Stomping Fear During Corona Virus
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As the fear of the Corona Virus continues, this verse comes to mind.
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
We are walking through dark times like never before. This virus and the steps to try and stop it are unprecedented in our nation and the world. Not since WW2 have all facets of society worked in unity (except Congress) like they are now.
Because God has this, we can walk without fear through the Valley of Corona Virus.
One thing we need to understand is this… The Corona Virus will not last. It’s a valley we are walking through together, but it will not last. However, we do need to do everything the government is asking us to do… physical distancing, washing hands, avoiding any physical contact with people when possible.
I said this last week… we have to replace fear with facts and with faith. Look at how Paul said he handled unexpected problems...
7 So our hope in you is never shaken; we know that just as you share in our sufferings, you also share in the help we receive.
Our hope… is never shaken … we know
Our hope is firm because of who we know…
What we know is what will get us through!
What we know is what will get us through!
Jesus is the one who will get us through. He will give us the knowledge we need to make it through.
Listen to me…
1. Not everything you hear is true.
1. Not everything you hear is true.
That should make you feel better.
15 The gullible believe anything they’re told; the prudent sift and weigh every word.
Not everyone who says something on TV, FB, any other media is telling the truth. They are after ratings and money. Politicians on both sides are trying to advance their own agendas… so sprinkle a lot of salt on whatever you hear.
This is why we give you these links on the emails we send out for you so you can get the right information.
16 Wise people think before they act; fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness.
Don’t fall for any online solutions you hear where people say the media will not get it out. When they find it, we will all hear it loud and clear. Get the facts and base your decisions on facts.
Don’t base your decisions on feelings either… feelings are unreliable.
13 What a shame—yes, how stupid!—to decide before knowing the facts!
Get the facts and don’t listen to people who tell you someone said…
2 A rebel doesn’t care about the facts. All he wants to do is yell.
That foolish person is online somewhere right now. They are foolish. they are on Fox, CNN and all the others as each one scrambles to find someone to scare people into watching them…
8 The wise man looks ahead. The fool attempts to fool himself and won’t face facts.
23 Get the facts at any price, and hold on tightly to all the good sense you can get.
Make sure to get the facts.
2. Not everyone is at equal risk
2. Not everyone is at equal risk
While everyone can and will catch it, it hits certain people groups in worse ways. Everyone can catch it, but it seems that more people who are elderly die from it. If you have pre-exisiting conditions like Asthma, Cancer… anything that hurts your immune system, you are more susceptible.
It’s more serious for those over 60 and those with health risks…
It was first referred to as the Novel because we had no precious immunity to it and no vaccine for it. The two main things we would use to fight it were not in existence. Science is rapidly catching up.
3. This will pass
3. This will pass
It’s not here to stay… it will go. It won’t last. Do the things the doctors are telling us to do… wash.... distance… clean… Every virus has a curve and that’s what they are trying to knock down with physical distancing and quarantining.
12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.
Peter said for us to NOT be surprised when we go through difficult times like what we are going through. We live in a fallen and broken world. Everything is broken: weather, economy, relationships, diseases, evil in people, homes, your dreams and plans. Sin broke everything.
If we did things God’s way, everything would be better.
5 The earth suffers for the sins of its people, for they have twisted God’s instructions, violated his laws, and broken his everlasting covenant.
19 The earth has broken up. It has utterly collapsed; it is violently shaken.
Even the earth is suffering because of our sin. People say, why would God allow such a thing? Because he allows us free choice and time after time people make the wrong choices.
Our sin is the cause of our problems.
Look at this…
17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
During this time, don’t focus on whats changing every day. Focus on what doesn’t change. The key to stability is to focus on unchangeable truth when everything around you is up in the air. Focus on what never changes in the days ahead, that'll give you stability.
So what should we focus on?
4. Focus on the Right Things
4. Focus on the Right Things
1. God sees everything we are going through.
1. God sees everything we are going through.
2. God cares about everything we are going through.
2. God cares about everything we are going through.
That will never change.
3. God has the power to answer our prayer.
3. God has the power to answer our prayer.
4. God has the power to change what you are going through.
4. God has the power to change what you are going through.
5. God always acts out of His goodness to me.
5. God always acts out of His goodness to me.
6. God’s plan is always better than my plan.
6. God’s plan is always better than my plan.
7. God will never stop loving me.
7. God will never stop loving me.
Focus on those things.
5. No matter what we go through, God is there with us.
5. No matter what we go through, God is there with us.
You may not always feel like he is there, but he is.
2 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.
Listen less to the internet and more to God. No matter what you go through, God will walk through it with you. Knowing this will give you strength to go on.
6. Corona Virus is not the end of the story.
6. Corona Virus is not the end of the story.
God is not done.
8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.
14 We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you.
We overcome by the resurrection power of God.
Here is what we have to look forward to...
4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
Every tear we shed will be wiped away. Heave will be wonderful.
7. God wants to use you to help others.
7. God wants to use you to help others.
God brings us through things so we can help others. Every time of difficulty is an opportunity to minister to people.
Thousands of years ago, the Black Plague, the Bubonic Plague, ran through the Roman Empire and nobody knew the cause of it. They certainly didn't know about viruses, they didn't know about bacteria, they didn't know about infections. They didn't have any of the scientific tools we have today, and millions, and millions, and millions, and millions of people were dying in the cities. It was called the Black Plague. All of the people began to flee the cities thinking that maybe the cities were causing the plague. What did the Christians do? They actually moved into the cities to take care of the sick, and that's how the Roman Empire was converted. They looked at them and they said, "See how they love one another." And it is in that environment that we, the Church, invented the hospital. The hospital wasn't invented by government, it was invented by the church. Because Jesus gave us a preaching, and teaching, and healing faith. He cares about the mind, the body and the soul.
Just as Christians helped then, we are helping now. SP sent a mobile hospital to Italy.
Today, we can stay in contact with each other. You can all each other and check on each other. You can participate in online groups…
27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
2 Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit.
I am praying that you will be healthy and strong in body and spirit.