There are some words that we could call electric. By that I mean you only have to hear them and they can produce a lot of emotion just by the very mention of them. After 2001 the word “terrorist” caught our ears in a way that it had not before. In light of the financial crisis that this country seems to be facing the word “depression” has been used with increasing regularity; that takes on meaning. Both words, (if we dwell long enough on them and their implications) a terrorist attack or a real depression, can affect us. It is easy to be overcome with fears and anxieties and God knows that. That is why that word “do not be afraid”, “or do not fear” is used a hundred plus times (someone has counted more than 300 times) in our Bible. I am sure some of us have felt a little quickening of the pulse; our anxiety level has increased when we think of what could happen to this country in light of a new president and vice-president, a lot of changes.
How do you fight your fears and your anxieties? One good strategy is to fight words with words. If we believe the truth that stands behind the words that we take hold of, that word can help us. There are many great words in our Bible to help us fight fear. One great word that is found here in Rev. 11 is the word “Almighty”. It is a word that is sprinkled through our Bibles. The first time it is used is in Genesis 17 where God introduces Himself to Abraham and then he gives him all of those extraordinary promises. No doubt Abraham clung to that word “Almighty”. Yes, God can do everything He said He said He is going to do because He is the Almighty. It is a word that is frequently used in the book of Revelation. It is found in chapters 11, 15, 16, 19 and again in 21. Remember the book of Revelation is about God triumphing over evil, all of His foes. If you have any question about whether God is the Almighty you simply have to read the book of Revelation. It is a great word. It is a word that speaks primarily (not exclusively) of God’s strength and power, His omnipotence. It is a word that ought to bring comfort to hearts, bring peace to anxious minds and even bring hope to afflicted saints. It is a word that is frequently found in the book of Job. He is almighty, He is almighty over all men, there is no one mightier than God; He is almighty over the devil himself; He is almighty over suffering; He is almighty over redemption; He is sovereign in salvation (we cannot save ourselves; man is born in a helpless state. Jesus could say, “No one comes to me unless the Father, the almighty draws him.) We worship an almighty God; He is almighty over everything, over all of creation, over providence, over everyday happenings, no matter how big, no matter how small, (from the sparrow that falls to the ground to the most cataclysmic judgment on the face of the earth, be it an earthquake or a tornado). When it comes to our growth in grace that explains why we grow, He is at work in us. We water, we plant, but it is God that gives the increase. He is almighty over all of the details in your life, over all of the politics (that is a comfort), over all of the economics, over the man that sits in the White House and who wins the Super Bowl. If He is almighty than do we really have anything to worry about? He is on the throne and we can have real hope and confidence when we pray on Wednesday night. This is not a waste of time; this is the most useful time of our lives when we give ourselves to prayer. Let’s go to God tonight with confidence reminding ourselves of that simple word, that God-word, “Almighty”.