Jesse Duplantis - Dont be affected by the worlds message

Don't Be Affected by the World's Message

ach day we are confronted with messages of lack, Edestruction and death. We live in a world filled with bad news! Through television, the Internet, radio, newspapers and even our closest friends and family, we're constantly hearing unbelieving and disheartening words. It seems that people like to hear bad news, and they like to repeat it even more!

If you're saved, then you know that there is Good News in Jesus Christ. God has made a way for us to shed anxiety and fear and deal with this world's negativity by using our faith in God. You see, every day we are given the opportunity to be affected by the world's message. Every day we've got a choice to makeWill we let what they say affect us, or will we tune into what God is saying and let what He says affect us instead?

Jesus, Jairus and a Woman with an Issue

The story of Jesus, Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood gives us a good example of how to tune out the world's message in favor of God's message. Jairus was a high official of the church, a ruler in the synagogue. He was desperate and filled with anxiety over his only daughter's nearing death as he joined the multitude waiting for Jesus.

And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received Him: for they were all waiting for Him.

And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: And he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought Him that He would come into his house: for he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay dying. But as he went the people thronged him.

Luke 8:40-42

By this time, the rulers and high officials in the church had become strongly opposed to Jesus and His teachings. They hated Jesus so much that they had made plans to kill Him. Now, imagine how Jairus must have felt as he fell to his knees and begged for a favor from Jesus, the very man who was the subject of a conspiracy by his (Jairus') peers. Look at what happens next.

And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,

Came behind Him, and touched the border of His garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.

And Jesus said, Who touched me?

When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of Me.

And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before Him, she declared unto Him before all the people for what cause she had touched Him, and how she was healed immediately.

And He said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

Luke 8:43-48

Isn't it just like a woman to be persistent and tenacious when she has a need?! This woman didn't fall at Jesus' feet and beg for a miracle. She didn't even consult Him in the matter! She simply acted on her own faith in the divine healing power working in Jesus' life. Her faith actually drew the healing power out from Jesus without His being aware of her specific problem.

What did she do? She put a demand on Jesus' virtue. She used her faith, and she was made whole because of it. Now, that's a miracle! But it isn't the point in this messagebecause this lady's miracle came at a bad time for someone else in the crowdJairus. Her miracle sure didn't help him!

I can almost hear Jairus saying, "Hey, lady, my kid is dying right now! You've had your problem for 12 years! Jesus can take care of you later! Let's go!"

The story continues in an unusual direction: "While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, 'Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.'" (Luke 8:49).

Can you imagine what it would feel like to hear such news? The woman with the issue of blood had just experienced a miracle, and, yet, at the very same time, this father gets the worst news of his life. The truth is that this is exactly how life can sometimes be.

One is saved, one perishes; one is born and another goes to the grave. Something wonderful can happen right alongside something horrible. Look at what happened next: "But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole" (Luke 8:50).

You see, Jesus knew that mankind had been given an inner substance that had the power to change natural circumstancesfaith! The human will is a powerful thing. Romans 12:3 tells us that "...God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." Faith is given to everyone, and faith will work for anyone who has the will to use its power.

Making the Choice to Believe

Hebrews 11:1, tells us what faith is: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Verse two tells us what it has done, "For by it the elders obtained a good report." Faith will do the same for you. It will bring forth a good report in your lifeeven if the report at the moment seems bad!

Jairus' report was really badit just can't get much worse than death. Notice that the scripture doesn't tell us how Jairus felt upon hearing the messenger's bad news, but, as a father, I can imagine that his heart sank.

Jesus, on the other hand, knew the power of faith and reacted immediately to the messenger's bad news by giving Jairus a strong command: "Jairus, fear not!

Believe! She's going to be made whole!"

Jesus responded quicklythat is an important point. Jairus didn't allow the fear to settle in, and instead, immediately began acting on Jesus' words.

Why was Jesus so quick to command Jairus to not fear? Because He knew that a person's natural reaction to death is fear, and all forms of fear are destructive.

Anxiety is a form of fear and so is despondency and hopelessness. Those are all natural reactions to bad news, but they don't help anyone, and Jairus needed help.

Jesus knew that if Jairus wanted to see his daughter smiling and laughing again, he would have to immediately stop fear from gripping his emotions and mind. He would have to go against his feelings, regardless of how natural they were, because fear is actually faith working in reverse.

Jesus refused to speak death. I believe it's because Jesus knew Proverbs 18:21! This is why Jesus said that Jairus' daughter would be "made whole" instead of risen from the dead. Also, notice that Jesus didn't just wave a magic wand and heal the girl. He told Jairus to get involved when He commanded him to do those three things: 1) Don't fear 2) Only believe and 3) Know your daughter will be made whole. Jairus had a choice to make.

When trying times happen in your life, it is how you react that determines the outcome. When bad news comes, you also have a choice about how you will respond. You can choose to accept it, or you can replace the news with God's Word.

While the World Mocks, Jesus Heals

When Jesus traveled to Jairus' house, He saw a crowd of people gathered around the house crying over the little girl's death.

And when He came into the house, He suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.

And all wept, and bewailed her: but He said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.

Luke 8:51-52

Notice that Jesus didn't allow many people to be in the house. He only allowed Peter, James, John and the parents into the house.

Why? Because He knew that these would believe with Him. He didn't need a bunch of "poor-mouthing." negative people around when He was trying to administer the prayer of faith.

I find it funny that Jesus didn't even allow all the other disciples in! Can you imagine what the rest of the disciples were saying? Maybe this, "I tell you one thing, I follow Jesus the same as those! I heard Peter cussing just last week, yet I have to stay out here on the porch!" Yeah, Peter wasn't always a perfect Christian, but you've got to hand it to himthe boy had zeal and faith!