Not By Human Hands (Part I) – Pastor Chuck
“Not By Human Hands” – Daniel 2:44,45
“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.
Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!” Zechariah 4:6,7a
As a Pastor and as a disciple of Jesus I am most interested in how we as believers respond to bad news.
With the rise of a new wave of concern washing over our world through the media I want to encourage all of us to pay close attention to the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit which helps us to navigate through difficult times.
What I noticed early on in 2020 was that the media did not simply report, it told us what to anticipate and it did this without ceasing. This perpetuated a narrative of fear and anticipation of the worst.
In contrast, the Psalmist David declared, “I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13. How is that for anticipation?
When I heard about the new COVID-19 variant of concern and saw the headlines I knew that this would affect people negatively. One of the headlines recently read: “Wary, weary world slams doors shut, fearing omicron variant.”
I pray that as disciples of Jesus ours would be a very different response. “All the more” let us shine His light and move forward with the assignments the Lord gives us.
In my message on Sunday I mentioned this headline: *Five things to know about Omicron, new COVID-19 ‘variant of concern’
I mentioned #5: “It is tanking markets.” I wanted to contrast this with the Word of God. Our God is Jehovah Jireh meaning God’s provision will be seen. He is the God of limitless resources and miraculous power.
Brothers and sisters, we are not to read headlines like the world reads headlines. I decided to respond by writing five biblical things Christians need to know when it comes to Omicron. This is in no way an exhaustive Scriptural response to this new variant. However, it is an attempt to encourage our hearts and to exhort us to hear what the Spirit is saying. We have come into the Kingdom for such a time as this.
May His unstoppable Gospel spread throughout the entire world!
1. John 14:27
Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.
2. 2 Timothy 1:7
For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind
3. Hebrews 2:14,15
Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, so that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,
Only in this way could He set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.
4. 1 John 4:18
Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid…we have not fully experienced His perfect love.
5. **Philippians 4:19
But my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Grace and Peace