Christians, in this time of social distancing, quarantine, isolation, we have as a society attempted to “flatten the curve.” To flatten the curve we are attempting to keep the number of infected individuals less than the number of available hospital resources, equipment, beds, ventilators, workers, etc. If everyone was infected at the same time, it would overwhelm the healthcare system and there could be many that die because they could not get the care they need. As I was contemplating this idea of trying to “flatten the curve”, I felt the Holy Spirit show me that this is what the enemy has been trying to do to us Christians since the day of Pentecost. Flatten the “Christian Curve”.
Jesus was a world changer when He walked the earth in His ministry. People flocked to Him, got healed, delivered, and had an encounter with God like never before. When Jesus died and rose again, He explained that He was going away, but He was sending us power from on high. He was essentially infecting us with a “VIRUS” from on High, the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is NOT a virus, but stick with me on the analogy. You see a virus is a foreign entity that takes over YOUR cells and reproduces what it is programmed to produce. COVID-19 will take over your body, and reproduce more and more copies of COVID-19. The Holy Spirit, when it comes on a person, replicates itself, and what does the Holy Spirit have? The Fruits of the Spirit – Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. It has the power to speak in tongues, heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons. It has the power to do anything and everything Jesus did while He was here, and even GREATER works. If you don’t fight against the Holy Spirit, if you yield to Him, you will see Him manifest these symptoms in your life and see Him affect others around you.
On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit of God fell on 120 people in the upper room, they spoke in new tongues and people from all over, heard them speaking in their native language. Peter gave a message to the crowd and 3,000 people were “infected” or saved that day. They then started to replicate the Spirit of God which is sharing, caring, serving, fellowshipping, teaching, preaching, performing miracles, signs and wonders: which led to people being added to their NUMBERS DAILY! The early Church was highly contagious. The curve was shooting straight up, HELL was scared, what if the gospel kept spreading? The enemy had some work to do, to flatten the curve, but what were his techniques?
Division. One of the biggest things that causes spiritual social distancing and keeping people from spreading the gospel infectiously is division. Sadly in the early Church, the enemy sparked people to follow certain leaders or certain doctrine causing disagreements and division. We see this still today in denominations at large. It is not WRONG if you are in a denomination, but it is wrong if you look at other denominations and do not see brothers and sisters in Christ, whom you would come together with for a higher purpose than your own.
Isolation. Just as we are practicing isolation now, to keep from spreading anything, the enemy also utilizes isolation to flatten the curve. The bible specifically said to not forsake the assembling together. There is power in the body. We are all part of the body of Christ and we need to be in connection to let the power flow to us and through us to impact the world for the kingdom of God.
Lack of Power. I have heard many times from many sources that the power that fell at Pentecost was for that time, the early Church, but it has died out, or ceased. The power of God is what demonstrates that the Word is alive and active today just as it was in the days of early Church. That is why when there is revival, the Holy Spirit will be stirred up and the miraculous will break out causing many to come to the knowledge of Christ. Much like when we re-enter society after this outbreak, if COVID-19 flares up in a place, the powers that be will likely try and isolate, quarantine those areas to stop it from spreading. The enemy will come against revival very hard, because IF it catches on and spreads, it would be unstoppable.
Christians, I long to see the Church that Jesus spoke about, when He said we would do greater works. Where are the Christians walking in this power, affecting and infecting great change to those around them? How do we cultivate an atmosphere where the gospel message of Christ is as contagious to those around us as COVID-19? Could we create an atmosphere where if you are within 6 feet of a Christian, the forces of hell better watch out! We need to remove the division in the Church. I do not mean within the individual Churches we attend, but the Church body as a whole.
When we fight division, we must support unity. I have had the privilege of serving in an organization at different levels – committees, board of directors, and fundraisers. In all of these areas of service, I have sat in different meetings and events and smiled and thought to myself “this is the Church.” I would be working with multiple different denominations and non-denominations and we did not let the differences in our doctrines stop us from serving Jesus together.
Isolation is beaten when we come together. Whether its Sunday service, mid-week service, daily devotions, men or women’s groups, special events and services – show up and participate when you can, to interact and be a part of the body. Also look outside your individual Church to the community. When there is an event or organization that is about Jesus going on, make an effort to support and be a part of those events. The early Church met together often.
The power of God is available. We cannot limit or deny that God is still moving and working today. If we say that we have no power, we will have no power – because there is power in our speech and tongue. We will have what we speak out, good or bad, powerful or powerless. Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit, He gave us authority, He gave us permission to do the things He did, and I believe He challenged us to believe for somethings even greater!
These are 3 major areas I have spoken on today, but I know there are more tactics the enemy uses to stop us. If we could even overcome these three, I know that we would see a move of God like never before. We could overwhelm the forces of darkness that are so prevalent in our society and use our position and authority we have as children of God.
Father God, you say that everything works for the good of those who love you, and who are called according to your will and purpose. We thank you that Jesus was not the end of your plan, He was the beginning. That You desired Him to be the first and us to follow in His footsteps, power, and glory. I pray that you would pour out Your Spirit of wisdom and revelation over Your children, that we would know and receive and USE the power You have for us to do Your will on this earth. We repent of the division, isolation, and lack of power we let the enemy use to “flatten the curve” in our lives, families, Churches, and society. I pray that you guide and direct us in the days and weeks to come following this time of forced isolation. May we never be the same again, may we never be satisfied, but always desiring the greater gifts and to do greater things, as we have been admonished by Jesus Himself. We thank you for who you are, what you have done, and what you desire us to do, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Power from on High – “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:49 (NIV)
Fruits of the Spirit – But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)
Greater Works – “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.” John 14:12 (NLT)
Day of Pentecost See Acts 2 – With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:40-47 (New International Version)
Divisions in the Church – I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul.” Others are saying, “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Peter,” or “I follow only Christ.” I Corinthians 1:10,12 (NLT)
Isolation – Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:25 (AMPC)
This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. I Corinthians 12:25-27 (NLT)
Power – And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. I Corinthians 2:4-5 (NLT)
They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. II Timothy 3:5 (NLT)
Yet I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me, bringing the Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I worked among them. They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God’s Spirit. Romans 15:18,19 (NLT)
The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. Proverbs 18:21 (NLT)
Closing Prayer – And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. Romans 8:27-30 (NLT)
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. Ephesians 1:17-21 (NIV)
written and posted by Daniel Poggensee | 2020
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