LIFTING MY VOICE: NO FEAR HEREPART THREEOur six-year old gra...

LIFTING MY VOICE: NO FEAR HERE



PART THREE



Our six-year old gra...: NO FEAR HERE PART THREE Our six-year old grandson is currently living with us full time, and attending a Christian sch...

NO FEAR HERE

PART THREE

Our six-year old grandson is currently living with us full time, and attending a Christian school here in Hobart, in southern Tasmania. This particular school is having two student free days, in order that the teachers can prepare material and set in place contingencies should the school need to close its doors, because of the COVID-19 Coronavirus threat.

As of writing, in the state of Tasmania, Australia's island state, there have been twenty eight confirmed cases of this virus, all being people who have returned from interstate or overseas travel. There have been, to date, no person to person infections in this state. Even so, the government has commenced Stage 1 of measures deemed necessary to seek to contain the spread of the virus.

Thousands of jobs have been lost, strict social distancing protocols have been enacted, and the police force has been given powers to fine those not adhering to the government's directives. Further tighter measures have been foreshadowed in the event that the disease shows signs of significantly increased casualties in the state.

At a press conference called by the Premier, Peter Gutwein this morning, in reply to a question from a journalist about the policy regarding schools, he clearly stated that at present the national health advice is that there is no risk for children continuing to attend school. In spite of this, we know personally of at least one Christian school in the Hobart region which has already closed, and the school where our grandson is enrolled - on their Facebook page today, stated that ninety (90) percent of parents/carers have decided to keep their children at home and continue their education away from the school.

We were somewhat shocked about this. Then perhaps we should not have been. Our grandson's young teacher rang us yesterday afternoon to ask what we planned to do with him - to keep him at home or still send him to school. I told her that we would want to still send him to school while it remained open. She then said: "If I had children, I would want to keep them at home." Talk about a hint that we were, perhaps being irresponsible sending our grandson to school still.

Of the eight deaths from COVID-19 in Australia so far, all have been in their 70's and 80's, and most probably have all had other immune system deficiencies. It has been stated that eighty percent of all cases of the infection experience mild symptoms.

Another post featuring on the Facebook page of the Christian school our grandson attends is about 40 and 50 year olds in NSW who are now in intensive care in NSW with the Coronavirus. What they fail to mention, though, is I suspect that, as with those who have already died or who are very ill, they have most likely been experiencing other health issues weakening their bodies' immune systems.

Because it is a Christian school, I thought I would seek to bring some encouragement to those reading their Facebook page. I posted the following about an hour ago: 

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress;

My God, in Him I will trust."

Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler

And from the perilous pestilence. Psalm 91:1-3

At this time, the Church of Jesus Christ is called to arise and shine, not cowering in fear, but to walk by faith, and to extend the love of God to a world that is in panic and turmoil. After all, Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

I posted it to the school's Facebook page, then after less than five minutes it disappeared. Unbelievable!

There is NO mention of Jesus, of our need to trust God at this time - just depressing posts about COVID-19.

Let us be sure of one thing: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:8
As Jason Golden, Evangelist posted a few days ago:
HOW DO WE BEAT THE CORONAVIRUS?

FAITH OVER FEAR

WISDOM OVER WORRY

PRAYER OVER PANIC


TO BE CONTINUED

If you would like to know more about how to become a Christian, and be delivered from fear - and know God's deep abiding peace, 
Go to www.vision.org.au  Click on Growing your faith tab, then from the dropdown menu, click on "Looking for God?" God Bless!

LIFTING MY VOICE: NO FEAR HEREPart TwoAs I stated in the firs...

LIFTING MY VOICE: NO FEAR HERE
Part Two





As I stated in the firs...: NO FEAR HERE Part Two As I stated in the first part of this blog, the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic going ar...

NO FEAR HERE

Part Two

As I stated in the first part of this blog, the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic going around the world is causing much fear and panic in communities, leading to panic-buying of food and household necessities, in some places at such an alarming rate that supermarkets have had to take drastic measures to cope with supply and demand issues, and to help the elderly and disabled be able to shop safely.

As also stated, not only by me, but by many others, the fear and panic being experienced by multitudes is in some ways probably a greater threat to peace and security than the infection itself.

It is at times like that in which we are living, that the Church of Jesus Christ has the opportunity to shine brightly with the hope that believers experience as they are fully trusting the Lord for deliverance and for safe protection from all harm.

Psalm 91 offers incredibly wonderful promises of protection to the child of God who is fully committed to following and trusting the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.

Verse 1,2 says: He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High 

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress;

My God, in Him I will trust."

What powerful scripture verses to take a stand upon in this - and in fact, all times, when unseen dangers are lurking. 

Joseph Prince, Senior Pastor of New Creation Church in Singapore,  in speaking about this verse, points out that in the Hebrew, Psalm 91:1 has the sense of: He who sits in the secret place of the Most High 

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 

Also, in the Hebrew, shadow always speaks of protection.

For the Christian, under the New Covenant, the secret place is IN CHRIST!

Ephesians 2:4-6 tells us But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love  with which  He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, made us alive together in Christ (by grace you have been saved), and He raised us up and seated us together in the heavenly places in Christ.

Notice the psalmist in verse 2 of Psalm 91 declares: I will say of the LORD! There is great power in making declarations with our mouth. He does not say: I will think of the LORD, BUT - I will SAY of the LORD. Right from the beginning of time, in Genesis Chapter 1, the LORD God spoke all things into being. God said: "Let there be light, and there was light." Each time a new aspect of God's awesome creation came into being, it was predicated by: Then God said!

As born again, Spirit-filled believers in the  LORD Jesus Christ, we are to walk  by faith, not by sight - and we are to have our hearts, and our mouths filled with words of faith, and not fear.

In Mark 11, we see the incident when Jesus cursed a fig tree, because it had no fruit. The next day as He and His disciples passed it, they saw that it had withered from the roots. 

Jesus then told His disciples: "Have faith in God. For truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you will receive them, and you will have them." vs 22-24

Psalm 91:3 says 

Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler

And from the perilous pestilence.

What on earth is a perilous pestilence? Well the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as:  a contagious or infectious epidemic disease that is virulent and devastating. So, God is saying in this verse from Psalm 91 that He will deliver those who abide under the shadow of El Shaddai - God Almighty - from contagious and infectious diseases - of which the current COVID-19 virus qualifies.

Psalm 91:4-6 continue to provide further comfort and encouragement to those who face dangers unseen.

He shall cover you with His feathers,

And under His wings you shall take refuge;

His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, 

Nor of the arrow that flies by day,

Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,

Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

Again, King David, in writing this psalm, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit expresses the confidence we can have in God's protective covering of those who are fully committed to Him.

TO BE CONTINUED

If you would like to know more about how to become a Christian, and experience the love and protection God promises in His Word - and to know sins forgiven, and to have a brand new start in life,  being "born again" of the Spirit of God, go online to www.vision.org.au This is the home of Vision Christian Media in Australia, which includes the nationwide Vision Christian Radio network. Click on "Growing your faith" tab at the top of the page, and then from the dropdown menu, click on "Looking for God?" God Bless!

LIFTING MY VOICE: NO FEAR HEREI have just been listening to the ...

LIFTING MY VOICE: NO FEAR HERE



I have just been listening to the ...: NO FEAR HERE I have just been listening to the song "We Believe" by Newsboys. Great song of declaration of total depe...

NO FEAR HERE

I have just been listening to the song "We Believe" by Newsboys. Great song of declaration of total dependency on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let me share some of the lyrics with you for your encouragement, son and daughter of the Living God:

In this time of desperation

When all we know is doubt and fear

There is only one foundation

We believe, we believe

In this broken generation

When all is dark, You help us see

There is only one foundation

We believe, we believe

We believe in God the Father

We believe in Jesus Christ

We believe in the Holy Spirit

And He's given us new life

We believe in the crucifixion

We believe that He conquered death

We believe in the resurrection

And He's comin' back again, we believe

So let our faith be more than anthems

Greater than the songs we sing

And in our weakness and temptations

We believe, we believe

Let the lost be found and the dead be raised

In the here and now, let love invade

Let the church live love our God will see

We believe, we believe

And the gates of hell will not prevail

For the power of God has torn the veil

Now we know Your love will never fail

We believe, we believe

As of mid-March, 2020, the world is in the grip of a fear that has not been seen for probably decades - because of an unseen enemy, an unwelcome invader of microscopic proportions - a virus called COVID-19, popularly dubbed Coronavirus, because of the crown-like appearance exhibited by this virus under the gaze of the electron microscope.

Beginning its reign of terror in the Chinese city of Wuhan, the sprawling capital of Central China's Hubei province, a commercial centre divided by the Yangtze and Han rivers - this viral infection has spread to a large number of countries around the world, with most people affected in China, Italy and Iran, and South Korea with lessening numbers in other countries. As of today, in my home nation of Australia, there have been three hundred cases of this virus.
In the island state of Tasmania where I live, at this point in time, there have been only seven cases of Coronavirus.

Authorities say that about eighty percent of those infected suffer only mild symptoms, with the other twenty percent requiring some kind of medical help, either from a GP or through hospital care. Sadly a small percentage of those infected have succumbed to the virus and have died - the majority being elderly (80+), and/or having other pre-existing medical conditions which have seen their immune systems compromised.

What is becoming increasingly clear with every day that this "pandemic" is progressing is that, even worse than the threat of the infection - is the fear and panic, and community anxiety being experienced by many. As much as the mass media and social media are being helpful in disseminating useful information about the Coronavirus, they have been also a contributor to much fear and panic by those across the nations who are suddenly faced with the prospect of facing their tenuous mortality. The fear of death is a major fear which will drive many to take some extreme and sometimes desperate actions.

I was a little shocked when mid-morning today, I decided to go to the local Woolworths supermarket to buy something. There was hardly a free parking space in the large shopping centre carpark area. Monday morning is typically fairly quiet. Then it dawned on me that people are suddenly panic-buying on the back of the Prime Minister and cabinet yesterday announcing new measures to limit the spread of the virus - BUT, as I said above, at present, there are only seven cases of COVID-19 in Tasmania, an island state with a population, in round figures, of half a million.

TO BE CONTINUED

If you have read this blog and would like to know more about how you can become a Christian, and be assured of your eternal salvation:
Go online to www.vision.org.au  This is the home of Vision Christian Media in Australia. Click on the Grow your faith tab at the top of the page, then click on "Looking for God?" from the dropdown menu.
God Bless!

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