has promised is faithful!
Source: (God’s Promises for Healing and Hope pg. 25-27)
Day 6
Scripture: Matthew 28:20
I AM with You!
One of the most deeply rooted beliefs (actually, “unbeliefs”) is that God’s presence is greater with some than with others. We make up all kinds of reasons to support this idea. We say that some are more holy, or more prayerful, or more prophetic. As if the presence of God depended upon us! The promise of His presence with us is unconditional! Let me say that again, His Presence with us is unconditional!
From the beginning God said, “I will not leave you nor forsake you” (Josh. 1:5). He made this promise to Joshua, and the same promise was repeated 1,300 years later in Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”
To judge whether God is with people or not, we go by the wrong signs. We look at this person or that and judge by what he does or fails to do. God does not shrink or swell according to the person. Praise Jesus! He is no more with an evangelist than He is with a pastor. He is no more with a pastor than He is with a church member.
Moses had the most extraordinary experiences with God that a man ever had. Joshua could not share these experiences fully at the time. However, it was to Joshua that God said, “I will not leave you nor forsake you.” The presence of God with us does not vary with our calling or with our successes. If God was only with us when we had success, success would never come!
In Matthew 28:20, Jesus said, “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” When Jesus said, “I am with you always,” that wasn’t only a promise—He was stating a fact! He was making a declaration about both the present day and all the days to come after it! He is with you right now, this very moment, and forevermore! Rejoice! You are never alone. Jesus is with you!
Source: (Evangelism by Fire pg. 201-202.)
Day 7
Scripture: Romans 8:38-39
Don’t Panic.
It takes more than survival skills to survive a crisis. For example, the ability to survive in a physical wilderness takes more than the skills to build a shelter, start a fire, and purify water. It requires a certain psychology, a mind-set, a will to live that overcomes the fear and stress associated with the crisis. In fact, some people who possessed the skill still died when stranded in a physical wilderness because they lacked the will to live. And others who lacked the skill but had the will, found a way to survive.
Upon entering a crisis, our tendency is often to let our imagination run wild. “Will I ever make it out?” “Why is this happening to me?” “I don’t feel ready for this.” “Does God not realize what I’m going through?” “Is He angry with me?” “Is He judging me?” “Is He even real?” Though it’s natural to ask questions like these, obsessing over them depletes our resolve to believe God. And since these questions relate to the very nature of God, their responses must be biblically sound.
You see, perspective is everything. If you find yourself in a wilderness, if you find yourself in a crisis—physical, spiritual, or otherwise: don’t panic. Take a deep breath. Take a moment to remind yourself who God is, who you are in Christ, and what the Bible says about His faithfulness during troubled times. Fear only makes you susceptible to lies from the enemy. He will lie about God’s faithfulness and love for you. He’ll even lie about God’s existence, or about how valuable you are to Him. Such lies are meant to sap you of spiritual stamina. But that’s just when the “will to live” must rise – the will to live in the Spirit while you pass through desert regions.
For God’s children in the wilderness, the “will to live” does not merely refer to a desire to survive. It refers rather to an earnest determination to believe God. During spiritual drought, you must determine – sometimes against all circumstances, emotions, and even the advice of friends – that God is real. He is good! He is faithful, and you will make it through to the other side with Him. Don’t let the enemy or circumstances define who God is for you. Refuse to allow yourself to believe anything but God’s Word. Resolve as David did during a spiritual desert: “My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast!” (Psa. 57:7).
One of the most important things you can understand is that even when it seems like everything around you is spinning out of control, if you are a child of God, there is nothing that touches your life that is not ultimately under God’s supervision. Everything in your life is somehow “Father-filtered.” He loves you dearly and deeply! He is watching over you, and won’t allow anything to separate you from Him.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38-39).
Allow God’s invincible love to cast out all of your fear.
“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Rom. 5:3-5).
Source: (Surviving Your Wilderness. Survival Tip #1: Don’t Panic.)