God's Response to A Dis-Eased Life.
Message Focus: A Faith That Overcomes Our Fears.
Message Text: Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for
whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Fear - can almost be worse than the virus. Our worrying can be worse than the very announcement of the disease.
o Worrying can kill you too. In other words … Our Dis-ease can become a disease in our lives.
- We should be more worried about the man or woman who dies without Jesus than we should be worried about a man or woman who dies from a disease.
o Because if a person dies without Jesus, they will NEVER be able to recover from that.
Faith - Hebrews 11:1 - A substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.
- Biblical Faith is the Assurance, the belief, and the confidence in the trust and truth in God’s Word that God is Who He says He is and God will DO what He said He would do.
You and I need faith. Do you know why? Because Hebrews 11:6 says ….
Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) 6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him (Who is God), for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.
- And God only rewards those who have faith in HIM.
Then there is the small issue or challenge of fear. You noticed that I said SMALL issue or CHALLENGE and NOT PROBLEM with Fear.
Because Only God can help us overcome our fears. And I want to tell you a secret.
Luke 1:37 (ESV) 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”
The word Fear is defined as being - an unpleasant, often strong emotion, caused by anticipation or awareness of danger. That’s what Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines it as.
But let’s God speak and teach us about fear.
1 John 4:18 (ESV) 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear (evicts, throws out, fear doesn’t live here anymore). For fear has to do with punishment (Torment KJV), and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
- Well how do we get that Love. Wait wait. How do we GET THAT perfect love?
2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV) 7 for God gave us a spirit NOT of fear but of power and love and self-control.
- Perfect love .. comes from God. It is that Agape Love. Divine Holy Spirit led affection that allows us to do in the Spirit that we could not and CANNOT do in the flesh.
- In Galatians 5:22-23 (of the nine characteristics of the FRUIT of the SPIRIT) - God says in Galatians 5:22-23 that HE has given us what we NEED to overcome FEAR in our lives. God has given us love and self-control. In other words….. God has given us all the power we need to overcome our fears. Through HIS Word. All we have to do is obey and submit to what God has said.
o Remember (now) - God will never tell us to do something that He has NOT first and foremost given us the power to do it.
o So if God has given us the Power to Love HIM and TRUST HIM over our fears, then we should do it.
o So if God has given us the SELF-CONTROL - spiritual restraints, discipline, balance and the ability to say NO to anything that goes against the will of God, found in the Word of God.
A FAITH IN GOD’s FATE - Our Fate represents our future. Our future represents our lives. Our Fate and our future are in God’s hands. This means you and I cannot be killed; we cannot die and we cannot be murdered and we cannot be STOP until God says so.
Luke 12:7 (ESV) 7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Psalm 103:1-3 (ESV) 1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
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A FAITH IN THE FACTS -
- Facts - something that has actual existence, occurrence, something that is done, some that are true.
- The fact we as Christians can hold on to is that God and His WORD is TRUE.
John 8:31-32 (ESV) 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 17:17 (ESV) 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
- As a church….We decided to adhere to the health experts of the time, exercise social responsibility and take precautions to guide our members into the best worship experience that would give a modicum of peace of mind in order to guard our member’s health for the glory of God.
- God has been taking care of us and all the people in the world since the beginning of time. Because God is in control. Nobody else.
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- Bubonic Plague (346 to 1353), Polio (1916-1955), measles, smallpox (1633-1634), Scarlet Fever (1858), Yellow Fever (1793), Spanish Flu, Whooping Cough (2010, 2014), Cholera, Meningitis, Leprosy,
- Syphilis
- Influenza
- Car Accidents
- HIV/AIDS - No treatment
- Malaria
- Tuberculosis
- The last 10 years - Ebola, Sars, Bird Flu, Swine Flu - H1N1, Anthrax, Lung Cancer (Smoking), E Coli, Legionnaires disease, How about the Contaminated Water in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (since 1993), How about the radiation from Cell Phones (since 1973)? If God has kept us this long, God can be with you till the end.
- Corona Virus…..In the country of China on the Continent of Asia, which is the largest continent on earth - at one time in February of this year, there were over 60,000 people diagnosed with the Covid-19 and over 1,300 death had taken place. Now the deaths have been completely lowered in that country. Because God has allowed them to contain it. Not because man did it or discovered a cure, it is because God has slowed it or controlled it.
- With the modern-day advancement of healthcare and the speed and update of Technology, God has allowed us to detect as was fined deterrence of many of the illnesses we have right now. That’s not a man thing that’s a God thing. Matter of fact man does not and will never discover a cure. It would always be God revealing a cure. Put your trust confidence belief Assurance in God.
Psalm 103:1-3 (ESV) 1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
- Facts -
Matthew 9:35 (NIV84) 35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.
o The symptoms are familiar - healing every disease and sickness.
o Jesus Christ (Who is God) - Showed the power of God over all illnesses.
Matthew 10:1 (NIV84) 1 He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
o Jesus used His disciples to bring healing over those who were ill.
o God wants to use us, as the church, to help those who are sick, to find comfort and healing. Spiritually for eternity and physically that is only temporary.
§ Maybe God wants to use us to help the elderly to get food.
§ Maybe God wants to use us to help those parents whose children will be out of school to bring healing in caring for and watching their families.
James 1:27 (ESV) 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
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§ Maybe God wants to use the church, to minister to people spiritually to let them know that NOT can God heal their body but God may be using this virus to heal your soul. To bring you back to Him.
Mark 3:10 (NIV84) 10 For he (Lord Jesus Christ) had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him.
o The disease brought them close to Jesus Christ. They pushed forward to touch Him.
o Some people won’t even come to God, until something drastic has drawn them close.
In John 11:4, When Lazarus, his friend was ill…..
o Jesus said this illness does NOT lead to death. It is for the glory of God. So that the Son of God may be glorified.
§ In other words, AFTER God heals that person, God wants that person to praise HIM.
o So for believers, we have nothing to fear, because we already belong to God.
- They should make us examine our priorities and what really matters to God
o Is your health more important than God? Matter of fact, even our healthcare insurance can’t help us. Because the disease is allowed to be in our life by God to get our priorities together. Isn’t it amazing that the fear of our health has made us worry about everything?
§ People are worried about their retirement account, worried about their job/salary, worried about their comfort, worried about their family (children and spouse), worried about their leisure to come and go.
§ Worried about their home, their car, their food, even their toilet paper reserves. But unfortunately, people aren’t worried, so much, about their relationship with God. Where are our priorities? God is saying.
o We should NEVER put our trust in the world’s responses.
§ Retirement accounts, Stock market, people overwhelmed with fear. Job losses. Etc. etc.
- I believe that ALL God is doing with these diseases and disasters, should help us …. to realize that the things and events in our life,
o have no real value, if God is not at the center of it all.
- These diseases and disasters, should make us realize that … OUR life is fleeting and just like a vapor. We can be here today and gone today.
- We should respond the way God wants us to respond.
§ Be vigilant, be careful and be wise. Wash your hands. Use precautions but we should NOT be overcome by fear. And most importantly… Come back to God.
- No disease will EVER destroy the world. But God allows them to happen in our world and in our lives.
- Every disease is a sign of Jesus return.
o Luke 21:11 (NASB95) 11 and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
§ There will be, plagues (diseases), famines, and terror as a sign from God.
o Matthew 24:7 (NKJV) 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences (widespread contagious diseases, plagues), and earthquakes in various places.
o Matthew 24:8 (NKJV) 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
o Matthew 24:13 (NKJV) 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
o Matthew 24:14 (NKJV) 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
There have been many diseases / Plagues that have been overcome…..
1. In the Bible. Such as…… In Exodus 9:14, 16 - when God brought 10 plagues and diseases against Egypt, God wanted to show Egypt God’s power and for their disobedience to God’s Word.
2. Then God showed Israel (His chosen people, his children) in Exodus 12:13 that HE (God) was the only one that had the power to protect the life of Israel from the plagues and diseases.
2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (NIV84) 13 “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
o The symptoms are familiar - droughts, plagues (and diseases)
o (a.) The Lord God did it; (b.) to show His power; (c.) to bring people to repentance.
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- Facts - God has already said in Genesis 9:11-17 that God would never destroy the earth again by water. Matter of fact God says in 2nd Peter 3:3-7.
2 Peter 3:3 (ESV) 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.
o Because … we live in a fallen, sinful, messed-up world. Because of Adam and Eve’s sin.
2 Peter 3:4 (ESV) 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? Forever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”
2 Peter 3:5 (ESV) 5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of the water and through water by the word of God,
2 Peter 3:6 (ESV) 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.
2 Peter 3:7 (ESV) 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (NASB95) 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 He made Him (Lord Jesus Christ) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
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God is in control of that which is out of our control. In light of all we are fearing right now in our nation, let's trust Him.
Philippians 4:4–8 (ESV) — 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
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End Of Message.
Coronavirus: 10 reasons you shouldn't panic
by Ignacio López-Goñi, The Conversation
Credit: ESB Professional/Shutterstock
Regardless of whether we classify the new coronavirus as a pandemic, it is a serious issue. In less than two months, it has spread over several continents. Pandemic means the sustained and continuous transmission of the disease, simultaneously in more than three different geographical regions. Pandemic does not refer to the lethality of a virus but to its transmissibility and geographical extension.
We certainly have is a pandemic of fear. The entire planet’s media is gripped by the coronavirus. It is right that there are deep concern and mass planning for worst-case scenarios. And, of course, the repercussions move from the global health sphere into business and politics.
But it is also right that we must not panic. It would be wrong to say there is good news coming out of COVID-19, but there are causes for optimism; reasons to think there may be ways to contain and defeat the virus. And lessons to learn for the future.
1. We know what it is
The first cases of AIDS were described in June 1981 and it took more than two years to identify the virus (HIV) causing the disease. With COVID-19, the first cases of severe pneumonia were reported in China on December 31, 2019 and by January 7, the virus had already been identified. The genome was available on day 10. We already know that it is a new coronavirus from group 2B, of the same family as the SARS, which we have called SARSCoV2. The disease is called COVID-19. It is thought to be related to the coronavirus of bats. Genetic analyses have confirmed that it has a recent natural origin (between the end of November and the beginning of December) and that, although viruses live by mutating, its mutation rate may not be very high.
2. We know how to detect the virus
Since January 13, a test to detect the virus has been available.
3. The situation is improving in China
The strong control and isolation measures imposed by China are paying off. For several weeks now, the number of cases diagnosed every day is decreasing. A very detailed epidemiological follow-up is being carried out in other countries; outbreaks are very specific to areas, which can allow them to be controlled more easily.
4. 80% of cases are mild
The disease causes no symptoms or is mild in 81% of cases. Of course, in the remaining 14%, it can cause severe pneumonia and in 5% it can become critical or even fatal. It is still unclear what the death rate may be. Be it could be lower than some estimates so far.
5. People heal
Much of the reported data relates to the increase in the number of confirmed cases and the number of deaths, but most infected people are cured. There are 13 times more cured cases than deaths, and that proportion is increasing.
6. Symptoms appear mild in children
Only 3% of cases occur in people under 20, and mortality under 40 is only 0.2%. Symptoms are so mild in children that it can go unnoticed.
Credit: Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases by Johns Hopkins CSSE
7. The virus can be wiped clean
The virus can be effectively inactivated from surfaces with a solution of ethanol (62-71% alcohol), hydrogen peroxide (0.5% hydrogen peroxide) or sodium hypochlorite (0.1% bleach), in just one minute. Frequent handwashing with soap and water is the most effective way to avoid contagion.
8. Science is on it, globally
It is the age of international science cooperation. After just over a month, 164 articles could be accessed in PubMed on COVID19 or SARSCov2, as well as many others available in repositories of articles not yet reviewed. They are preliminary works on vaccines, treatments, epidemiology, genetics and phylogeny, diagnosis, clinical aspects, etc. These articles were elaborated by some 700 authors, distributed throughout the planet. It is cooperative science, shared and open. In 2003, with the SARS epidemic, it took more than a year to reach less than half that number of articles. In addition, most scientific journals have left their publications as open access on the subject of coronaviruses.
9. There are already vaccine prototypes
Our ability to design new vaccines is spectacular. There are already more than eight projects underway seeking a vaccine against the new coronavirus. There are groups that work on vaccination projects against similar viruses.
The vaccine group of the University of Queensland, in Australia, has announced that it is already working on a prototype using the technique called “molecular clamp,” a novel technology. This is just one example that could allow vaccine production in record time. Prototypes may soon be tested on humans.
10. Antiviral trials are underway
Vaccines are preventive. Right now, the treatment of people who are already sick is important. There are already more than 80 clinical trials analysing coronavirus treatments. These are antivirals that have been used for other infections, which are already approved and that we know are safe.
One of those that has already been tested in humans is remdesivir, a broad-spectrum antiviral still under study, which has been tested against Ebola and SARS/MERS.
Another candidate is chloroquine, an antimalarial that has also been seen to have potent antiviral activity. It is known that chloroquine blocks viral infection by increasing the pH of the endosome, which is needed for the fusion of the virus with the cell, thus inhibiting its entry. It has been demonstrated that this compound blocks the new coronavirus in vitro and it is already being used in patients with coronavirus pneumonia.
Other proposed trials are based on the use of oseltamivir (which is used against the influenza virus), interferon-1b (protein with antiviral function), antisera from people who recovered or monoclonal antibodies to neutralize the virus. New therapies have been proposed with inhibitory substances, such as baricitinibine, selected by artificial intelligence.
The 1918 flu pandemic caused more than 25 million deaths in less than 25 weeks. Could something similar happen now? Probably not; we have never been better prepared to fight a pandemic.
