March 15, 2020
Morning Service

It is amazing how quickly things can change in our lives.  This can be true in our own personal lives by a tragic event, a doctor’s diagnosis, a loss of a loved one, or a notice from work that you are no longer needed.  In a manner of seconds our lives can be changed forever.  This is also true on a national level as well.  This week things have happened in our nation that most of us have never before experienced.  As I listen to those around me, I hear anxiety in their voices of not knowing and understanding what is happening.  I really felt the tug from the Holy Spirit to break off of our Colossians study and address this issue this morning.  I am not going to explain all about the Covid-19 virus and what we need to be doing; I am going to speak on the anxiety and even fear that is generated by it.  I hope you realize God was preparing us last week as Paul directed us to “set our minds on things above not on things of the earth.”  The new perspective we are now to put into practice is one that sees things from God’s view (above) not ours (earth).  We speak often about following James’ advice to be “doers of the Word and not hearers only.”  What we have before us now with all the turmoil that our nation, community, and family face with this state of emergency is an opportunity.  We have an opportunity to put our faith into action at a time chaos.  God is using this time for a purpose, He has a plan for Covid-19 for our world and for each of us personally.  Seek for what God is trying to teach you about your relationship with Him through this. We have an opportunity to dig our roots a little deeper into God and allow our faith to grow by how we handle this time of unrest. We also have the opportunity to be a positive voice that reassures those around us that God is still in control.  We have opportunity to minister to those around us that may need our help during this time of trial. To begin let’s review the example of our new perspective that we looked at last week and truly apply that to our own hearts first.

Php 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!  (5)  Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.  (6)  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; (7) and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

            Paul encourages us not to be anxious or worry but to rejoice and pray; pray about everything trusting Him to work all things out according to His plan.  As we trust Him totally with every aspect of our lives, God will fill us with the “peace that surpasses all understanding.”  In times of turmoil like we are currently in “let go and let God.”  Pray to Him with thankfulness but also “let your requests be made known to God.”  Tell Him what is on your heart; ask, seek, and knock and it will be given, you will find, and the door will be opened for you.  The opportunity we have now is to put this into practice.  Don’t worry pray and trust that God is in control.  Let the peace in your heart show in your conversations and actions during this time of trial and uncertainty.  As he states in verse 5 “let your gentleness be known to all men.”  Let your light shine in this dark time.  A light is needed and valued more in a time of darkness rather than a time of light.  Don’t let fear be any part of how you handle this crisis.  Remember this from our study in Timothy?

 

2Ti 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

            Fear is a liar.  Our enemy uses it to bring doubt into our minds about what we believe about God.  He wants us to focus on the emotion of fear and anxiety rather than for us to act by faith.  Paul tell us that God does not give us that spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.  Our opportunity is to renounce the fear and act upon the power, love and sound mind we have been given.  God has blessed us with the ability to reason and act upon the information we have been given and Paul encourages us to do so.  Be smart about the contact we have with others, wash your hands, eat well, stay hydrated, and get your sleep are a few things that we can control ourselves so we should do that.  Will that prevent us from contracting the virus?  Not with certainty, but it is how God would have us to act with a sound mind.  We should not ignore this pandemic, nor be afraid of it, but act with the wisdom (sound mind) we have been given.   The next opportunity we are given is to act in the spirit of love that does come from the Lord.

 

Gal 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

            We need to be “setting our minds on things above” by looking around us to others that may need our help in this time of unrest.  Older people with existing health issues are especially vulnerable and we need to be looking for opportunities to help them through this.  What that looks like, I am not sure yet.  It may be that you buy groceries for someone who needs to stay home, child care, help with doctor’s visits, or just be that voice of reassuring calm that they need to cope.  Keep your eyes open to these opportunities.  We are better together and this is our chance to show it.  If you see a need act on it, but if you need help ask and perhaps someone in our family will be able to step up with you to solve the problem.  Let’s let our light shine brightly that the love of God will prevail in this time of crisis.  Let this time be an opportunity for ministry.  Finally, this can be a wonderful, unique opportunity for your personal growth or your relationship with Jesus.  We closed with this scripture last week, but I feel it is even more relevant today

 

Mat 6:19-21 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; (20) but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (21)  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

            This will be a great opportunity for each of us to be sure our priorities are in place.  Where is my treasure?  Am I more concerned with the stock market’s woes and the lack of college basketball than the lives that are effected by the virus?  At times like these when it seems things are being stripped away from you, focus in on what is really important and praise God for those things.  Use this time to slow down your life and grow in your faith allowing your roots to grow deeper in this time of unrest.  Let’s come out of this not beat down and depressed, but revived to follow Jesus when times are tough as well as when we are being blessed far more than we deserve.  The foundation of our faith is being challenged, be sure you are built on the Rock.    

 

Mat 7:24-27 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: (25) and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.  (26)  "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: (27) and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

            Build upon the Rock that is Jesus and His teachings using Him as the foundation of all you live for.  Use this time of trial to prove that your foundation is strong and immovable, the opportunity to do so is knocking at your door.

 

Heavenly Father please use this time in our lives to grow our roots deep into You.