Rooted (Part 2): Fearing the Lord Despite COVID

[Spanish| French | Creole]

Dear GTH Friend, we hope you enjoyed the powerful Word released on Jan 1, 2021 by Prophet Shyju, ROOTED! In Part One of the series, we learnt how God remembers the root! Today, in Part Two of this series, we will uncover how to protect the believer and grow roots deep through fear of the Lord! Draw near as we hear wisdom from Heaven with this timely Word.

One word known across the globe today is COVID. This global pandemic since March 2020, has predicated global instability on an unprecedented level. As a child of God, you may ask, what should our response be?

The enemy seems to be working overtime to create fear.

We are bombarded with social media warnings, news of further lockdowns and witness nations struggling on every continent. Are we panicked by the daily images we see? How can we maintain our fear of the Lord? How do we trust the invisible God Whom we don’t see, when our soul is being plagued with images of sickness and sorrow before our eyes?

Hebrews 11:1 states, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” You see, faith is a substance that we do not see, similar to those deep roots in the musty ground far below a towering tree. In timez of tribulation, it can be easy to lose heart and lose faith, when the persecution you see is real and the tribulation is everywhere. A rooted response exalts the force of God Whom we know rather than the forces that we see in this current struggle.

In Matthew 10:28, Jesus says, “Do not fear the ones that cannot touch your soul. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Fear Him who can destroy both the body and the soul! In this season, may you be a rooted believer in Christ! As Christ has exhorted, we must fear God, not man.

We must fear God alone.

Psalm 1 illustrates the choice of rooted living before God –

1: Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

Certainly, the ungodly have plenty of airspace. An ungodly neighbour may seek to advise, the friend will push open the gate, without reverence of God, but still intent on sharing free counsel with you! Flee such voices!

2: But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

The godly choose God, delighting in the Lord and His ways, day and night. Is your delight in the law of the Lord? The Lord has certain expectations and desires for us. Do you delight in your own desires or in pleasing the Lord! Do you meditate day and night on His Word? As you delight in His ways, and meditate upon His Word, day and night, your roots will certainly flourish!

The psalmist describes our planted reality in God as constant ever-bearing prosperity:

3. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

Friend, the one who remains rooted in the Word of God, meditating on the Word of God day and night, manifests a reality, for regardless of current drought or trouble, your leaves shall not wither!

If you are rooted like a majestic oak tree, unwavering in the wind, when storms come, you won’t pay attention to them.

As we fear the Lord and focus on his Word, whatever the enemy has prepared, God already knows and He has equipped us to overcome!

Remember, in all things, God is not surprised!

When humans plot, the Bible says, “God sits in heaven and laughs”. (Psalm 2:4) So, whatever happens, during these difficult times, stay rooted in the Lord.

This week, will you intentionally pick up the Bible? Will you humble your heart and read a little more than how you usually read? Will you take time to bow your knees to God in heaven? Will you know the fear of the Lord once more?

People of God, make an intentional choice, make up your mind and declare, “God, I will be a rooted tree!”

Let us resist all evil, free ourselves from the weight of sin that pulls us down, and before the clouds of witnesses that are watching us, let us run towards the prize, that He that called us to, for He is faithful! The One who called us is faithful!! In this hour, may you depend on the Lord more than ever before!

Now, may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your spirit, soul and body be kept blameless until the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And He who called you is faithful and He will surely do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

Stay rooted in Christ and be blessed beyond your wildest imaginings!

We hope you have enjoyed this second installment of our ROOTED series. To watch the corresponding sermon by Prophet Shyju Mathew, head to these links in the following languages: English, French, Italian, Spanish and Telugu! Please, share this with a friend and may the blessing of this powerful Word change nations!