Kategorie: protection

It will not remain dark

Posted on by Rahel Oberholzer

This morning I was reminded of my year’s motto for 2020. Every New Year’s Eve I pick a verse for the new year. Before that I pray that God will guide it so that the right verse will be chosen. To be honest I could not make sense of my verse until today. But now I realised that it fits perfectly into the current situation:

Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. Isaiah 9:1

The world is currently sinking into fear and terror because of a spreading virus. Yes, it is a dark time, but it won’t last. This attack will pass. The whole world is waiting for a glimmer of hope, for the light at the end of the tunnel. And we believers have the answer: Jesus is the light! And because we are in Jesus, we too are the light in this world.

Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. Luke 9:1

If you believe in Jesus, you are also his disciple. Therefore this verse applies to every believer. Jesus gave us His authority and power. We have the right to use the name of Jesus.

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth. Philippians 2:9-10

The name of Jesus stands above all other names. So the name of Jesus is also above the name of this virus. When we speak the name of Jesus, every knee must bow. Everything that has a name must bow to the name of Jesus. So let us speak the name of Jesus!

So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. Luke 17:6

If you have even the slightest hope that something will change when you speak the name of Jesus, you have faith like a mustard seed. The Bible says that faith is the substance of things hoped for (Hebrews 11:1). We all hope that this virus attack will pass. But unlike the world, we have a living hope. We know who holds our lives in his hand and we know who is more powerful than anything else: Jesus! Instead of cowering fearfully in our homes and waiting with everyone else, let us stand up courageously and together as the body of Christ use our authority and power. As believers in Christ we have the right to speak the name of Jesus and God himself has promised us that every knee must bow to this name. The world is at its wits‘ end, but we have Jesus, we have the answer. Let us carry out our mission and declare together: “In the name of Jesus Christ I command this coronavirus to be stopped. I say stop, no further, in Jesus‘ name. Coronavirus be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea in Jesus‘ name.”

A simple prayer, yet so effective. By speaking the name of Jesus and stopping this virus in his name, we put all our trust in the one who causes real change: Jesus Christ!

It is written

Posted on by Rahel Oberholzer

It’s important to know, how you can handle challenges and problems in life so that you will be victorious. Jesus showed us how it’s done. When Jesus was in the desert he was tempted by the devil. First the devil told him to command the stones to become bread, then he prompted him to throw himself down from the temple and at last he wanted Jesus to worship him. Jesus’ answer to all these temptations was the same:

Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. Matthew 4,10-11

Jesus‘ answer was always: It is written! He didn’t argue with the devil, but used the one instrument that would silence the devil: the word of God. The same way we should handle problems, challenges, doubts and fears in our life. Counter these things with the word of God and circumstances must bow to the word of God, just as the devil left Jesus because he can’t counter anything against God’s word. Jesus used the word of God, was victorious and angels were ministering to him. This raises the question what is so special about the word of God that drives all adversities including the devil himself back.

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. John 17,17

Here we find the key: The word of God is truth! Wow, do you know what this means? We are so often concentrated on what we see, hear or feel. All these things may be real, but the truth is the word of God. This means there is more than the visible world. If God’s word is truth and you don’t see this truth in your life yet, it doesn’t mean bad luck for you and it’s not working for you. It only means you stand on God’s word and counter your circumstances with: It is written! Don’t let adversities scare you off but use the word of God boldly.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4,12

God’s word is living and powerful. It is so mighty that nothing can stand against it. Swing your sword and see how Jesus leads you to victory! The bible calls the word of God the sword of the Spirit and this is part of the armor of God which God gave you so you are victorious in life (Ephesians 6,17). Whatever your challenge is, look up bible verses that suit your situation and use them. Maybe your bank account is in the red. Use the word of God: It is written: And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4,19). If a sickness is ailing you, use the word of God: It is written, with his wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53,5). Maybe you long for a spouse, use the word of God: It is written, it is not good that the man should be alone (Genesis 2,18). Whatever it is, counter your problems with the word of God and live victorious. For Jesus always leads you to victory!