A Good Report
And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. Numbers 13:30-32 (KJV)
Good reports will come to us all, and evil reports will come as well. We must determine the report we believe, good or evil.
A good report is the Lord’s report; what He says in His Word. Examples of good reports are statements telling that He wants to bless us, heal us, deliver us, and prosper us. For us to receive what Christ has already provided, we must mix faith with God’s Word. We release our faith by believing, speaking, and acting like the Word is true (which it is). When we do, we make it true for ourselves.
A bad report is a negative report. An example of a of negative report is when the doctor says that there is no cure for an ailment or you receive bad test results. A bad report says, “Your bank account is empty, and there is no money coming in.” Bad reports contradict God’s Word and His good report, such as His promise to heal all our diseases.
We must be so familiar with the good report, God’s Word, that when we hear a bad report, we reject it.
Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? Isaiah 53:1 (KJV)
As we believe the Lord’s report, we will see His mighty arm revealed in our lives. The arm of the Lord represents His power to heal, save, deliver, provide, protect, etc.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Hebrews 11:1-2 (KJV)
Faith is how we obtain, or acquire, a good report. We can choose to believe a good report or an evil one. Faith chooses the good report because the evil report is a report of unbelief.
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 (KJV)
This is clear instruction about how to choose a good report over an evil one. As we hear, see, think on, and speak forth God’s good report, we receive His good promises.
Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. John 12:42-43 (KJV)
One serious reason that people choose the evil report of unbelief is because they are people-pleasers instead of God-pleasers. We must believe God over every negative person or report. Who we choose to believe determines our outcome. We choose whether we experience victory or defeat, health or sickness, faith or doubt. It is done unto us according to our faith. Choose God’s Word. Choose the good report.
