by Don Finto | Jan 19, 2021 | The Good Report
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV).
Many of us probably identify with Peter. He would make bold statements and even take bold actions, only to fall flat on his face a few moments later. Or perhaps I should say only to fall in the water a few moments later.
Remember the time when Jesus walked out on the Sea of Galilee to join the disciples when their “boat was already a considerable distance from the land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it” (Matthew 14:24)?
When they saw Jesus, they were terrified. They thought they must be seeing a ghost. But then Jesus cried out, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
Peter’s whole perception changed immediately. He took his eyes off the waves and looked at Jesus: “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” Jesus said.
So Peter, with eyes still fixed on Jesus, “got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.”
Stop and imagine this. Peter did something he never imagined that he could do – as long as his eyes were fixed on Jesus.
But when he looked at the waves, he began to sink.
We are living in stormy times. Some of the waves are fierce. But as long as we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, we will walk forward in strength. If we begin to focus our attention on the waves, we will begin to sink.
The story goes that Smith Wigglesworth would not allow a newspaper in his home. He did not want to focus on the reports coming from man, but on the message that was coming from God.
May we all run with confidence the race marked out for us, “fixing our eyes on Jesus.”
by Don Finto | Apr 15, 2020 | The Good Report, Uncategorized
This Psalm has been a strength for many believers who turn to the Bible looking for answers during this trying and unknown time. The psalmist even foresaw times like the one in which the world is experiencing now. Twice he spoke of being protected from the pestilence – the “deadly pestilence” and “the pestilence that stalks in the darkness.” Once he speaks of the “plague that destroys at midday.”
But the opening verse is the key for our focus: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”
Dwelling in the LORD brings rest.
Paul tells us that “God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:8). And from our perspective with God, we see Him at work in all situations. He will never allow the enemy to win the battle. Jesus has been given “all authority” not only in heaven but also “on earth” (Matthew 28:18).
Let us pray for all those who will turn to the Lord during this worldwide “pestilence/plague.” Let us become the believers who put our trust in Him, trusting that even this will be turned for our good as we trust in Him.
by Don Finto | Apr 1, 2020 | The Good Report
Turning plagues into prayers
Four scriptures from John’s
Revelation stir me to turn the present plague into prayers. In Revelation 9:20,
after the trumpet plagues had been sent across the earth, John mourns that “the
rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of
the work of their hands,” indicating that God can use plagues in a way of
calling people to repentance.
Similar frustration is
expressed following the bowls of wrath that are reported in chapters 15 and 16.
“They were seared by the intense heat and cursed the name of God, who had
control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him” (16:9).
“Men gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heavens because of
their pain and their sores, but they refused to repent for what they had done”
(16:10-11).
However there can be another
response. Following the two witnesses, John reports, “At that very hour there
was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand
people were killed in the earthquake and the survivors were terrified and gave
glory to the God of heaven” (11:13). Giving glory to God implies that there was
repenting going on.
Let us pray that this present
crisis will be used of God to turn the hearts of thousands, even millions of
hearts to Jesus. Do remember the prophecy about a billion soul world revival
beginning in our day.
Let us be filled with hope
and with joy in Jesus. Let us turn this plague into a “good report.” To the
glory of God! Through Jesus the King!
by Don Finto | Mar 25, 2020 | The Good Report
“Do not fear” Luke 12:32
This word from the very erudite C. S. Lewis is a fitting
“Good Report.”
From his book, “Present Concerns: Journalistic
Essays,” published in 1948.
Substitute “atomic bomb” with “coronavirus,”
and you will find—though written 72 years ago—it is still very accurate and
encouraging to this day.
“In one way we think a great deal too much of
the atomic bomb. “How are we to live in an atomic age?” I am tempted to reply:
“Why, as you would have lived in the sixteenth century when the plague visited
London almost every year, or as you would have lived in a Viking age when
raiders from Scandinavia might land and cut your throat any nigaht; or indeed,
as you are already living in an age of cancer, an age of syphilis, an age of
paralysis, an age of air raids, an age of railway accidents, an age of motor
accidents.
In other words, do not let us begin by
exaggerating the novelty of our situation. Believe me, dear sir or madam, you
and all whom you love were already sentenced to death before the atomic bomb
was invented: and quite a high percentage of us were going to die in unpleasant
ways. We had, indeed, one very great advantage over our ancestors—anesthetics;
but we have that still. It is perfectly ridiculous to go about whimpering and
drawing long faces because the scientists have added one more chance of painful
and premature death to a world which already bristled with such chances and in
which death itself was not a chance at all, but a certainty.
This is the first point to be made: and the
first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together. If we are all going to
be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing
sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to
music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a
pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and
thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but
they need not dominate our minds.”
“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to
give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).
Be outrageously blessed in Jesus this and every
day.
by Don Finto | Mar 18, 2020 | The Good Report
An interesting passage in the beginning of the book of
Judges: “These are the nations the LORD left to test all those Israelites who
had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan (he did this only to teach
warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle
experiences)” (3:1-2).
That does not sound like a “Good Report” to me, but it
actually was. It was essential for the younger generation to learn how to
fight. God’s view is often very different from our own.
I suspect that the worldwide pandemic about the coronavirus
is another one of those strange things that God is allowing so that we will
learn how to weather every storm that comes between now and His return. If my
understanding of Scripture is close to accurate, we are headed toward the most
horrific time in world history. Daniel calls it “a time of distress such as has
not happened from the beginning of nations until then” (12:1). Jesus adds an
addendum to Daniel’s prophecy, saying that it will be “great distress, unequaled
from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again”
(Matthew 24:21).
I have bad news. It’s going to get worse.
But I have good news. God will be with us and give us
strength for every occasion.
Could it be that He is allowing the worldwide coronavirus so
that, like Israel in the time of the Judges, we learn how to wage war and come
through in victory at all times and in every way?
Let us lean into the Lord and have no fear. Remember that
Jesus has “all authority” not only in heaven but all “on earth” (Matthew
28:18). The coronavirus did not catch Him off guard. He’s got it.
So “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory… stand firm. Let nothing move you.” (1
Corinthians 15:57-58).
by Don Finto | Feb 26, 2020 | The Good Report
Know your identity!
I love John’s description of the night when Jesus washed all
the disciples’ feet. John says, “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things
under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God, so he
got up from the meal… and began to wash
his disciples’ feet” (13:3-4).
Jesus knew who He was. He knew His identity. His actions
came out of his God-given confidence.
Do you know who you are? Are you confident of your
God-identity? Life and actions should follow our God-identity.
I encourage everyone I know to write for themselves their
God-identity, based on scriptural facts, then memorize the statement and
repeatedly speak it to yourself. This rids us of demoralizing negative self-talk,
and then we grow in a walk with joy and confidence. Here are some possible
starters for you:
*All of my sins are forgiven in
Jesus (Romans 3).
*I have become righteous in Him (2
Corinthians 5:21).
*I have a secure future.
*He works everything for my good –
everything! (Romans 8:28)
*I refuse to walk only by what I
see or feel (2 Corinthians 5:7).
*I hear when God speaks (John 8:47;
John 10:27).
*I am becoming more like Jesus
(Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18)
*I refuse to dwell on the past
(Isaiah 43:18).
You get the point. God has a different view of us than we
have of ourselves. As an example of this, check out God’s view of Moses (Exodus
3:11, 13; 4:1, 10, 13), Gideon (Judges 6:11,12), or Jeremiah (1:4-8) as opposed
to their view of themselves.
Know your identity in Jesus. Speak that identity to yourself
repeatedly, and you will begin to believe God more than you believe yourself,
and you will walk in greater joy, confidence, faith and hope into the future.
Have a blessed life.
