Dear Covenant Church Family:
Here is the Wednesday Bible Study Message I prepared for today. I pray for each of you and I miss you every week. Stay safe and all and Pray hard for Christians everywhere.
Readiness for Warfare
Each day as the number of virus cases in the US increases, we see our healthcare warriors battling to save lives before our eyes on TV. Yesterday, our President and the Health Experts, Dr. Fauci and Dr. Birx said, “We are in for the peak of the curve in this Pandemic with 100,000+ loss of lives during the next weeks.” While we watch with prayers and empathy, we wonder what we can do. We do all the key things recommended by the government to protect ourselves, but then we turn to our Bibles for guidance.
My thoughts went to the Chapter of Ephesians and asked the question.
What would Paul say to us Christians today, living in the US, which now has the largest number of COVIG-19 cases in the world?
During the past year, Pastor Carl has led our Wednesday Night Bible Study in the Book of Ephesians. Paul is writing this message to the Ephesians from his Prison Cell. He is asking us to, “Become who we are,” as a child of God. Paul talks about a new life and a new walk in Christ that is given to us. What changes are in us in this new life and new walk in Christ?
First, we learned about the purpose of Christ, Paul’s first prayer, Salvation through Grace, the importance of Unity, the revelation of the mystery, and Paul’s Second Prayer. Paul prayed first for his Ephesians friends to have a deeper knowledge in Christ. We learned about God’s Power over us. In Paul’s second prayer, he asks us to pray not only for ourselves but for others too. He says we strengthen others by praying for them. Source: Ephesians Chapters: 1-6. from Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide.
Second, we studied about our new life and walk with Christ. Paul asked the Ephesians to Walk Worthy, become a new self, be an imitator of God, Get Relationships Right, and be ready for Warfare.
It is the Readiness for Warfare that I believe that Paul would speak to us today in the middle of this Pandemic in our lives.
We are experiencing a new life and a new walk each day. Being asked to isolate away from family and friends and trying to learn from all the sources of media, TV, Internet, Social media, phone calls and misinformation too. Washing our hands until they peel. Spraying Lysol on everything that comes into the house. Sanitizing our houses and everything we touch. Our brewers and distilleries are making hand sanitizer instead of drinking alcohol. Praying for safety of ourselves, our families , our friends and our church members. Praying for our healthcare workers and first responders. We watch as different areas of the country where we have loved ones and friends increase the numbers of cases. We pray harder for solutions from medicine and for quick vaccines to protects us from another season of this pandemic virus.
Then, we look at our daily lives staying at home. We are told if you make a schedule you will get along better emotionally. Some of us have resorted to going through boxes of old pictures to renew our life experiences of old. WE yearn for the day when we can be free to go back to our old ways. But, most of us know, our old ways are gone and we will have a new walk and life when this pandemic goes over the curve.
As we watch New York State in the midst of a war zone, the pain, suffering, fear and loss of life is like nothing we have ever seen in the U. S. Its just another massive attack on some of the finest people of our wonderful country. Yes, we are in the Battle for our lives.
We question, WHY? How did we get here? How did God prepare us for this crisis? What does God want me to do and what does he want our spiritual leaders and Government Leaders to do? We pray God will give our healers strength to get through this crisis without becoming ill. We search for prayers on the internet and search our Bibles for answers. We pray for Prince Charles, Tom Hanks, Rand Paul and Amy Chobuchar’s husband and Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chris Cuomo, who are famous people with COVID-19. But, each day, there are many who did not make it. We pray hard for our church members and their families.
What does God ask us to do now? How would Paul in the letter to the Ephesians answer this question?
I turn to the Scripture: Ephesians 6:10 to 13 for Paul’s word from God:
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not again flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done it all, to stand.”
I believe Paul would tell us to battle for our lives and to help others be saved from COVID-19. In many ways, this virus seems like the forces of the devil. WE too realize that God gives us the resources to combat this viral warfare. We are called to pray not only for family and friends, members of Covenant but for we are asked to pray for all saints too.
We must pray for Victory in our war against COVID-19. We pray for the right equipment and medication to get to those who are infected with this virus. We pray for the caregivers: doctors, nurses, first responders, and medical technicians, Lab technicians and all the workers who are helping heal the sick and infected. We pray for our pastors and faith leaders who are on the front lines administering to those who have suffered loss of love ones in the war. We pray for all the workers in grocery stores, pharmacies and service centers that are open to provide food and resources to us during this war. We pray that when we achieve Victory from this war, we will remember it was Jesus that gave us the full armour to win the battles. We also pray that we will remember these rough moments and use this knowledge to make us stronger soldiers carrying the Cross of Jesus.
May we March Forward with the words of Onward Christian Solders:
Onward Christian soldiers! Marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe; forward into battle, See, his banners go!
Onward, Christian soldiers! Marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus, going on before.
At the name of Jesus, Satan’s host doth flee; On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell’s foundation quiver at the shout of praise: Brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise! Life a mighty army moves the Church of God: brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod; we are not divided all one Body we—One in faith and Spirit, one eternally.
Crowns and thrones may perish, Kingdoms rise and wane; but the Church of Jesus constant will remain. Gates of hell can never ‘Gainst the Church prevail; We have Christ’s own promise, which can never fail. Onward, then, ye people! Join our happy throng; Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song. Glory, laud and honor unto Christ, the King; This through countless ages men and angels sing.
Closing Prayer:
Holy Father, we pray you will gird us in your full armor to fight this Pandemic Warfare. You have prepared us to love you and reach out to pray for others in pain and suffering. Give us that special warrior strength of your grace to move forward. When we come out of this crisis, may we walk differently with you and closer to the important things in life. Your grace, your church, the family and friends you give us and the resources to put on your full armor to walk in our new life with you. We ask for blessings for our healthcare workers and all the workers in groceries and restaurants that are working to keep us alive. May we never forget the sacrifice they have made for all of us. We thank you for the technical people who are working in labs to find a cure for COVID-19. In your Holy name we pray, Amen.
Blessings,
Madge