03/05/2020
SERMON FROM PASTOR GEORGE MBUTHIA
CALVARY HERITAGE CHURCH IPHC
DANDORA.
SERMON TITLE.
REBOOT, REVIVE AND RESTORE YOUR FAITH.
BE CORONA VIRUS WISE.(coviwise)
“Eph 5:14 This is why it is said: ‘wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you’. 15 Be very careful, then how you live- not as unwise but as wise. 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is
“1Co 9:22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” What a strategist Paul was. He learnt to quickly adapt to every situation.
Adapt or die.
Adaptability is the character of those who have learnt to thrive. You have to learn to adapt or die. My brother don't became a casualty.
You see my friend; the key word here is adaptability. Adapt or die. I am so thrilled to see how some Kenyan companies are adapting whereas others are just complaining. We can tell which companies will fold up after the war and those that will survive when the war is over. Once such company who were into the production of beverages quickly became a producer of hand sanitizers. After all beaches are closed, bars are not fully operational, night clubs are closed, that will definitely affect the consumption of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. They quickly adapted, and they are back in business. Others just made some little modification and started producing products relevant for the season. Do you know that with the introduction of new technologies there is going to be a serious shift in the way of doing things? There will be job loses, among others. Are you adapting or remaining rigid in your old world? I heard someone the other day complaining “me I am not used to wearing of nose and face mask” Well, welcome to the new normal, you either adapt or die. Change is inevitable, change is the only constant. Fewer teachers, fewer nurses, fewer watchmen may be needed when the war is over, because of accompanying technologies coming. The fact that you have studied animal husbandry does not mean, you should die as an animal Doctor. Animals may not need Vets any more after the war is over. Adapt or face out.
Jesus is God, John 1 verse 1 made us understand, but to enable Him become the savior of men, He had to adapt. He became man.
Relationship is key.
“Mt 12:46 While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him.47 Then one said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You." 48 But He answered and said to the one who told Him, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" 49 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! 50 "For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."”
Your family are the key and important relationships in your life. It could be biological, spiritual family that is your church family or social family like closest friends.
If you have not yet seen the importance of relationships in your life till the arrival of the pandemic, then I am sure you are seeing that now. Most of the things we take pride in have all been shut down. Churches have been temporarily closed down, school, selected businesses, etc we have all been asked to go home. To where? Home, all of a sudden the people we have been running away from, we are forced to live with them 24/7 even if you are still working from home, you will be forced to spend a greater number of time with families. We have been asked to go home, to the important people in our lives, God, our families, and ourselves.
I have never seen prayer massively mobilized across the globe like we are doing right now. Nations are on their knees, the pandemic has revealed to us that there is a God up there who also lives in our hearts. Yet we keep ignoring Him. Until now, you rush out of home without talking to Him, neither do you while on your way to work. We are so busy running after things. Deadlines to meet, projects to complete, you never got enough time to develop the relationship with your maker. Let this pandemic remind you that one day, you will be returning home and the relationship you have developed with God will determine whether you will be welcomed home or not. Coviwise are using this period to deepen their relationships with God.
In the same vain, your families, your spouse and children, parents and siblings, as well as your church family, your pastor Shepherd, youth leader who you never thought really mattered to you, have all come handy now. Despite all the lockdowns, your families and important relationships still found a way of reaching out to you. Your pastors and shepherds still found ways to reach you to minister to you and to encourage you and to give you. Use this period to develop deeper relationships with them, because this pandemic has taught all of us that, no matter how high we fly, we will definitely need to return to our nests for rest. You can only fly for so long. Your families have been there for you through all the junctions of life. They were there to welcome you at your birth, they were there for your bringing up and schooling, they were there when you got married, they will be there to celebrate the arrival of your children and finally when and all is said and done, they will as well send you off to the grave. Yet these are the people we care the less about. For some of you it’s been years since you spent quality time with your spouse and children. God has just created that time for you. For some of us, only your pastors and shepherds always call to check on us. You too call, or text to check on them. We all need encouragement in this uncertain times.
Finally, home is also yourself. There is more in you, you haven’t discovered yet. Use this period to go home, go into yourself and discover what things are in you that you have not yet discovered and released to bless humanity. Write that book, write that song, develop that business idea. Use this period to discover yourself.
Trend with caution
“Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
I would rather you use your faith to prevent yourself from getting sick than, exercising faith to get healed after sickness. In so far as it depends on you, do everything to stay safe.
Prepare for the worst.
“Ac 21:13 Then Paul answered, "What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."”
It is only people who prepare for both good and bad situations that are truly ready to face life.
Nobody knows how long this battle is going to last. Therefore, as we pray and hope prepare also should it last longer than we all thought, you don’t run out on hope. Take extra oil with you.
In Mathew 25:1-12, we read the story of the ten virgins, 5 who were described as wise, were said to have carried with them extra oil. They were prepared should the battle prolong more than their supply could last, they had extra. We are hoping that by June, but should we go beyond, what will become of you? Have you turned your backyard into a garden, so that in case there is food shortage you can at least get vegetables to live on? I have planted more plants than ever before..I thank God for the very unusual rainfall that has enabled me to plant everyday of this lockdown period.
“2Ch 18:31 So it was, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, "It is the king of Israel!" Therefore they surrounded him to attack; but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him, and God diverted them from him.”
Disarmament is key
King Jehoshaphat had made a wrong move by aligning with king Ahab who was out of the will of God. God determined to punish Ahab, and in spite of the warnings Jehoshaphat decided to join Ahab in his war against Ramoth Gilead. During the war the men of Ramoth Gilead mistaken king Jehoshaphat to be Ahab and attacked and almost killed him. Sensing danger, king Jehoshaphat quickly shouted for help and he was helped. Read the entire story in 2Chronicles 18 it is very interesting to read.
Be wise seek for quick and necessary help should the need arise. Don’t subscribe to myths and unsubstantiated theories. Myths kill people faster than anything else. I was not surprised that more casualties in terms of percentages were recorded among the African American communities in USA than others. The reason being the myths that were being propagated among the African American about the coronavirus initially. This is novel virus meaning, very little is known about it, there is not much data to support some of the assertions being made. Even President Donald Trump almost fell for the myths of the Coronavirus. I was surprised to hear on social media that the virus could not attack blacks.
All manner of myths are being propagated about the virus. But the wise don’t fall for that. They seek help from the appropriate places and should they get caught up with the war, they quickly send signals to the appropriate quarters for help.
More importantly the wise don’t stigmatize those who get caught up in war, they rather turn to help them knowing that anyone can be exposed and attacked especially with this invisible enemy. Become a WISE today. Stay safe, let’s stop the spread. God bless you.
If you are blessed by this message and you want to start a new relationship with Jesus, then pray this prayer right now! Say: “Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins, I believe you died on the cross, was buried and rose again on the third day, that you paid the debt for my sins and brought peace between me and God. I invite you into my life today; I confess you are my Lord and Saviour. Today I am born again. Thank you for the gift of eternal life in Jesus name. Amen.”
Congratulations, you just got born again if you just prayed the prayer above. Let us hear from you.
Pastor George Mbuthia ...±254714884444.
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