Good evening to our U EC church family and to anybody else that
might be joining us on this live stream.
We trust that you are in the comfort of your homes and that
you are safe and well, in Jesus name, I'm standing where we
usually have our Friday night bible study, but with one big
difference. You're missing.
I'm standing in an empty room staring into a lens, and this is
quite an experience for myself so far.
And I want to emphasize that tonight, you are greatly missed.
There is an absence of the voices, of wholehearted
worshipers of God, who sing unto the Lord tonight.
There is missing the sound of the collective pages of Bibles
being flipped back and forth. And there will not be a time of
face-to-face Fellowship. Like we are used to even into
the late hours of the night. I don't say this to discourage
you, or to add sorrow to the situation.
I just want to be clear that although we are thankful for The
Graces that are offered via technology.
It will never replace the blessing that comes from
gathering together in the presence of the Lord seeing his
face together. We cherish the memories that
we've had in the sanctuary and we pray that we will be again
together sooner than later. If you were here last Sunday,
you remember that? We took a pause.
On our Series in the book of 1st Timothy, to talk about the
crisis that we are facing together.
Between that morning and this evening a lot has changed
restrictions have been set to a greater degree.
There is an uncertainty that has been heightened and quite
frankly. This pandemic has infiltrated
our lives in a way and at a rate that is almost unbelievable.
I want you to think about this for a moment, despite our
Advanced Technologies. And despite our achievements, in
modern science. What the coronavirus has done in
our day? Has almost made our generation
blush. A common phrase that I've heard
from believer and non-believer alike, and maybe you've heard
this and maybe you've said this. Something along the lines of I
can't believe this is actually happening in our day.
This virus has taken almost every aspect of life as a
hostage. Maybe that's how you feel
tonight. Maybe not physically, but
perhaps emotionally. And perhaps in your thoughts.
That's why I want to take the opportunity to pause.
Also on are studying the Book of Joshua to speak to at least
three different groups of people.
In this time. Number one.
I want to speak to those who are genuine followers of Jesus
Christ. You love him.
You serve him. You've given your life to him.
Secondly, I want to speak to those who make a profession of
faith and perhaps, at one point. You did have a Zeal for Christ.
But let's just be honest. You're lukewarm.
You're cold. You love the world.
You love the things of this world.
And there is no sense of desire to fellowship with God, to know
his word. There's something to be said for
you tonight as well. and lastly, I want to speak to those who
Frankly don't have any faith. And you maybe don't believe in
God. Maybe you believe in a different
God, but not the true God in the person of Jesus Christ.
I encourage you, if you're clicking here out of curiosity,
stick around, you're not going anywhere anyway.
Now, there's so many ways. To go about this subject.
There's so many angles to touch on.
But I would just want to speak from the heart and not my own
opinion or thoughts. I want to speak from God's word
and I wanted to reach your heart tonight.
And I'm sure you've learned a lot of things this past few
days, and I want to be transparent with you and maybe
just give you a little glimpse of my world in my mind, in my
heart and these past few days myself.
Here's one thing that came to my mind.
Just meditating on how things swiftly changed for me.
Personally, the thing that I've learned the most.
Out of many things, is this? You never know when you're going
to get a chance to preach again. Last Sunday morning, we were
hearing these pews were filled with people and this morning.
It's empty and I'm speaking to a camera.
I don't know what next week will bring.
And so, if you're hearing me tonight.
Hear my voice. Knowing that there is a heart
posture of maybe. This is the last time to preach.
I'm not saying that things are going to go south.
And in the sense that we don't know if we're going to meet
again. I'm not saying that at all.
I'm taking the principle that we've all adopted through this.
That things can change quickly. So don't take a moment for
granted and that's what this is about.
Now. Let's speak to the first group
of people tonight, the followers of Jesus Christ, those who are
truly blood-bought. Those who have put their faith
and trust in the gospel. I want to comfort you and then
offer a challenging word. I don't want to go through this
without first touching on encouragement.
There are some of you out there who might be unease by the
uncertainty of our future and your future, your job may be at
risk of being lost. You might fit the demographic
that is at most risk in relationship to this virus.
And there is a genuine fear. No matter what your situation
is. I want you to know that this
sense of The unknown is, in fact, something that's tangible
in the air. And what's may be more troubling
to all of us. Is that as we turn on our
televisions or go on our social media?
We are looking at people who should have answers and they're
not giving us answers. People that should be giving us
an idea of how long this should take and what the should produce
in the long term, but it's not coming to us, but here's the
encouragement. There is someone who has an
answer for your life. There is someone who has a
clear-cut understanding of every detail of this virus and its
impact in your life, and around the world, read with me, Isaiah
44, and if you can't turn their, listen to this very carefully
and Isaiah chapter 44, verse 7. God says, through the prophet.
Who is like me? Let him Proclaim it.
Let them declare and set it before me.
Since I appointed an ancient people now, paid chant, pay
attention. Let them declare.
What is to come? And what will happen?
Do you see what's happening here?
God is putting himself and comparison to every other
creature and he is highlighting an aspect of who he is.
That is incomparable. He is the only person that can
declare what is to come before it happens.
And it actually happening. We see that in biblical
prophecy. We see that in what is to come
concerning his return. We see it in the purse.
Jesus Christ. In his ministry being for told
hundreds of years before his time, but is not limited to that
it is. It is completely trustworthy in
every aspect of Our Lives as well.
I want you to know something very carefully that before the
world was even created. God knew about the Coronavirus.
God knew where it was going to come from.
God knew what nations? It would impact.
God knew the people it would kill.
God knows how long this thing will keep us in our homes.
God knows every detail. He's not unaware.
Nor is he surprised? But what's the point of that?
If you believe in God, you must believe in that concept.
You must believe in that understanding of who he is.
He is all-knowing, but it's not. It's not limited to that.
Although he is all knowing. We have to also understand that
he is at the same time all loving.
So when Isaiah tells us this about God and when God speaks
through Isaiah this way, it doesn't end there.
He presents this truth about God and then in verse 8 is the
application. So look at verse 8 of Isaiah 44,
you're not Fear not. Nor be afraid.
Have I not told you from of old and declared it.
And you are my Witnesses. Is there a god besides me?
There is no Rock. I know not any.
So you take the truth that he knows all things.
And then you rest in that truth. So, as much as he knows about
this disease and the impact it will have globally.
You are his child. You know what?
That means. It means that he knows how this
will impact your life. He knows what it will do to your
finances. He knows what it will do to your
health. He knows what it will do to your
future. And here's the thing.
He's all-knowing, but he's all loving and he's your father.
If you put your faith in him. Therefore, you must rest on the
Rock. And the only one that is stable.
And the only one that has a sure Foundation is him.
What a display that we've seen that, even our government and
authorities are shaken by this yet.
There is one on the throne. The only one upon the throne
that is unmoved, and he is the one who possesses a clear-cut
understanding, and you are in the palm of his hand.
You are his. You are not left outside of his
influence or his protection. I want you to be at rest
tonight. And for the rest of this whole
ordeal God is for you, and God is with you.
Be encouraged by that truth. Your family, your children, your
health. Your future is not dependent
upon a virus. Is dependent upon your
Sovereign, God and him alone. Rest in that truth.
We are praying for you as a church.
And as the leadership of this church, we are here for you
throughout all of this, no matter how it might affect you
be comforted tonight. Now, with that being said, I
want to present a challenge. To my fellow believers.
And I want to specifically preach to my generation.
Those that might fit my age bracket.
But it's not limited to that. If you have your bibles, if
you're sitting there with your Bible open, go to a well-known
verse in 2nd Timothy Chapter 2 Verse 3.
And here's what Paul tells Timothy, a young man who was a
pastor? He said, Sharon suffering, as a
good soldier of Christ, Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in
civilian Pursuits. Since his aim is to please the
one who enlisted him. If you're listening tonight, and
you're a Believer, I want you to be reminded of this that when
Jesus Christ saved you. He did he did not just save you
from something concerning hell and God's Wrath.
He saved you for something. God did not save you when you
Proclaim faith and unwrapped you to heaven.
God kept you in this broken world.
Because he has a purpose for your life.
And the description that we have here, is that of a soldier?
I want you to know. That your life is much more than
about you having a nice house. Your life is much more than
about you getting married. Life is bigger than about.
You being entertained and life is much larger than you, making
sure that you live comfortably throughout your existence.
You are not only a child of God. If you signed up to follow Jesus
Christ, you sign up to be in an army.
You are a soldier for the kingdom of God.
What describes a soldier? When you see a soldier or when
you think of the word Soldier, what comes to mind, surely the
word discipline? Surely the word Mission minded.
Surely strategic life, a Warfare mentality and above all a
soldier is one who lives under the commanding orders of his
enlisting officer. A soldier does not have the same
perspective as a civilian. He sees the world differently.
A soldier realizes that there is an enemy who is constantly
planning and lurking. Attempting to attack.
A soldier has written on his heart.
That he will live and die for the sake of the protection and
the advancement of his kingdom. That is how a soldier lives.
And that's important because no General would ever take it
lightly to see his troops undisciplined.
Unconcerned unmoved. Moved about the protection.
And the advancement of the Kingdom that they represent.
And yet the Bible. Commands us to live like
soldiers in the context of our faith.
Here is my fear and worry. That this generation of
Christians. Especially in the West.
Do not have this kind of mindset in relationship to their Walk
With Jesus Christ. They are too entangled.
With civilian affairs. Not that they do not
participate, not that they have to do practical things.
We are not talking about those things.
Nor are we talking about even enjoyment of physical things?
I'm talking about entanglement. The very thing that Paul warns
Timothy about, they're too wrapped up in it.
They're too consumed by it to the point.
Listen, very carefully that there is little to zero desire.
Of any contribution or concern about how their lives can be an
impact for the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
That is a concerning thing. And I say, all of this might be
wondering, what does that have to do with what we're dealing
with? I say all of this to you that
you may view this pandemic. As a soldier.
This is not the time to fear, nor.
Is it the time to be passive? This is the time for you to
really take your faith. Seriously.
Listen, if the only thing that you're concerned about through
this whole thing is that you can't hang out with your friends
and that you can't go to your favorite restaurants.
You're missing the point. Look at the bigger picture here.
Christian, zoom out a little bit and see what this is implying.
We Are Soldiers for an eternal Kingdom that God will Usher in
one day and God has left you and me here to do something about
it. And I want to encourage you as
you sit in your homes for the next few weeks, as a soldier to
inquire, you're enlisting officer and to something along
the line. Say Lord.
The battlefield has shifted tremendously.
What do we do here? What do I do here?
What do I as a believer? Have to do.
In order for me to be effective For Your Glory in this time.
We are living in an age and we are seeing things unfold at a
rate. That is almost breathtaking.
Don't fear. But here's the challenge, don't
be passive and you might be sitting there thinking that's
easy for you to say. We can't go to church.
We can't even go to the streets that freely and in fact, you
might be even saying my Ministry has been Stripped Away From Me
temporarily. I was a Sunday school teacher.
I was involved in active evangelism.
I was a part of the youth ministry.
I could evangelize at work. And here I am.
I'm stripped of all of that. Think like a soldier now.
Don't give up and think and pray fully think what is at your
disposal? What is before you?
You might feel limited, but I want to present to you a case
where a man in the scriptures which was much more limited than
you and I could imagine. You feel stuck at your home with
your smartphone and that's one thing.
But there's a man in the scriptures that was taken from
his home taken from his family taken, from the temple taken
from his land and brought into a foreign Place surrounded by an
overwhelming number of pagan worshippers and stuck in a place
where he was being trained to worship these gods and represent
these gods. And from his teenagers all the
way to his elderly years. This man has been in that kind
of environment. And even at one point in his
life, there was a regulation set that is much more intense in the
regulations that you and I are facing.
Here's the regulation that this man face.
If you pray. If you pray.
To anyone else, except the emperor for the next 30 days.
It's the death penalty for you. I think about that kind of a law
being established. Think about that kind of a
limitation. And you're hearing this
description and you know, very well who I'm speaking about the
Prophet Daniel. And this man, Daniel when he
heard this news, it tells us in Daniel chapter 6, verse 10,
listen carefully. When Daniel knew that the
document has been signed, he went to his house where he had
windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem.
He got down on his knees, three times a day and prayed and gave
thanks before his God as he had done previously.
Every time I read about Daniel, my heart is always stirred at
this part of his story. It's stirred because when this
regulation, which was set, it was a temporary one.
It was for 30 days. There was no, there was no
legalizing of prayer to any other deity.
Except to the leader of their land.
You know what, Daniel could have done, just 30 days.
Can't wait. I can just do some other things.
God will understand. I'll have a better chance of
living and glorifying God longer, if I just keep it safe.
But that doesn't what? That's not what the text says.
As soon as he heard. You know, what he does, he goes.
And he prays. That's challenging because I
look at this man and I think to myself it's just 30 days.
You can wait a month without prayer but this posture that
Daniel takes this response of this, man tells us so much about
something that is at your disposal and mind something that
is available to you. And to me it is the power of
Prayer. So, powerful was prayer to
Daniel that he could not even give it up that for him.
It was better. To pray and die.
And to live without prayer. You know, when I was thinking
about how this world is literally being shut down.
This visual came to mind. Imagine yourself at a top of a
hill and you're looking out into the City and you see what you
usually see in a major city with the skyline and all the lights
and as you're standing there at the top of that Hill.
If you get to see lights, shut off.
You begin to see sports stadiums.
Shut off. You look over and you see the
airport. Shut down.
You look over to another place and movie theaters are being
closed. You look over again, and you see
restaurants closing their doors. And as you're looking out from
the top of that hill, all you're seeing is the city.
Get darker and darker, and darker and you keep looking.
Schools. Shut down.
Churches, shut down. And darkness seems to come over
the land. And as you look closely, you see
another light. It's a small light but it it's
there and it it stirs you to inquire.
So you run off that hill and you make your way towards Allah.
And as you approach that light, you begin to see that it's a
familiar place. And you realize in that moment
as you approach, that light coming from a specific place.
That nothing could ever shut this door.
Nothing could ever close this opportunity, not even app
endemic would shift the possibility of you entering into
this place. And it Dawns on you though,
everything else around, maybe shutting down.
There is one place that remains open and that's your prayer
closet. You look, horizontally, you look
to the left, right? Forward backward, you realize
that the world has turned off the lights, but may encourage
you tonight to look up and see that there's access to the
throne of grace. There is access into the
presence of God. There is an availability to you.
Like Daniel think about Daniel. He was taken from his Temple.
He was taken from the opportunity to celebrate the
feasts of Israel. He was taken from the
opportunity to sit down and hear from the Torah.
But Daniel knew something that even in Exile could not take
from him. His ability to get on his knees.
Seek God and be in his presence. And you read about Daniel's
life, and you know what? You see, you see, a man that his
posture himself in such a way that he received, great
Revelations from God. I want to tell you something
that when you, and I take prayer seriously, things begin to
happen in our lives as well. Things begin to open up to us
truths from the scripture truths about ourselves opportunities.
Wonderful things begin to unfold.
Believer. Bible-believing gospel,
saturated God-fearing disciple of Jesus Christ.
If there is any time to pray. It's now.
Take this as an invitation from your God.
To seek his face. To be in his presence.
To let them melt you and mold you and shape you.
So that by the end of this ordeal, you will come out with
greater faith in greater power. What would happen if the Church
of Jesus Christ in our generation?
With simply see what is happening and take it to the
heart and to collectively cry out to the Lord.
Listen. Cry out to the Lord in such a
way that he would send something from heaven.
And that we would not only say about what's happening.
I can't believe this is happening in our day.
We would Echo that statement, but in light of facing a move of
God, by the power of His, holy spirit, like we have never seen
before. As you're sitting there and
you're hearing me talk. Do you see the opportunity here?
Look around you just for a
second. Just pause.
Put things away and just think for a moment.
Do you see what's available to us?
I believe it's time to pray and see God's face.
I encourage you. I challenge you specifically to
my generation. I'm challenging you to view this
as a soldier. And to think strategically and
to implement whatever you need to implement in order to please
you enlisting officer. Now, I want to speak to another
group of people. You might be watching tonight.
Maybe not out of a desire to hear from God's word, but
because you have nothing else to do.
You may be a Christian by name and perhaps.
At one point. You can even remember a segment
of your life for you. Loved God, not just in word, but
In Deed. But, if you're honest with
yourself, as you sitting there tonight.
Your heart is calloused. You don't remember.
You don't remember being stirred by the things of God.
You don't remember the last time you really saw his face.
In fact, if you're honest, you love this world.
And you love the things that would grieve the Holy Spirit.
I just have one question for you tonight.
In love. Does God have your attention
yet? There's a book in the Bible that
speaks about how God was trying to get the attention of his
people at one point. This is an interesting book
because it speaks of a time where Israel was not wholly
devoted to the Lord. And God, love them enough.
To get their attention again so that he can win their hearts
back to him and you would be amazed to know how God, how God
manifested his wooing to a people who have become
indifferent towards him and it's a book that's not very popular.
It's a book that's not reference to very much.
But oh how we can relate to this book tonight.
It's in the Book of Amos. The Book of Amos chapter 4, the
whole book of Amos is about a man who was a prophet.
And he was God's representative. To let Israel know.
That he wants them back. He wants them back.
And if they would not respond to that ultimately, there would be
a consequence. That would be severe to them.
I want you to hear these verses from The Book of Amos and
understand something very interesting concerning God's
dealings. Listen to this and Amos chapter
4 verse 6 down. God says, I gave you cleanness
of teeth in all your cities and lack of bread and all your
places it, you did not return to me declares the Lord.
I also withheld the rain from you.
When there are yet three months to the Harvest, I would send
rain on one city and send no rain on another city.
One field would have rain and the field on which it did not
rain would wither so two or three cities would wander to
another city to drink water and would not be satisfied yet.
You did not return to me declares the Lord.
I struck you with blight and mildew your many Gardens and
your Vineyards, your fig trees and your olive trees, the Locust
devoured. Yeah, you did not return to me.
Declares the Lord. I sent among you a pestilence.
After the manner of Egypt. I killed your young men with the
sword and carried away your horses, and I made this stench
of your Camp, go up into your nostrils.
Yeah, you did not return to me declares the Lord.
What's going on? Here is very basic.
God is saying through the prophet.
Listen, I cut off all your supplies.
I specifically would make one area.
Fruitful. And I would make it very clear
that another area would not be touched by natural provision and
I would cause a disturbance so that you would have to travel
from one place to another so that you could survive, I
destroyed your fields. I made your Vineyards in your
Gardens rot outside of your control.
And I even went to the extent of sending a pestilence like I did
in Egypt. And you hear these things and
you wonder, well, what's God's motive?
Why was he? Why was he piling up one thing
after the other in the lives of his people and over and over?
You heard the repeated phrase yet.
You did not return to me. So what's the, what's the
purpose that he was trying to get their attention?
God in this context was squeezing his people.
Was bringing him almost to a corner, so they would give up
resisting him and that they would fall at his feet.
What you see here is a disturbance being caused by God
in the day-to-day Affairs of his people.
So that they could analyze and reflect on where they're at with
their God and begin to ask some serious questions.
They were literally stripped. From all angles until they
realize that they do not possess The Sovereign power over their
existence that belongs to God Alone.
And so everything about what you just heard in these verses comes
from a heart of throbbing love from a loving God.
I'm not here tonight to attempt to even, Convey, what I believe
God's mind is behind what is happening in our, in our day?
But I look at a text like this and I wonder and I'm sure you
wonder. That this could possibly be a
facet in light of a specific group of people.
Again, let me reiterate the fact that I'm sure you are equally as
amazed As I Am by seeing how literally everything around us
has been put on pause. And there's only one place to
really look now. And that's to look up.
And if you read these verses carefully, you know what you
see. It's an amplification of
intensity. God seems to in these verses,
take it up a notch more and more and more.
So that he can. He can prick the stubborn heart
of his own. You know, I wonder even in light
of all that we're experiencing today.
At this coronavirus might not be soul-shaking enough for you.
That you are unmoved, that you are just casually, you're not
even thinking about eternal things.
You're not even thinking about your relationship with God.
You're just concerned about you. And that's what happened with
Israel. So God says, let me turn it up a
notch. Let me turn it up a notch and
you might be saying, okay. Listen, hold on.
You don't know me. I sing, I come to church.
I listen to sermons and let me impress you now.
I actually give to the church from time to time.
Do you realize the audience? That Amos was speaking to.
We have this impression by reading this that they were
completely turned away from God and they were just full-fledged
worshipping false Idols. They were but look at chapter 5
and see description of the people and it gives us another
insight to who this audience is, look at chapter 5 verse 21.
Look What God Says to the same group that he spoke to
concerning sending things to get their attention.
He says, I hate I despise your feast.
And I take no Delight in your solemn assemblies, even though
you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings.
I will not accept them. And the peace offerings of your
fan animals. I will not look upon them.
Take away from me, the noise of your songs to The Melody of your
Harps. I will not listen.
But let Justice roll down like Waters and righteousness like an
ever-flowing stream. Do you see?
The very same group that God was trying to get to see him.
Was a group of people that were coming to the temple.
And they were singing songs and they were worshipping and they
were giving sacrifices, they were honoring.
The feast, and God says, At this, I mean anything.
See, so many people soothe. Their religious conscience by
occupying their lies. With religious activities.
God is not after your attendance in church.
Nor is God after your money. Nor does God after your gift of
service to him. Make the connection between God,
wanting them to return to him in the midst of.
Not just their sin, but their religious activities.
God is not after that. He wants your heart.
He wants your love your
adoration. He wants your passion.
He wants your devotion. He wants to have a relationship
with you. I've used this illustration so
many times and it helps understand what God is after I
hope. None of you would want to be in
a relationship with somebody who just meets the standard of what
they should give as a spouse. None of you would want that.
None of you would want to come home to a wife that makes dinner
and does a laundry. And looks at you in the eyes, as
I did what you wanted me to do. I'll see you later.
None of you would want a husband who comes home and pays the
bills and never looks at you with adoration, never speaks to
you and spends time with. Nobody will want that kind of a
husband who fulfills duties of a husband, but has no sense of
connection. Nobody would want that.
And let me tell you tonight. God doesn't want that from you.
Perhaps you're a little less distracted tonight.
So this will come a little louder and clearer.
If you're not walking full heartedly with the Lord.
What are you waiting for? What are you looking for in
life? The things that in a moment can
be flicked off. The things that can be stripped
from you in a moment. And if your joy and happiness is
gone, in this moment that says something about where you're out
with the Lord because it's dependent upon things and not
dependent upon him. I'll never forget the day.
I one time. That I was at a youth
conference. and on the first meeting, I looked around and I
realized how distracted these young people are this.
This was like early high school late Middle School, kind of
group. And I looked around, I realized
how distracted these people from from all aspects of the meeting.
And then the next day it was in earlier service.
It was in the morning, but when we conducted the service.
I'm telling you every single one of those kids.
Maybe with the exception of one was hanging on every single word
without moving an inch. And I was standing there,
wondering what was going on. And so I look to the youth
leader at the end of the meeting and I made that observation of
the contrast between the night before and the morning service.
And I've made the observation of what he had done prior to that
morning service, but I had asked him just to confirm and he
looked at me with a smile on his face, and you know what?
He said. Yeah, you know the difference, I
said, what was the difference? He says, I took their phones
away, and I put them all in the basket before the service
started this month. This morning service.
And I looked and I said, well that makes sense.
And take that little illustration and apply it to
your life. Now with distractions at least
to a greater degree being stripped from your life.
Most likely, temporarily. Examine yourself.
Ask yourself some questions. Come before the Lord.
He's not angry with you. He's not mad at you.
Do you see that? Even when he was causing a
ruckus and Israel's, they was all for one purpose that you
would come back into my open arms.
Man, if this whole thing is not stirring you even one bit.
Maybe it will in a week or two. But some of, you know, very well
that you are not fully surrendered to the Lord.
I want to let you know and I want to take this opportunity to
challenge you in love. Look at how fickle life is.
And live for what really matters.
I have one more segment to speak to another group and my last
group of people here. Spoke the Believers in.
Jesus Christ spoke to those who might profess faith in Christ.
Or not fully walking with the Lord.
Lastly, I want to speak to those who maybe you're joining us
right now, or maybe you'll click on this link later on when it
once it is uploaded, but you do not identify as a person of
faith. And you might be traditionally a
Christian, or you might be of some other belief system.
Just wait for the next few minutes.
And here these truths for your life.
Earlier this week. I heard a term that the
president used to identify this coronavirus and I thought it was
interesting. You've probably heard it too.
And one of his briefings. He said that this virus is our
invisible enemy. That was an interesting term.
Invisible. Because obviously it is
invisible to the naked eye as a virus and invisible also,
because it is known that. If you are a person who carries
this virus, you do not necessarily show any symptoms.
And so he repeated this term. We're dealing with an invisible
enemy. And without disrespecting the
president. Without undermining the dangers
of the coronavirus. I want to let you know that
there is a greater invisible enemy that you and I are facing.
This invisible enemy is much more unpredictable.
He is deadlier and he is not at all.
Merciful. To you or to me.
The Bible identifies this invisible enemy as Satan.
The enemy of your soul. And he has a worldwide
influence, by the way. Listen to First, John chapter 5
verse 19. We know that we are from God.
John says, we know that we are from God.
And the whole world. Lies in the power of the evil
one. Do you know what that means?
Let me tell you what it doesn't mean.
It doesn't mean that God is all-powerful all-knowing, all
present and Satan is an equal enemy with the same abilities
and attributes. Absolutely not.
He's a created being he is less. He is a supernatural Force.
He is a spiritual person, but he is not on the same level of
influence as our God, but what this verse does tell us, is this
is that he has full Reign and he has the ability to influence.
Every aspect of our world. And as much as you see in the
physical sense, you better believe that it is paralleled
with the spiritual world. And as much as all these things
are happening, please understand this, that there is a greater
deal about all of this. Not just the virus, but about
life itself. This world is a battlefield for
your soul. Do you want to know the
strategy? And do you want to know the
deadly force of this invisible? Enemy?
Here? It is.
Here's his main goal. Here's his number one, purpose.
To make sure. That you do not.
Hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and more importantly respond to
it by believing in it. He will distract you.
He will present pleasure to you. He will give you your dreams,
your desires. He will make sure that you will
not make that decision that will affect your Eternal state.
That is evil. Is it not?
Maybe think about it this way. Imagine with me tonight that
there are some scientists out there who at this moment right
now has discovered a cure for the coronavirus.
He found out a way that a person can inject some kind of a thing
in them and that they can receive instant recovery from
sickness and it can put this whole thing to rest once.
And for all, can you imagine that somewhere somehow a
scientist? Discovers that kind of a thing?
But you also know that while this is a truth that is out
there, the media and the government, which I do not
believe they are doing. This is just an illustration,
the media, and the government are doing everything to silence
and to distract, and to keep your eyes and your ears away
from that wonderful truth that there's a cure.
You would be frustrated. And if you had enough boldness
and you, not only would you be frustrated, you would do
whatever you had in your power to make sure that there is
deception going on. There's a cure out there and you
want to make sure that people get the Cure.
That's why I'm standing here tonight.
Because I want to let you know tonight that there is something
more dangerous than the coronavirus.
There is a sickness that is much deadlier.
It has implications that are much longer than your life on
this Earth. It's called sin.
And every human is infected with this sickness.
And it is very real. It finds ourselves.
If finds itself in our hearts. It's a part of who we are.
We were born in sin. We are wrapped up with flesh.
That is in Rebellion against God, that doesn't want to serve
God, that does not want to submit to his lordship.
But I also want to let you know, as severe as this sickness may
be and though it is a pandemic. Universally from the first
people that ever existed all the way to this point.
It is something that no person has been able to escape.
There is listen carefully. There is a cure, there is a
cure, and it is found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
What? I mean, I mean this That there
is a truth that is to be embraced and this truth has the
ability to save you from this sickness from its influence over
your life. And listen from the punishment
that is going to be Unleashed upon us for our sin.
Realize this. If you don't believe it here it
and I trust that you'll believe it.
One day Jesus Christ is coming back.
And when Jesus returns, he has a goal of full Redemption that he
wants to make all things new that there's going to be a new
heavens and there's going to be a new Earth.
And this new realm? That the person of Jesus Christ
will Implement is going to be free from sickness.
Free from disease, free from Pain, free from Death, all the
things that are result of sin. Therefore also world.
I will be free from sin. But if he's going to create a
world that's going to be free from sin.
He has to eliminate sin. The issue is sin, is wrapped up
in you and me. So he's going to have to
eliminate and eradicate us. As a consequence.
That's the bad news. But here's the good news.
That because he loves us. He made sure.
That he himself, made the payment for sin that you and I
could never pay. And in doing.
So he offers you and me a chance to have this in our lives
erased, and to have our position before God change, as though we
have, never sinned. So that we can be a part of that
full Redemption, that will come one day, and I, we can be in his
presence forever and we can stand in glory for all eternity
and Noah, joy, and ablis that you cannot even imagine.
I want you to understand that everything in this world, the
pain, it chaos, the confusion, the frustration, the selfishness
that we're seeing. This is a sign and this is a
manifestation of the Brokenness that you and I are a part of But
here's the good news. There's a cure and it's
available to you. If you would just receive it.
And what you need to do is realize that you are indeed.
A person has been infected by sin and that you yourself have
sinned against God and now you want to be cured and you see
that Jesus Christ is the only answer for you.
You can't find it in another religion.
You can't find it in, Good Works.
You can't find it. Another way.
It's only him. And you don't need to come to
church. You don't need to go to a
priest. You can do what I'm asking you
to do right there in your room and seek God's face.
And acknowledge in your heart that God raised him from the
dead and confess with your mouth, that he is.
In fact, Lord. And he's in fact, the only
Savior. And when you choose to do that,
he will save you, he will save you.
And I, you will indeed have hope not just in the next life, but
in this life, I come to you tonight without an ounce of
fear. In my heart.
I don't say that to boast. I don't say that's my
personality type. I don't say that.
I have some kind of a knowledge of Going to come that you don't
have. I have an anchoring truth.
That Jesus Christ is my Lord and he's my savior.
This is not my home. This isn't where it ends.
Let me dive a disease. Let me die of persecution.
This is not the end point. It might be for you though.
In fact, it will only get worse from here.
I cannot believe that a virus has put the world in such a pain
in such a panic. I understand the reason why eyes
and I understand that we need to take it seriously, but the fear
of this. Says so much of the lack of
assurance in people's hearts. It says something about where
they put their trust. And I want to let you know.
By God's grace. If you choose to receive Jesus
Christ as Lord, not only, can you face Coronavirus?
With a face, Like Flint. In the days of head of God,
gives you a days from this time on, you'll be able to face every
circumstance with certainty. That there is a God in heaven,
who loves you, because he sent his son to die for you.
So I encourage you in this moment.
If you're going to think about anything, maybe your life was
wrapped up in your job. Maybe your life was wrapped up
in entertainment. Maybe your life was wrapped up
in some future goal. Now, everything is put on pause.
Can I ask you as a friend? Can I ask you as a brother and
Humanity to consider where your Eternal destination will be?
And if you've realized and you're honest with yourself that
you are indeed a person. That if you stand before a, holy
God will be judged for all eternity know this.
There's a cure. And if you receive him, you will
be healed of your sickness. Meaning you'll be healed from
sin from what it will do when you stand before, God to its
influence in your life. God will give you the Holy
Spirit to live a life of victory over transgression.
Receive it today. It's a free gift.
I conclude with this leave. Her.
Don't fear. Don't worry.
God has your life in the palm of his hand, but also believer.
It's time to take up arms and be serious about our faith.
If not now then when let me say this, remark, the reason why we
are not meeting here tonight, pay close attention is because
the government has implemented regulations, so that the spread
of the virus would not continue, right?
That's why we're not here tonight.
Let me ask you this question. What will happen in a day when
the government institutes regulations.
Not because he doesn't want the virus to spread, but because he
doesn't want the message of Christianity spread.
Are you going to take your faith more?
Seriously, then I highly doubt it.
This is the time to realize that there are souls at stake.
Your left at this time in history.
And God has a plan and a purpose for you.
I can say with great encouragement of my heart, just
going through my social media feed, that people are taking
that seriously, not being overwhelming, not being unwise,
but just giving a flicker of Hope.
And I know that there are people around the world that are
praying seriously. And who knows?
What will come by the end of this?
Who knows the mission movement that Will Blast From America and
from different places, who knows what will happen to the local
church when people realize that their Ministries can be stripped
from them in a moment. I am so excited to see how God
is going to use this for his glory.
But here's my encouragement. Don't you want to be a part of
that? Don't miss out by standing on
the sidelines. Take this seriously and ask, God
sit at his feet and say, Lord. Use my life.
I see how it is, like a vapor. I see how on one weekend.
I was doing one thing and now I'm trapped in my home for
weeks. I see now that this is not a
light thing. Life is not a joke.
Life is not something that I have control over.
So Lord, use my day. Secondly, if you are not walking
with the Lord time to walk with the Lord.
He loves you. Let this be a sign of his
getting attention of you and let you embrace the message of Grace
that he has for you. And lastly.
If you're not a person that knows Christ.
Consider this livestream. Consider this video that you'll
see later on. As a manifestation of his Mercy
in your life, to sit you down in your home, the say to your
heart, receive my son. with all that being said, Would you bow
your head with me as we pray? When I pray for you?
We're going to collectively. Pray for this whole pandemic.
Let's bow, our hearts and our heads together.
Father, in Jesus name, we pray for the three different groups
of people that we address tonight.
And we ask Lord. That for those who are
Faithfully following you who are genuinely fearful of their
future. God let the truth of your
Sovereign power rest, upon them tonight, let husbands, and
fathers and mothers and wives be at peace to know that you are in
control. You have their future figured
out. Lord, for those.
Who don't see how they can be used by you?
For those who might not see the implications of this whole thing
concerning the kingdom of God. Let's something resurrect and
their lives. Even now, let there be a posture
of prayer, let there be a creative stirring by your
spirit. To know how to make the most of
this. Lord for those who have gone
cold in their hearts, they've been listening to this and maybe
they've been convicted. Let them know that all they need
to do is go back to where they used to find themselves and seek
your face in that. Everything can change from this
moment on that. They can know your will and
purpose for their lives. Again.
And lastly, we pray for the person who might watch this, who
doesn't know you, who is a false confidence of their Eternal
destination, who doesn't know Jesus Christ.
Personally, Lord, let your Holy Spirit fled their homes even now
and let them sense the pressing Finger of God until they
surrender in faith to you. Well, we pray for United
Evangelical Church. We asked our that you protect
this family from any sickness or disease.
Unnecessary evils. We pray.
Lord, that you would connect us in a way like we've never felt
we pray. Lord that you would amp up our
faith and you would amp up our Ministries.
And you would amp up our gifts for the glory of God.
We ask Lord as sooner than later.
We would be reunited again. Father, we pray, lastly, that
you would guide our government to know how to navigate this
situation. We pray that the enemy would not
take advantage of this to keep people in fear, or to keep
people in distraction so that they would not draw near to you
as a result. Lord.
We just pray that as a result of this Friday night message.
There would be a sharpening to our Eternal perspective and that
we would live more passionately in.
Joyfully for your kingdom and For Your Glory.
We pray these things in the mighty saving name of Jesus
Christ. Amen.
Thank you for joining us in this live stream.
We wish you were here. But until then, we will see you
this Sunday morning at 10 a.m. As we open up God's word
together. God bless you.
Thank you for joining us in this live stream.
We wish you were here. But until then, we will see you
this Sunday morning at 10 a.m. As we open up God's word
together. God bless you.