The Christian Response to the Coronavirus
Victory in Jesus!
Bethel Missionary Baptist Church
Sunday, April 12, 2020
Today is Easter Sunday. Today is Resurrection Sunday. Today is the Lord’s Day. “This the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24) Many churches are closed today on Easter Sunday because of the national emergency declared by our national, state and local officials. This coronavirus pandemic is too dangerous and deadly for people to gather in massive crowds. This decision has impacted churches and the faith community. We had to put the public health and safety of our people first and foremost. Nevertheless, this is still Easter Sunday. I firmly believe that this Sunday, we should celebrate the Risen Christ like never before by live streaming, Face book, Zoom, etc., on your knees in your home and by any holy means necessary. The victorious Jesus is worthy of our praise, our worship, our gifts, our tithes and our offerings.
I don’t know about you, but “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.” (Psalm 34:1-3) Get off that couch and make a joyful noise to our reigning king, Jesus Christ. When Jesus, on that first Easter morning, when death couldn’t keep him locked down, Jesus gave death and the grave a lesson to be remembered. “Death is swallowed up in victory; O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15: 54b-55) “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1Corinthians 15:57) Listen, don’t let this coronavirus get the victory over your spirit nor the victory over your mind. Don’t let this demon-driven virus defeat you. You may be on a lock down, but don’t let Satan lockdown your mouth whereby you won’t give a crazy praise on this Easter Sunday to the Redeemer who lives. Listen, don’t let this defeated devil lockdown your prayer life. Never cease to preach; never cease to pray; never cease to give; and never cease to praise God! Are you shouting now??? I am, because this coronavirus pandemic is merely a set up for our breakthrough and not our breakdown.
Because of the victory that we have in Jesus, we can run on with faith. The Apostle Paul encourages us in 1 Corinthians 15:58: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” I am trying to remind you that the victory is in Jesus!
Victory in Jesus, my savior, forever. He sought me and He bought me with His redeeming blood.
He loved me ere I knew him, and all my love is due him.
He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.
Amen.
