Bad News: Whose Report would you believe ?

"Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters.
 But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God".

1Samuel 30:6 (NKJV)

News could be true or false, good , exciting and encouraging or could be bad, sad and shocking news.

In order for news to qualify as useful and fit for purpose, it must contain fresh and up to date information which are relevant and valuable to the news readers , viewers and listeners.

Stale news is unexciting because it is news without the surprise factor . Being stale , it loses its impact  and as such stale news is received with indifference and is regarded as "old hat !"

Information or news whether good or bad ones,could be transmitted into human minds via print, electronic, psychological and spiritual means.

Daily , there is more of bad news than good news being reported in the print and electronic media not because there are no good news to report , but because no news sells better  and faster than bad news.

  Every day, the various News media broadcast  true reports of horrendous events , unusual crimes detailing depraved human behaviour and countless news reports of horrific events and various disasters ; both natural and man-made ones, which would shock and sadden normal human beings.

Bad news could be made up of false or true reports.

 It is often said that people should not believe everything heard, seen or read in the news media or in the  local grape vine ( gossip network).

However , some people love  to read the "juicy" bad news  and gossips about the affairs of their fellow men.  

Indeed there have been  some sensational "breaking news" and " hot news"  which were shocking scandals ,  gossips or sensational and attention- grabbing headlines, but even as such , they turned out  to be factual reports  and  true stories.

The greater the personalities involved in the scandals , the juicier the "breaking news" for public entertainment which generates more profits for the media houses.

Some media houses do not even bother  to confirm the veracity and accuracy of  their news before writing or broadcasting news reports about sensational  events and about famous people .

This brand of journalism has resulted in litigation for compensation against some media houses  resulting in payment of huge legal fines by them , in addition to loss of news credibility for their news organisation .

 

Good news or bad news could make or mar a person's day and entire life.

Sapping and demoralizing are the effects of hearing bad news ; therefore everybody hopes and prays not to be the topic of bad news or to receive bad news whether such bad news are true or false bad news about  themselves , their dear ones, their jobs , nations , cities or communities.
Bad news weighs down the soul ; evil reports hit one with the force of a speed train, knocking one completely off course.

Some bad news would stir up a lot of depression, anger, hate, sorrow and discouragement, in human lives even for a very long period of time.

 

There are persons who have been tagged "Bad News " because the presence of such persons is not welcome and their words lack credibility.

Their first name is "Bad News" not because they are notorious for reporting bad news , but  because they have a track record of leaving behind them their  trade marks of unforgettable and bitter memories for  persons who have had  the misfortune of having encounters with such "Bad News" persons.

Satan , his demonic spirits and demonic human agents generate  and transmit "Bad News".

These evil beings are the creators , the authors and senders of bad news beamed into human lives to destabilise and destroy them.

They set out to destroy peoples' belief in God and to make people forget who they are in God.

Satanic agents would never tell you and the world good news about you. They would deliberately ignore and refuse to report all that is good and beautiful news concerning you, but they are always eager and quick to report bad news to spread negative reports about their targets of hate . 

The dark cloud of bad news could be so intense that one would be incredulous about ever seeing any light in that very gloomy situation .

Even so ,in the face of bad news, whose report would you believe?
                                   

Truly,  for every dark cloud , there is a silver lining .

The hearer of bad news could survive its impact depending on his/ her reactions to the bad news.

Sometimes, our best wishes and good intentions could fail to prevent the occurrence or arrival of bad news.

 But our reactions to all bad news would determine  our survival of the evil impact of such news .

The bad news about the defeat of Israel in battle , the death of his sons and the capture of the Ark of God was very devastating news to Eli and his family.

1 Samuel 4:10- 22.

In moments of receiving Bad News ,what would be your reactions ?hose report would you believe?

Would you believe the very ugly and very bad news reports or would you believe the Truth about  your situations which is being eclipsed by bad news?
One could hear  very bad news but could refuse to be affected by it when one is filled with the  knowledge of the Truth about one's situations.

The truth is that we have the peaceful assurance from Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace that we have overcome every unpleasant event and distressing news and always, we shall overcome them  all.

" These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. 

In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer,  I have overcome the world.” John 16 : 33

 When confronted with the challenges of bad news,

the choice is clear : reject and refuse to be floored by the bad news received , or accept  it and be destabilised by it.

Whichever option is chosen would have attendant consequences , either good or bad on the lives of people.

 " Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things ".  
Philippians 4:8. King James Version (KJV)

 In the face of the bad news of defeat , great loss and sorrow , when David returned home to see his camp ransacked and all his loved ones abducted and carried away by his enemies , he was faced with a great dilemma  and with a number of choices , some not  too pleasant  to contemplate.

But in contrast to the reactions of Eli the High Priest and his daughter in law , David did not allow the bad news which he received to destroy him.

Even in the face of the destruction of his camp and the cries of  despair from all the people around him , David encouraged himself in the Lord his God because he knew the truth about the God he was serving .

1 Samuel 30:1-20.

David pursued , overtook and destroyed his enemies and he and his men recovered everyone and everything they had lost . 

Like David did , in the face of bad news and very grave challenges , we will believe the report of the Lord and ACT on the report of the Lord .

Never be grounded by bad news , but believe the report of the Lord and receive abundant grace to pursue  and possess the Truth concerning all your situations .
 Amen.

 

Life's Score Sheets

And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. 1 Samuel 17: 33.

Everybody has certain criteria which they base their decisions on.
Usually ,these criteria are set out in either written or mental "questionnaires"; and the extent of such would depend on whether the intended decisions are long term ones or on-the-spur decisions.
Most people have their preconceived score sheets with little boxes which they tick,"Yes" or "No"; either when they meet someone for the first time , or when they are shopping; for a new house , car, clothes , gadgets, foodstuff , groceries.
This "sizing up" or "checking out" is a normal aspect of human behaviour because box-ticking is indispensable in drawing up our "score sheets" which would enable us make up our minds regarding the people , things, places and life-styles which we would prefer and as planning tools for all life's projects..

Score sheets are necessary in everyday life ; for without score sheets , we would be taking a leap in the dark.
The Word of God advocates that we plan our projects carefully BEFORE embarking on them .
"For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying,This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Luke 14:28-30
When and if we can do so , we should tread carefully before choosing the right material things we need and before choosing our friends or anyone who we give access into our lives.
In life, the only persons we do not have the option to choose are our parents and other members of our families.
Although we are stuck with them for life ,we can choose the extent of our closeness or interaction with them; based on their score sheets.

The higher the good scores recorded on score sheets , the more the probability there would be a definite "yes" vote, for that particular person or thing.
However , much as score sheets are necessary; they have to be based not on human desires and preferences only, but on a surer way of "scoring".
Life's journey for some people , has been one of near-misses and regrets because they had gotten their priorities wrong, ticked the wrong boxes and failed to strike while the iron was hot!
Whenever we tick the wrong boxes, based on our human understanding, we would obtain misleading score sheets.
Be careful how you use score sheets! Even when the scores on a score sheet are the real facts concerning a thing or person , DISCERNMENT is required.
A correct score sheet or correct assessment might not be the TRUTH about that thing or person!

Prophet Samuel was sent by God to go anoint one of Jesse's seven sons as King.
But even Samuel, the man of vision , was dazzled and distracted by the physical attributes of some of Jesse's sons , to the extent that , Samuel almost failed to anoint the chosen son of Jesse , David as King of Israel!
Samuel was busy, innocently, awarding scores to his preferred candidates; until God called him to order! 1 Samuel 16:6-13.
If Samuel had missed it and failed to anoint David, a large chunk of Israel's glorious history would not have happened!
The fact was that David was an inexperienced young boy who had never seen nor tasted war before he challenged Goliath.
He did not qualify to receive "yes" ticks for any of the boxes on the score sheet required for a giant warrior slayer, whatsoever.
For these reasons , when David offered to confront Goliath, the mighty men of war present at the scene ridiculed David, accused him of pride {or and madness!} and they tried but failed to chase David off the battle-front!
Thanks be to God that David refused to be discouraged from fulfilling his appointment with his God-ordained destiny as a giant-killer!1 Samuel 17:23-30.

We know what happened in our lives yesterday, today is a wrapped up gift which we are still opening and have not seen the full contents yet and that is why it called "the present". And tomorrow ? We need help to know what "tomorrow" will bring.
To enable us achieve the ultimate and best score sheets which would lead invoke God's blessings, we need help from the One who sees the end from the beginning.
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5,6.
At times in our lives, God sends His Word through certain people; to minister the LIFE in Christ into our lives.
We have a choice to accept Him and His Word or we could miss out if we decided to reject His LIFE and to score God's word as "Not for me!"
"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death". Proverbs 14:12.

Naaman , the leprous Syrian general, almost missed out on his miracle because he felt scandalized by the mere suggestion of the condition required for his healing miracle.
Seven dips in the "small and filthy" River Jordan , of all the rivers on earth ?
"No way"!, he protested. Definitely not for a great Syrian general like him , he thought ! 2 Kings 5: 8-14.
At first , Naaman refused to obey the word of God's Prophet but thank God for Naaman; he did not miss the appointed place and time for his healing miracle.

Maybe you have listened to just a few sentences spoken by this preacher standing on the podium before you and, immediately , you "switched off", mentally.
You wish he or she would stop talking and stop assaulting your ears!
You are put off and disgusted and just don't want to hear any more stuff like this from the speaker:
"Has you ave hentered hinside this ouse of prayer today , God will surely hanswer all your prayers! Hamen!
People, please know that our God his ere halready. We does not see Him , but I can hassure you that has you ave hentered hinside this harena tonight , God his here halready! Hamen? Hamen!!"
Just because the man or woman standing before you does not measure up to your criteria of who you think should qualify as one of the preachers in an international Church programme ,you just don't wanna know , or hear any more!!
You think this grammatical fiasco from the podium does not "do it" for you and does not tick any of the "yes" boxes for qualities which a minister of the Gospel should possess?
So you sit there, almost bursting with suppressed laughter and you refuse to receive his or her ministration.
What if that same preacher who is , obviously, seriously grammatically challenged is the God-sent bearer of the Rhema word for your situation?

"Be in the Spirit always!", is the favourite frequent counsel by one of my beloved Pastors.
This is a faithful saying.
In our Faith Walk, the Bible has set out standards to guide us concerning the right things to say , to think and to do; that is our God-approved score sheet.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if be any praise, think on these things.
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you ". Philippians 4:8,9.

Do you have an assignment from God but even now, you are facing some challenges because of certain limitations which seem insurmountable ?
You could be discouraged because of the "mountains" and of Man's score sheets.
Maybe it is even YOU who have scored yourself and from your score sheets, you have become deflated because you seem too small in your own eyes!
But whose report shall we believe ?
Have you forgotten that faithful is He who has called you and He is able to equip you and make you as polished stones fit for Kings' palaces?
We shall believe the report of the Lord!
God is able to cancel all the negative score sheets and contrary handwriting of ordinances against our destinies.
There shall be testimonies in the mouth of people ,concerning us.
The glory of God in our lives shall bring forth declarations about us, thus:"You are now the blessed of the Lord!" Amen.