Fear or Fire? I choose Firepower
In only one week our entire country has become paralyzed with fear of a modern-day plague. Like a scene out of a Marvel Movie, the bad guy (satan), has been able to shut down sporting events, concerts, jobs, colleges, medical facilities, and more. We could be told soon whether we can leave our homes, are already dealing with depleted resources of toilet paper and food, and are also told to limit our travel.
Plagues have been around for as long as we can determine. Cholera, bubonic plague, smallpox, and influenza are some of the most brutal killers in human history. And outbreaks of these diseases across international borders, are properly defined as pandemic, especially smallpox, which throughout history, has killed between 300-500 million people over time. Up to 200 million died from 1346-1353 from The Black Death, this bubonic plague ravished three continents as fleas were thought to spread the disease through rats on port ships. In more modern times, HIV/Aids have claimed as many as 36 million lives.
No matter how much knowledge increases, with impressive scientific and technological advances, the world will always be basically the same. The current pandemic proves once again that at some point in life everything comes down to two options. Are you going to choose Fear or Fire? No, that was not a mistake which should have read Fear or Faith. Let me explain why Fire is the key!
Who can help us at this critical time? Let us find the answer from The Answer Himself! In John 16:7, Jesus let us know, “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that YOU might have LIFE, and that YOU might have LIFE more abundantly” (John 10:10). Almighty God Who created and sustains all things by His grace, in His power, and for His glory stepped out of glory and robed Himself in human flesh. And when He returned to His Father, He made us a promise, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you” (John 14:18).
God’s Word promises, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). A sound mind is one without fear, panic, anxiety, or depression!
Jesus came and died in your place to give you abundant life in the midst of Satan’s attacks to steal, kill, and destroy. Some of us have jitters about the future. Do you know why we get afraid? Because we feel that a greater force is coming against us, than the one we have within us.
We need to believe upon the Word of God that says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid” (Psalm 27:1). God is your strength. God sent The Holy Spirit to empower, comfort and guide you through this challenging time.
Do you want to have hope in the midst of crisis? Then, get a bulldog grip on God’s Word that proclaims, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
One of my favorite movie lines of all time comes from the statue known as the Thinker in The Night of the Museum when he says, “I will tell you what is a matter of life or death. That beautiful little lady over there. Check out the gun show going on over here. Boom Bang – FIRE POWER!” The thinker is a pretty wise ole boy as he unknowingly expresses the importance of being baptized in the Fire of the Holy Spirit. It is the only way you will ever have the Faith necessary to fight the fear of this world. As followers of Jesus, we are in this world but not of this world. We are to walk in Jesus footsteps! His ministry began when He was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit after being baptized in water by John the Baptist. Maybe it’s time we found that same FIREPOWER and put fear to rest.