03/17/2020 —  
These are interesting times indeed!

As our nation responds to the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic, the only certain thing is the uncertainty surrounding the most basic activities of everyday life.

Thankfully we serve a God who is the same yesterday, today and forever! Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ have no need to fear a virus or the uncertain economy it has created.

This is a tremendous opportunity to stand in marked contrast to the fear that the culture is encouraging. We can declare and decree that we will stand in faith rather than in fear! And, because of the finished work of Jesus at Calvary, we can do so.
 
 
Luke 9:1-6

"Jesus summoned together his twelve apostles and imparted to them authority over every demon and the power to heal every disease. Then he commissioned them to preach God’s kingdom realm and to heal the sick to demonstrate that the kingdom had arrived. As he sent them out, he gave them these instructions: 'Take nothing extra on your journey. Just go as you are. Don’t carry a staff, a backpack, food, money, not even a change of clothes. Whatever home welcomes you as a guest, remain there and make it your base of ministry. And wherever your ministry is rejected and not welcomed, you are to leave that town and shake the dust off your shoes as a testimony before them.'
^"The apostles departed and went into the villages with the wonderful news of God’s kingdom realm, and they instantly healed diseases wherever they went" (TPT).
 
Psalm 81

“Lord, just singing about you makes me strong!
So I’ll keep shouting for joy to Jacob’s God, my champion.
Let the celebration begin!
I will sing with drum accompaniment and with the sweet sound
of the harp and guitar strumming.
Go ahead! Blow the jubilee trumpet to begin the feast!
Blow it before every joyous celebration and festival.
For God has given us these seasons of joy,
days that the God of Jacob decreed for us to celebrate and rejoice.
He has given these feasts to remind us of his triumph over Egypt,
when he went out to wage war against them.
I heard the message in an unknown tongue as he said to me,
'I have removed your backbreaking burdens
and have freed your hands from the hard labor and toil.
You called out to me in your time of trouble and I rescued you.
I came down from the realm of the secret place of thunder,
where mysteries hide.
I came down to save you.
I tested your hearts at the place where there was no water to drink,
the place of your bitter argument with me.'
'Listen to me, my dear people.
For I’m warning you, and you’d better listen well!
For I hold something against you.
Don’t ever be guilty of worshiping any other god but me.
I am your only God, the living God.
Wasn’t I the one who broke the strongholds over you
and raised you up out of bondage?
Open your mouth with a mighty decree;
I will fulfill it now, you’ll see!
The words that you speak, so shall it be!
But my people still wouldn’t listen;
my princely people would not yield to me.
So I lifted my grace from off of their lives and I surrendered them
to the stubbornness of their hearts.
For they were living according to their own selfish fantasies.
O that my people would once and for all listen to me
and walk faithfully in my footsteps, following my ways.
Then and only then will I conquer your every foe
and tell every one of them, "You must go!"
Those who hate my ways will cringe before me
and their punishment will be eternal.
But I will feed you with my spiritual bread.
You will feast and be satisfied with me,
feeding on my revelation-truth like honey
dripping from the cliffs of the high place'”(TPT).
 

• Our words are our greatest weapon.
• God's Words are supernatural - they come to pass because He has spoken them.
• You have the ability to calm your fears and stir your faith by the words you speak.
• Here are some things to decree during this time of uncertainty:


1. You have dominion authority. "Now you understand that I have imparted to you all my authority to trample over his kingdom. You will trample upon every demon before you and overcome every power Satan possesses. Absolutely nothing will be able to harm you as you walk in this authority" (Luke 10:19, TPT)


2. You dwell in the secret place of the most high. You have been delivered out of sickness into health, out of fear into faith, out of sorrow into joy, out of trepidation into perfect peace.


3. Peace is your covenant right. God is not a man; men break their promises and transfer sickness. If God gave you sickness, he'd have to steal it first. "And everything I’ve taught you is so that the peace which is in me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world!” (John 16:33, TPT).


4. Faith > fear. "For God will never give you the spirit of fear, but the Holy Spirit who gives you mighty power, love, and self-control" (2 Timothy 1:7, TPT) - Faith works by love! 


5. The blood of Jesus is impenetrable by the forces of darkness- "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5, MEV).


6. You are protected- He surrounds you with favor, like a shield - "No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment, you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me, says the Lord" (Isaiah 54:17, MEV).


7. Every name must submit to the name of Jesus Christ- He changes not, so we are not consumed. "Because of that obedience, God exalted him and multiplied his greatness! He has now been given the greatest of all names!" (Philippians 2:9, TPT).

• Other things to remember in these unique circumstances:
• Our thoughts determine our actions. Our actions determine our habits. Our habits define who we are. It all begins with a thought. Let's fill our thoughts with the things of God! "So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always" (Philippians 4:8).
• Be cautious, but never fear. Fear is natural because of the overwhelming amount of media coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic. But we have the opportunity to replace our fear with faith!
• Stay connected. Our tendency, especially when we are staying at home and not gathering together, is to disconnect. But there are many ways to stay connected to God and His people - prayer, Scripture, streaming services from WHC, Internet and printed resources from this ministry, social media, etc. Be intentional about staying in touch with your church family, and helping those who need it!
• Go to the Great Physician. Don't neglect going to your doctor, if you need to, but stay connected to God.
• Do not fear death. "Don’t be in fear of those who can kill only the body but not your soul. Fear only God, who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28, TPT).

 
Heavenly Father,

This is such an uncertain time in this community and in our nation. Thank you for preserving me during this pandemic. Fill me with faith so that I will never fear what I cannot see or a circumstance that hasn't happened yet.

Order my steps so I will stay connected with You and my church family during this season of uncertainty and rapid change. The world around me is constantly shifting, but You are the same yesterday, today and forever! Though all that is built on the sands may be shifting, I will stand on You, my Rock! Thank You for saving me for such a time as this.

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ – Jehovah Joshua Messiah – I pray. Amen!