I don’t know about other Christians, but I am tired of the Church, the Bride of Christ being looked at as weak, impotent, insignificant and without purpose in this world in which we live.
The world blasphemes the God of the Bible. They mock and belittle Jesus Christ as a liar, lunatic or just a great prophet and teacher. The Holy Spirit is nothing more than an impersonal force or power that controls all things… if you have been good enough.
And the church, well, there’s not much good said about the church these days.
“No, I don’t go to church. There are too many hypocrites there.”
“Go to church, why bother? They are just like me, we party, we cuss the paint off the wall and well, some of them can drink me under the table. If they go to heaven, surely I’ll be there also.”
“Have you seen the news lately? Even pastors are now saying they really don’t believe anymore. They are finding out it is all nonsense.”
“Again, why go listen to a man who is having an adulteress affair, is embezzling money from the tithes and conducting some shady business deals and then tries to tell me about holiness and righteousness.”
“Man, Christians don’t even go to church that much anymore, they go to the races and fishing and hunting rather than sit there, so why should I go, I mean, its not really important to them obviously.”
I have wondered what will happen to the church with this Coronavirus going through the nations. I’m genuinely worried. But it’s not just Corona. The face of the church has changed dramatically over the last 50 to 100 years.
Doctrine, true biblical doctrine, is not being taught anymore. Instead, warm, fuzzy, feel-good sermons and lessons are the norm and most don’t know what it is that they truly believe.
Church attendance has been dropping in churches over the last couple of years.
Tithes are down.
People just do not want to serve in the church anymore.
The mid-week prayer meetings, they don’t happen anymore, it’s just Bible study and why? Because nobody is willing to pray anymore.
Revival meetings? I don’t know about you, but I haven’t seen one of those in probably 20 years or more.
The days of going out on the street and engaging in witnessing and handing out gospel literature are disappearing, there are more important things to do now.
Now if you are reading this and saying to yourself, “Wait a second, we are doing we’re still doing those things at my church,” then my friend, you are truly an exception, because many have ceased.
If you are Christian, now is the time more than ever for you to strap on the armor of the Lord,
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Ephesians 6:10-20
Will we give this Coronavirus and opportunity to try and neutralize the Gospel we are called to proclaim in the Kingdom’s work? Or will we rise up, armor in place, the Sword of the Lord in hand and bring back honor and respect to our God, bring honor and respect to Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, bring back honor and respect to the Bride of Christ, the Church by living and acting like we belong to Christ?
There has never been more of a need for the Church to rise up and be who we are, “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
Christian, now is the day, now is the hour to live with passion and zeal for the glory of God, now is the time to “LIVE” Christ in your daily life so that all who run into you say “Now there is a man (Or woman) who belongs to Jesus” and the world will see the power of the Holy Spirit moving and working through you.
I want the history books to look back on this year of plague and disease and stand in awe at how the Church of Jesus Christ rose up, and brought salvation to the masses through the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I want the next couple of months and the next year to look like Hebrews chapter 11, The heroes of the faith.
I ask God to let the exploits of the Church over the next couple months to surpass the deeds seen in Foxes Book of Martyrs, bring more into the Kingdom of God than all the other revivals in history combined, and all for His glory, all to the exalting of Christ as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and done in the power of the Holy Spirit.
O God, let the Church arise!
Soli Deo Gloria