We’ve Never Been Here Before
Last Wednesday the World Health Organization labeled the novel Coronavirus, Covid-19, a global pandemic. President Trump has addressed the nation multiple times. The number of Covid-19 confirmed infections in the US has tripled in the last six days. All sporting events are cancelled. All conferences and large assemblies are cancelled. McDonald’s, Chic-Fil-a, and Starbucks have all shut down their dining areas.
For the first time in over fourteen years, we closed the IHOP-Atlanta prayer room to the public (our worship teams continue 24/7 and live stream is available on YouTube). As I was driving to the house of prayer yesterday, I was deeply humbled beneath the weight of what is happening in the world, the greatness of our God, and my own overt weakness in the midst of it all.
Truly we are in a moment that we’ve never seen before.
Things that seemed extremely important thirty days ago, no longer seem important.
A few things I am impressed about right now:
This is a wake-up call – God is beginning to shake things on a global scale so that the church would wake up, rid herself of her idols, and become a fasting and praying people crying out for the Lord to pour out His Spirit. When this crisis is over there will be a huge temptation to go back to our comforts and resume business as usual. This wake up call is an opportunity for us to all assess whether how we are living day to day makes sense in light of the greater crisis and great outpouring that is coming on the earth.
This is a time to listen more than speak – I’m asking the Lord to silence my own heart so that I can hear what the Spirit is saying. As a leader and preacher I’m acutely aware of the expectation to always have something to say and offer leadership in every circumstance. The truth is often we leaders have to lead when we don’t really know what to do or what to say. In those moments we trust the Lord and hopefully don’t speak solely out of compulsion. I feel strongly that this is a moment to quiet our hearts and listen to the Spirit of the Lord. It’s not a moment to make big projections and plans. I’m quieting my soul so that I can hopefully hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying through all of this and I encourage you to do the same.
Zephaniah 1:7 Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD; For the day of the LORD is at hand, For the LORD has prepared a sacrifice; He has invited His guests
Look after your family – We have an opportunity to go deep with our families in this hour. I encourage you to make the most of this. Don’t mindlessly binge Netflix, instead come together in prayer and worship and discuss the word in your home. This can be a time of great strength in your family if you will come together and lean into Jesus. We have never had a time when everything is so shut off. Use this as an opportunity to love one another deeply and go deep in your devotions with the Lord.
Look after those who are in need and at risk – Many are going to have great needs in this hour. Make a phone call or a visit to the ones you know who are struggling. Check in with your neighbors and offer assistance as is needed. This is an opportunity for us to love in deed and not word only (1 John 3:18)
Change your course – God is offering this moment as an opportunity for a course correction. Things are shifting dramatically. The suggested protocols are changing nearly daily. But the bigger question is this: Does how you have been living day to day make sense in light of the end of the age? Does it make sense in light of the massive revival and massive turmoil that is coming on the earth? If how you have been living doesn’t make sense in light of the coming drama… you can change how you are living today. I strongly encourage you to make fasting and prayer a normal part of your daily routine. I encourage you to study the Bible to know 1) God’s heart and emotions for you, 2) The details of the end of the age, and 3) The depths of the Sermon on the Mount. These things will help plumb line you for the coming days.
There are many needs that are beginning to arise and there will be many more in the days to come. What’s more, while this crisis is significant and unprecedented, what the Bible says is coming is far, far more severe than this. I don’t say this to scare you, but my hope is that you would be awakened to the hour in which we are alive.
I believe we are in the middle of what Jesus prophesied in Mathew 24:6-7 & Luke 21:10-11, birth pangs, as a precursor to the end of this age. Just as natural birth pangs become more and more intense and the duration of time shortens between them, the events that Jesus’ prophesied are going to continue to increase in intensity and occurrence until His return. There will be moments of respite in between them until they essentially blend into one another. The earth has yet to see the drama that is going to come upon the nations.
The most challenging days the earth has ever seen are in front of us. The Bible also identifies these coming days as the greatest days of glory the earth has ever seen. I’m humbled and broken over the things happening right now, but I also know Jesus is leading the course of human history to His desired end. Right now is a time for us to press into His leadership and get depth in our soul so that we can stand in the coming days and lead many to righteousness.