Having established that we are sons, daughters, and ambassadors of God, we must understand that our relationship with Jesus, our Lord and Savior, entitles us to live in a state of “Hope.” Not a desperate, fear-laden hope as in “I hope it will work out well, but a confident hope an assurance, trust or faith that God is in control. He knows my situation, and He is for me and not against me. All of these statements are supported by many scripture verses, which is the Word of God; and God does not lie! 

The COVID-19 or Coronavirus pandemic has caught the attention of every person in every nation of the world. It’s fitting to look at what the Word of God has to say about this sickness, and what our response should be as Christians. Our response is to “fear not”! Look at what the following scriptures say about the term “fear not”: 

• Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
• Isaiah 41:13 For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’
• Isaiah 43:1 But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.
• John 12: 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

As believers in Jesus Christ our response should be to “fear not”. Now I agree that it is easier to say “fear not” than to live fearlessly!

The Truth about Fear

God has something to say about these three emotions!

• Worry To feel uneasy or concerned about something; be troubled. Matt 6:25-34 Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…
• Anxiety Uneasy and apprehensive about an uncertain event or matter. Phil 4:6-9 “Be anxious for nothing…”
• Fear A feeling of agitation and anxiety caused by the presence or imminence of danger (real or perceived). 2 Tim 1:7 God has not given us the spirit of fear…

Worry, anxiety, and fear are not of God, especially when they prevent you from doing what God wants to do. Fear is natural to the human condition, but God has given us someone who can help us overcome our fears, the Holy Spirit. That is why we are encouraged to stir up the gift (singular) the Holy Spirit (daily). Stirring up the gift of the Holy Spirit means that we are operating in the anointing, fulfilling the purpose and plan of God for our lives. This process should occur in our everyday lives. Opportunities arise to pray for and with individuals and to do the works of God in Christian charity (Matt 25:31-46).

When the anointing of God is operating in our lives, we develop closeness to God, which builds our faith that He is in control. Fear, on the other hand, generally implies that you are powerless in the situation. If your focus is on fear, it can’t be on Jesus!

The more actively you involve the Holy Spirit in your daily life, the more assurance you have in His ability to care for you. Your testimony (declaring what God is doing) builds faith and confidence in Him. It is for this reason that we are encouraged not to be fearful. Being fearful forces us to “pull back.” There is a power in testifying of God’s provision that produces trust over worry; peace over anxiety and courage over fear.

Fear is part of the natural condition. Scientists call it the flight or fight reflex. That means that when we are fearful, we want to either run from the situation or resist the situation! However, some people instead of running or fighting, become paralyzed and do nothing! As Christians we have not been given the spirit of fear, which leads to paralysis. 

What Should Our Response Be to Fear?

There are two sides to fear, actual fear (rational), and perceived fear (irrational). It is so important to know the difference.

• Rational – There was a real fear among the Christians who were being persecuted by the religious Jews, Acts 8:4, “Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.” You see what the enemy meant for evil God turned for good.
• Irrational – this kind of fear magnifies the fear to unrealistic proportions and leads to disappointment, discouragement, depression.

2 Timothy 1:6-7 “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 

• Stir up as in stir up the ashes to re-kindle the fire. 
• Gift of God is the Holy Spirit, His anointing
• Fear is timidity: fear.
• Power dunamis – force, miraculous power: ability, abundance, worker of miracles.
• Love – agape unconditional love in spite of the circumstances.

Sound mind – discipline, self-control.

Phil 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

The Key to Overcoming Fear as a Christian.

2 Cor 10:3 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”

1. Disappointment is Universal.  Almost everyone has been disappointed at one time or another.
2. Disappointment is Recurring. You may overcome disappointment one week, only to face it again the next.
3. Disappointment is Contagious.  Watch out for those who want to pull you down by indulging in negativity and self-pity.
4. Discouragement is Unpredictable. You never know when it will strike you or a loved one.
5. Disappointment is Temporary. It will pass if you respond correctly.

Don’t allow disappointment, which is an unfulfilled hope or expectation to turn into discouragement, which is a loss of hope. 

Meditate on this verse as you face life this week, Psalms 31:24, “Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the Lord.

It seems clear that Jesus is saying that our focus in life needs to be “the kingdom of God” that is the spiritual nature of the kingdom on earth and seeking His righteousness, which is pursuing what is right in God’s eyes, not necessarily what we think is right. All of this means that we need to be sure that we are pursuing the truth and not a lie. For all of us will experience trouble, but we need not be afraid, for Jesus is with us by His Holy Spirit. 

The Apostle Paul warns us in Colossians 2:8, “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” What the Apostle Paul was saying is to make sure you are following the truth and not just what sounds appealing. I recently read a quote that speaks to being careful who or what you follow, “Any halfway clever devil would decorate the highway to Hell as beautiful as possible.” Anon. We must be cautious, all of us can be influenced by what we would rather hear or see than the truth. However, it’s the truth of God that will set you free!

THE CONTROVERSY

The subject of prosperity or poverty is one of those subjects of debate throughout Christendom. The two extreme sides are the “name-it and claim-it” group, and the “poverty is Godliness” group.

• The “name-it and claim-it” group believes that God wants to give them every earthly riches, ease, and pleasure. Just release your faith, and God will give it to you. You are a “King’s kid” therefore, you deserve it all. These are very appealing ideas but fly against the truth of God’s Word, as we will see.

• On the other hand, the “poverty is Godliness” people proclaim that suffering in this life is the means of glory in the next life in Heaven. That sacrifice, going without, and suffering is the means of glorifying God. Frankly, that is not such an appealing idea, and it also goes against what God’s Word says. 

Now you might conclude from these two extreme statements that the truth must lie between the two!  A little bit of pain and a little bit of joy, but also that is incorrect. So, what is the truth about prosperity and suffering according to the Scriptures?

NO ONE ESCAPES THIS LIFE UNSCATHED FROM TROUBLES.

Trials and tribulation, you will have! No one escapes it. It is a part of life on earth, and the Scriptures make that clear. The word tribulation or tribulations is used over 30 times in the New Testament. Jesus never talks about Believers avoiding the trials and tribulations of life but that as Believers pressing through them. It is how we handle the trials and tribulations of life that glorify God!

Glorifying Jesus through our words and deeds is the point of the Christian life. Whether in prosperity or poverty! It is your love for God that glorifies Him. By love, I mean love, not as a sentimental love or feeling but a love that obeys Jesus regardless of the trials and tribulations we find ourselves in. This kind of love demonstrates faithfulness, whether you are in prosperity or poverty, success or failure, happiness or sadness, health, or sickness. 

We must be careful to understanding that there is a Worldly perspective and a Biblical perspective of the world we live in. In many ways, they are opposed to one another. Jesus makes it clear that we are in the world but not of the world, and our citizenship is Heaven- even now. We are now ambassadors representing the King of kings and the Lord of lords on this earth.

DEFINING RICHES – THE WORLD AND GOD’S VIEW

World view– Riches, success, or wealth can be referred to by the three G’s- Gold, girls/guys, glitter, in other words, money, lust, and power. Look at what 1 John 1:15 has to say about the world view, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” In light of these verses, you have to ask the question, are you seeking His righteousness?

God’s view– has to do more with who you are rather than what you want in life! In other words, God is more interested in your character than your image, position, or possessions. Jesus wants you to move in the nature of the Holy Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. You see, if you have His Holy Spirit and His Holy Spirit has you- then and only then will you experience the love and peace of God which surpasses all understanding!

DEFINING POVERTY – THE WORLD AND GOD’S VIEW

World view- The world’s view of prosperity is connected to happiness. Happiness depends on the conditions you find yourself in. When everything around you is good, then you are happy. Yet, if the circumstances are bad, then you are unhappy. Therefore, circumstances control your happiness. If you can’t control your circumstances, you will be unhappy! Everyone will agree that we are not always in control of our circumstances.

God’s view- Jesus is more interested in your joy than happiness. Joy does not depend on circumstances. Joy depends on knowing Jesus and being in a relationship with Him. John 15:9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

Mother Teresa said the following: “We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for is the greatest poverty.” 

PROSPERITY

The word prosperity in the Bible has more to do with success in the journey we call life than the accumulation of possessions or wealth. It is being at peace with your situation, knowing that God is truly in control. It’s embracing the promise that He, the Lord, will never leave you nor forsake you. It’s knowing that all things are possible with God! Listen to what Paul says in  Ephesians 1:17, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.” This is what prosperity is in Christ!

As leaders, we cannot preach what is popular, we must preach the truth! There is no doubt that the prosperity message of success and wealth is popular, but it appeals to the wrong spirit. Leaders can attract crowds and followers by preaching the prosperity message alone. However, many fall away when trials and tribulations come. And that is because they are taught to ask, but they ask amiss, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” (James 4:3)

3John1:2, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” When your soul prospers because of your personal journey with Jesus, you will genuinely prosper in all things. You will possess something that the world cannot, nor can it understand, the spiritual nature of your peace. Regardless of your circumstances right now, you are born-again; you are a son/daughter of God, your eternal life is secure, and you have a friend in Jesus.

CONCLUSION:

Prosperity or poverty? That is the question!

God wants you to be successful. It isn’t that God doesn’t want you to have material blessings; the issue is your motivation. Why do you want success! Is your desire for success to please the Lord or to please yourself?