Finding Faith and Purpose Amidst Crisis

As you gather in your home, as I'm in mine, because now Dallas County where I live is under a state home Edict. So, we need to be in our homes. But you know, it's also an opportunity. It's an opportunity to take this space and time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and reevaluate: reevaluate what matters most, reevaluate the importance of family, reevaluate life. [00:01:06]

Now, the great danger is that we will turn legitimate concern into illegitimate fear. You know, we got enough virus to worry about, Corona, then to turn fear into another kind of a virus. In fact, it may be more people who are being affected by the virus of fear than by the virus of Corona. Because of the uncertainty involved. [00:02:09]

And yet, the Bible makes it clear that we are not to be controlled by fear. Yes, we ought to be responsibly concerned, but don't let fear own your emotions or own your decisions or own your choices. No, God is too big for that, our heavenly father is too awesome for that and it doesn't do you any good to live in fear. [00:02:39]

You know, second Corinthians chapter 10, the first five verses, says that you and I ought to take every thought captive to obedience to Christ. We're being bombarded by the news, right? And they are affecting our thinking. You know, we look at the stats, we look at the spread, we look at the difficulties people are facing, we look at the warnings, we look at the edicts, we look at the confusion, we look at the uncertainty. [00:03:05]

Oh, but second Corinthians 10 says to take every thought captive to Christ. So instead of spending all of your time listening to what the news media has to say, let's spend a lot more time listening to what God has to say so that He affects our emotions more than the news media. [00:03:44]

After all, God is not operating with question marks. He's not operating with uncertainty, He's not operating in confusion, that's what people are doing. He operates and confidence and certainty and stability. [00:04:05]

You've never need God, your family has never needed God, the Church of Jesus Christ has never needed God, and the culture has never needed God any more than we need Him right now. And by the way, that's the point. God is saying, "You really do need Me, don't you?" So let's not ignore Him who speaks because He is screaming right now. [00:04:21]

I'm at my table, why don't you go to your table, gather with your loved ones who are near and dear to you and sit around and talk about the things that really matter. Because all of a sudden, a lot of things that we thought mattered, really doesn't matter that much anymore, does it? [00:04:47]

If you've got a roof over your head and clothes on your back and food in your stomach, this is a time for thanksgiving, to think on the things you are grateful for, to thank God that you are okay, and to pray for those who are not okay and those were working with those who are not okay. [00:05:05]

Our Church in Dallas, we're reaching out to the elderly, we're reaching out to the sick, we're reaching out to the needs of the community as we're able. Everybody can do something in a responsible way to say, "You know, God matters, people matter." Everything else should support those two. [00:05:43]

So I'm going back to my table, you go back to your table and let's all let God know that he is the centerpiece on the table as we trade our fears for trust in a God who loves us even when we're going through a trial. God bless you. [00:06:09]