Encouragements for our troubled times No. 01
COVID-19 Series | Date: 25 March 2020
The Elders and Deacons want to encourage the members and those who regularly meet with us through this weekly letter. If you have news which you would be happy to share with the fellowship or request for prayer, then please let us know.
These are trying and difficult days but scriptures such as this one should cause us to bow in the presence of the Sovereign God.
A message from your Pastor
What anxious times we live in dear friends. This little bug has turned the world upside down and sadly taken many lives. Cities and countries are in lockdown trying to lessen the death toll. These truly are unprecedented times. How can we, as the Lord’s people, cope with this situation? We, of course, have to follow the Government’s guidelines as responsible citizens and that’s why, for the first time in the Church’s history, our Church is now closed for all services and meetings. We will open again as soon as we are told that it is safe for everyone to do so. Individually we all have a responsibility to follow the Government’s guidelines on social distancing and personal hygiene. We must maintain our walk with the Lord with daily devotions and keep the Sabbath holy by joining in worship with others via the internet. If this is not possible then have a time of private worship in our homes. I will be posting a message on YouTube each week under the title ‘Revelation: A message for our troubled times’ and we hope to produce this prayer letter each week.
But we are not immune to the effects of the news coverage of the spread of the virus and this can cause much anxiety. We may also one day ourselves be infected with the virus which, one can only imagine, will be a very frightening experience, so how can we face these things in faith?
Philippians 4:6-7
"6 Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4 verses 6-7 tells us:
Firstly, be anxious for nothing. In other words, there is nothing that we need to be anxious about. Anxiety, in itself, is not wrong, it is part of our defence mechanism. The Lord knows there will be times such as these when we will be anxious but He assures us that we need not be anxious because we have a great and sovereign God who loves us and will always hear our prayers.
Secondly, Instead of being anxious, we are exhorted to pray. We are to use this great privilege that we have to bring everything to His mercy seat. Everything, that includes our fears, our loneliness, our needs as well as our families, our Church, our country, everything. We are to pray generally for all things, specifically, with supplications, for important issues and always to remember to give thanks, not only for answered prayers, but for ‘Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think.’ Thirdly- What a result this will bring. It may not be that our problem will be taken away but the anxiety will be lifted and in its place, we will know the peace of God, that calmness of heart and soul, guarding our hearts and minds because we will be looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. We are safe in the hands of our dear Saviour.
May the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face to smile upon you.