9. The stand of the Church.

As I was pondering about the stand, the Church must take at such a time as this, I remembered this testimony about Dr.John G Lake. He ministered in South Africa between 1908-1913, when there was an outbreak of Bubonic plague. When the team of Doctors who arrived from Europe, questioned him as to how he could work without any protective gear, he testified to them that the ‘law of the Spirit of life’ was at work in him and he demonstrated under the microscope how the germs died when it came into contact with him. https://everestalexander.wordpress.com/2015/10/18/john-g-lake-bubonic-plague-testimony/

‘So we have this treasure (the Holy Spirit) in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us.’ ( 2 Corinthians 4:7) There is an inner security cordon that cannot be breached even while other outside layers of security may be compromised. This inner spiritual defence together with the outer physical protection should be our two pronged strategy against this pandemic. Therefore let no believer be found wearing just a mask and a glove without having worn the armour of God because when masks and gloves fail to stop the contagion, the armor of God will!

Let the Church take its stand, right in the midst of this pandemic, as Aaron did : ‘Aaron did as Moses said and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people, but Aaron offered incense and made atonement for them. He stood between the living and the dead and the plague stopped.’ ( Numbers 16:47-48) It is interesting to note that Aaron wore the ‘Ephod’ and the ‘Breastpiece’, as he ran into the midst of the assembly when the plague started among the people and offered incense and made atonement for them. Let’s not forget to put on the ‘Belt of Truth’ and the ‘Breastplate of Righteousness’, as we take our stand against this pandemic. Without the ‘Ephod’, the ‘Breastpiece’ could not be held in place. So also without the ‘Belt of Truth’, the ‘Breastplate of Righteousness’ would not be held in place.
‘Therefore put on the full armor of God so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, after you have done everything to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit ...’ (Ephesians 6:13-18)
‘Let us then approach the Throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.’ (Hebrews 4:16)
At a time when the nation is struggling to contain the pandemic, let the believer be reminded of this promise : “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.” ( 2 Chronicles 7:14) Just as God halted the plague abruptly, when Aaron interceded, so will God contain this contagion, if the Church would stand its ground, in truth and righteousness. Amen.