This message is taken from Episode 20 of “Bible Time & Worship” Coronavirus Bible Study #togetherathome with my children. Go there for the full blog post and verse links. I pray this is encouraging to you.
Christ followers, why are you so sad? Everything here is temporary. You’ve misplaced your priorities. Did you not see what was happening all around you? Did you think you were immune to suffering? John 15:18-20, John 16:33 God gives and He takes away. Job 1:21 If you want to blame someone, remember the leaders were put in place by the Lord. Romans 13:1-3, 1 Peter 2:13-18 And all will answer and be judged for every idle word. Matthew 12:33-37 Are you upset? Well it’s okay to be upset. You can have your feelings but it might be wise to use self-control and limit sharing your unfiltered thoughts with those who love you, understand your venting and can handle what you have to say. Like toothpaste, remember, it’s hard to stuff it back in once it’s out. Everything sent over the internet becomes public even if you thought you deleted it. Be careful not to make permanent decisions during temporary situations. This too will pass.
But what about my graduation? They are figuring all that out. If YOU were the leader, what would you do? Remember, you have more than just your own interests to consider. I’ve learned you can’t keep everyone happy all the time; there will be differences of opinion. You can decide for yourself, WHO or WHAT do you stand for? Live for the Lord. Fear God. Matthew 10:26-33 Lost your job? Can’t go to work? Business shut it’s doors? You can’t play more video games? Feeling lonely and bored out of your mind? Received an unexpected diagnosis? Loved one got into a freak accident? Military orders got delayed or revoked? A lot has happened and will happen. There are a lot of unanswered questions now for sure. There’s a lot that we don’t know.
So… what DO you know? You know that God is here. He says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.“ Hebrews 13:1-8 But, does God care? Yes, more than you know. Does God even know what is going on with me? I know everything. I’ve worked so hard. I’ve done everything right. So did my Son. Is there any other way? I’m doing a work in and through you. James 1:2-18 It hurts too much. My grace is sufficient for you. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 It’s too much for me to handle. Cast your burdens on me. Matthew 11:25-30 Isn’t there someone else Lord? I’ve heard these very words before from my servant Moses (Exodus 4:10) and Jonah… and now You. I am the Master Gardener. I prune even those branches that grow, so that it may produce MUCH fruit. John 15:2 I am the Potter. Some vessels I create for certain uses. Romans 9:14-24 I am the Good Shepherd and I know those that are mine. I lay down my life for my sheep. John 10:7-18, 1 Peter 2:24-25 I raise the dead. John 11:38-44, Matthew 28:6-7 I spoke the world into existence. Genesis 1 I turn the hearts of man. Proverbs 21:1-2 Legions of angels are at my command. Matthew 26:53-54
The things you hold onto and grow to depend on- make sure it’s solid. Build your house upon the solid Rock of Christ. Matthew 7:24-27, 1 Peter 2:4-8
So…..with all the things that are going on right now in your life and everything turned upside down…. Did God just get real for you? Good. Because this is not a joke. Consider yourself blessed, you’ve been given a loving warning and wake up call by the Lord. Jesus came for everyone. John 3:16, John 12:44-50 But not all accepted what He had to say nor what He came here to do. John 12:37-43 And not everyone has had the same opportunity to hear about Jesus as you have. Romans 10:14-17 How are YOU helping to show a hope that goes beyond these temporary circumstances here on Earth, even our own lives? This, what you are going through right now, is all temporary. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 What lasts? Faith, hope and love. The greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 What do you love? Who do you love? How are you showing love?
Have your moment, but get yourself together and back in the game. Your family needs you. Your community needs you. This world needs the unique giftings that God has given you, to those who are his, as a member of his body to benefit the church to which you are NOT the head. Jesus is the head. Colossians 1:17-18a (also Ephesians 5) You were never the head. You are a part. So, what is your part? 1 Corinthians 12 Look to the Lord. Get connected again working as One unified Body. 1 Corinthians 12:27
This path is not easy. The way is narrow. Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus said take up your cross. Matthew 16:24-26 There will be burdens you will carry. But take heart, Jesus has overcome the world. John 16:33 Remember, it’s not about what YOU have done, Romans 9:30-33, John 3:16 but what Jesus has already done, the finished work of Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
By the way, I am in no way saying any of this because I think I have mastered or ‘arrived’ but I am encouraging you as I hope you will encourage me to keep the faith 2 Timothy 4:7 as iron sharpening iron Proverbs 27:17, and even more so as the Day draws near. Hebrews 10:23-25
What comforts me at times of great difficulty is God’s own words. Passages such as Jesus asking if there was another way (besides the suffering he was going to face), yet in the same breath, he submits to the will of God, the Father. Luke 22:42-46 Are we willing to let God be God? Because if we could control or manipulate God then he wouldn’t actually be God then would he? God’s ways are not our ways. Isaiah 55:8-9 Who can hold back the hand of the Lord? Isaiah 14:27, Daniel 4:34-37 No discipline is pleasant at the time but…. Hebrews 12:11-15.
Do you trust the Lord? You can’t build a trust in God if you never let go. You build trust over time, through situations, through circumstances we learn the unchanging character of God. Good teaching and possessing the desire to know the Lord helps but none of that really matters until we let go. Release control (to the Lord). And let God be God.
1 Timothy 6:11-16
‘But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. ‘ 1 Timothy 6:11-16 https://my.bible.com/bible/59/1TI.6.11-16
Remember the holiness of God. Remember who you represent to this watching, waiting world. Keep the Faith. When it gets hard, remember you are not alone. Hold on to what you know to be true. You are a part of the body. You are loved.
I pray this message encourages you to dig into your Bibles and to seek #truth and the understanding that comes from the Lord. This is our 5th week of “no school at school” as everyone here continues to go to school online to minimize group gatherings and help prevent the spread of the #coronavirus in #Daegu, South Korea. I am thankful for our local leadership’s efforts. I am in prayer as I see the news of the spread of this virus and many deaths around the world. I will continue this “Bible Time & Worship” online ministry as long as God gives me the ‘go’ to be used in this way. If so, I plan to be on at noon (Daegu time) via FB every Monday – Friday. Remember, God is able and #Godisbiggerthanxyz (any situation we may be facing). It is in Jesus that I continue to place my hope and trust. I pray that you are doing that too. Sincerely, Sejana
#homeworship #thankful #familyBiblestudy #Killthevirus #Godisbiggerthanxyz #onlineministry #discipleship #faithoverfear #bestrongdaegu #parenting #togetherathome
Looking for a Bible Study to watch and reflect on during this time? Try these: https://sejanashines.com/2020/03/07/bible-time-worship-every-episode-summary/
Sejana Shines 