Sermons

First Sunday in January we said there was a darkness coming. We began a seven week series called “Coming out of Babylon” based on five words the Lord gave us: Joyful, Gathered, Faithful, Together, Harvesting. The seventh message was “Canoeing in the Mountains. So what does it look like now three months later?

The 4 gospels are full of famous people. I want to share a story about an average guy. He was a secret Christian. He didn’t preach, didn’t follow Jesus publicly, didn’t leave his job. He had questions & doubts. He was like his fellow councilman Nicodemas who came to Jesus. They were members of the Council of 71.

The early church in the first 3 centuries grew at an amazing rate in spite of all the reasons people had to not join. You were shunned, scorned, gossiped, jailed, killed. You could lose jobs, family, & friends and influence. It wasn’t the worship services that drew them it was their lifestyle.

The woman with the issue of blood was in quarantine for 12 years. Let’s look at how she finally pushed out of her condition and got her miracle.

There are actually quite a few people in scripture that have experienced times of quarantine from the Lord. Jesus, Elijah, Joseph, Noah, John the Baptist, the Apostles, Paul in jail, Jonah in the whale, To name just a few. They all came out in power!

What we are facing is not a interruption, it’s a disruption. Some churches have chosen to not close but they are missing what God is up to and their churches will remain like they were. Let’s not miss this visitation!
You can’t find eggs in last years nest!

Some worshipped, some doubted
All power was given them
Go and make disciples
I am with you always

Many wonder where is Jesus in all this? There was an earthquake & brilliant light. It paralyzed the guards but prompted a revelation to the women. The world is paralyzed but we are motivated.
This pandemic is like the persecution mentioned in Acts that scattered the church. The enemy meant it for evil but God meant it for good.

We are living in hard times. But God has not given us the spirit of fear. We serve what we fear. Don’t give place to it.
Some have asked what the spiritual meaning is to all this. We can say for certain that God doesn’t get any pleasure seeing us afraid & hurting. He can certainly use this time of quarantine for His glory.

Many are experiencing fear today. Not just the virus but their jobs, edifice, food, family, the future.
There is a vaccination for fear.