COVID-19
“A MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD”
The Place, The Promise, The Victory.
OPENING:- Currently we are facing unprecedented times. The entire planet is facing a Pandemic called “COVID-19” or aka the Coronavirus. Fear, uncertainty, panic and desperation is spreading faster than the virus itself. States have been put on lock down and people are being told to shelter in place. Schools have closed, churches have cancelled services and unlike anytime in modern history people are perplexed and wondering what to do. For those that are called according to His purpose understand that this is the beginning of sorrows to come. We can rest assure in knowing that God has everything under control and this will eventually pass also.
Jesus said in Matthew 24:7-8 “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places All these are the beginning of sorrows”.
WATCH THIS- According to Strong’s Greek Concordance “PESTILENCE (s) Greek = loimos is a plague, the disease. The Covid-19 is just that a disease hence the name Coronavirus Disease. We must first understand that this has to happen for it is the beginning of sorrows and most of all a pre-requisite to the return of Jesus Christ.
We as Children of God, Christians, Believers, Chosen People understand that The Bible is inundated with scripture that helps us to be able to endure during times like this. Several scriptures we can quote to give comfort such as “If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray, seek my face and turn from their wicked ways. Then shall I hear from heaven forgive their sins and heal their land – 2nd Chronicles 7:14”.
However today I feel that God is leading me to expound a little bit during this time of crisis and pandemic on what is often called the Rescue Scripture and that is Psalms 91.
Psalms 91 is a powerful scripture, one of encouragement, promise, security, healing, and understanding during uncertain times. I know that I have been comforted and given peace that passeth all understanding by reading this particular scripture and having God reveal so many great truths through it time and time again.
Psalms 91:1 says “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty”. WATCH THIS:- He that dwelleth – this means to abide to stay in to live. It is not the time to go outside of the will of God. The world is panicking wondering what to do, buying like there is no tomorrow, living like they don’t have really a care in the world. But we must dwell, we must stay steadfast and unmovable always abounding in the work of the Lord. We must stand on and in His word. We cannot be wavering with uncertainty deceived by news reports rather they be true or false, but we must dwell, abide steadfast in the secret place of the Most High under the shadow of the Almighty.
Question:- What is the secret place? The secret place is best understood if we turn to John 10:28 which says : “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand”. The secret place is in the Hands of God. We must understand regardless of any pestilences any plagues that we are His sheep and we are safe in His hands, that’s the secret place. All State has the slogan of the good hands people, but I am reminded of a song we used to sing as a child which said “He has the whole world in His hands, you and me brother and you and me sister in His hands”. As long as we stay in His hands no man, no pestilence, no virus shall be able to pluck us out. In His hands we have peace that passeth all understanding even during a pandemic like the coronavirus aka Covid-19.
In His hands, the secret place, we have some promises verse #3 says “Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence”.
WATCH THIS:- The word noisome means rushing upon, by implication of ruin, calamity, mischief, and perverse.
This is exactly what the Covid-19 is doing, it is spreading rapidly trying to ruin our normal way of living, causing calamity in it’s wake over the entire planet. It has traveled between continents extremely quick causing fear and panic among the people and uncertainty of what lies ahead is plaguing the minds of the people and leaders of government. But it is according to Psalm 91 a noisome pestilence.
Verse #4 says “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler”. However; in the secret place, in His hands He shall cover us His truth shall be our shield and buckler. Shield and buckler are instruments of protection and defense, so we are protected and defended by His truth. QUESTION: What is Truth? Jesus said in John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way the TRUTH and the life and no man cometh unto the father but by me”. I can’t think of any better protection than the Son of Good Himself Jesus Christ.
Verses #5-6 says “Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday”. Sure uncertainty holds in it a sense of what lies ahead. No doubt we all have questions of How will this change how we live from this point forward? What changes are we going to face after this is all over. But God has not given us the spirit of fear but of love power and a sound mind. As long as we stay in His hands we can have peace that passeth all understanding regardless of what else is going on in and to the world.
Verses #7 says “A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee”. A thousand plagues, diseases, enemies shall fall at thy side. This gives us the assurance that this Covid-19 is going to fall as long as we stay in His hands. It’s not going to come nigh thee. Let me pause here for just a moment because we can easily go off track if we are not careful. I have faith and I believe what the Bible says ALL of it and not just parts. The Bible tells us to obey those that have rule over us, this means those that are heading the Health portion of the Government the security and other aspects of Government that head this country and others. Common sense tells us to wash our hands, we have been told to manage social distancing and cover our faces with mask if possible. We can have faith but we must also have obedience to God and the Laws that are being put in place to help protect from the Covid-19. It is wonderful and a Godly privilege to understand that A thousand shall fall at our side but let’s not become so comfortable that we fail to be obedient.
Verses #9-16 talk about the promises that we who dwell in the secret place have. The verses read as follows “Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation”.
We have some great promises here but it requires that we stay in His Hands.
The one thing that encouraged me was this. Understanding that Jesus has a name above all names and Covid-19, coronavirus, or whatever other name there is out there has to bow down to the name of Jesus.
So although the times ahead are uncertain, although states have shut down, although churches had to cancel services we can rest assured that at the Name of Jesus this pandemic has to cease. At the Name of Jesus demons have to flee. Tell me who can stand against us when we call on His Great Name Jesus Jesus precious savior We Have the Victory.
Yes there is uncertainty facing us in the days ahead but if we will seek His face and stay in the secret place God will deliver us.
It’s time for us the people of God since the church doors are closed to show the world the building is not the church but we must show them that we are the church. Stay in the secret place of the Most High, pray without ceasing, show the World that the Kingdom of God is at hand. Give God all the Glory and all the praise and remember we have the victory in Jesus.
Psalm 91 1-16 The place, The promise, The Victory.
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
