Are you awake? – Thoughts on Coronavirus lockdown

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Do you know what the will of the Lord is for you today?

Ephesians 5:13–17 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

God can use the events of the Corona Virus to shine a light into your heart – to make you think.

Has it prompted you to think about what God’s will is for your life?

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A changed world!

We have queued for food and toilet paper.
We have isolated ourselves across the Globe.
Businesses are going broke over night
Suddenly people who had enough are struggling to feed themselves.
Countries will be indebted to the world banks.
In the USA prisoners have been released while a Mum visiting a park with her children has been arrested.
There is talk of a universal mandatory vaccination ID – it could be an electronic “chip”
Our churches meet online, an online world controlled by only a very few people who can track our every like and dislike
Could we be mandated to download a contract tracing app that tracks our every move – everyone we meet?

All in the space of a couple of months!

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Did we foolishly trust the things of this world?

Previously it may have been an earthquake in a city or a volcano in another country or a massive cyclone hitting a US state. It may not have touched you. Now the whole world is impacted.

Were our lives built on sand much more than we realised? Matthew 7:24-27
Lives which have been so certain in the many parts of the world are now suddenly on shaky ground and nothing is certain.
Do you feel vulnerable?
If not – perhaps you should!

So – what is the message to you the believer at this time?

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We hear a clear message to Hope and Trust in our Lord

The church rightly encourages us with a message of Hope and Trust in God and that we will get through this.

But

Are we really just putting a layer of Godly hope over our love for the things of this world and hope for happiness in this world and trust in the things we have in this world?
Are we hearing ALL God wants to say to us?

Time to examine your heart before God…..

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Are you blessed?

Do you have food on the table and a home to live in and a car to drive around in? – Well Some of you no longer have food on the table in the CoronaVirus economy.

Coronavirus reminds us that many of us have been blessed and these blessings can be gone in a moment.

Some of us have taken too much for granted and forgotten it’s our Lord who blesses us in so many ways and in whom and through whom everything holds together to His glory. …..Colossians 1:16

We are Blessed By God! But how much do we appreciate that?

This leads to three key thoughts about God’s will for our lives at this time.

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1. Time to Give Thanks

Perhaps it is time to remind ourselves that God is the source of all our blessings.
When you open the cupboard and there is food – thank you Lord. When you reach for the milk or the bread – thank you Lord. When you lie down in your bed and get up in the morning – thank you Lord.

Ephesians 5:20 ²⁰giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Psalm 34:1–2 ¹ I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. ² My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.

This is a good time to remind ourselves we are blessed and to give thanks.

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2. Aliens and Strangers in this world

Deeper than our lack of gratefulness, – have we enjoyed the pleasures of this world such that we feel like we belong? Are we looking for our best life yet……………..here on earth?
What are you looking forward to? A new home, a nice holiday, a good education for your child. These are all fine in themselves but what are you ultimately looking forward to?
This is not your home, you are just passing through called to serve and represent our King while here.

Hebrews 11:9–10 ⁹By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. ¹⁰For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

Ephesians 2:19 ¹⁹So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

John 17:15–16 ¹⁵I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. ¹⁶They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

So perhaps we were too settled in this world. This Coronavirus pandemic reminds us to consider where we as believers in Jesus Christ really belong.

This is not our home! Heaven is the home we look forward to.

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3. Be Ready

Matthew 25:1-13 Jesus told a parable of the 10 virgins waiting for the Bridegroom to call: 5 were ready and 5 were not ready. Why?

Matthew 25:13 ¹³Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

1 Thessalonians 5:2 ²For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

2 Peter 3:3–7 ³knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. ⁴They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” ⁵For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, ⁶and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. ⁷But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

Are you ready? Is your family ready?

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What does it mean to be ready?

Ready for the Rapture and for the Return of Jesus

For the 10 virgins in the parable, it was a question of oil. Matthew 25:1-13
Oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit – the work of God in our lives. 5 Virgins were asleep and had none, 5 were awake and ready
We can do nothing of value without the Holy Spirit – John 15:5
We should consider the fruit of the Spirit – Our Character. Gal 5:22-23
We should consider the gifts of the Spirit – Our Service. Eph 4:11-16, Rom 12:3-8

When we enter heaven (our home) – we all want to hear the words – “Well done good and faithful servant!” Matthew 25:21,23, Luke 19:17. …….So what… if your boss says it – no longer is that important – Only the Lord’s view is important!.

If we seek the Lord’s will and submit to the leading of the Spirit each day then we can trust that the Spirit will lead us in such a way that we will hear those words when we enter eternity.

5 Virgins were awake when the Lord came calling – they had Oil, their lamps trimmed, ready! We need to be awake as well.

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What might God be saying to you in this time of CoronaVirus?

Maybe it is – Wake up and make some changes in your daily walk with God beyond hoping you will get through “Today”.

Give thanks for all things – its an expression of our love for God.
Live as if not home yet – our hope will be fulfilled in eternity.
Be ready for your returning Lord – step out in faith and be found filled with His Spirit and serving the Kingdom when He calls.

Ephesians 5:13–17 ^{13 …..}, ¹⁴ ………..“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

¹⁵Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

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