It has been almost two months since the General Conference Church of God (Seventh Day) Southwest District, GC COG7 SWD, Core Leadership Team met in San Antonio, Texas with the SWD Board, SWD Ministry Directors, and GC Ministry Directors along with the GC Executive Director and some very special guests. Most of that time has been used following the mandates of federal, state, and local governments for social distancing. This weekend has seen some loosening of the requirements for isolation and social distancing with provisions for safety in beginning the process to return to a new normal.
The Church of Jesus Christ is experiencing a revival in fellowship and unity of spirit, as people realize the Church is not a building. The awareness is higher than ever the Church is the people who are believers in Jesus Christ. It is as though the modern Church has been given a new opportunity to “Focus On Jesus and Follow His Plan” being “Better Together”, even when they must modify their practices of being “together”.
The opportunity has always been there. But people’s ears were more often attuned to the programs and traditions of today’s Church than on the Master of the Church, Jesus Christ. It must be acknowledged the pandemic has brought sickness, suffering, death, tribulations and hardship. However, what a blessing this pandemic has brought in some ways. The environment is cleaner than it has been in years. People are again being civil to one another, showing patience and hospitality. Family units have gotten reacquainted, not all of which has been good, however. But for the greater part, children of working parents have discovered they have parents that love them. The Church has truly awakened to the fact the Church is not an architectural structure or building but rather a body of people united in the faith of Jesus Christ and the cause of the gospel. As such, they have discovered the Church is not closed even though the doors to the buildings have been shut.
This is an Ebenezer moment for the Americas and the world. While sickness and death have abounded, so far it has not been as extreme as the grimmest forecasts. It is not known if the work of the corona virus has truly peaked, is taking a break before another major onslaught, or has settled in for a long time to come. But, the stone of help provided by God for humanity has been here. The Lord has preserved his Church. Neither the grave, the corona virus nor any other force shall be able to take away the bride of Jesus Christ, the Church.
The last judge of Israel, the prophet Samuel, after gaining the advantage over their arch enemies, the Philistines and chasing them to a place just south of Beth-Car, meaning “House of the Lamb”, Samuel set up a rock monument, a stone, calling it “the stone of help”, meaning the Lord’s help. And he said, “Thus far the Lord has been with us.”
1 Samuel 7:11-12, BBE
- And the men of Israel went out from Mizpah and went after the Philistines, attacking them till they came under Beth-car.
- Then Samuel took a stone and put it up between Mizpah and Jeshanah, naming it Eben-ezer, and saying, Up to now the Lord has been our help.
Today, we want to acknowledge, “Up to now, the Lord has been our help.” Praise God, because of his faithfulness he will always, forever and ever, be our help. Jesus speaking to his disciples near the end of his earthly ministry declared, “I will never leave you nor forsake you. I will be with you always, even to the end of the age.” Let us be like the leaders of Israel, when during their sojourning from time to time would put up an altar, a monument, dig a well, and in some way mark the moment to declare the faithfulness of God had been with them that far.
We proclaim with renewed confidence and energy, “The Lord God Omnipotent Reigns”! To celebrate this moment today, I have gone to the back of the book. No, not to the Revelation, but to the back of the Song Book, the Psalms, and chosen the last one for us to use to celebrate “The Lord God Omnipotent Reigns”.
Psa 150:1-6, MSG
- Hallelujah! Praise God in his holy house of worship, praise him under the open skies;
- Praise him for his acts of power, praise him for his magnificent greatness;
- Praise with a blast on the trumpet, praise by strumming soft strings;
- Praise him with castanets and dance, praise him with banjo and flute;
- Praise him with cymbals and a big bass drum, praise him with fiddles and mandolin.
- Let every living, breathing creature praise GOD! Hallelujah!
It is the will of God that every living, breathing creature praise him. If you are reading this post, you, dear friend, are a living, breathing creature. Please join me in praising the Lord God Almighty from whom all blessings flow. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Psalms 150:6, MGS
Let every living, breathing creature praise GOD! Hallelujah!
Amen and Amen.
Blessed be the name of the Lord forever.
Amen.
As you go through your life’s journey, remember the moments that stood out to you and mark them with a stone of help from the Lord because The LORD GOD Omnipotent Reigns.
