By Michael Hernandez
OXNARD—“How should we as believers respond to this crisis?” said New Life Pastor Steve Abraham during Sunday live stream services in which his text was Psalm 46:1-11:In the midst of crisis rely on God’s protection
“Psalm 18:2 tells us that ‘the Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer.’ In Psalm 46:1-2 we read that ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear.’
“Trouble is a tight place…a difficult circumstance,” said Pastor Abraham. God is in the midst of our trouble. Therefore we will not fear. I want to remind you that God is in control. Don’t be afraid.
“Maybe you are hearing your own voice about losing a job or about someone in my family getting the coronavirus. But the Lord is saying, ‘rely on my protection—don’t be afraid. I am in control.’
“Psalm 23:4 states ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me.’
“Shadows are always bigger than they appear but shadows can’t hurt you. When I see a shadow there is light present. Jesus Christ is the light of the world.”
- We can rest in God’s presence
“The nations around the world are in an uproar but the Lord Almighty is with us. He is with us today in the midst of our adversity and suffering. The promises He speaks to us and rooted in His character. They are the same yesterday, today and forever.
“We can rest and abide in Him. Psalm 118:6 tells us: ‘The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.’ Rest in the presence of God.”
- Remember God’s power
“Psalm 46:9 says: ‘He makes wars cease to the end of the earth. He makes viruses cease. God is in control. God is powerful. God spoke the universe into existence. He parted the Red Sea. He healed the blind. He raised up lepers. He raised the dead. Nothing is too big for Him. Nothing is too powerful for Him. The power of God can work through our life. ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ (Phil 4:13).
“We are told to ‘be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.’ (Ephesians 6:10) and in Psalm 46:10: ‘Be still, and know that I am God.”
(Editor’s Note: New Life Community Church featured five online services on Sunday at 9 and 10:45 a.m. and at 12:30, 4 and 6 p.m. More than 645 watched the first service.)
In his welcoming remarks, Pastor Steve Abraham said: “God has gotten us through challenging years before—through a market crash in October, 1987; through Y2K; 9-11 in 2001; and the Ebola crisis in 2004. We will get to the other side. I will continue to preach the Word of God. This Book has the answers.”
Michael Hernandez, Co-Founder of the Citizens Journal—Ventura County’s online news service; editor of the History Makers Report and founder of History Makers International—a community nonprofit serving youth and families in Ventura County, is a former Southern California daily newspaper journalist and religion and news editor. He worked 25 years as a middle school teacher in Monrovia and Los Angeles Unified School Districts. Mr. Hernandez can be contacted by email at [email protected].
Get CitizensJournal.us Headlines free SUBSCRIPTION. Keep us publishing.
