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  1. We still have to pray for the government as scripture exhorts. We have no meetings at all in our church now. The prayer for Britain group is going on Whatsap for tomorrow however that will work. It is encouraging that people are getting better as all the news seems to be bad news. I am a healthy pensioner who loves to get out swim and play tennis. I cannot see why I should vegetate in isolation. I share the gospel every week on the street with a small team. I am careful about touching things and wash hands etc. I don’t see why I should be shut up.

  2. Another good, informative article and one of the few truthful articles that anyone can get. I have devised a good test for when we are being told either lies or less than the truth or manipulated facts; the media goes into hysteria mode. This is what we are in at the moment. The way the media and government and all the usual establishment suspects are hyping the corona virus into hysteria, is the biggest give away that there is something going on here.
    It now looks as of the government is using the crisis to impose something like a form of martial law, so it is possible that we will have some kind of suspension of freedoms and this has serious implications for the Christian faith which needs freedom of speech to spread openly. It can still spread if it is driven underground, but it is much more costly and harsh for its followers when that happens.
    Thank you CV for some really good advice on surviving the corona virus, which is exactly what we should be paying attention to as well as crying out to God. Dare I say it, but has anyone thought of asking God to miraculously heal?
    I have also copied the prayer from the Book of Common Prayer by T Cranmer, for a time of sickness crisis, such as plague., which I got from an Anglican clergy trainee. It is set in its own era but personally I love it
    Before I forget, watch Keiser Report on RT news for data on the coming (or already here) financial crisis. The next contagion is the financial contagion.
    Finally, what the nazis in World War two did not manage to achieve, the leadership of the establishment churches have managed to do; close churches for divine worship on a Sunday. The UK church, apart from those courageous church leaders who have refused to be misled by the media, has voluntarily no platformed itself. I realise that they have kept churches open for private prayer, reflection etc but that is not an actual church service, which is what the church and its leaders are paid to do. Also, it is one of the few times when believers can get some kind of interaction with other believers. The church should be leading the way, not going into some kind of world inspired lockdown. The long term damage to this is yet to be seen but there are a lot of people both in and outside the church who will be wondering why a church that believes in the power of the Holy Spirit and divine healing, including preventative divine protection, has failed the test of continuing to meet and rely on God. Unless a person is in one of the high risk groups, Christians should have the option of engaging in worship. That has now been denied. Trust in God not the media, and not the government.
    And one last thing, it all went wrong when the church abandoned Genesis creation over six days. Until and unless, the British church , particularly its leaders, repents and recants of pagan evolution, it will continue its decline, it will not recover and God’s hand is still upraised against it. The way out is to repent of the sin of fictitious, pagan evolution and any of the associated billions of years heresy, and return to God, and His Word, beginning at Genesis creation. That is the only way back. and that is why I go regularly into my nearest town centre to preach Genesis creation and Jesus’ salvation.
    This is what Sunday services should be doing.
    Common Book of Prayer
    In the time of any common Plague or Sickness.
    O almighty God, who in thy wrath didst send a plague upon thine own people in the wilderness, for their obstinate rebellion against Moses and Aaron; and also, in the time of king David, didst slay with the plague of pestilence threescore and ten thousand, and yet remembering thy mercy didst save the rest: Have pity upon us miserable sinners, who now are visited with great sickness and mortality; that like as thou didst then accept of an atonement, and didst command the destroying Angel to cease from punishing, so it may now please thee to withdraw from us this plague and grievous sickness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

    1. Denning,
      Like your observations – right on the button. As far as this battle on High in the Spiritual realm goes, they used to say in Northern Ireland: “No Surrender!”
      Let us all stand firm.

  3. The only thing a “Christian voice” should be saying to the public is what the apostle Paul said at the Areopagus at Athens, modernised (e.g. one would have to explain what an idol is). To be wise about anything, and to have hope for the future in this world or the next, we must trust and obey Jesus Christ. I don’t know much about COVID19 and I don’t think anyone else does, contrary to claims, except the Lord God Himself.

  4. It seems whatever the government does is wrong! When they appeared to be more relaxed than other countries they were critisised and now they have increased restrictions, they are also criticised.
    It will always happen to people in leadership but I do not think that Christians should be doing the criticising. As someone else has said, our call is to pray for them.

    In my view, the government is doing its best to be as balanced as possible, with the aim of saving as many lives as they can and of keeping the NHS from being overwhelmed. As for the schools, we are told they closed because too many teachers are off sick and they cannot manage a fair system across the country any more.

    We also can be assured that God is completely in control and,is sending a wake up call. In America they have already had a National day of Prayer. Here we have yet to haer anyone in the public arena pointing us toward God. I would suggest He is telling us that this world cannot be run without the Creator and we have been utterly foolish to try.
    I sense it needs to get worse before this will happen. Haven’t we been praying for Him to come to our land? Should we be surprised if there is judgement?
    I do not think the true church will be damaged as one reader has suggested. Rather it could be that she will begin to purify her garments and prepare for His soon coming!

    He has promised to shake all kingdoms, so that the unshakeable one will be revealed.

    “……therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe….” Hebrews 12:27

    1. Hi, thanks for that, and we should have a national day of prayer, and as many have already suggested, there is a form of words in the Prayer Book which can kick us off.
      Part of being a Christian prophetic voice is absolutely to criticise rulers at the same time as praying for them. After all, if we do not recognise what they are doing wrong, how can we target our prayer?
      I disagree they are being balanced. It is all about protecting the NHS from a real or partly-imagined threat of being overwhelmed. All else is being ignored, even the fact that throwing people out of work has negative health outcomes. So the medicine, shutting down whole sectors of the economy, is I suggest worse than the disease.
      For instance, why should young people, the least at-risk part of the population, stay indoors? If they do not have a pre-existing medical condition and are not in contact with anyone else who has, let them congregate and build up immunity.
      Our leaders need to be rational and they need common sense, and both of those start not with fear of a virus but with the fear of God, that you will agree.

      1. yes I absolutely agree

        1. Which is why that even though I work in a GP practice I will not wear a mask or gloves but wash my hands regularly but not just because of coronavirus I hasten to add. I am there to be calm not make patients panic!! I am willing to submit to authority in obeying the instructions of the practice

        2. So do I!

  5. I don’t think churches are sending the right message to a sinful and dying world when they close their doors in times of crisis. God willing and Manx Government permitting, services will be as normal at Grace Baptist Church, Market Street, Peel, Isle of Man IM5 1AD, Sunday 11 am and 6:30 pm. All reasonable precautions will be in place.

    1. I totally agree Glen.
      The Muslims are still meeting in their mosques and putting us to shame.
      https://youtu.be/0ZNUi9TY-_g

  6. Our morning service is going ahead at 11.30 on Sunday, with precautions. Instead of our evening service we will be having a prayer meeting at 7pm. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Church is in Newbuildings, Northern Ireland. Postcode is BT47 2QT. Thank you Stephen for another very balanced article.

    1. With a heavy heart we have had to cancel our Sunday Services. In light of new information that has been passed on to us from a Christian doctor, we had no option but to take this step those classed as vulnerable.

      1. *to protect those classed as vulnerable*

  7. Brother Stephen,
    Thanks for your call for courage and trust. Amen to that. Let us not be anxious or panic. We need to remember that Psalm 91 is messianic and only perfectly applicable to Jesus. It is not a blanket promise that believers won’t get Coronavirus. We are likely to be bitten by a snake if we tread on one. But of course our souls are safe and therefore we will trust and pray like our Saviour did.
    The present pestilence is quite different to historic plagues, in that we live in a far more interconnected world. We might be content to risk our own lives to worship publicly, but is it right to deliberately place others at risk?
    I am impressed by the way this government is trying to manage the crisis. God’s common grace yet again. Anyone who doesn’t think it is a crisis needs to look at what Italy is suffering, and that is nothing compared to the suffering that may befall Africans. With Christian love.

    1. Thanks, Pastor. I believe, as with many prophecies, it is not either/or but both/and when we look at Psalm 91. It was Satan, was it not, who applied it to the Lord Jesus? Or am I very much mistaken?

      1. Sorry, Stephen, but I fear you are much mistaken. Satan quoted Psalm 91:11 to tempt Jesus in the wilderness, BUT JESUS RESPONDS in Matthew 4:7 by quoting Deuteronomy 6:16 “It is written, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God'”!
        Your advice seems irresponsible by encouraging disobedience to Government, as we should not deliberately put ourselves (or others) in harm’s way by assuming God will protect us from our foolishness.
        Our fellowship at Middleton Chapel is ‘live streaming’, and I’ve sent you a copy of this morning’s arrangement & message which is excellent. I hope & pray you might have the humility to recognize your potential error, and correct it before it does harm for which perpetrators could be held to account, and we all will be accountable to our Lord Jesus Christ. In His precious Name, David.

        1. Thanks bro, so it was Satan who quoted Psalm 91. I thought so.
          And you are mistaken to think I am urging disobedience to government. So far as I am aware, they have issued advice and not passed a law. And some of the advice is palpably wrong. Pregnant women, for example, are not a high-risk group according to the figures, any more than any other young women. The Government should be encouraging young people to associate together to build up immunity.
          Nor am I advocating we put ourselves in harm’s way. Those in high-risk groups of respiratory challenge, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer or immune system compromise should absolutely stay away from others. The rest of us, maintain basic hygiene as we go about our business. But I believe we can definitely pray and confess Psalm 91 and Psalm 23 etc at the same time. Again, it’s not an ‘either/or’. And if you do not believe that, it’s not error, it’s just a difference of opinion.
          Let me explain it like this. We constantly pray for the farm and for ourselves and for all the livestock. And we lock up the chickens before we go to bed. Every time we have forgotten to do that, the Lord looks after the chickens and they are found safe and sound in the morning, by his grace. However, if I wake up in the middle of the night and remember I did not shut the chickens in, I don’t pray, ‘Oh Lord, will you look after the chickens tonight?’ I get up and go and go out into the cold dark night and shut their door. It’s what Dewi Sant said, ‘Do the little things’. And when we stay obedient and do the little things – I’m running four or five times a week, and taking extra vitamin C and Zinc to make sure my immune system is up to scratch – we can leave the big stuff to the Lord:
          Psalm 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Amen
          Every blessing to you and yours.

          1. Dear Stephen,

            I do believe Psalms 91 & 23 are not an either or, but God is sovereign; and His whole counsel puts it into complete context.
            Sadly you have ignored the main point of Jesus’ reply when tempted by the Devil who mis-applied the Scripture out of context, Jesus putting the whole counsel of God in His response, “You shall not tempt the Lord your God”!
            You may not agree with Government Scientific Advice, but I suspect you are at divergence with the majority Christian view. The Christian Institute have circulated an excellent message on this. You are not always right. Every blessing, David. NB A further thought, if the young people ignore advice to build up immunity by catching the virus left right & center, they will be contagious & passing it on to countless others who may be more vulnerable. An 18 year old has just died, all be it with other heath issues. We are not dealing with something simple & straight forward here.
            Ultimately, as we will agree, the Lord is in control; NOT US, and He will have His way. I have no doubt this is a form of judgement on our nation & the world for rejecting Jesus & perpetuating wickedness. Jesus said pestilences would be one of the signs as beginning of sorrows heralding His Second Coming. We can expect much worse, which is why we must repent & be saved.
            NB Please see my E mail on Putin & Russian Orthodox Church.

      2. Jesus said ‘These are the scriptures that speak about me’. And the only person that Psalm 91 could ever perfectly apply to is Jesus. Satan quoted those verses to tempt Our Lord not to trust His Father, and sinfully presume on protection from suffering.
        The challenge to us is to trust in God’s sovereign Providence, and not place our trust in our government, or our wonderful NHS. Warmest regards.

        1. Amen!

  8. Business as usual –
    Faithlife Centre
    5 Mary Street
    Manchester
    M3 1NH
    Phone: 0161 819 5693
    Sunday 10am and Wednesday 7.30pm

    1. Yes, of course I do agree that or government does not have the fear of the Lord and the wisdom that goes with it. but I still do believe they are trying and of course, people will have different views about what is right for us to do as a nation. I am very glad we do not have the complete shut down that some other countries are going through!
      In fact, even with tonight’s stricter measures, young people are not being asked to stay indoors but they are being asked to keep their distance.
      As it is an airbourne disease, this sounds wise, as does closing social gatherings of all sorts. The death toll is rising every day.

      Whatever our different views, we have the same desire, to see God reach people’s hearts in all that is going on.

  9. In view of this statement this afternoon by Health Secretary Matt Hancock how should we react on this new advice on social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic applies to churches.?

    It advised against gatherings with friends and family. Hancock was asked in the House of Commons if places of worship were part of the changes announced. He responded with “the heaviest of heart” that religious communities were included…we do include faith groups and gatherings of faiths within the advice.”

    In Holland, a certain Church has just had two deacons with coronavirus and four from the same congregation. Two in a hospital with oxygen. We do not know if this Church may or may have not taken appropriate precautions as there are Churches and Churches. It is a serious issue there.

    Another Dutch Church, very large in size and a good congregation had, we know, taken safety measures with only 100 people are allowed per service, so that meant you could only go once on Sunday. Last Monday their minister sent this meditation on the present Coronavirus situation on the prayer of Solomon to be used for our personal spiritual benefit. He always emphasizes the need for personal application in all situations.

    A word to the congregation in this time of need. (translated to English)

    Text: 1 Kings 8: 37-40. Solomon’s prayer. If there be in the land, famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust or if there be a caterpillar, if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities, whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be; What prayer and supplication so ever be made by any man or by all thy people Israel which shall know every man the plague of his own heart and spread forth his hands toward this house. 39. Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place and forgive and do and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest, (for thou even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men. v 40. That they may fear thee all the days that they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.

    If there be in the land, famine pestilence, etc….

    What prayer and supplications so ever be made by any man, …….which shall know every man the plague of his own heart and spread his hands toward this house.

    Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place and forgive and do and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest (for thou even thou only knowest the hearts of all the children of men).

    That they may fear thee all the days that they live in the land.

    Seven important lessons from the prayer of Solomon in the time of the coronavirus.

    What shall we do? In the text, it speaks of contagious sicknesses, some serious and some not so serious. In all situations, the Bible shows us the way of prayer. That means for us as well. Now that the coronavirus is in our land, let us pray with the realization that the Lord reigneth. That health and sickness are in Gods hand.

    Prayer and supplications. Solomon speaks of two sorts of prayers,- prayer and supplication. Prayer is what we all must do, for those sick from the virus and for the government, those in hospitals, etc also for other lands which have been badly affected by the virus.
    Supplications is really a prayer for mercy. This prayer we need. It is the Holy Spirit who teaches this prayer to sinners. A pouring out an earnest prayer for God’s mercy, forgiveness, saving and healing. With a deep realization with our head in dust and ashes that we do not in any way deserve His mercy but feeling, we cannot do without it.
    In the Church and home. In his thoughts, Solomon sees in this prayer that Israel will meet together in the temple in times of sickness. Therefore this is an incentive to meet together at the chapel/church so that we can together pray and supplication. Of course as far as the government allows us in the circumstances to meet.
    The Lord shows us in his laws that there are rules relating to contagious sicknesses. Lepers had to live apart. Therefore we must be responsible in the way we act in times of sicknesses and must listen to the plans of the government in this.
    Solomon speaks of personal prayer. With prayer and supplication. We are called also at home to bow our heads in prayer and supplication as we are unable to come to chapel. And of course continually each day of the week.
    Plague of his own heart. Solomon says that it is necessary that in times of sickness that each one of us knows the plague of his own heart. Here he means to say the depravity of our heart. Sin is a contagious sickness that is far more serious than the coronavirus. This sickness has reached all men and causes the threefold death. It is so necessary to know this plague of our heart. May the present circumstances be used and sanctified on our hearts that through discovering grace/or revealing grace are brought to see our sinnership.
    What is it necessary with the knowledge of the plague of our heart to spread out our hands (v38) to the Lord. This means to show to the Lord our empty hands, our lack, our impossibilities, To confess to Him, But then to wait upon Him, expecting all, all things from Him. To fly to Him in prayer as the great Medicine Master, who can wash, make clean and heal, young and old. Is there anything too hard for the Lord.

    Threefold cry for help. In v 39, Solomon prays for three things.

    Hear. The first thing that is asked if the Lord will hear in heaven, the Lord’s dwelling place.

    In the words, there is humbleness and reverence. Also, a confession that the Lord reigneth. Also in times of contagious sicknesses.

    Forgive. Then he asks for forgiveness, also in a time of sickness we need above all, that the Lord cleanses us from our sin. and that He will forgive our sins.

    Do. Lastly, he asks of the Lord will handle. We may ask the Lord to keep us, protect us, give us help, strength, and courage. At the same time, Solomon asks of the Lord will give to every man according to his ways, whose heart He knowest, for Thou only knowest the hearts of all the children of men (39). The Lord knows our ways. He knows our life. All that we have done, what we have said, what we have thought. What is that a self-reflecting accusation? The Lord knows our hearts. He knows if we ask for health, and preservation so that we can live further without repentance and without God. But He also knows, that if our sinful ways have become our shame, sorrow, and guilt and in our heart is the prayer. “Teach me to walk in Thy ways, and lead my heart to fear Thy Name.

    Our intention. We may pray to the Lord to save us from sickness or to heal us, but why do we ask, what is our intention. To carry on in our ways and not further to seek the Lord. O that we do not be eternally lost but the Lord gives us the words of Solomon for our prayer from our heart. V40. That we may fear thee all the days that they live in the land.
    7. The suffering Saviour. What is the ground for our prayers? Only on the ground from the work from Solomon’s greatest Son, The Lord Jesus Christ. Here is where Solomon’s prayers lead to. This is He which Isaiah says. Yet It pleased the Lord to bruise him, he hath put him to grief. Far deeper suffering than all the corona sufferers from all mankind, “the iniquity of us all hath the Lord laid upon Him” He hath willingly suffered. Out of love to His Father. And also out love to lost sinners. Therefore he stretches His hand out in 2020 to unclean lepers, who with the plague of their heart fall at His feet, and pleading His condescending mercy and almighty power. He says. “I will be clean”. May we with all our temporal and spiritual needs fall before Him in prayer.

  10. Psalm 91:5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that waiteth at noonday

    We should also remember that Jesus was tempted with 91:11,12, but he answered Satan saying, “do not put the Lord your God to the test.”

    Yes the government may be overreacting, but we mustn’t presume upon the Lord’s protection by ignoring reasonable precautions.

  11. My apologies – it seems we will not be open after all! So its communion, Psalm 91, Psalm 23 and Psalm 27 for me.
    (Faithlife Centre, Manchester)

  12. Services as usual at 12 nnon and 6:30pm at
    Tarbat Free Church of Scotland (Continuing)
    Portmahomack
    IV20 iYL
    Scotland.

    When people across the nation are in a state of panic and uncertainty, there’s a more desperate need than ever for the great certainties of the message of the Bible to be spelled out loud and clear.

    The right to attend public worship on the Lord’s Day is not legitimately in the hands of the civil government to withhold or forbid.

    1. Dear Brother,
      Thank-you for your comments, and may it please our Abba, Father to let His Mercy and Peace rest upon you. Pleased to read your services will be continuing; sadly, the FCC here in Aberdeen has suspended their services (I am not an attendee, have our own local work).

      What you say regarding the legitimacy of the Government to intermeddle with our ‘reasonable service’ to the Almighty is absolutely Scriptural. Oh, for a revival of the Covenantor spirit.

  13. YAHWEH SHAMMAH Fellowship:
    15 Cairnwell Drive
    ABERDEEN
    AB16 5ND
    Worship Service: Sundays, 3pm
    Prayer Service: Thursdays, 4:45pm
    We meet in our home. Fully ordered approach per 1 Co 14:40
    Form of service: Open worship; Remembrance of our Redeemer’s death; ministry of the WORD.
    Pentecostal persuasion; Identity position.
    No changes to our attitude or practices. We continue as before YAHUAH as ever, in Spirit and in Truth.

  14. Where is the voice of the church at this time ?
    We shouldn’t be running around in fear like the rest of the world , voluntarily closing our doors and shutting down meetings while the world is dying around us and searching for answers. We should be standing out right now,being a light to the world with a loud voice crying out in the wilderness.
    Either Jesus is lord or he is not.
    This message from Andrea is spot on.
    https://youtu.be/LLcICHuN-G4

  15. It seems a lot is a bit unclear. Can I go and see church members and other Christians who are over 70 and/or in a vulnerable risk group. I think the message is that it is time to stop relying on church and maybe meet round each others houses. I think there is worse to come but I don’t know what and I think God may be preparing us. We trust that God works all things together for the good of those who love him. Let’s hope that once this is over people don’t go back to their selfish ways. Would appreciate your prayers. I work in a GP surgery and it is hell on earth. Phone never stops ringing every day for the whole 5 and a bit hours of my shift. In our prayers we need to pray for repentance.

  16. It’s worth reading Amos as I think a lot of what happened then applies to now. In particular Ch 7 v 1-6 which I think is a great encouragement for us to be “perstent widows” in prayer

  17. Gateway Community Church, 42 London Road, Kettering, Northamptonshire, NN15 7QA
    Sundays at 10.30am

  18. Brother Stephen,
    HalleluYAH! Thank-you for keeping your watch. This is an excellent article and I have to declare on this issue: I am 100% with you.
    As a ministry, our text is: “To the Law and to the Testimony: If they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20
    In other words, if we do not speak according to the WORD of Truth alone, then, WE HAVE NO LIGHT IN US! To put it another way, if our counsel is not according to the WORD, we are speaking darkness.
    I understand there are many who are lacking trust and complete assurance in their Master, however, on the matter of trusting to YAHUAH and His WORD, it is not the Scriptural counsel to ‘take precautions’ – just where is that in the Scriptures?
    It may be the counsel of man; it may be the wisdom of Government etc, but it is not the Almighty’s.
    I was pleased, furthermore, to note your referencing of Psalm 91 as I will be preaching upon this Psalm tomorrow (22/03/20) – along with other texts.
    If we believe that we are acting according to the Father’s Will week-to-week, we should have no need to change our behaviour in the slightest…unless of course we believe that our normal everyday practice is not ‘up to scratch’!?!
    Today (21/03/20), in our family reading plan, the mid-day reading is from Jeremiah 30 – I suggest it might profit believers to read, digest and apply the message.
    However, that we be not too hard on those who are not so strong in trust and believing, there is a Scriptural warrant for not attending public services. This is to be found in Judges 7:3 –
    “…whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from Mount Gilead…”
    If certain believers are of fearful (or doubtful) mind, let them stay away from the public gatherings, but let them not tell all others that they should not be gathering together. In light of this allowance, we should not forget the declaration of Truth in 1 John 4:18 –
    “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
    There are other Scriptures which should bolster us to keep YAHUAH’s WORD:
    “Remember Shabbat, to keep it set-apart…the Shabbat of YAHUAH your Elohim…wherefore YAHUAH favoured Shabbat and set it apart.” Exodus 20:8-11 [We have no right not to keep our services going]
    “…until Shiloh come; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be.” Genesis 49:10 [We are to actually gather physically in service of our Saviour YAHUsha]
    “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…” Hebrews 10:25 [Skype doesn’t ‘cut the mustard’ with the Almighty; nor ‘video-conferencing’]
    The almighty has sent this evil into our midst (See Jeremiah 30:15/Isaiah 45:7) to test His children – those who profess to know, believe and trust the Saviour YAHUsha. In the largest part we have failed the test. This is also being used as a line of demarcation in the midst of believers – some will ‘cave-in’ to fear and the counsel of man; others will stand firm, enduring to the end. This is not the first time that such has been used of the Almighty to sift His people. In the past there were those who handed over their copies of the Scriptures for the burning that they might preserve their miserable beings; others were willing to refuse and suffer loss because,
    “…they loved not their lives unto death.” Revelation 12:11
    “Ye have not yet resisted unto blood…” Hebrews 12:4
    We, the believing body, have brought disdain on the Name of our Eternal Creator-Redeemer, we have brought shame and dishonour upon His WORD, for we have said that we believe; we have said that we trust the Almighty; we have declared we trust and believe His WORD. However, in this matter we have disproved our profession…and the world knows it for we have not put our confidence, our hope, our trust and belief in YAHUAH – we have cancelled services/meetings; we have closed our churches; we have devised our own ways instead of simply trusting to YAHUAH and His WORD through honest obedience.
    As though it were not bad enough, our harvest for this denial (possible betrayal) is that the lost will be the more unbelieving in days to come. Oh! How are we to reach the lost?
    “For they (we) have sown the wind, and they (we) shall reap the whirlwind…” Hosea 8:7
    The believing body needs to repent before our Elohim – before we seek the world to repent of its sin. As the spokesmen of the Most High El Elyon in olden times did for the nation, so we must do – we need to repent on behalf of fellow-believers who have sinned so grievously against the Spirit of Elohim and seek our restoration.
    We need to plead:
    “…O YAH, revive Thy Work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known, IN WRATH REMEMBER MERCY.” Habakkuk 3:2
    “…for it is time to seek YAHUAH…” Hosea 10:12

  19. John Lewis to close its shops. Is this the first of many? But most sadly were they the shop that introduced transgender clothes for the young? Is their a voice in this. Open transgression and one of several. Solomon times indeed.

  20. A Baptist Minister replied to a friend on his decision to close Sunday services……..

    We have had to do likewise, so no services here either, I’m afraid. It is not an easy decision, but I’m sure it’s the right one.

    The following thoughts are quite helpful…

    The response of all Reformed Evangelical Churches (to my knowledge) to the current Coronavirus pandemic, has been to suspend all public gatherings until further notice. Where possible internet services or recorded sermons are being made available.

    The Scriptural reasoning behind this is as follows.

    1) Our God commands us to love our neighbour. Therefore we will do all that we can to preserve life.

    2) While we trust completely the Lord our God, we must not “tempt him” by ignoring the situation, or carrying on as usual, and potentially spreading the disease.

    3) As much as we can, we are required to be blameless and above reproach, in the eyes of unbelievers. We would not be so if we carried on holding services and were seen to be spreading the disease.

    4) We are to submit ourselves to the government of the land, who have requested, not as a matter of persecution, but across all sectors of business (pubs, restaurants, churches etc.) that public gatherings should be avoided.

    While the decision to suspend services may seem radical to some, the following points have been made.

    1) We do not want the government to pass emergency legislation that gives them the power to prevent public worship. This could be potentially abused at some point in the future.

    2) We all agree that we should not forsake the gathering of ourselves together with God’s people. These present circumstances, however, are not issues of a coldness of heart, or a forsaking the assembly for fear of persecution. It should be viewed no differently to when one member is absent due to illness, or away from us on holiday.

    3) There is a precedent for such action in Church history, when, during an outbreak of the Spanish Flu, our forefathers suspended all public Church services for several months, to help prevent the spread of the disease.

    I trust these thoughts are helpful. Feel free to pass them on.

  21. Saw this a little late but we were open at New Hope Christian Centre in Norwich and had good support. Still waiting to see what will happen for next Sunday as it feels a little early to make a decision on Monday for Sunday. Real prayer for repentance in our nation took place.

    1. Nice to hear. However, we now have to obey those ordained over us as per our PM message tonight. Who can tell if the ministry via the internet will be a means used to point mankind to an Almighty God and a saving gospel?

  22. Firstly, the Hitchin Library drag queen event, fixed for Saturday, was cancelled at the last minute. I and a few others attended to witness to people. It is a shame that it took an infectious disease to stop Herts council from putting in such an event. Shame on all councillors who approved or did not oppose this event. Remember, this event was to be in front of children, what a state our nation is in when the most vulnerable ones are treated so badly. Do not criticise us for turning up there; criticise those who allowed taxpayers money to be used in this way.

    I want to return to the contagion theme because there are so many things that are not being made known.
    1.The mainstream media coverage is hysteria. Please be very careful when the media goes into hysteria mode. We have seen this before and it is the preferred option of misleading and brainwashing of our appallingly corrupt mainstream media. When the media goes hysterical, that is the Holy Spirit’s sign that something is wrong. Do not be deceived.
    2.The reporting is crazily negative and despairing. Be really careful not to take this at face value. The depression that is going to engulf people is tragic and it is very, very wrong. They are continuously reporting more deaths here, more deaths there, the first ones in Wales, Scotland etc. Should we not be asking what about the recovery rate and being thankful for those recovering?
    Here are some other figures for diseases in the UK; Between 2015-17 there were 450 deaths from cancers per day; 2015 from sepsis – 101 per day; reported road accident deaths 2018 – 4.84 per day.
    There is no objectivity in the media reporting, it is either opinion, or assumptions. Notice how, as usual, no one with an alternative view point is ever allowed on, which is another reason why churches should not shut and voluntarily no platform themselves. People need an alternative God inspired viewpoint and God inspired hope.
    3.The hysteria is based on assumptions. It is assumed that the death toll will be high (how high? – they will not say). It is assumed that putting the whole population in lock down, a kind of prison, will stop it. It is assumed that stopping a consumer economy will be workable. It is assumed that after this has gone, the economy will somehow bounce back (that is the big lie, what lies ahead could be worse than what we are going through now, barring a miracle from God, which God would do, if enough people turn to Him). It is assumed that a vaccine will take a year to come through.
    5.The media is a business and is desperate to make money. It does this by mass hysteria’s and making it seem so powerful. If you allow the media to have power over you, you are in a bad way. Only God must have our worship, not the media.
    6.Media is used to topple governments and societies. Whoever can finance the media can do a lot to control a country.

    We need a good media but that is not what we have right now. It is very difficult to know what to believe because of the track record of UK mainstream media. We do however know who to believe and that is God, His Son Jesus Christ and we have the inerrant Word. We also have the Holy Spirit which is often referred to at our guide to truth and guardian against what is false.
    As an example of how corrupt the UK media is, I give my favourite example; pagan, fictitious evolution and associated billions of years. Look at the way this is brainwashed into us. It is built on assumptions; radiometric dating (built on assumptions); magic mutations (none are positive, none could change a fin into a limb); No missing link fossils; Fossils that are a snapshot in time, therefore cannot tell you anything more than that; no one has ever witnessed an ape evolve into a human, and there are many, many more. The media refuses point blank to allow any alternative view. This is because this would destroy in one breathe the folly of pagan evolution. Don’t forget, schools are no longer allowed to teach creation on a factual basis. The conservatives banned it, in 2014. I did not notice many Christians protest, now we have drag queen story hour, and RSE. Once you destroy the foundation of creation, you destroy salvation and christianity itself.

    I still believe that the decision by churches to close on Sundays was a tragic error. I note that some say that we must obey the government. Yes but the government did not actually order churches to shut, it just put pressure on them. The churches could have simply made it optional. If you don’t want to risk it, then stay away. The argument that attending is selfish, is a flawed response because you assume that the infection will be passed on and you assume it is unstoppable and you assume that God will not intervene to prevent or save. Paul wrote, ‘For me to live is Christ, to die is gain’. It is always a personal decision but there are some of us who would take that text as it is. I have spoken to elderly people and they agreed with me. We have become sadly so in love with the material world that we have lost the vibrancy that makes the Christian faith powerful.
    I appreciate that church leaders have a hard decision to make, especially in the hysterical climate we are now subjected to. I still say that the church has again voluntarily no platformed itself and it should have shown more courage, weathered the criticism from the anti types and harvested the respect from the silent majority.

    We have a virus contagion, but we also have the economic contagion. The UK is not well positioned to withstand this because our economy is loaded with toxic debt, it is a pyramid/ponzi scheme. (Look up Mitch Fierstein on this) We are a consumer society, so when you shut down consumerism, you shut a lot of our economy down.
    I do a prayer walk most weeks. Now we are forced to ‘isolate’ (God made us to relate, not isolate), take a prayer walk (as long as that has not been banned although it would not surprise me if we lose even the freedom to walk around) and cry out to God to save us because we need this and God has saved this nation before.

    1. I admire your stand against the intended drag Queen saga at the Hitchin Library. Many very bad things have been halted and good places have also come under the same close umbrella.

      Having family in Holland, the latest is that groups are not allowed to meet together with the exception of churches. (With the exception of churches with limitations) They may meet with a maximum of 30 people as long as there is a distance of 1 1/2 metres between persons, bearing in mind there are very large churches some holding 2500 people.

      During the great disastrous 1918 Spanish flu epidemic, Holland, as we understand, did not then close their churches and this epidemic spread like wildfire.

      The recent (av) text by a very tried Minister who then closed his church was Isaiah 26 v 20 and 21 “Come my people, enter into thy chambers, And shut thy doors about thee, Hide thyself……until the indignation be overpast etc”

      It is the Lord’s indignation. The point being will it be seen as such by our rulers?

      This same youngish Minister with a medical condition has just received an NHS letter (like many others no doubt) to say he must stay put for 3 months.

  23. I think the government under reacted. They should have locked down 3 weeks earlier and developed countermeasures as soon as the Chinese gave them the genetic code and when it was apparent what was going on in their country.

    Science’s aim is to establish the truth via observation and it is this truth we need to survive. I warned those around me as soon as the danger presented itself. The government were still advising people it was OK to mix.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63ZXZVc5YJ0

    The Stereophonics played in Cardiff and I noticed Cardiff was the second most infected place in Wales. Everyone now is responsible for other people’s lives as well as their own.

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