(ARTICLE NOTES WERE CORRECTED)
I read it all over in the many e-mails I received from large retailers and small businesses all over the country. They are focused ONLY on the natural solutions to a pandemic: sanitize, wash your hands, and maintain social distancing. Most use the phrase “Our Response to the Coronavirus” or something to that effect. That is all good for the world, and there is something smart about washing your hands. It’s called common sense. I call it using the brain God gave you, but NEVER at expense of your faith in God and His Word.
Yes, wash your hands and your body. No need to stink. Keep your distance. OK, that is good. I am not denying it. Do your part. Stay out of crowds or groups of more than ten. Nothing wrong with that, but there is something VERY wrong when a believer yields to fear and panic.
The fear and panic around the world have become THE epidemic. It is greater than the disease! Many are drowning in fear, and if the world gets swallowed up by it, that should not surprise us. Jesus said they would as the time of our final Redemption draws near.
We have redemption NOW from the curse and sickness and disease, among MANY other things. (Galatians 3:13, Deuteronomy 28:14-68, Matthew 8:17, Isaiah 53:4, 5, 1 Peter 2:24). It is all thanks to Jesus and His awesome sacrifice for us! He paid the ultimate price for our redemption, but it will not be completed for the followers of Jesus until the resurrection and the world to come. That will be when He will reign on earth for one thousand years and in the new heavens and earth forever and ever. Have you ever read the back of the book? Revelation 20 and 21 is glorious! That is our future!
Here is what Jesus said about the times we live in now:
25 And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth [there will be] distress (trouble and anguish) of nations in bewilderment and perplexity [without resources, left wanting, embarrassed, in doubt, not knowing which way to turn] at the roaring (the echo) of the tossing of the sea, 26 Men swooning away or expiring with fear and dread and apprehension and expectation of the things that are coming on the world; for the [very] powers of the heavens will be shaken and caused to totter. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with great (transcendent and overwhelming) power and [all His kingly] glory (majesty and splendor). 28 Now when these things begin to occur, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption (deliverance) is drawing near. (Luke 21:25-28 Amplified)
Look at the above Scripture reference from the words of Jesus. He is describing the condition of humanity as it is today. There have been many signs in the sun, moon and stars we could talk about, things that only in our time could be known. Everything from the moon landings and exploration to solar flares, and things learned about the universe, galaxies, stars, and exoplanets are only possible today because of Hubble, Kepler, TESS, and many others in the last few decades. None of this was possible in other centuries. It has only started to happen in the latter part of the 20th century. It is the beginning of the fulfillment of this mighty prophetic word from the lips of Jesus.
Something was going to accompany all this discovery. The nations would be in distress, bewilderment, perplexity, without resources, left wanting, embarrassed, in doubt, not knowing which way to turn. Boy, if that doesn’t describe what we are seeing today just with the coronavirus pandemic. The world is going berserk! Their fear and faithless response are everywhere. They don’t know where to turn for help. They have emptied stores of its provisions. They have stockpiled food, and even toilet paper! Wow, what does that tell you about their state of mind? It is no higher than the toilet! They must be full of, well, you know. No need to get vulgar here, but it should be obvious. Satan has them toilet-minded!
I heard Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne say that every one of America's gods have fallen. That is so true! They trusted in Hollywood, and it fell. They trusted in money, and chaos ensued. They trusted in their God-hating leaders and they are fallen. They trusted in their ability and it fell short. They trusted in their sports heroes and they shut down. That is where the world without God is, but that is NOT where we are supposed to be because we are the church of the LIVING GOD!
The world without God, His Word, or His protection is “swooning away or expiring with fear and dread and apprehension and expectation of the things that are coming on the world; for the [very] powers of the heavens will be shaken and caused to totter.”
It is not going to get better for the world. It will progressively get worse and worse. They are in a downward spiral that is out of control. As it gets worse for them, the Church should always remember what comes next.
And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with great (transcendent and overwhelming) power and [all His kingly] glory (majesty and splendor).
Jesus is coming and nobody and nothing can stop that event. That is the reason to tell people about the Great Redeemer and soon coming King Jesus. Every knee will bow to Him, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. (Philippians 2:9-10) It’s going to happen! The day is upon us.
In the meantime, what should we do? Should we wallow around in fear, sickness, and lack like the world? No, a thousand times, NO! It is our time to shine! It is our time to lead people out of darkness and into His marvelous light. Our time is NOW!
Where should we take a stand, especially when faced with a pandemic? Do you know where you need to hang your faith and trust? Do you know what Scripture to take a stand on every day?
First take a stand on our Redemption from the curse of sickness because Jesus became the curse for us (Galatians 3:13).
Then, take a stand on Psalms 91. It is the STANDARD we should be proclaiming boldly because God said it, and it is impossible for Him to lie (Titus 1:2; Numbers 23:19; Hebrews 6:18). The problem is NEVER God. The problem is getting people to trust Him unreservedly and without doubt according to His holy Word. Here it is.
Psalms 91- NET Bible with Full notes following the text
As for you, the one who lives[a] in the shelter of the Most High,[b]
and resides in the protective shadow[c] of the Sovereign One[d]—
2 I say this about the LORD, my shelter and my stronghold,
my God in whom I trust—
3 he will certainly rescue you from the snare of the hunter[e]
and from the destructive plague.
4 He will shelter you[f] with his wings;[g]
you will find safety under his wings.
His faithfulness is like a shield or a protective wall.[h]
5 You need not fear the terrors of the night,[i]
the arrow that flies by day,
6 the plague that stalks in the darkness,
or the disease that ravages at noon.[j]
7 Though a thousand may fall beside you,
and a multitude on your right side,
it[k] will not reach you.
8 Certainly you will see it with your very own eyes—
you will see the wicked paid back.[l]
9 For you have taken refuge in the LORD,
my shelter, the Most High.
10 No harm will overtake[m] you;
no illness[n] will come near your home.[o]
11 For he will order his angels[p]
to protect you in all you do.[q]
12 They will lift you up in their hands,
so you will not slip and fall on a stone.[r]
13 You will subdue[s] a lion and a snake;[t]
you will trample underfoot a young lion and a serpent.
14 The LORD says,[u]
“Because he is devoted to me, I will deliver him;
I will protect him[v] because he is loyal to me.[w]
15 When he calls out to me, I will answer him.
I will be with him when he is in trouble;
I will rescue him and bring him honor.
16 I will satisfy him with long life,[x]
and will let him see my salvation.”
NET Footnotes:
Psalm 91:1- In this psalm an individual (perhaps a priest) addresses one who has sought shelter in the Lord and assures him that God will protect him from danger (vv. 1-13). In vv. 14-16 God himself promises to keep his loyal follower safe.
a. Psalm 91:1 tn Heb “[O] one who lives.”
b. Psalm 91:1 sn The divine title “Most High” (עֶלְיוֹן ʿelyon) pictures God as the exalted ruler of the universe who vindicates the innocent and judges the wicked. See especially Pss 7:17; 9:2; 18:13; 21:7; 47:2.
c. Psalm 91:1 sn The Lord is compared here to a bird who protects its young under the shadow of its wings (see v. 4).
d. Psalm 91:1 sn The divine name used here is “Shaddai” (שַׁדַּי, shadday; see also Ps 68:14). Shaddai (or El Shaddai) is the Sovereign God of the world who grants life/blesses and kills/judges. In Genesis he blesses the patriarchs with fertility and promises numerous descendants. Outside Genesis he both blesses/protects and takes away life/happiness. (Dan’s NOTE: I disagree with this note from NET. John 10:10 and MANY other verses tells us it is the thief that steals, kills, and destroys. It’s the devil because God is not a thief or a murderer! So, sovereign should not be in the sense of “God is in control of all evil on the planet” because that is wrong thinking and believing, but He is sovereign in the sense of THE King or Ruler by right of creation. Much happens on this planet that is neither His will or way. There is much deception in the Church on this “sovereignty” issue.)
e. Psalm 91:3 tn The word refers specifically to a fowler (or hunter of birds).
f. Psalm 91:4 tn Heb “put a cover over you” (see Ps 5:11).
g. Psalm 91:4 tc The Hebrew text has the singular, but the plural should be read. The final י (yod) of the suffix, which indicates the plural, has dropped off by haplography (note the yod at the beginning of the next word).
h. Psalm 91:4 tn Traditionally the Hebrew term סֹחֵרָה (sokherah), which occurs only here in the OT, has been understood to refer to a buckler or small shield (see BDB 695 s.v.). But HALOT 750 s.v., on the basis of evidence from the cognate languages, proposes the meaning “wall.”
i. Psalm 91:5 tn This probably alludes to a sneak attack by enemies in the darkness of night (see Song 3:8).
j. Psalm 91:6 sn As in Deut 32:23-24, vv. 5-6 closely associate military attack and deadly disease. Perhaps the latter alludes to one of the effects of siege warfare on the population of an entrapped city, which was especially vulnerable to the outbreak of epidemics.
k. Psalm 91:7 tn Apparently the deadly disease mentioned in v. 6b is the understood subject here.
l. Psalm 91:8 tn Heb “retribution on the wicked.”
m. Psalm 91:10 tn Or “confront.”
n. Psalm 91:10 tn For this sense of the Hebrew term נגע see Ps 38:11.
o. Psalm 91:10 tn Heb “your tent.”
p. Psalm 91:11 tn Heb “for his angels he will command concerning you.”
q. Psalm 91:11 tn Heb “in all your ways.”
r. Psalm 91:12 tn Heb “so your foot will not strike a stone.”
s. Psalm 91:13 tn Heb “walk upon.”
t. Psalm 91:13 tn Or perhaps “cobra” (see Ps 58:4).
u. Psalm 91:14 tn The words “the Lord says” are supplied in the translation to clarify that the words which follow are the Lord’s oracle of assurance.
v. Psalm 91:14 tn Or “make him secure” (Heb “set him on high”).
w. Psalm 91:14 tn Heb “because he knows my name” (see Ps 9:10).
x. Psalm 91:16 tn Heb “length of days.”
_____________
Put Psalms 91 in your heart and MOUTH every day and whenever the enemy tempts you to believe or say something contrary to it. Make this your “go to” Scripture of protection and mighty deliverance. Get it in you and put it on your family and on yourself daily. Talk it. Share it. Be it. Trust in His protection and give Him thanks for His mighty angels surrounding your loved ones and yourself. Believe NO illness can hang around you. Believe it will not come near your house. Believe you and yours have LONG LIFE and see His salvation-deliverance. It makes no difference if you are 1 or 120, or anywhere in between. I say this especially to the older population over 65. The world says you are more vulnerable, but your trust is in God, and His Word is for you and to you regardless of your age. His healing power is yours if you'll believe and receive it even when a 1,000 may fall at your side or 10,000 (NKJV) at your right hand! Take a hold of these truths like a pit bull does a bone! Be determined and be faithful and loyal to the Lord. He will NEVER let you down! Rest here and cast down those lying and false imaginations that are contrary to these truths. (2 Cor. 10:4, 5) Psalms 91 is a mighty weapon! Watch what happens to your faith and trust in the Lord as you take your unmovable stand on these verses. It will soar to greater and greater heights in Jesus’ Name!
Be blessed! Be protected in Jesus’ Name!
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