04/03/2022 - Part 1 - How The Devil Is Using the Pandemic

Grace Place Atlanta COGBF 4700 Mitchell Street Forest Park, GA 30297 Website: atlantacogbf.org Email: info@atlantacogbf.org Phone: (404) 241-6781 Wayne D. Mack, Pastor / Pastor Wayne D. Mack Sermon Notes April 3, 2022 How the Devil is Using the Pandemic . . . with the Saints GM GP We’re almost ready to begin our celebration of reopening our church doors and returning to inperson worship and fellowship. But as you know, I’ve been led to do a slow decent back to our main hub by taking time to share what I believe is the heart of God for GP in this post pandemic season. God has been good to us. He has blessed each of us in His own unique way over the past 24 months. None of our blessings or experiences were the same. Some of us had green pastures, others of us experienced a walk through the valley of the shadow of death. But through every experience God’s rod and staff were there to comfort us. Last Sunday evening as I reflected on the last three weeks of messages entitled THE RETURN, I got the notion to flip those messages inside out and what came out was today’s message. This morning, I want to complete the Return Series by exposing an unsuspecting force – a principality and power – that is set to wreak havoc in churches over the next 24 months. If the Saints of God are not wide awake and discerning, the next 24 months could deal a blow to the local church more disrupting than anything unleashed by the COVID-19 pandemic. I have said in the past, I believe God’s message through a pandemic in which He allowed was one of a different magnitude for His Church than His message to the secular world. Therefore, a return to the church for in-person worship has to be different than a return to work, or school, or another walk in the park. I hope and believe that the people of God already sense this. So, today’s message is intended to unveil some harsh realities and hard truths that will solidify how we return and how we celebrate God and His church going forward. If we get it right now, we will be like the two celebrated churches in the Book of Revelation: The Church at Smyrna and the church at Philadelphia. If we get it wrong, then we’ll be in the sad shameful state of the five remaining churches, namely: Ephesus, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, and Laodicea ~ the lukewarm church. Contrasted, all seven of these churches could be likened to one of the two houses cited in Matthew, Chapter 7 verses 24-27 . . .NLT In that parable, Jesus said: “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” 24 That said, let me pull the covers back on today’s message; A message entitled: How the Devil Is Using the Pandemic with Church People. Think on that for a second. The intent of this message is to call our attention to a few of the undetectable forces at work around this pandemic period – especially as it relates to the church. I am compelled to sound an alarm to the people of God by warning that the past 24 months were more than just a walk in the park. The God of all Creation was at work. He has spoken through a human crisis that He did not bring upon the seven continents but has used for His glory in getting the attention of 100% of the world – its people and its commerce – both saved and unsaved. So, “How is the Devil Using the Pandemic with Church People?” [I will answer that more forthrightly down in the message but let me lay down a few cornerstone truths first.] True to his nature, Satan is using the pandemic in a stealthy, silent, cunning manner to deceive everyone he can – but especially God’s people – the church. His job is to confuse and discredit everything that God intended for good. Afterall, according to John 10:10 he is a thief who has come with one motive, to steal, and to kill, and to destroy [in particular - everything the Good Shepherd meant for good]. Yet, through the pandemic, the promise of the Lord remains unbendable -- I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10b). Because of Satan’s deceptive work – specifically aimed at the church, I’m persuaded that that the next 24 months will be the real test. They could wreak more havoc on the church than the last COVID-19 infused months. Before I go further, let me remind you of what God’s church is. It is that is more than a location on a street or off a country road where people meet and do church stuff. Since its inception, the church has never been relegated to a building or four walls. It remains a called-out community of people who on their confession of faith in Jesus Christ are added to His Body to bring GLORY to God. Anything beyond that will bring confusion. And in today’s church, like it did in the early church, it has. Now, before I unveil “How the Devil Used the Pandemic with Church People” let me remind you of “How God Used the Pandemic to His Glory with the Church and the People of God.” I hope what I’m about to reveal will be in addition to your own list of things God has shown you about His goodness and faithfulness throughout the pandemic. In no priority order, Ways God Used the Pandemic to His Glory: To speak to each child of God – individually, personally! To slow the pace of everything about us. To create space for HIM! To put us on a better, more sober trajectory. To cause us to reexamine our priorities. To draw immediate and extended families closer together (to minister to one another). Did you? Will you? [advantage yours ~ did you take it? Plus: virtually and electronically family texts, etc.]. 6. To expose and reveal the real you on many levels and in many ways: • heart for God or Heart for you; • heart for God’s church or heart for you; • Heart for God’s people or heart for you; • Heart for God’s business or heart for your own interests first; • Heart for harmony and unity or heart for discord, and fault-finding; the pandemic was a time of “heart check”; 7. To strengthen our faith beyond the church house. 8. To prove His faithfulness and to put in check our misdirected reliance upon self. 9. To strengthen our dependence upon Him. 10. To cause us to stand on our own two spiritual feet instead of holding the church responsible for your personal spiritual development. 11. To move the church beyond brick and mortar by forcing each church to connect with its people and the world through modern virtual technology. 12. To wean us off the church house alone, and to bring the church home where it belongs. Not bring the pastor home, but the Berean spirit of the church. 13. To develop within us an appreciation for the value of church fellowship and its place in our lives. 14. To create an easy path for each one of us to invite friends and neighbors to church. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 15. To renew the minds of leaders to give God back His church. To show leaders the church is the Lord’s not our own. 16. To reveal to all that the church is truly within and that true worshipers will find their completion in that. (Col. 2) 17. To challenge me and you to see the church as God sees it and designed it and not as we think it should be. 18. To gently shake the church out of its sleep (Eph. 5:14-16) “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” 15 See then that you walk circumspectly (watchfully), not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 19. To provide a preliminary look at the rapture; to position and ready churches to minister underground to the left behind. 20. To fortify us for the days ahead and whatever is next. God always gives His people fair advanced warnings. In order to respond to half these bless-ed Ways God Has and Is Using the Pandemic to His Glory, – you would have to be in alignment with the Spirit of God and be willing to hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church and the churches. This pandemic has exposed in each of us both strengths and weaknesses, as well as great spiritual potential and obvious shortcomings. But above it all, God is yet showing us how much He loves and cherishes us as His children. And for that, we should commit to being more like who God is calling us to be despite the challenges of the past two years – and more determined to bring GLORY to Him in the next 24 months, Next time, in Part 2, I’ll address: How the Devil is Using the Pandemic . . . with the Saints! Prepare your hearts for that by providing your own perspectives.