Today’s New Covenant nugget is from 1 Thessalonians 5:1-5 (MSG)
I don’t think, friends, that I need to deal with the question of when all this is going to happen. You know as well as I that the day of the Master’s coming can’t be posted on our calendars. He won’t call ahead and make an appointment any more than a burglar would.
About the time everybody’s walking around complacently, congratulating each other—“We’ve sure got it made! Now we can take it easy!” - suddenly everything will fall apart. It’s going to come as suddenly and inescapably as birth pangs to a pregnant woman.
But friends, you’re not in the dark, so how could you be taken off guard by any of this? You’re sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand. So let’s not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let’s keep our eyes open and be smart.
People sleep at night and get drunk at night. But not us! Since we’re creatures of Day, let’s act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation.
God didn’t set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ. He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we’re awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we’re alive with Him! So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.
SUDDENLY…
This virus surrounding the nations of the world, did not come from God, but it did come suddenly and unexpected. There have been many warning signs that this hour would come, many scriptural warnings and many prophesies about these last days, but still, most people have been caught totally off guard.
Friends, when it comes to the coming of the Lord, as this passage says, ‘suddenly everything will fall apart’… but we as Christians do not fear, because we are living with our eyes open, we are living in the light of His glory and dressed up in faith, love and the hope of salvation as this passage says.
We are alive in Him, we are alive with Him and we are living ready. We are living the resurrected life of Christ, in Christ and we have the Holy Spirit living within us, leading us, directing us, fueling us as we fan the flames of His fire burning within our hearts. Now more than ever before, the church has been quickened to newness of life in Him. I believe the sudden onslaught of this virus, has brought an awakening to the body of Christ and every believer, has had a wake up call to the urgency of the season and times we are living in.
I believe, just as suddenly as this virus appeared, we are going to experience another suddenly where this virus will suddenly disappear and be cut off like Isaiah 29:5 talks about… ‘Then suddenly, in an instant, your ruthless enemies will become nothing more than dust in the wind and your vile tyrants like wind-driven chaff!’ - Isaiah 29:5 (TPT)
1 Thessalonians 5 says we need to speak encouraging words to one another in challenging times like this… so, let’s build faith together and declare with me…
“I have victory in every situation and in all circumstances,
I am an overcomer because Jesus already overcame death, hell and the grave for me,
This is going to be a prosperous successful year for me and my family,
I speak overflow and increase over my life,
I am above these circumstances and not beneath,
Jesus is my healer and I declare healing over my life,
Sickness and disease cannot live in me,
I declare healing over my emotions, fear cannot come near my dwelling place,
The Peace of God has transformed my mind, I am at peace,
I have joy operating in my life, I am rejoicing, happy and blessed of the Lord!”
Blessings on you, Esther
