“The Lord has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does. He said, “Don’t call everything a conspiracy, like they do, and don’t live in dread of what frightens them. Make the Lord of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life. He is the One you should fear. He is the One who should make you tremble. He will keep you safe.
Isaiah 8:11-14a NLT
“Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. ”
2 Corinthians 6:17-18 NLT
How do you receive God’s Word? Is it literal to you or do you read it as merely a collection of words written by men? Do you read it as His voice speaking to you? It does matter how you view God’s Word. Your entire spiritual well-being depends on how you view biblical truths. All not some parts of it is God breathe. 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Every time you open your Bible, it’s an opportunity to hear His voice.
The passage in Isaiah stood out to me because of how it starts. The Lord has given me a strong warning. And then the writer, Isaiah proceeded to tell us what the warning was. Because I take the Word of God literally, when those words leapt off the pages on June 20, 2020, I received it as a word to me personally from the Holy Spirit. As I listened intently, I understood the warning as something that could be applied to current events in my life and as a teacher of God’s Word. It was given soon after Morning Messages was launched on June 1, 2020. There are no coincidences with God.
I can’t think like everyone else does, I can’t agree with everyone’s assessment of certain situations, and I can’t be frightened or walk in dread of what frightens others. Maybe there were those who thought Isaiah was arrogant, but he wasn’t taking his orders from the masses, and neither was I. I have made the Lord holy in my life and fear Him. During this pandemic, that’s the position I’ve chosen to take. I’ve made the decision to tremble at His Word and He has promised to keep me safe.
Is that the position that you have taken as well? Or has Covid become your god? Is the threat of another lockdown making you dread and tremble about what it all will mean for your bottom line? If you have made the Lord of heaven’s armies your fear, then you can’t think like everyone else. I’ve been accused of believing that Jesus can heal anything. I say “guilty as charged.” I suppose that was meant to
Insult me lol. But I’m not the one freaking out over the daily news reports. Like I said dead people can’t die. Whatever God has in store for me is not tied to a pandemic.
People who have misplaced fear have not met the One who said “do not fear.” They have not surrendered their lives to Jesus. When you know where you’re going, death doesn’t scare you. Some people have made Dr. Fauci their god. They hang on his every word. Yet here’s Isaiah saying that God has told him and is telling us, not to live in dread of what frightens those who trust in anyone but the Lord. Do you believe God’s Word? Or are you more confident in the so called experts? The truth is the experts haven’t a clue. While they’re making a name for themselves, only Jehovah holds all wisdom and knowledge.
Our testimonies are more than surviving Covid. Our greater witness is not living in dread. I must admit that not much has changed in the way I live my life. I haven’t lost my joy or my faith. My hope is built on Christ alone. I’m neither arrogant nor ignorant, I’m confident in my God. His Word is the reality that I believe in and live by. You should be shouting amen and hallelujahs in agreement with me. If you’re not -shame on you. God’s Word is infallible. If He says we should have a different mindset, we should! If He said don’t fear, we shouldn’t! If He said fear Him, we should! If He said He’ll keep us safe , we should believe that He will, period!
Come out from among unbelievers, separate yourself from faith and joy stealers. Walk away from the barrage of incessant bad news. Fill your minds with God’s news of hope and protection. If you can’t bring life to the conversation then see your way out of it. Don’t add to the darkness -be the light. That’s your role as a God fearing child of the King. Yes we wear the masks in public places, but not out of fear of catching a disease. We should be proof of God’s promise of protection. I have chosen to live with His assurance, that’s why Covid couldn’t hang around my house.
Isaiah chose to accept the Lord’s warning. I have, and I pray you will too.🙏
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant