Celebrate the Savior

I received and forwarded a video yesterday, which made me really stop and pause to think that I might have been too hasty in dispersing this message.  It was a beautiful video encouraging viewers to show appreciation to our essential workers who are in the frontlines during this COVID-19 crisis.  I was really happy to see this because I am totally behind honoring all those who are working to keep us safe, including persons who work in medicine, security, supermarkets, pharmacies, gas stations, utility services, along with our political leaders and so many other essential workers.  However, one thing concerned me.  The timing of this celebration of our essential workers seemed a bit odd.  It would be right in the midst of many church services on Resurrection Sunday throughout the island.  Albeit, church for me is in bed these days watching an online live stream. Nonetheless, I would still be joining with other members of the body of Christ to celebrate His defeating death in this awesome and deliberate act of self-sacrifice so that none of us should perish, but all might have eternal life.  Now, I know many people may not share my beliefs, so they would not have wondered like I did why we couldn’t honor our essential workers on Easter Monday instead, when nothing much would be going on.

You see, I like many others, may fail at times to but Christ first in preference for others.  We so easily slip into honoring people before our Lord, giving more esteem to the created rather than the Creator.  How quickly we forget that when we seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness first, it is then everything will be added unto us including healing and protection.  I must admit I got quite riled up last night after thinking about this video and how we get so easily distracted by what is good, instead of worshiping God.  I started to get my praise on and I realized after that I got a reprieve from an unusual malady that I was suffering from since a few days before, which I had never had in my life.  Now, that is the power of praise.   When we get into the Word, we will understand that God inhabits the praises of His people and that He has a peculiar way of sending the praise team ahead in a battle to confound and scatter the enemy.  In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat was informed that a great multitude was going to come against Judah.  Fear gripped him, hence, he sought the Lord and proclaimed a fast for the nation. The people came from throughout the land to seek the Lord’s help.  And, God responded telling them not to fear because the battle was His.  They didn’t need to fight the battle. All they had to do was to stand and see the salvation of the Lord.  The people fell down and worshiped Him while the Levites stood up and praised Him loudly.  The praise of the Lord was going to prevail and He would win this battle.  They just needed to put their trust in Him.  Jehoshaphat appointed the singers and the folks who praised the Lord to give thanks to Him.  As the praises went up, the Lord set an ambush and the enemy forces came against each other destroying themselves. It took Judah three days to collect all the enemy left behind.  After three days Jesus rose from the dead and thwarted the enemy’s plan.  And because death couldn’t hold Him, eternal life is ours.  How can we not praise Him?  When we come together wherever we are united over the internet on Resurrection Sunday to praise and celebrate our Savior, we will confuse the enemy.  He expects us to succumb to fear and to get distracted by this storm.  But, this war against COVID-19 is the Lord’s, we just need to stand and praise Him, then we will see His salvation. 

I have always loved the words in the song, I Feel Like Praising Him, which says “If you don’t want to praise Him, don’t hinder me.” Unfortunately, we sometimes hinder our praise of God because we have our eyes on people, instead of keeping our focus on Him.  Jehoshaphat prayed “…for we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” 2 Chronicles 20:12 NASB.  Many of us feel powerless against the coronavirus, but we must seek the Lord and keep our eyes on Him.  He has the power and the plan.  Let us get His strategy of praise, knowing that with man it is impossible, but with Him all things are possible.  I comprehend this because I know His character.  He has been my Waymaker when I felt there seemed to be no way; He has been my Healer when the doctor said there was no cure; and He has been my Provider when I have been down to nothing.  Therefore, I am going to celebrate God first, so that I can celebrate people better.  If I were to get married, I would never want to marry a man, who put me before God.  He has to love God more than me and accept His love before becoming united with me, because without a doubt, there are times I am going to fail him.  He is going to need the love of God to carry him through my mishaps and he will need the power of God to love me unconditionally through whatever drama I drag him in.  Anyone, who knows me, knows that I don’t go looking for drama, but drama sure has a way of finding me.  My point about this whole preemptive marriage confession is to state that when we put God first, then we can love people better.  

We must recognize that it is the Lord who has made us, and not we ourselves. (See Psalm 100:3)  Consequently, we must stop running to the created first, instead of to the Creator.  There are many of us who are busy working for God, but not loving on Him. We are occupied with church optics looking good, while our eyes have deviated from our God who is good.  The work for our Father itself has become our idol.  The effects of coronavirus has allowed us to see church differently and to refocus on the Lord.  Let us not take our eyes off Jesus this Easter period. Now, more than ever we need to look to Him and celebrate Him.  Let us open ourselves up to Him and let Him pour His Spirit and love through us so we can love others.  During this time, let Him show us how to love our neighbors who are essential workers, or those who may be in self-quarantine because of a variety of reasons, including being elderly or having underlying conditions.  Let us ask God how to help those who have lost jobs because of this crisis, and also the underprivileged who are facing even more hardships during this time.  Many of our friends are grieving the loss of a loved one, put we can’t reach out to them as we normally would, so we need to seek God for Him to show us creative ways to help them during the mourning process. And, when He responds, we must listen, no matter how uncomfortable or inconvenient His directions may be. 

I believe as we celebrate God He will show us ways in which we can better assist our heroes who are on the frontlines.  This has to be ongoing during this period, so that they know we have their back not just for a moment, but all throughout this trying time.  Jesus prayed for the unity of believers in John 17, so let us be united as we pray together for our essential workers and all those who are in need, while giving sacrificially and celebrating our Savior.   

A Rebellious People

We are in a worldwide crisis, yet is seems many selfishly go their own way consumed with selfish ambition.  I have been distraught that over 4000 people entered the country and disregarded the Jamaican authorities’ request to report to health officials and to self-quarantine for fourteen days.  These folks, however, must feel that it is below them to comply with what seems to be minor requirements in a time when so many are becoming infected and dying across the globe from the highly contagious coronavirus.  Yes, it may cause temporary inconvenience to stay at home and be monitored, but it is for a greater good – the wellbeing of our nation.

God had showed me that pride goes hand in hand with this rebellious act.  And, God is never pleased with either.  In times of trial, the go to verse for nations in many cases is often -  If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV.  The fact is repentance from our rebellion and pride has to come before God hears us from heaven, forgives our sins and heals our land.  This healing is conditional and not a right.  We can go declaring and decreeing all we like, but if our hearts are not in the right place with God, then we declare and decree in vain.  God is a gracious and merciful Father, but He will not be manipulated with eloquent words that come out of a heart that is filled with sin and is unrepentant.

Church folks speak of giving their time, talents and treasures and it has become almost cliché.  Yet, God does not require our sacrifice, but our obedience. Undoubtedly, God knows the type of fruit that comes from our hearts.  There have been several church leaders in different countries who have broken the law instituted by their various governmental bodies to limit gatherings as they believe they have a right to assemble, or that it is an act of faith to discount the rules put in place during this public health emergency.  I know I have been called judgmental and told that I don’t know what God is doing in each of these persons.  That is true, I don’t.  God may have spoken to some of these leaders to assemble in a church building.  But, we must remember that the building is not the body of Christ and God is not limited to an edifice. 

And while some were talking about the temple, that it was adorned with beautiful stones and votive gifts, He said, “As for these things which you are looking at, the days will come in which there will not be left one stone upon another which will not be torn down.” Luke 21:5-6 NASB

Jesus spoke about this happening when the end of time was near.  We must never be so quick to cherish the building, because that could disappear in the blink of an eye.  Many churches have gathered over the internet and have had spirit-filled prayer sessions and services, along with socializing while adhering to physical distancing guidelines.  I saw a video of a Brazilian church on the streets with its members several feet apart from each other praying.  It was beautiful.  Unfortunately, church activities have been linked with the spread of the disease in different jurisdictions.  One of the most concerning clusters in South Korea, developed when a lady flew into the country and unknowingly spread the disease to several congregants when she visited a church there.  In San Francisco, a third of their COVID-19 cases are linked to church activities.  When these stories go out, it can be a hindrance to the proliferation of the Gospel as church leaders continue to fight for rights instead of doing what is right in the eyes of God.  Let us not forget that God causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (See Matthew 5:45).  Put in context, this verse is about loving those who do not love you.  Should we as the children of God not love enough to set an example and help in deterring the spread of an extremely harmful disease that is bringing destruction to the whole world?

I believe God is doing a new thing in His body.  He has seen how we have made the church building an idol and how worship has become more like a rock concert, pleasing man rather than Him.  And, He is grieved.  God is using this virus to infect His church with a new found love for Him, which cannot be restricted by a physical structure.  What the enemy means for harm, God is working for good and to show His glory.  There have been many testimonies of God’s goodness during this difficult period.  Although many of us cry to Him to take us out of this trial.  He is here with us to carry us through to be stronger spiritually and closer relationally to Him and others.  God is calling us to cast our net on the other side of the boat.  It may not make sense, but we must obey instead of trying to lean on our own understanding.  He is ready to do some mighty things in and through His people, but we must be ready to change our rebellious ways and humbly submit to His will.

Years ago, after a horrendous experience in the infamous 9/11 tragedy, I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).  I was told there was no cure.  At the onset of this illness, I could barely leave the bed and walking was painful because my feet were so sore.  For years I suffered with a number of symptoms in varying degrees. Some time later, I was given a set of CDs on the gifts of the Spirit to listen to and there was a sample CD in the case.  I decided to hear what was on this CD, thinking it was more along the lines of the other CDs, but it wasn’t.  The man spoke about territorial spirits that could have a negative effect on people in a variety of ways.  He said to ask God what was the territorial spirit ruling over the area I was from.  Sleepily, I queried God about the territorial spirit in Jamaica.  He responded immediately – rebellion.  It made perfect sense to me.  We have lauded many of the rebellions throughout our history.  And, indeed they were quite significant in securing the freedom from slavery.  But, we may have gotten used to rebelling.  Often we hear the cries of angry citizens on the news demanding, “We want justice,” without them truly comprehending that God’s view of justice goes hand in hand with walking humbly before Him and being merciful.  But, I digress.  Let me go back to the matter at hand.  I immediately repented of my rebellion sluggishly as I was falling asleep.  A couple days later, I recognized something was different.  There was no longer any tingling in my legs and I could jump out of bed without hesitation when I woke up ready to tackle the work for the day.  The CFS symptoms had made it challenging for me to get out of bed or stay awake in the mornings, and after days of tedious work the bottom of my feet would be so sore, it was difficult for me to walk.  But, after I asked God to forgive me of my rebellion, I was completely healed. I had repented of rebellion, not expecting this favorable result. 

Let us not be considered as the Israelites were in Psalm 78:8 -  A stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not prepare its heart and whose spirit was not faithful to God.  There is punishment for the rebellious - Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death. Psalm 107:17-18 NIV.  The good news though, is God is willing to hear our cry.

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he saved them from their distress.
He sent out his word and healed them;
    he rescued them from the grave.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Psalm 107:19-21 NIV

During this time of trial, let us walk humbly before God, asking Him for forgiveness and turning from our sin, while submitting to His will.  In His lovingkindness, He will rescue us in His time and in His way, even though we may not deserve it, but He is true to His character, a merciful and gracious God who abounds in love.