All Authority is from God

When I served as an intern at a Lutheran Church in Le Center, Minnesota, I did not get along well with the pastor. He looked askance at me for starting a jail ministry. Most of the people, however, liked me. One even compared me to Billy Graham!

Toward the end of my term in Le Center I started a community-wide youth group—without telling the pastor. We called it “Inter-team” and met around a campfire at night. It was exciting! When summer arrived, I left Le Center and went back to Luther Seminary.

But God started convicting me. The problems I created with the pastor were at least partially my fault. I was rebellious, doing the “right thing” with the wrong attitude. As hard as it was, I had to call Pastor Bill, confess my fault, and ask his forgiveness. He graciously forgave.

Immediately, God increased my ministry. Folks from another church called that same week, asking for advice. I was able to give wise counsel.

Because I had worked out my relationship with an authority figure, I became able to solve many church problems.

In the days of coronavirus-19, many are considering the role of civil government in society. Are the various lockdowns violating the constitution? Should churches follow state guidelines?

This article purposes to help us think biblically about authority.  Where does authority come from? What are the realms of authority that God has established? How does one realm of authority relate to another? How do church and state relate to each other?

Confusion exists unless we understand some basic foundational truths.

Foundational Truth Number One: All Authority Comes from God

All authority comes from the Creator. Christians with a biblical worldview can agree on this.

For by Him [Christ Jesus] all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities– all things have been created through Him and for Him (Col 1:16 NASB).

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me [Jesus] (Mat 28:18).

Foundational Truth Number 2: God Has Established 4 Realms of Authority—Family, Church, State, Business

Family—Gen 2-3; My son, observe the commandment of your father, And do not forsake the teaching of your mother (Prov 6:20).

Church–Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you (Heb 13:17).

Business–Servants, obey in all things them that are your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord (Col 3:22 ASV)

State–Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right (1 Pet 2:13,14).

Foundational Truth Number 3: God Has Delegated Some of His Authority to Each of These Realms

These spheres are complementary, not hierarchical. In other words, one is not “over” another. Neither is the list in order of importance. Each is significant in itself.

Ideally, each realm should support and strengthen the others for the purpose of peace in society (1 Tim 2:1ff).

Foundational Truth Number Four: When One Realm Usurps Power Over Another, the Others are Mandated to Rise Up and Restore God’s Intended Balance

Here are a couple of examples from the Bible.

  1. When the Senate (the ruling council among Jews at the time) over extended their authority and said, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name; Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us responsible for this man’s blood.” But Peter and the other apostles replied, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’
  2. But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live (Ex 1:17). Then God backed up the midwives and honored them by giving them families of their own (Ex 1:21).

Foundational Truth Number Five: God Honors His Realms of Authority

This principle is succinctly stated in Psalm 75:7 But God is the Judge; He puts down one and exalts another.

When Realms of Authorities that God has established disagree, what do we do?

First, we need to check our attitude. During my life, I’ve had many conflicts with authority in family, church, business, and civil government. Often, I have had to realize my own attitude was wrong. I’ve had to repent. And sometimes apologize. (Fortunately, I’m not as bad as I once was!)

Foundational Truth Number Six: God Uses Conflicts with Authority to Purify Us

God has ordained these types of conflicts to humble us and cause us to seek Him. God uses conflicts with authority to transform us. As we submit our attitude to Him, we find grace to become more Christ-like.

So What Do We Do?

Let me suggest a sequence. Prayer, check attitude, Holy Spirit guidance, Godly appeal, and perhaps–pay the consequences.

Sometimes prayer and a changed attitude will resolve a conflict. If that doesn’t work, perhaps God will lead us to make an appeal to an authority figure or group. (How to make a God-pleasing appeal is vitally important; however, that is a topic for another time.)

When authority groups engage in conflict, the Holy Spirit is our guide. God has promised the Spirit will guide us into all truth.

Ultimately, however, we may have to suffer the consequences. Think of Jeremiah in the cistern or David fleeing from King Saul. Some of the greatest heroes of the faith are honored today because of their faith and courage to take a stand for God.

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

I FORGAVE HIM–40 YEARS LATER!

Publisher’s note: This powerful story is from Paul ANderson–not a relative, but a friend. I want everyone to know Paul wrote it, not me.

Paul Anderson
Paul Anderson

Karen and I were living at 1603 W. 7th St., San Pedro, California. We had a good-size home, and we chose to share our living space with friends and relatives. One Christmas we invited a homeless young couple in with an infant. We usually knew the people well who joined us. They needed a place, and we had room downstairs. It was nice, with its own entrance, bathroom, and living room. For our Christmas Eve service, I used their baby to help people visualize the marvel of the incarnation.

He was a handy-man and did some work in our garden, making some steps that are still functioning well today. I helped him and he helped me. Until he left. Then he helped himself to some of our stuff, like pots and pans and my guitar, the best one! Don Barteld from our church also assisted him, and he managed to buy something on Don’s credit card. And they were gone.

No thank-you, no promise to pay us back. They left by ripping us off. It didn’t feel good. We had gone out of our way to help them. They weren’t married and we didn’t make a deal out of that They were welcomed like honored guests. And when they left, they treated us like scum.

This morning I was reading in Luke 6 where Jesus says, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them…But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil” (27-32,35)

Many of us have heard about Corrie ten Boom struggling to forgive a German guard who showed up at a meeting where she was speaking. He served where Corrie and her sister Betsy were imprisoned and where Betsy died after cruel treatment. He came up to the front afterward. She could see him out of the corner of her eye as she talked to people. A difficult moment. Could she forgive? Would she? She had to search her heart.

She felt the pain, but she found grace to forgive him, and perhaps a million people have heard, read, or seen the story (there’s a movie). Had she not forgiven him, she would have been tormented (Matthew 18:34), as Jesus says will happen if we do not forgive others from our heart (35). The tormentors are probably demons, who like rats enjoy hanging around garbage–unforgiveness, hostility, resentment, rage. Forgiveness releases the offender–and the offended one! Two for two!

Today I spoke out forgiveness to the young man who took advantage of us. I might have forgiven him before, but I wanted to make sure. I urge you as well to forgive if you have been taken advantage of–and God Himself will pay you back. Great deal!

Who Are the Greatest Heroes?

Let’s give credit where credit is due. Great heroes abound in his time of crisis. Nursing home workers, nurses, policemen, firemen, first responders, doctors, lab workers, clergymen, and many others deserve recognition. All of these are sacrificing and laying their lives on the line to save others.

All of these are receiving well deserved accolades for saving lives. In addition, there are men, women and young people saving lives for all eternity. Let’s recognize them. Those who save lives during the current crisis deserve great credit. And those who save lives for all eternity join a cadre of unsung heroes that deserves even greater honor.

This website exists to recognize and encourage soul-winners. They are the greatest heroes.

Angie Fredrickson is a real heroine. She sent this reply in the comment box of this website a while back, months before the quarantine. Here is Angie’s story.

I led someone to Chris

We were on a flight from PDX [Portland International Airport] to Santa Barbara. It was my husband, me and another lady sitting together.

I struck up a conversation with the lady, asking the Lord [at the same time] if I should share with her. He gave me the go-ahead.

The problem was we were landing, so I had to be precise. As we sat on the landing strip, stopped and not moving, I prayed with her as she received the Lord.

Then the plane went into the place of disembarkation. I asked my husband if the pilot told us why we were sitting on the landing strip. Even though my husband was in prayer as I shared, he said neither the pilot nor flight attendant said anything.

As we went into this very small airport terminal our son-in-law asked “Why were you sitting out there on the strip so long?” I told him it was so I could lead this nice lady to the Lord!”

Photo of “greatest hero Superman” by King Lip on Unsplash

What Do You Say to People that Believe All Apostles and Prophets Died with Peter and Paul?

Steve Fatow explains the difference between the apostles of Christ and the apostles of the Lamb.

What Are You Doing for Fun During the Lockdown?

Me? I’ll show you.

Just so you know, our family is taking the lockdown seriously. We were all quarantined for 14 days early on, and thankfully that time is over now.

I spent extra time in prayer. Phone calls to many of our church members were meaningful. Planning online meetings took a lot of time because I needed to ramp up my tech skills. Still working on that one.

But what did we do just for fun?

What Are You Doing for Fun During the Lockdown?
What Are You Doing for Fun During the Lockdown?

We made maple syrup. I say “we,” and that means “Kari.” Ok, I helped a bit. I carried the wood and built an impromptu fireplace. But mostly I ate the luscious syrup on pancakes. Kari did all the rest.

If you look carefully in this photo you will notice two white spots in the background. Each is a milk jug attached to a maple tree. The trees have a spout inserted. Then a tube drains the sap into the jug.

It takes hours to boil down the maple sap to syrup. For every 40 cups of sap, only 1 cup of syrup is produced.

I had to struggle to get this fire to blaze hot and steady. In the picture above, it’s just getting started.

It was fun and it was worth the effort.

I’m tempted to invite you over for some pancakes laden with butter and maple syrup. But alas! Can’t do that . . . the lockdown is still going on.

So, What Are You Doing for Fun During the Lockdown?

Facing the Giant of Fear

Facing the Giant of Fear
Facing the Giant of Fear

Public speaking, terminal illness, coronavirus, flying, growing old, failing a test, facing a global shut-down. Someone just got afraid reading this list. As a boy I didn’t go to bed—I flew. That way I avoided the bad guy under the bed. I overcame that fear by the time I married Karen. Some fears hang around our whole life. The story of David and Goliath gives us some lessons on fear.

WHAT’S THIS GIANT OF FEAR LIKE?

Goliath measured in at nine feet. That means slam-dunking without leaving the ground. He wasn’t the friendly kind of giant: “He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel… Choose a man for yourselves…If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants; but if I prevail…then you shall be our servants” (I Samuel 17:8,9). Response: “When Saul and all Israel heard these words…they were dismayed and greatly afraid (11).

Ignoring him didn’t work: “For forty days the Philistine came forward” (16). Fear unchallenged grows. Saul, the tallest in Israel, should have taken the challenge, but walking in disobedience brings fear, not faith.

WHAT EFFECT DOES THIS GIANT HAVE ON US?

Fear attacks at our most vulnerable point. The Philistines were perennial weeds in Israel’s garden patch. Fear reduces us to subjection, making us afraid to act, to fly, to talk, to lead, to believe.

Fear makes us flee

“All the men of Israel…fled from him and were much afraid” (24). God allows fear to grow faith. Fear is faith in reverse, believing the worst rather than the best. Fear produces a sinister imagination. The soldiers chose flight over fight, and fear increased exponentially.

Fear makes us fight

—the wrong people. When David showed up at camp and expressed interest in taking on Goliath, his brother argued, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness?” (28). Anger proves a more respectable response than fear. When we feel like failures, we might go after those wanting to make a difference.

HOW DO WE STOP THE GIANT?

We face him

The longer we ignore fear, the deeper the roots grow. David didn’t give it a chance to take root. Some prefer living with fears to accepting the painful challenge of confronting them. The Bible tells us to flee fornication but face fear. We sometimes do the opposite.

We trust in the Lord

The soldiers compared themselves to the giant. David compared the giant to the Almighty: “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the bear will deliver me from the hand of the Philistine” (37). Past defeats can paralyze us, but past victories turn tests into testimonies. Affirmations of faith help trust to grow: “This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head” (46). Face it, fight it, faith it!

During seminary I developed some fears that immobilized me. Normal things like answering the phone or raising my hand in class proved difficult. I looked up scripture references on fear and quoted them out loud when the giant showed up. It took months of declarations, but the fears did subside. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Fear comes by hearing the word of Satan.

David didn’t go against Goliath because he thought he was a better fighter but because he learned with tests to upgrade his confidence in God. Worked for him. Trust leads to courage. “The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are bold as a lion” (Prov. 28:1). You have good reason to be confident in the presence of this coronavirus, because “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1).

4 PEOPLE WHO COULD HAVE BEEN DISCOURAGED…and weren’t

JOSEPH.

He was the favored son of twelve, and his dad made him a colorful coat. He wore it–big mistake. Then he had a dream about his brothers bowing down to him, and he told them. Big mistake #2. They were jealous and hated him, finally selling him as a slave. So much for a fancy coat.

He could have been bitter, but instead he did what he could for his new boss. Captain Potiphar could see that Joseph was trustworthy and gave him charge of his home. Then he got framed by Potiphar’s wife for wisely refusing her advances–and landed in prison.

But the same thing happened. Rather than turning resentful and becoming a victim, he did what he could. The guard could see that he had character and put him in charge of all the prisoners. We are told, “Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it” (Genesis 39:22).

So while he kept going down and down, from son to slave to prisoner, he accepted his situation without growing bitter or hateful, and the Lord gave him success.

Then he interpreted dreams accurately for the butler and baker and asked the butler to remember him before Pharaoh when he was reinstated. He forgot. Again, he could have grown so resentful as to become unusable to the Lord or to people. But he maintained his positive spirit in the presence of pain rather than surrendering to doubt or depression, which would have blocked his ability to perform his duties.

When Pharaoh needed an interpreter for his two dreams, the magicians and wise men all failed. Then the cupbearer remembered the young man in prison, the Hebrew–two lousy years later. Joseph could have been consumed with unforgiveness, blocking him from the ability to interpret dreams.

Not Joseph. He was up for the challenge, and he became the second most powerful person on the planet. Had he given in to discouragement, which would have been understandable, he would have sacrificed his future. Way to go, Joe!

JOSHUA.

Moses is dead. He had totally dismantled the most powerful nation of the world with ten plagues in two weeks. He managed to wipe out the Egyptian army with one wave of his rod. He was the human instrument for signs and wonders of colossal proportion never seen before or since on the planet. He took a nation of two million on a hike for forty years through barren land.

During that time their shoes and clothes did not wear out. They were served up breakfast from heaven–every day. He made water flow from a rock two times. He spoke with God face to face on a regular basis.

Now Joshua is taking over. “Okay, go for it, Josh.” Hard act to follow? No. Forty years of hard acts. Joshua is told to bring the nation across the river and into a hostile land that would be theirs–if they can overcome the nationals who have other plans for them, some of whom are giants.

God speaks to Joshua, at least hesitant about his job description if not shaking in his sandals: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

That word is repeated three more times in the same chapter. Really? Don’t be discouraged? With what he has been handed? Impossible command. Who could obey it? How could he not give in from time to time? Come to think of it, what command from God is possible? How about, “Pray without ceasing,” or “Rejoice in the Lord always,” or “Have no anxiety about anything?”

Every command is an impossibility. If they were not, we could pull off the Christian life without the aid of the Holy Spirit. Joshua put his trust in the right place, and he carried out his assignment to the fullest. Good going, Josh!

DAVID.

When he as a fugitive returned to Ziklag with his fighting men, they found that the Amalekites had raided their camp, burned it and had taken captive all the women and children. The men wept “until they had no more strength to weep” (1 Samuel 30:4).

“And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul…But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (6b). He asked the Lord, “Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?” The Lord answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue all” (8). He went after the enemy with six hundred.

An Egyptian was found that tipped them off on where the Amalekites were. They attacked them by surprise and recovered everyone and everything! Way to encourage yourself in God rather than giving in to despair. Nice save, Dave!

PAUL

When Paul and Silas came to Philippi, they went to a place of prayer down by a riverside and spoke to a group of women. One of them, Lydia, opened her heart, was baptized together with her household, and convinced them to stay at her house.

Going again to the place of prayer, Paul and Silas were met by a demonized slave girl who made her owners rich by fortune-telling. After days of annoyance, Paul commanded the demon to leave. The angry owners dragged Paul and Silas to the magistrates, who along with the crowd tore off their clothes and beat them with rods. Then they threw them into prison and fastened their feet in stocks.

So what should you do if you were badly beaten unjustly, uncomfortable with stocks, and sleep eludes you? At midnight Paul leaned over and asked Silas if he knew any good worship choruses. They sang while the other prisoners listened.

An earthquake shook the foundations of the prison and opened all the doors. The jailer assumed that he had lost all the prisoners and drew his sword. Paul stopped him saying that no one had escaped. Amazing for Paul to have that kind of authority with all the prisoners. This made the jailer fall before Paul and ask how he and his household could be saved. After the wounds were washed, the happy jailer and his family were baptized. A new church in Philippi, one that Paul felt especially close to, was launched out of great suffering. Nice call, Paul!

Stephen–Forgiveness Unleashed

Chuck Porta
Chuck Porta

Chuck and Kitty Porta

Stephen stood, facing a religious leadership group filled with unbridled hate. In about an hour, that hate would express itself with a brutal stoning and Stephen would die and go to Heaven.

He had been saved for about four years, an integral part of the first church, a first fruit of the culture of that church. He now faces the greatest trial, and test for his heart and faith. He has been called to the place of the first martyr of the first church.

Acts 6 records the growing climate of confrontation, with the last verse in the chapter showing us Stephen’s heart status. He was in the eye of the storm. He was at peace, rest, supremely confident, and ready to unleash a prophetic word for the ages.

Acts 7 is a record of that message. He is clear, articulate, anointed, and bold in his declaration.

Stephen faces Paul, and others like him, who love Moses, Law, and the temple. Stephen loves Jesus Christ, Grace, and has the revelation of the new temple, built by the Spirit, called the Body of Christ. Stephen knows the deep, full, implications of the work done at Calvary by Jesus Christ. A new creation was started at the Cross, with a new leader, the last Adam.(1Cor 15)  He is fearless that day in his prophetic declaration of New Covenant truth and reality.

In short, Stephen knows the New has come the Old is over. Paul believes he is a blasphemer like Jesus Christ, so Paul believes the Old is wonderful and the New must die.

At the conclusion of his Acts 7 message, Stephen receives a vision of Heaven, the Glory, and Jesus standing to welcome him home. He declares, with a cry, what he has seen.

With this last prophetic challenge, the mob stop their ears from hearing, and their rage is unchecked. Stephen was dragged from the Council chamber, down a narrow street, and thrown over a small cliff to a pit. Stones are gathered and outer garments are  placed at the feet of Saul/Paul, who spurs them into action. Stone after stone begin to pummel the young man. Quick bruising turns to open gashes and severe wounds, and his blood flows easily. Some of his bones are broken and some break through his skin. Internal material from his head and body begin to emerge. Stoning is very painful and brutal.

Half conscious, after so many blows, he stumbles to his knees and releases a pray for the ages. With his final breath he speaks; “They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep.” (Acts 7:59-60)

A prayer of forgiveness is released by Stephen, a prayer for his murderers, a prayer for the eternal ages.

LORD HELP US ALL TO FORGIVE

Please read and prayerfully meditate on Acts 6/7

Publisher’s note: Please contact Chuck for information on the Life of Stephen that he teaches. It explores the church culture that formed the heart of this amazing young martyr.

5 cosas que la iglesia debe hacer ante la pandemia del coronavirus

5 cosas que la iglesia debe hacer ante la pandemia del coronavirus.

Traducción por Edgar Mendez Gracias, Pastor Edgar

5 cosas que la iglesia debe hacer ante la pandemia del coronavirus. Si te preguntas qué hacer, empieza aquí Por Mark Anderson https://bmarkanderson.com/coronavirus-5-things-the-should-church-do/

Lo primero es ir ante Dios a través de su palabra y la oración

¿Te has fijado qué está justo antes del famoso versículo de 2 Crónicas 7:14? “Si yo cerrare los cielos, que no haya lluvia, y si mandare a la langosta que consuma la tierra, o si enviare pestilencia a mi pueblo; Si se humillare mi pueblo, sobre los cuales ni nombre es invocado, y oraren, y buscaren mi rostro, y se convirtieren de sus malos caminos; entonces yo oiré desde los cielos, y perdonaré sus pecados, y sanaré su tierra.” 2 Crónicas 7:13-14 Fíjate en la palabra pestilencia, la palabra hebrea es deber y simplemente significa pestilencia o plaga. Tiene el sentido de muerte o destrucción de algo. Dios usa esta palabra en la Biblia para traer juicio sobre un pueblo o tierra. Cuando viene la pestilencia, entonces el verso 14 es la prescripción divina para la cura.

Lo segundo es que la iglesia necesita actuar

Necesitamos humillarnos y orar. Cuando inició el brote no le presté atención. Interesado sí, pero pasivo. Recientemente he pasado de un observador interesado (viendo las noticias) a una voz con autoridad en los cielos. Más que eso en un minuto. Buscar el rostro de Dios es parte de nuestro llamamiento en medio de la crisis. No podemos dejar a que simplemente la crisis pase.Nosotros somos la iglesia, ¡el pueblo de Dios! ¿Qué quiere Dios que nosotros hagamos en esta crisis? ¿Cuál es su propósito? ¿Qué más quiere el mostrarnos? ¿Cómo usará todo esto para bien? Necesitamos arrepentirnos delante de Dios. Arrepentimiento no es una palabra sucia; más bien es una palabra limpia, una palabra que santifica. El arrepentimiento nos da libertad, nos limpia y equipa para un mejor servicio. El arrepentimiento nos quita nuestros motivos mundanos. Este es un tiempo para permitir al Espíritu de Dios no quite todo orgullo, pasividad, malos estilos de vida, flojera, desperdicio de tiempo y “pecados cristianos” tales como falta de amor por los pobres y falta de evangelismo. Es tiempo de enfrentar el temor, las quejas y compromisos.

Tercero, la iglesia debe orar con autoridad

Necesitamos orar con el profeta Habacuc “En la ira, acuérdate de la misericordia”. Habacuc estaba perplejo y confundido. Estaba consciente del juicio de Dios en lo que sucedía en su tiempo. Sabía que Dios gobernaba y juzgaba desde su trono en los cielos , pero no comprendía el amplio panorama de los impactantes eventos que sucedían. Finalmente clamó, “en la ira, acuérdate de la misericordia”. Sabemos que Dios está sacudiendo a las naciones y la economía. Sabemos que nosotros y las naciones merecen el juicio de Dios. ¿Pero qué está pasando? Oh Dios, en la ira, acuérdate de la misericordia (Habacuc 3:2). La iglesia necesita tomar autoridad sobre el virus y verlo morir. En la Biblia Aarón detuvo una plaga con fuego e incienso (Números 16:41-50), Finees detuvo una plaga con una jabalina (Números 25:1-13), y David frenó una plaga con un altar y un sacrificio (2 Samuel 24:25). Al estar escribiendo esto recibí un correo electrónico de Tony Perkins del Consejo de Investigación Familiar con el siguiente mensaje: Números 16 da cuenta de la plaga que devastaba al pueblo de los hijos de israel. Moisés llamo urgentemente a Aarón para que tomara su incienso y pusiera en el fuego del altar, pusiera incienso, y fuera en medio del pueblo par interceder. Luego, en el verso 48 leemos “y se puso (Aarón) entre los muertos y los vivos; y cesó la mortandad”. Si no intervenimos nosotros, ¿quién lo hará? ¿Debemos confiar en que el gobierno detendrá el virus? A lo mejor si la iglesia se humilla y ora Dios usará al gobierno para quebrantar el poder de la plaga. Parte de la oración de la iglesia debe ser ¡un canto de triunfo! El Salmo 68:1-4 identifica el poder de la alabanza ungida y la adoración demostrada físicamente. Exaltación (alabanza físicamente activa, tal como danzar de gozo) crea una vía rápida para que Dios llegue a la escena e intervenga. En 2011 Dios empezó a decirme que el pueblo se preparara para el juicio.

Cuarto, la iglesia necesita hablar a la gente acerca de Jesucristo

Mientras el mundo retrocede en temor, necesitamos ir al frente y decir a las gentes claramente que Dios les ama, que Dios es bueno, que él dio su sangre por nuestros pecados y enfermedades. El murió la muerte que nosotros merecíamos. Somos libres de la culpa del pecado por la sangre de Cristo.y ¡Él resucitó de los muertos! Un miembro del gabinete del presidente Obama dijo “Nunca desperdicies una crisis”. Aunque este administrador hubiera tenido en mente intereses perversos, nosotros necesitamos buscar a Dios para descubrir el buen y divino propósito al permitir esta pandemia. ¡No desperdiciemos esta crisis! Dios ya tiene la atención de la gente. La gente habla… está buscando. Por lo menos usemos al coronavirus como tema de conversación. ¿Podrías preguntar “Crees que el coronavirus está mencionado en el Apocalipsis?” O ¿Piensas que Armagedón ha comenzado?En algún momento en la conversación pregunta “¿Sigues a Cristo? A la gente le gusta hablar acerca de su fe.

Quinto, la iglesia necesita salir con todo para manifestar el amor de Dios en maneras prácticas

¿Sabe tu vecindario que vas a entregar víveres a aquellos que necesitan alimento? ¿Sabe la gente que puede contar con papel del baño? Mientras muchos se retraen en temor y ansiedad ¿les llamarás por teléfono para darles la esperanza que ellos necesitan hoy? Las disposiciones oficiales aconsejan tener especial cuidado con los adultos mayores, los enclaustrados y los vulnerables.

CORONAVIRUS – 5 cosas que la iglesia debe hacer

Primero: buscar a Dios en la Biblia y en oración, Segundo: la iglesia necesita actuar: necesitamos humillarnos y orar, Tercero: necesitamos un orar triunfante, Cuarto: la iglesia necesita decirle a la gente acerca de Cristo, Quinto: la iglesia necesita mostrar el amor de Dios en forma práctica.

¡Los mejores día de la iglesia han llegado!

Coronavirus—5 Things the Church Should Do

Coronavirus--5 Things the Church Should Do

5 things the church should do in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. If you’re wondering what to do, start here.

First, Go to God Through His Word and Prayer

Have you noticed what comes right before the famous verse in 2 Chronicles 7:14?

13 If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, 14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:13-14

Note the word pestilence. The Hebrew word is deber and it simply means pestilence or plague. It has the sense of death or destroying something.

God uses this word in the Bible to bring His judgment on a people or land. When pestilence comes, then verse 14 is the divine prescription for the cure.

Second, the Church Needs to Act

We need to humble ourselves and pray.

When the virus first broke out I was nonchalant. Interested, yet passive. Only recently have I switched from an interested observer (watching the news) to an authoritative voice in the heavens. More on that in a minute.

Seeking the face of God is part of our calling in the middle of crisis. We can’t just let this crisis pass by. We are the church, the people of God! What is God wanting to accomplish in this crisis? What is His purpose? What more does He want to show? How will He use this for good?

We need to repent before God. Repentance is not a dirty word; rather, it is a clean word, a sanctifying word. Repentance relieves us, cleans us, and equips us for greater service. Repentance strips us of our ungodly motivations.

This is a time to allow God’s Spirit to peel away any pride, passivity, unhealthy lifestyles, laziness, time wasting habits, and “Christian sins” like lack of love for the poor and lack of evangelism. It is a time to deal with fear, complaining, and compromise.

Coronavirus—What Should the Church Do Now?

Third, the Church Needs to Pray with Authority

We need to pray with the prophet Habakkuk In wrath remember mercy. Habakkuk was confused and bewildered. He was aware of God’s judgment in the events of his day. He knew God was ruling and judging from the throne of heaven, but he could not comprehend the vast scope of the bewildering events at hand. He finally cried out, O God, In wrath remember mercy.

We know God is shaking the nations and the economy. We know we and the nations deserve God’s judgment. But what’s going on? Oh Lord, in wrath remember mercy (Habakkuk 3:2).

The church needs to take authority over the virus and see it die. In the Bible, Aaron stopped a plague with fire and incense (Numbers 16:41-50), Phinehas stopped a plague with a javelin (Numbers 25:1-13), and David halted a plague with an altar and a sacrifice (2 Samuel 24:25).

While I was writing this, I received an email from Tony Perkins of Family Research Council with the following message: Numbers 16 gives the account of the plague sweeping through the population of the children of Israel. Moses urgently calls upon Aaron to grab the censer and put fire in it from the altar, put incense on it, and go among the people to intercede. Then in verse 48, it reads, “And he (Aaron) stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped.”

If we don’t intervene, who will? Should we rely on the government to halt the virus? Perhaps if the church humbles herself and prays, God will use the government to break the power of the plague.

Part of the church’s prayer needs to be triumphant singing! Psalm 68:1-4 identifies the power of anointed praise and physically demonstrative worship. Exultation (physically active praise such as leaping for joy) creates a highway for God to arrive at the scene and intervene.

In 2011 God began to speak with me to prepare the people for judgment.

Fourth, the Church Needs to Tell People about Jesus Christ

While the world is pulling back in fear, we need to step ahead and clearly tell people that God loves them, that God is good, that Jesus gave his blood for our sin and sickness. He died the death we deserve. We are free from the guilt of sin because of Jesus’ blood. Then He rose from death!

One of President Obama’s administrators stated, “Never let a crisis go to waste.” Although the administrator had nefarious purposes in mind, we need to seek God to discover God’s good and divine purpose for allowing this pestilence.

Let’s not let this crisis go to waste!

God’s got people’s attention. People are talking . . . seeking. At the least, use the coronavirus as a conversation starter. You might ask, “Do you think the coronavirus is mentioned in Revelation?” Or “Do you think armageddon has begun?” Somewhere in the conversation ask, “Are you following Jesus?”

People like to talk about their faith.

Fifth, the Church Needs to Go All Out to Show God’s Love in Practical Ways

Does your community know that you will deliver groceries to those who need food? Have we let people know that toilet paper is available? While many are shrinking in fear and anxiety, will your phone call give the hope they need for the day?

The updated presidential guidelines advise us to take special care of the elderly, the shut ins, and the vulnerable.

Coronavirus—5 Things the Church Should Do–

First, go to God through the Word and prayer. Second, the church needs to act: we need to humble ourselves and pray. Third, we need to pray triumphantly. Fourth, the church needs to tell people about Jesus Christ. Fifth, the church needs to show God’s love in practical ways.

The Best Days of the Church are Upon Us!