This Is Our Moment... It Is Time!

A Prophetic and Pragmatic Response to the current Global Pandemic - COVID-19

When darkness has its hour --when we face the troubles and sufferings of living in a world subject to sin and death -- we should be looking for an opportunity to put God on display. There is a greater reality breaking into our world in the eternal King, Jesus Christ, and His Kingdom. With a command to be courageous, Jesus sends us out into this suffering world that He has already conquered.

We are called to live in that greater reality... opening the culture and lifestyle of heaven to our world... to be on mission with the Father advancing His kingdom in the hearts and lives of men and women everywhere.

During the time of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, when the disciples were hiding in their homes, Jesus' instructs them with words that seem crucial to our situation today:

"Indeed, an hour is coming, and has come, when each of your will be scattered to his own home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace, You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world." John 16:33

"When it was evening of that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, "Peace be with you." Having said this, he showed them his hands and his side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you." After saying this, He breathed on them and said, Receive the Holy Spirit." John 20:19-22

Here is a prophetic call to us (given 3 months ago) for this time from Jeremy Riddle, Worship Pastor, Anaheim Vineyard Church. "THIS IS OUR MOMENT" "IT IS TIME"

Here is a more pragmatic challenge to us outlining the Church's response to our current global pandemic from Ed Stetzer, Billy Graham Distinguished Chair of Church, Mission, and Evangelism at Wheaton College and Executive Director of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College "IT IS OUR MOMENT BROTHERS AND SISTERS"

Both messages land in the same place. "THIS IS OUR MOMENT."

How will we respond???

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord shines over you. For look, darkness will cover the earth and total darkness the peoples; but the Lord will shine over you, and his glory will appear over you." Isaiah 60:1-2

[Note: it is important that we take all the proper precautions and not recklessly put lives in danger, but there are ways we can proclaim and demonstrate the love, power and glory of God in the midst of this crisis. Let's pray that God would give His Church all over the world creative ideas to reach out with the love of God in these uncertain times. May the Spirit of the Lord guide us with all wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength and a knowledge of the fear of the Lord. Isaiah 11:2]