All it took was a health scare to expose a negative spirit in many American Christians.
"A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones" (Prov. 17:22, ESV).
It saddens me quite deeply to see a famously strong American people have their spirits so easily and thoroughly crushed by our recent crisis.
However, the reaction of the American people pales in comparison to how disappointing the response of many Christians is.
Faith-walkers have surrendered that distinction for one of nervous caution.
Walking by sight and not by faith has been the nearly instantaneous shift many have adopted as an invisible enemy has threatened their safety.
Of the weapons God has provided for us to win battles and counteract the assaults of the enemy, I wonder if joy just may be among the most supreme.
Instead of scouring the internet in search of the perfect mix of vitamins, supplements, essential oils and unproven medicines to combat a medical threat, the Word of God states clearly that joy is the good medicine we need!
Social Media Reveals a Lot
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It's telling when believers in Jesus are posting nonstop everything negative, threatening and discouraging they can find, most of it from the compromised liberal media.
This toxic negativity is doing great damage to many, and it must stop immediately.
" That which goes into the mouth does not defile a man, but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man" (Matt. 15:11, MEV).
Continuing to spew fearful statistics, hyped news reports and other information without clearly communicating that we as the children of God are victorious overcomers and that we will fight this giant in joyful, fearless faith, it is defiling to us.
Speaking or typing out dread, nervousness, hypercaution, worry or fear does great damage to our spirits.
It crushes us. It crushes many who are hearing or reading our dire reports as well.
Instead of ministering life, hope, faith and victory, too many believers are pawns in the enemy's hands, messengers of pending disaster.
It's astonishing how messages of fearlessness and faith and a resolve to stand against this foe in our nation are met with anger, often by Christians!
They have determined our faith is threatening their safety and that our holy confidence is foolishness.
Truth be told, when faith meets fear, those who live in fear can become quite enraged indeed.
Who Will Stand Against This Uncircumcised Philistine?
"And David said to the men who stood by him, 'What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?'" (1 Sam. 17:26, ESV).
This young man would have nothing to do with a paralyzed nation.
He refused to be intimidated, and his great, godly resolve was met with initial resistance, not from Goliath, but from his own people.
Not only was Goliath positioned against David, but his threats resulted in David's own family turning against him.
As if Goliath's army weren't enough, now he had the help of those in David's camp in shutting him down.
"Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men.
And Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, 'Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle'" (1 Sam. 17:28).
The moment a faith-filled believer determines to move forward in the face of fear is the moment those who are timid, cautious and tentative will launch their attack against them.
Accusations will fly.
They will determine that people of faith are presumptuous, driven by an evil heart, just as Eliab did with David.
Additionally, in this great biblical story, David rejected Saul's armor.
In the same way today, God is raising up people who don't put their trust in the supposed wisdom that seems obvious to everybody else.
They have an entirely different plan of action to bring destruction to a wicked assault of the enemy.
When you have faith a single stone will do.
But understand, that stone won't stop the accusations and assaults of the fearful.
It won't stop those who are walking by sight and not by faith from mocking your position or methods of battle.
Sadly, many in the camp of the Lord are doing all they can to silence their own brothers and sisters, people of faith who won't be intimidated by the threats that have caused everybody else to go into hiding.
Speak Life!
"No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper" (Isa. 54:17, MEV).
"Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter and from the deadly pestilence" (Ps. 91:3).
"You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day; nor of the pestilence that pursues in darkness, nor of the destruction that strikes at noonday" (Ps. 91:5-6).
"There shall be no evil befall you, neither shall any plague come near your tent" (Ps. 91:10).
"Look, I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. And nothing shall by any means hurt you" (Luke 10:19).
Now these are verses that should be repeated all over Facebook!
Speak life!
It's unsettling that so many people who name the name of Christ are filling their social media and conversations with bad reports.
They sound no different than the unredeemed of the world.
This must stop immediately if we hope to be a national church that moves in great supernatural power!
If you are triggered by negative news reports regarding a virus or any other threat, you have an opportunity to reject the tendency to share the bad news.
Instead, speak life! Be life-giving!
If you read bad news, don't confess it!
Instead, jump on Facebook and Twitter and announce to the world that "No plague shall come near your dwelling!"
Command the wicked strategies to come to nothing.
Take authority and trample on the serpents! Pick up your stone and run to the battle with joy bursting forth from your heart, abundant life exploding out of your spirit and victory resounding on your lips.
Allow everyone around you to be astonished that you are free, alive and not stricken by this wicked serpent as it's crushed under your feet!
Don't alert everybody to the taunts of Goliath.
Don't fill up your day relaying news reports of his encroaching position.
Quit warning everybody about his strength.
Don't devise a defensive plan to avoid him at all costs, to lock down in hiding and to just wait it out and hope for the best.
No! It's time to advance!
"The Philistine stepped forward morning and evening and took his stand daily for forty days" (1 Sam. 17:16).
The world needs to see you posting life not death, faith not fear!
Confront the evil spirit of the age that's taunting our nation!
Let no defiling word, report or confession come out of your mouth!
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit" (Prov. 18:21).
Both the lost and the church needs to hear you rejecting fear as you abound in unspeakable joy.
Decree an overcoming testimony over this nation.
Command the enemy to step back and declare with fiery boldness that our faith is more powerful than his mountain!
"My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life" (Prov. 4:20-23, ESV).
Let Psalm 27:13 and Psalm 19:14 be your meditation going forward, and fill up your conversations and social media posts with joyful, fearless, life-giving messages that focus on the goodness of the Lord, truths that will put fear into the enemies of our nation:
"I believe I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living" (Ps. 27:13).
"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer" (Ps. 19:14).
John Burton has been developing and leading ministries for over 25 years and is a sought out teacher, prophetic messenger and revivalist. John has authored ten books, is a regular contributor to Charisma Magazine, has appeared on Christian television and radio and directed one of the primary internships at the International House of Prayer (IHOP) in Kansas City. A large and growing library of audio and video teachings, articles, books and other resources can be found on his website at www.burton.tv. John, his wife Amy and their five children live in Branson, Missouri.
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