“WE HAVE LIFE IN CHRIST: A RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC”
March 14, 2020
Greeting church,
In light of recent news regarding the Coronavirus pandemic, many public gatherings have been closed down for a season, including many churches. Public health officials have requested that public gatherings of over 250 people be suspended. With that in mind, I fully respect the decisions of the pastors and church leaders in our community to follow that advice and host online services instead. The online space is a powerful mission field…THE GOSPEL WILL STILL BE PREACHED!
We will not let the enemy divide us over this. Those who chose to suspend their in-person gatherings are not wrong or faithless and those who do not are not more righteous or faithful. Every church has a different dynamic and calling…we can all SERVE the LORD and have different MANDATES. Our METHODS may differ, but our MESSAGE does not. Let us PRAY for one another, not PREY on one another!
“For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”
– I Corinthians 14:33
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” – Ephesians 4:3
I am amazed at the resilience of the Word of God! And I suspect that, given the climate of fear and uncertainty, more people will hear that Gospel this Sunday than ever before!!! Believers and non-believers alike, will be tuned in to hear about the HOPE, HEALING and REDEMPTION of CHRIST that we preach every Sunday! This may very well be a “blessing in disguise.” Only God knows how many people are going to tune in for the first time, Give their lives to Christ and become a part of the ministry! I am praising God in advance!!!
Let’s pray for REPENTANCE and call out to God to DISINTEGRATE this deadly virus and all of its cousins! And that it serve its PURPOSE as a reminder of just how FRAGILE this life is; and that the DAY of SALVATION is TODAY!
“Sing unto the Lord, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation.” – I Chronicles 16:23
“For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” – II Corinthians 6:2
Since our regular attendance falls well short of the California Department of Public Health’s suggestion to suspend gatherings of over 250, WE WILL HAVE CHURCH AS USUAL ON SUNDAYS. We will use WISDOM and DISCERNMENT and continue to monitor the situation and respond accordingly, AS THE SPIRIT LEADS.
Here are the steps that are being taken to ensure we have a healthy environment that reduces the probability of spreading the virus:
- I you are sick, stay at home
- Washing hands frequently
- Avoiding the touching of eyes, mouths and noses with unwashed hands
- All surfaces are washed and disinfected continually
- Social distancing: no hugs, kisses or handshakes. We will greet each other Wakanda-style or with “air hugs”
- Recording the service and posting to our social networks expediently for those who missed service
At this time, I am asking that we all use wisdom and to display the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT when moving about. Be kind to others when you go out shopping and be considerate. Remember our trust is in the LORD; He is our STRENGTH and PROVISION. We are to LOVE our NEIGHBORS, so don’t hoard the necessities.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” – I Timothy 1:7
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” – Galatians 5:16
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22
“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:30-31
This is not some Hollywood Apocalyptic film, at least is doesn’t have to be. We can remain loving and act with civility towards one another, while meeting the needs of our family and loved ones.
If you have loved ones who are older and it is difficult for them to get around, please check on them.
If you plan to come to church on Sunday, I look forward to seeing you then. If you choose to stay home out of precaution, may the LORD richly bless you!
Remember to PRAY for the families of those who have already lost loved ones and for those who have contracted the virus. We pray a speedy and complete recovery, amen.
Let me share a quick word with you, if you have your bibles, open to John 10:10
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” – John 10:10
The enemy wants to still our JOY, kill our FAITH and ultimately DESTROY our DESTINY! We are destined for GREATNESS in Jesus Christ and in an ETERNITY of EVERLASTING JOY and PEACE! The devil knows it and come having great wrath because he knows his time is short
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” – Revelation 12:11-12
He knows his future is the Lake of fire and he wants to take as many of us, God’s children, with him,
But in Jesus WE HAVE LIFE and LIFE IN ABUNDANCE. An abundance of PEACE, an abundance of JOY, an abundance of LOVE, an abundance of BLESSINGS, an abundance of PROVISION, an abundance of GRACE and an abundance of HOPE…PRAISE GOD!
Remember, it doesn’t say that He came so that we might have CHURCH! It says He came so that we might have LIFE! In fact, He came so that we can BE CHURCH!!! I don’ to get people into church, I preach to get THE CHURCH into people. As believers, we need to be a part of the church; it was God’s idea, it belongs to Him.
The church is still God’s primary instrument for Spiritual growth. So get connected however you can.
This too shall pass!
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” – Romans 8:18
The enemy say CORONA….we say CHRIST!
The enemy say PANIC….we say PEACE!
The enemy say VIRUS….we say VICTORY!
The enemy say PANDEMIC….we say PURPOSE!
The enemy say COVID 19….we say PSALM 91!
Yeah, it’s a TURNAROUND!!!
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.”
With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
– PSALM 91
Yeah, God is going to TURN IT AROUND!!!
So PRAISE HIM in this PLACE! Let the GLORY of the LORD reign down! Be blessed…WE HAVE LIFE!
A remember, Real People, Real God, Real Worship…be blessed!
Sincerely in Christ,
Pastor Chuck Henderson, Senior Pastor
Relevant Church Inland Empire
