Facing the crisis.
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 13 viewsHow to face any crisis or calamity of life.
Notes
Transcript
“¡Que no panda el cúnico!” is the funny phrase coined by the Latino children’s hero “the Chapulin Colorado”. He meant “!Que no cunda el pánico!” (Do not let panic spread!).
That’s a great advice for this moment of crisis: Panic makes any crisis worse!
Panic makes any crisis worse. No crisis last forever
Remember that: No crisis last forever! This one will pass too.
Historically, the world faced the Bubonic pest, the Flu that killed thousands in Europe, and the Tuberculosis. All of them are just history. They passed!
During our lifetime, we have also witnessed to some calamities: I can remember the SAARS virus, the H1B1 virus, and the Ebola virus. Any new virus causes a calamity.
The COVID-19 as the virus has been designated has brought chaos in many countries. The people is scared, the markets are quite empty, the world economies have suffered amazing loses.
How should we face this calamity?
I have posted an emergency plan on the church’s FB to deal with the physical and economic aspects of this crisis, but from the spiritual perspective, I think we can find some answers in
Read 1 King 17:1-16
A drought meant scarcity and death. Similar to what we may face with COVID-19. How do Elijah and the widow faced it? What are the recommendations we can give from their case?
Trust in God for provision.
Trust in God for provision.
Let’s not forget that God is our provider and take good care of His children.
The Lord will not allow the righteous to hunger, But He will reject the craving of the wicked.
Following God’s instructions.
Following God’s instructions.
The Lord gave precise instructions to Elijah :
“Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan…, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.” 3—4
The instruction did not make sense! To Cherith Brook? A brook that ran in the very deep ravine in Galaad? What will I do there? What will I eat there? When have you see raven feeding man? Totally illogical, humanly speaking!
Even if it does not make sense, anything the Lord commands us is for our welfare.
Elijah obeyed the lord:
“So he went and did according to the word of the Lord...” 5
As the Lord promised him, “the ravens brought bread and meat in the morning and evening” 6
Learning to live with limited resources.
Learning to live with limited resources.
First of all, Elijah ate twice a day, breakfast and dinner. No lunch??
Second, do not think that the ravens were bringing him a “steak sandwich” every time. They were probably bringing or dropping what they could carry in their beak.
The calamity forced him to a diet. He had to survived with what he had!
To go through the crisis, you must be in survival mode. Crisis are times to survive, not times to complain!
We are so spoiled in comfort, that we do not know what to do in a crisis! We must learn to improvise and to enjoy what we have. Crisis are times to learn contentment!
As Paul said:
Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Phil 4:11-13
When in crisis, trust in God for provision and:
Do not be trapped by pessimism.
Do not be trapped by pessimism.
The widow was pessimistic about the drought. When Elijah asked her to give him water and bread, she answered:
“I have no bread, only a handful of flour and a little oil.. I am gathering a few sticks that I may prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die.” 12
Pessimism is due to a weak faith.
Pessimism is due to a weak faith.
Did she believe that God would provide for her enough to survive? No!
Did she believe that God could make a miracle and multiplied what she had? No!
Did she believe that God could send someone to provide for her? No!
When our faith in God is weak, we think the worst; we only see a black panorama.
I am not saying we should not take precautions, but let us not become victims of panic!
We must believe that God is all powerful to stop the virus, to give wisdom to scientists to discover a vaccine, and to strengthen your immunological system.
Avoid being trapped by pessimism by believing in His promises.
Believing in His promises.
Believing in His promises.
God promised Elijah that He would use the ravens to feed him; and it happened as promised. God promised him to use a widow to feed him and it happened so.
The promise to the widow was:
“For thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain on the face of the earth.’ ”
1 kin 17:14
and it happened so:
The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke through Elijah.
1 kin 17:16
Before dying, Joshua saw necessary to remind the Israelites about God’s faithfulness keeping His promises:
“Soon I will die, going the way of everything on earth. Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the Lord your God has come true. Not a single one has failed!
Jos 23:14
Remember that God is in control and keep His promises, no matter how dark the crisis is!
Remember that God is in control and keep His promises, no matter how dark the crisis is!
Keep on giving to God.
Keep on giving to God.
“Do not fear;… make me a little bread cake from it first and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son.” 13
“So she went and did according to the word of Elijah...” 15
The devil will use this crisis to tempt you to stop giving to God. He will sow fear that you’ll not have enough, but do to stop giving:
By supporting the ministry.
By supporting the ministry.
Elijah represented the ministry. His ministry did not stopped due to the drought.
Our ministry will not either stop due to this crisis. The teaching and preaching will continue, personal visits have not stopped, administration, etc.
The financial needs of the church will continue: the utility bills will keep on coming, insurance, taxes, and salaries will have to be paid, etc.
You will be tempted to not give if your not present, but you do not have to be present in the services to keep on giving tithes and offerings, now you can do it online or by mail.
Elijah represented the ministry.
The widow took a step of faith and gave first to Elijah.
Also give by sharing with those in need.
By sharing with those in need.
By sharing with those in need.
15-16
“and she and he and her household ate for many days.” 15
Do you see how many ate from her flour and oil?...
She was willing to share!
This crisis is a good time or opportunity to be united in spirit, and to share as the New Testament church did:
And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
They shared and the Lord kept on providing for them:
They shared and the Lord kept on providing for them:
“The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke through Elijah.” 16
Do not panic! Do not fear! Trust God for provision! Do not be pessimistic! Keep on giving and sharing!