Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs
BE ON GUARD, Part 2
2. DO NOT LET FEAR DRIVE YOU TO PANIC2 Timothy 1:7: “God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
A friend shared with me about their pastor who the Sunday before closing down public services because of the fear of spreading COVID-19 spoke on 2 Timothy 1:7. And yet at the end of the service, he reminded everyone not to shake hands and announced there would be no more series until further notice!
In countries where persecution of Christian gatherings is most severe, true believers take enormous risks to meet together in undisclosed underground secrecy, in caves, forests, and alternative houses.
Don’t we believe in divine healing and protection? Psalm 91 10 says: “There shall no evil befall thee, either shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.”
Don’t we believe in togetherness? Hebrews 10:25 states: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting (encouraging) one another: and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.”
Christianity is very much a togetherness. We fellowship together. We worship together. We pray for one another together. We encourage one another when we come together. “One another” Scriptures are mentioned over and over again.
No matter what all the naysayers think, I believe there is something very special about Christians coming together.
It is important to collectively pray together for our leaders, kings, and for all that are in authority (2 Timothy 2:1-3). There is something powerful about the collective, unified prayer of agreement.
Matthew 18:18: “Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are GATHERED TOGETHER IN MY NAME, THERE AM I IN THE MIDST OF THEM.”
Our president Donald J. Trump desperately needs our prayers All our leaders need our prayers, especially in these most challenging times.
If some are too fearful to gather in larger crowds, they could meet together in smaller gatherings in homes.
How can we have Christ in the midst if we do not even gather tougher in small groups, let alone larger ones?
The prayer of agreement is based on the context of where “two or three are gathered together” and there is even more faith in a larger crowd of believers.
The right to assemble in a peaceful way is written in the First Amendment to the Constitution. It states: “The First Amendment to the United States Constitution prevents the government from making laws which regulate an establishment of religion, prohibit the free exercise of religion, or abridge the freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, the right to peaceably assemble, or the right to petition the government for redress of grievances.”
It is a big mistake for the church to close its doors in the midst of a pandemic for the church represents Christ and His door is always open. He has no fear of gathering with His people for it is written in Psalm 22:22: “I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.”
We never closed our doors throughout this whole virus and the Lord protected us and we enjoyed amazing services. Unto Him be all the glory.
Proverbs 29:25: “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.”
Inside of Christ there is no fear of a pandemic. It is the opposite. Inside of Christ there is a peaceful, healing stream. Psalm 46:4 says: “There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.”
The fear of God trumps the fear of man.
More points to come.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
P.S. GREAT NEWS!
Many churches are beginning to assemble together again. If you hear of a church near you that is assembling again, gather with them. This will make the devil mad, but it will make Christ glad that His people are coming together again.
One example:
Megachurch Pastor to Reopen Churches for In-Person Services this Sunday, Calls for Congregations Nationwide to Join
Pastor Brian Gibson to Open hIs Churches in Texas and Kentucky on Sunday, May 17th and Invites Churches Across America to Join; First Liberty Institute Pledges to Defend Gibson’s Constitutional Rights Should He Face Challenges
Go to:
https://peaceablygather.com/
