Moving Forward During Covid

During the Covid-19 2020 quarantine, many things are being revealed by God. One of them is this: The Body of Christ is "moving forward with great expectation and Holy Ghost anticipation."

Remember that all things are parallel. Consider the "principle of parallel". When something is parallel it is similar to something else but it happens in a different place or a different time. If one thing parallels with another they'll happen at the same time. There are similarities and there is a connection.

In Acts the 2nd chapter, the disciples experienced events that led up to the day of Pentecost. When the day finally came the followers of Christ were all in the place Jesus told them to go to, on one accord. Do you think they were prepared for "moving forward with great expectation and Holy Ghost anticipation?". I know they were.

All things are parallel. We are not coming out empty-handed. We are not afraid. We are bold. We are not coming out the way the devil thought we would, nor are we coming out the way man thought we would. We're not coming out bound, limited, discouraged, or low.

We are the "head and not the tail." We are coming out on top. All things working together for our good. (Ro. 8:28) 

So I ask, are you "moving forward with great expectation and Holy Ghost anticipation?" Below are five things you should align during this countdown to Pentecost.

1.  Are you on one accord with Jesus and the other disciples?
2.  Are you a follower of Christ?
3.  Are you an imitator of Christ?
4.  Are you willing to pay the price?  
   
   

As we go from "Passover to Pentecost" we will move forward with expectation and Holy Ghost anticipation.

The Church is Essential

Governor Murphy has signed an executive order that will reopen state parks and allow counties and cities to open local parks.  This would include golf courses, as well.  I can imagine that everyone is super excited about the prospect of returning to some form of normalcy.  Meanwhile, the Church has been adamantly mandated to close and not reopen until further notice, as though the Body of Christ has been put on punishment.  What's wrong with this picture? Has government, ignorantly, forgotten the importance of the Local Church and Discipleship within every community.  The Church has the power to heal because it's filled with believers.  What about, Mark 16:17-18, which states:  "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; [18] They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."(KJV)?

 Do you believe closing the Church's door is an infringement on the Church and the citizen's constitutional right to peacefully assemble?

Since the Church, has the power to heal, and is also a "no-fly zone" for diseases and viruses, wouldn't you think being open will benefit our communities, cities, and states?

We have respected the government's "Stay At Home" mandate for an appointed amount of time, in part because of the internet's capabilities to stream services.  While using Periscope, we've been able to air services live with an "essential" team. Also using Zoom we host our Men and Women's Fellowships, Soul Sessions, Table Time, School of the Prophets, and Friday Night School of the Holy Spirit.  Thankfully, the internet has been a temporary solution.

What makes no sense is what has been considered as "essential". By whose standards have they made a liquor store "essential" while the church is considered non-essential? What kind of society are we producing? Also, regarding social distancing. I'm happy to say that Jesus is not practicing social distancing right now. In fact, "Where two or three are gathered together in His name, He is right in their midst."Mt.(18:20).  Guess what?  He's not wearing a mask either.  The Church has a Kingdom Culture.  We are here to help those who are sick.  We are not afraid of sicknesses.  Every sickness has been defeated (past tense), by Jesus on the cross.  This is what we know and believe.  Meanwhile, Gov. Murphy urged people to wear face masks and to remain six feet apart.  Let's consider the book of James 5:14 (KJV), "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:". How can we send the elders to pray for the sick if they must social distance themselves? If they go to pray for someone, are they expected to wear a mask and gloves as they heal someone of sickness? Why would they? Obviously if you are going to get someone healed, you do not need to protect yourself as though you are afraid. To anoint someone with oil, as the above scripture suggests one must touch the sick individual. This calls for a realignment of our thinking. We obey the scripture first and foremost. Throughout history, God's people have obeyed Him, despite a ruler, captain or Sadducee, strongly urging another way of doing things; even mandating God's people to stop what they were doing for the Lord. Some examples are: Jesus, Peter, Daniel, Esther and the list continues.

We are the Church, the Body of Christ. We heal sicknesses, diseases, and viruses. We have faith in the Power of God to miraculously heal. That is exactly what we will do. No matter what!  Bishop Hamon says, "The Saints who are willing to suffer whatever it takes to fulfill God's purpose for their lives to be conformed to His likeness will receive a greater reward and position in God's eternal kingdom."

It Costs

There are many things this global pandemic is revealing. Here is one: Maybe we've forsaken the true meaning or portrait and picture of a believer; A disciple of Jesus Christ. It costs. Yes, it costs to live the life of a true believer and it costs to live the life of a believer in Jesus Christ. Let's examine the word cost. The origin of the word is interpreted "rib" My question is, what did it cost Adam, though God created Eve? The answer is, a rib. It costs. Lk. 18:8 states "I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" Abraham was full of faith according to Rom. 4. He left room for nothing else. He knew that He was faithful who had promised. We can be the same so that when the bad reports come, we can wash away the doubt and bad news with the overflow of our belief and confession that we hold fast without wavering. "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) Heb. 10:23. It will cost faith. Be of good courage because God has given to every man the measure of faith. (Ro. 12:3)

A Life Marked and Purchased

As you can see, you are special to God. Things are happening in your life that is certainly uncommon. The presence of God, sets you apart from the rest of the world. It signifies that you are a part of a unique and superior culture, the "Kingdom Culture".  

The glory of the Lord is surrounding you and the presence of the Lord envelops you. You are not just any person. You are a "called out one", the ecclesia. Therefore, there is a shift from the church mindset to a kingdom of God mindset. We are not "doing church business as usual", and if you are stuck in a "church paradigm" you just may feel lost. We are in the Kingdom of God, where Jesus is Lord and King. He is the King of this Kingdom. Subsequently, Jesus came preaching, "The kingdom of God is at hand". (Mrk. 1:14&15).

Isn't it wonderful how God's love chases after us, pursues us and captures us daily?  We are blessed beyond measure and highly favored. We were bought with a price; We were purchased by God with the blood of Jesus. You are uncommon, a chosen person. Dear one, in this season, allow God's goodness to overtake you.  

You are marked, you are a "King's kid", you have a life that is marked. We are living during this time with many good things to come. 

You and I have a life marked and a life that has been purchased. Do you know that the life of the flesh is in the blood?  Listen, God purchased us with the blood of Jesus. We are not marked with just any blood but the precious blood of our Savior.  The blood of Jesus makes an atonement for our souls. 

You are going in and out with a marked life. Moses took the blood and applied it to Aaron and his sons who were also priests.  Do you know we are described in the bible as priests as well? We are a "royal priesthood." 

Your life is not marked for hopelessness and devastation, pressure, and frustration, but you are marked to find pasture, which is provision, health, wellbeing, restoration, and restitution. Correspondingly, you are going to have a great revelation and indication that you have a marked life.

Jesus came so that we may have a marked life and a purchased life. Has Jesus come into your life? All you have to do is invite Him in as Lord, Savior, and King, to have a life that is marked.

We will not cooperate with the thief, he cannot come any longer. As a rule, we do not welcome him. The thief doesn't like the blood, therefore plead the blood, it's also a legality. When you plead the blood you are operating in the laws and the principles of God.

God purchased your freedom, by his blood. His blood is the blood of Jesus. He purchased for you, and you now have free access to:

📍Your freedom

📍Your liberty

📍Soundness of mind

📍Deliverance

📍Salvation

📍Joy

📍New Creation

You see, we have a better covenant. They were marked by the blood of rams and goats, we are marked by the blood of the Lamb. We are living with a much better covenant. The blood of Jesus covers everything about our lives. (Lev. 8:23-24; Lev 17:11; Mt. 26:28; Mrk 14:24; Lk. 22:20; Jn. 6:53; Col. 1:20; Heb 9:12; Heb. 9:13,14)