A Corona Virus Great Awakening?

[byHismercy]

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

What a wonderful testimony - thanks so much for posting!

So check this out - I have been asking the Lord to speak to me more loudly and clearly and that I could hear His speaking better. Then last night I had a dream in which a brother told me, "Keep your eyes on Jesus!" I woke up with that firmly in my head and thanked the Lord for His speaking. Then when listening to this video, the brother exhorted us to, "Keep your eyes upon Him - turn your eyes upon Jesus!"

Sweet. Thanks so much for sharing this, StG. I feel like I am in the Lords' chain mail to you. And, this word really resonates with me. (To keep our eyes trained on the Lord). I see and hear so many crazy conspiracy theories, so much wickedness flies about us, it is hard to discern what is real and what is nonsense......but my feeling is to not be concerned with it all, but be steadfast in looking away unto Him. My poor mother in law actually believes the virus was engineered in a lab for the purpose of murdering older people. That there are people in Congress who hate them and want them gone. It is all so mental. She needs Jesus! But rejects Him. May the Lord turn her heart.

I love Him, don't you? He is so good to answer prayer....I had a similar experience 2,3 years ago when I had been praying something similar....that He would speak to me in a way I would know for sure...I really wanted to be clear. I had prayed for that a few times when one day, the dog came in with poop stuck in his fur(a thick coated poodle) and I have all my little ones running around, and I couldn't find a tool that would help us, scissors and trimmers were too dull.....I was just filled with rising panic at the fear of my kids getting sick from contact....I was calling Him, Lord Jesus! and before His whole name was out of my mouth, He told me, 'Don't be afraid! I am not afraid.' It is so hard to explain how He conveyed this, it was as if it was written across my mind and I could see it. The amazing thing was the fear and panicky feeling simply evaporated. Immediately. He commanded it, then it just was given to me. What is neat is, in an academic setting or even in a personal setting, I really can only take and retain information when I read it. I can't simply hear it, I have to read it. So His response to me was so very personal....so what I needed. He is just awesome, brother!

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by byHismercy

And, this word really resonates with me. (To keep our eyes trained on the Lord). I see and hear so many crazy conspiracy theories, so much wickedness flies about us, it is hard to discern what is real and what is nonsense......but my feeling is to not be concerned with it all, but be steadfast in looking away unto Him. My poor mother in law actually believes the virus was engineered in a lab for the purpose of murdering older people. That there are people in Congress who hate them and want them gone. It is all so mental. She needs Jesus! But rejects Him. May the Lord turn her heart.

I love Him, don't you? He is so good to answer prayer....I had a similar experience 2,3 years ago when I had been praying something similar....that He would speak to me in a way I would know for sure...I really wanted to be clear. I had prayed for that a few times when one day, the dog came in with poop stuck in his fur(a thick coated poodle) and I have all my little ones running around, and I couldn't find a tool that would help us, scissors and trimmers were too dull.....I was just filled with rising panic at the fear of my kids getting sick from contact....I was calling Him, Lord Jesus! and before His whole name was out of my mouth, He told me, 'Don't be afraid! I am not afraid.' It is so hard to explain how He conveyed this, it was as if it was written across my mind and I could see it. The amazing thing was the fear and panicky feeling simply evaporated. Immediately. He commanded it, then it just was given to me. What is neat is, in an academic setting or even in a personal setting, I really can only take and retain information when I read it. I can't simply hear it, I have to read it. So His response to me was so very personal....so what I needed. He is just awesome, brother!

Great testimony here, including the need for visual info (better write it down or I'll forget), the dog disaster (won't get into my own story,) and the conspiracies (I hear them too, and some I believe.) The difficulty which thoughtful folks face these days is knowing that we are not being told the truth, at least not the whole truth and nothing but the truth. That seems to be true about everything. So what do we do with all of our unanswered questions? Inquiring minds need to know.

After identifying with your plight, I was reminded of this verse.

... I was inflicted with a thorn in my body, a messenger of the Devil, tormenting me ... 2 Cor 12.7

Here Paul sought the Lord urgently. He was inflicted much the same as we are now. What to do? Why and what is happening? I'm sure the beloved physician Luke did his best to help, trying all known cures, and then some more. Today, like a thorn, a spirit of fear is tormenting all mankind.

Then the Lord made it clear that He was in control. He said, "My grace." The thorn then, served a purpose, God's purpose. The source of it all was the Devil, but God's people were not abandoned by God. He was in control. There is a reason He allowed the catastrophe. His abundant grace is promised to us. We can trust Him. The King of kings is on the throne. And He loves us, always has. Be at peace, no need to fear.

[Sons to Glory!]

Have listened to part 1 of Piper's free audio book (linked below) and it is really good and germane for the present hour. A great and famous paraphrased quote (heard very end of part 1 at about the 1 hour mark): "I am immortal until Christ's work through me is done!" This conveys the absolute sovereignty of God.

[byHismercy]

Originally Posted by Ohio

Great testimony here, including the need for visual info (better write it down or I'll forget), the dog disaster (won't get into my own story,) and the conspiracies (I hear them too, and some I believe.) The difficulty which thoughtful folks face these days is knowing that we are not being told the truth, at least not the whole truth and nothing but the truth. That seems to be true about everything. So what do we do with all of our unanswered questions? Inquiring minds need to know.

After identifying with your plight, I was reminded of this verse.
Here Paul sought the Lord urgently. He was inflicted much the same as we are now. What to do? Why and what is happening? I'm sure the beloved physician Luke did his best to help, trying all known cures, and then some more. Today, like a thorn, a spirit of fear is tormenting all mankind.

Then the Lord made it clear that He was in control. He said, "My grace." The thorn then, served a purpose, God's purpose. The source of it all was the Devil, but God's people were not abandoned by God. He was in control. There is a reason He allowed the catastrophe. His abundant grace is promised to us. We can trust Him. The King of kings is on the throne. And He loves us, always has. Be at peace, no need to fear.

Yes, Ohio. Jesus displayed His authority over the spiritual world when He cast the legion out of the crazed man, and allowed them into the swine herd. He displayed His authority over the physical world when He commanded the storm to still, crossing the sea.

Seen world? Check.
Unseen world? Check. Jesus has it All under His authority.

[Sons to Glory!]

WOW - has anyone else completed their listening to Piper's free online audio book about the coronavirus? I have just now finished it and it is timely, impactful and anointed! The Word is sharp and dividing in this message for both believer and unbeliever!

Coronavirus & Christ audio book

(FYI: About 2 hours long, but sounds real good when playback speed is increased to 1.25)

[Redeemed]

Almost there. To me there is nothing more rock bottom solid and comforting than knowing that God is sovereign in all things. It strengthens me from the inside out!
I liked Piper's words about sorrowful yet always rejoicing, and (my interpretation) how the bitterness of God's dealings are enveloped in such love and tender mercy that they it can't be understood until you go there with Him.

No wonder Job talked about things too wonderful to understand as he repented in dust and ashes.

Awe-some

[Nell]

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

WOW - has anyone else completed their listening to Piper's free online audio book about the coronavirus? I have just now finished it and it is timely, impactful and anointed![/SIZE] [SIZE="3"]The Word is sharp and dividing in this message for both believer and unbeliever!

Coronavirus & Christ audio book

(FYI: About 2 hours long, but sounds real good when playback speed is increased to 1.25)

Yes. I also bought the book. Post #46.

[Sons to Glory!]

Various links have been posted for the audio & print of Piper's "Coronavirus & Christ book (free) . . . here's one link for the all versions: Desiring God website

[OBW]

BTW, presuming that Covid-19 might be orchestrated by God as a so-called "Great Awakening" seems problematic to me. The one true God sends a plague that attacks primarily the weakest and the elderly rather than the strong, and expects anyone other than a few tea-leaf readers to recognize it as coming from the God of the universe? The examples in the Bible were a direct hit on the people he wanted to reach, not to others, including the entire world that mostly does not recognize him as God.

If there is a wake-up call for the church, then why was the message sent a few doors down the street? I think this is more like continued proof of the fall. There is evil in the world and it periodically acts through other than evil men or the weather. Should we "return to God?" For any of his people that have strayed, then the answer is always "yes."

But this presumption of detailed sovereignty does not square with any teaching or example I can find in scripture. Could he do it? Surely. But did he? It appears out of character relative to the revelation of God I see.