There are many things wrong in today’s world. There may also be many things wrong in your life as it stands today. Let me encourage you, though, not to magnify your problems.
Magnify: To make great or enlarge
Pebbles become boulders under enough magnification.
When problems become important enough to arrest your attention, a few things can happen. If you’re a person of faith, you can magnify God, or you can magnify your problems. Again, if the situation is important enough to you, you’ll do one or other.
You won’t be able to just forget it and move on.
A person who doesn’t believe in God might choose alcohol or a drug as a way of coping with the troubling thoughts that bombard their mind.
One way or another, people need to cope with what the bible calls and “evil report.” In the Book of Numbers, twelve spies went into the promised land to see what it was like and bring back the report to the camp.
Numbers 13:30-33 AKJV
(30) And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
(31) But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
(32) And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched to the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eats up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.
(33) And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
It goes on to say that God judged the people for walking in fear and doubt. Only Joshua and Caleb entered into the promised land in which God swore to bring them and deliver into their hands.
It’s really the same today.
The media is filled with evil reports. Even Christian media sites and blogs magnify such topics as financial collapse, plagues, the illuminati and the working of Satan in today’s world.
Some Christian people have their faith more developed in Satan’s ability to destroy more than they do God’s ability to protect, heal and restore. The good news of the Gospel is lost amidst the “latest news” of blood moons, solar eclipses and YouTube videos magnifying the works of darkness.
Part of this is what I call “End Time Fatigue.” Since 1948 and then again in 1967, many believers have been caught up in watching for the “signs of the times.” But here’s the thing, we don’t know the day or the hour. We can see and sense the season by certain outward signs, but a season with God can last a very long time. Besides this is the fact that believers in Jesus Christ aren’t supposed to be following signs or led by modern prophets. They’re supposed to be led by Him, through the Holy Spirit.
John 16:13 AKJV
(13) However, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
Don’t misunderstand, I’m not saying that we should pretend that evil doesn’t exist or live within a dream world of our own making. What I’m saying is, read the Gospel of John. Read the letters of John written to the believers of his time. He mentioned there was darkness in the world as well as anti-christs… but that’s not the foundation or spirit he wrote or spoke in.
He didn’t go into great details about what Satan was doing in the world at the time. Instead, he encouraged, exhorted and uplifted those who believed. Death and life are in the power of the tongue. The original disciples knew this information firsthand as they received it directly from Jesus Christ. Paul and the others did likewise, giving people hope and not magnifying the works of the devil. Those who personally walked with Jesus magnified the power of God at work through the Holy Spirit. They magnified the ability of God in their lives and the potential to do the same in the lives of those who received their word.
They didn’t complain about Caesar or the state of affairs in Rome. They didn’t magnify the problems causing the people to fear and then sign off with a general, “but God’s in control so don’t worry.”
No, they went into detail about how we’re seated with Christ in Heavenly places. They talked about the power of love, forgiveness and God’s Word. They taught patience, perseverance and the faithfulness of God. They magnified the world to come and gave hope to people.
They magnified and focused on what God and Jesus Christ were doing in their lives and so can you.
Psalm 69:30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
Luke 1:46 And Mary said, My soul does magnify the Lord,
Acts 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.
It’s easy to give into doubt, fear and unbelief. Faith is a fight. You don’t have to fight to enter into doubt and have it fill your thoughts and heart. All you have to do is look around and listen to what others are saying. That’s what cause the entire nation of Israel to die outside of the Promised Land with the except of 2 men – Joshua and Caleb.
Today, countless Christian people are defeated and die looking at the promises of God from afar off. I’m not saying they’re not genuine or even that they’re not trying to move forward in their lives. Many have simply turned the Bible into a book of theory and man-based wisdom.
1 Corinthians 2:4-5 AKJV
(4) And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
(5) That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Without the power of God at work in your life, all the teachings, books, seminars and videos do is give you information or head knowledge.
No program on earth can change things inside of you like God can. First, though, you have to truly believe in the power of God as it pertains to your personal experience. Not just a general, overall knowledge of it.
Your faith can’t even rest in your own wisdom and insight. There isn’t anything wrong with coming to a place where you don’t know what to do next. When you come to the end of a thing, you can rest and put the outcome in God’s hand. Over and over again, Grace, Mercy and Peace are wished to us in the New Testament. Grace is the actual power that saves a person and delivers them from every form of evil (physical or spiritual). Mercy is what enables you to receive God’s Grace. Finally, Peace is the end result of the power and presence of God in your life – now and in the age to come.
Remember, Jesus said that he came that we might have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). If you don’t have peace in your life, what do you really have?
Philippians 4:6-8 AKJV
(6) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
(7) And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
(8) Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.