A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:10-12 NLT
At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 NLT
Easter is four weeks away. The hinge-pin of history when Jesus Christ conquered sin, death, and the grave. Jesus rose from the tomb in which He had been placed after being crucified by a world who couldn’t bear His pure and overwhelming love and goodness.
Christ’s resurrection changed everything. “Christ is risen from the grave! Trampling down death by death!” By His death and resurrection He awakened life as it had once been, reversing the Fall, restoring divine life, healing humanity! And people around the globe have been discovering the Easter message now for over two thousand years—the truth of truths that changes everything, literally, our very humanity!
No longer are the children of men destined to become mere flesh-driven autonomous thinkers who can invent things and make decisions and follow their own selfish paths to the grave. With faith in Christ, something deeper is shaken to life, woken up in the depths of our being, our spirit-man, the strength of life, the conduit to God, the dwelling place of Christ, and the place that dwells in Christ. People in Christ are no longer the same. Eternal life has invaded temporal mortality—death is no longer a threat to those who have already died with Christ and live with Him in resurrection victory.
So what is all this nonsensical fear that has gripped everyone, even the people of faith, in recent days. All we hear about is people fearing sickness, or fearing a hoax, or fearing economic collapse. Others lash out at another country, or blame the president, congress, or the media. People are swarming stores, hoarding supplies, everyone for himself. And we see churches reacting calmly, taking care of the elderly, moving online, serving their communities and creating untypical worship opportunities, being team-players, doing good, loving others.
But who is fasting and praying through this attack? Who is rending their garments, falling before the Lord in repentance and supplication? Pleading for God’s mercy and forgiveness? Where are the stout-hearted and fearless?
Dear One, GET UP AND FIGHT! It’s twenty eight days till Easter, fast, pray, be public or be private, but stop whining, and do what only the redeemed can do—cry out to God to break the wicked grip of fear that has swept over the world, and destroy this virus, and protect the elderly and afflicted!
Don’t be afraid to pray that this resurrection Sunday will be a day of unparalleled revival where the nominal, conforming, business-driven church will die and a church of power will be resurrected with Christ – and not just in America, but in Israel, in Palestine, in Iraq, Iran, Russia, China and across the globe! Christ is our only hope and the Church is the conduit of hope for mankind.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Have mercy on us all, Lord, revive us.