S04E098, Peace Trumps Fear, Andy B 2 Minute Video
The UK has seen a terrifying increase in costs for heating and cooking. In the middle of summer, heating seems like something to not worry about. But the latest estimates are that a family who are paying £300 in the summer, will be paying £500 by October and £550 by January. As a family we were only paying £100 at the start of the year. That’s a five fold increase!
In the midst of this our UK Prime Minister has been forced to resign, which leads people to wondering what – and who - comes next, and I struggle to see how we won’t have a Summer, and Autumn, of strikes and protests as poverty bites ever harder on the poorest people of our nation, which is rapidly spreading to those with greater wealth as bills grow, while wages shrink rapidly by comparison with rising living costs.
All of this breeds fear!
But, as Christians, we have access to something that is guaranteed to provide peace, joy hope – no matter what our circumstances are. And that comes from the bible, because the bible contains the very words of God, that show us how to live a life that is not controlled by fear; it comes from a relationship with God’s son - Jesus Christ.
So, if you’re worrying about the future, please do know that while God doesn’t ever promise to make our lives easier as Christians in this world, God will provide us with something much better – a certainty of our future, and the promise that He will walk through those difficulties with us and peace no matter what is going on around us, or however difficult life gets.
Jesus is the answer to the greatest struggles of our time, and John 3 v 16 reminds us that the only way to living that life, now, of peace and hope is by choosing to follow Jesus.
It is Jesus who will help us defeat fear, in order that we can know peace instead, through the power of His Comforter – the Holy Spirit.
Just a thought...
Andy B
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Transcript
0:06
So another Andy B 2 Minute Video, and this is a really simple title. Peace trumps fear.
0:14
So what are we talking about today? Well, if you're living in the UK, you may have seen, perhaps, that utility bill prices are skyrocketing. They are going through the roof!
0:23
At the start of the year, we were paying £100 a month for all of our utilities. We don't use much. We don't have air conditioning. We cook as little as possible with electric, and we've always been sensible.Roll on two months, to March, April and like so many, we saw that triple. Now we're £300 a month that's quite steep.
0:41
We're now seeing projections of £500 by the October, and maybe £550. By January. Now for a family that tries not to use much electricity and gas that's kind of quite scary. And it breeds fear.
0:54
We've got a Prime Minister who's been forced out of office so that a new one can be appointed. Irrespective of the politics, it breeds fear. 'Well, what's the next Prime Minister gonna be like? What's gonna happen? What's the country gonna look like? What are they going to do? Male? Female? We don't know. What, what's their belief on all the important stuff gonna be? Are they gonna really help us with the utility bills? What's gonna happen? What are they gonna to do for Ukraine? All this stuff starts to build fear.
1:20
And you've got all the major unions in the UK saying, 'We can't afford to live off this. Tthere's quite probably gonna be strikes. We've already seen that, with train companies around the UK, and the tubes in London. So quite possibly, we may well see some more strikes. It's gonna breed fear.
1:37
But here's the thing about fear as a Christian. We have the answer and it's the book, it's the Bible.
1:44
If you are afraid, you have the answer to peace, hope and joy in your hand. As I look forwards as a dad, as a father, as the leader of my family, as a husband, as the guy who does the finances, and stays with the boys, and all of that, it's very, very scary looking ahead, It's very easy to be afraid!
2:04
But I have a book that tells me that it's gonna be okay!
2:07
The Bible is the source of peace!
2:09
The Bible is the source of hope!
2:11
The Bible is the source of joy!
2:13
Not because of the words, but because of what's in the words. This is a living book.
2:18
Jesus died on the cross, more than 2,000 years ago, to take all the bad stuff from the world, all the sin, all the evil in our lives, take it to hell, defeat Satan. And we have an opportunity for an eternity in heaven. But you can't have that if you don't believe the content of this good book.
2:36
If you're afraid of your future right now, I have the answer in the Bible, and His name is Jesus Christ.
2:44
There is one way to peace.
2:46
There is one way to hope.
2:47
It's Jesus Christ and the answer is right here in the Bible.
2:51
Just a thought.
Andy B, 11/07/2022