Pandemic Praying
This is what I shared at the Bible study last Thursday on how to pray during these trying times. Following the Bible study are suggestions for the focus of our praying from the Family Research Council. I trust these materials will be helpful. God bless!
SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLES FOR PERILOUS TIMES - PANDEMIC PRAYING SEASON OF PRAYER BIBLE STUDY PERRYVILLE / CROSSROADS UNITED METHODIST CHURCHES, MO MAY 7, 2020
INTRO. When the coronavirus became classified by health officials as a pandemic, it became clear that this was not your “typical flu virus.” My first reaction as a preacher to these current events is to find out what the Bible says about such things as a pandemic. The Bible has a lot to say on the subject of praying our way through a crisis. The passage I want to look at is found in Luke, chapter 18. The Lord is speaking a parable to his followers in Luke 18:1-8. The purpose in the mind of God for sharing this parable is clearly stated in the first verse. The implication being that in times of trouble we need to pray and not give up or get distracted! “Pandemic praying” is praying that the Lord will deliver us from the danger of the pandemic, and keep on praying no matter how bad it gets. READ LUKE 18:2-5. How does this timeless truth apply to our present situation? The story is about a widow that is threatened by circumstances that are out of her control. She is trying to get some help from a city judge. Apparently, the only one she knows that has resources to help is this stingy old guy that doesn’t care about anybody but himself. The only thing the judge would respond to would be something that interfered with his comfort. He doesn’t care about this woman or her problems, but he does care about his peace and quiet! So, for his own sake, not hers, he gets up and avenges this woman against her attacker, basically, because he wants to get some sleep! Then in verse 6 and 7, Jesus puts the response of the unjust judge beside the way our gracious God feels about our prayers so we can compare. READ LUKE 18:6-7. Jesus says in verse 7, “And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?” In other words, our prayers don’t inconvenience a reluctant God! In Revelation 5:8, our prayers are described as golden vials full of odors that are handled by the 24 elders that stand around the throne of God! “The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.” God lovingly, patiently, and purposely listens to our prayers and responds in a way that is best for us! Our President and the Department of Health and Human Services are putting out a lot of valuable information so that citizens of the United States can help stop the spread of this virus. I think that is great and I appreciate it, but it is my belief that it is my responsibility as a pastor to give you Biblical information to help you maintain your spiritual health while we work our way through these perilous times. I am going to do that by showing you things the Bible says we should do, and that is pandemic praying.
I. Remember that delay is not denial. “And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ For some time he refused” (Luke 18:3-4). Delay is not denial, and I will tell you why. Because there are things that have to happen in sequence and that can take time. The Bible says that God waited while Noah built the ark. One preacher had a sermon on that text entitled, “The God Who Waits.” Don’t forget Abraham’s rhetorical question, “Shall not the judge of the earth do right?” Answer: Of course he will! Like the poet John Greenleaf Whittier said: “In the maddening maze of things, tossed by storm of flood to one fixed hope my spirit clings, I know that God is good!” You may be thinking, OK, God is waiting, but what is he waiting on? I don’t know, but just because he is waiting doesn’t mean he is not working! There is a line in a gospel song that says, “God never stops working!” Even though we can’t see what is happening in the throne room of God, he is working! “He who watches over Israel will neither slumber or sleep.” He never stops working! We need to remember that God does not answer prayer in the order in which they are received or according to the status of the person that is praying! Jesus said “According to your faith let it be done to you” (Matthew 9:29).
II. Remember that God is good and don’t doubt it! “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’ ” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones” (Luke 18:4-7). Now remember, a parable is used for the sake of comparison. In this parable Jesus puts the unjust judge alongside our loving heavenly father and says to us, “Compare this unjust judge, that doesn’t fear God or care about people. He was moved to action by the woman’s persistent request.” The point is, if her “continual coming” to ask for help moved the unjust judge to action, what can we expect from our God that loves us so much that he sent his Son to voluntarily die to save us! After we follow the recommendation of the Department of Health and Human Resources, and we take precautions to protect ourselves, be careful not to tempt the Lord by being careless or reckless during this pandemic. We can believe that the Lord will bring us safely through this crisis. I am focusing on trying to have faith that God will protect us from the virus as we take the necessary steps to protect ourselves. And I am believing that in the event that someone comes down with the COVID-19 virus, that the Lord will work in their lives and can even bring the miracle of restoration and healing. The Apostle Peter said it well in Acts 10:38, “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” If you are living under a constant cloud of despair and think it is all bad and going to get worse, cheer up, you might be right! But I don’t believe it! I believe that as long as the Lord leaves his church in the world, there will be potential for things to get better for his people. And when that potential is finally gone, the trumpet will sound and the church triumphant will be gone also!
III. Remember that prayer will prevail so be persistent! “And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:7-8). Faith on earth takes place when we, as people of God, go out into the community and do the work of God there. “The Lord is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed” (1 Samuel 2:3). Talkers are usually critics and are more like Sanballat and Tobiah, than Ezra or Nehemiah. But when the men and women of action are told to stay home, and avoid contact with people outside their home, what can they do? Verse 7 tells us, “And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?” So a time like this is a call for everyone to use their time wisely. It is difficult being cooped up with kids and teenagers who are already saying, “I’m bored!” If you are wondering what to do with the time you have on your hands I suggest you do some pandemic praying! Get a piece of paper and a pen and write down things that the Lord lays on your heart to pray about. For example, Lord, protect us from the COVID-19 virus, then call the names of your family in prayer. Lord, help doctors to find a vaccine to stop the spread of COVID-19. Lord, help doctors find a treatment that will enable those currently affected by the COVID-19 virus to recover. Lord, use this crisis to remind people of how fragile life is and that they need to make sure it is well with their soul. Lord, help us to open our hearts to the Holy Ghost so that we will know how to pray about the pandemic! “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans” (Romans 8:26). Make your own personal list that reflects the burden you have on your heart for the things you really care about, and then pray!
CON. Ira Stanphill was a writer of hymns and gospel songs who died in 1993. One of his better known songs is, “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow.” The story behind it is this: he received a call that his wife had been in a terrible car accident. The accident happened near his home so he drove there and arrived before the ambulance. His wife died in his arms before the rescue squad was able to get to them. It was after that tragic event that one day the Lord gave him the song, “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow.” The book of Job says it right, we have a God, “who gives songs in the night” (35:10).
I don’t know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day, I don’t borrow from its sunshine, For its clouds may turn to gray, I don’t worry o’er the future, For I know what Jesus said, And today I’ll walk beside Him, For He knows what is ahead. Many things about tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand, But I know who holds tomorrow, And I know who holds my hand.
How to Pray During the Coronavirus Crisis Used during a season of prayer Bible study May 7, 2020
1. Pray for an end to the spread of the virus. The coronavirus did not take God by surprise; He is still governing and sustaining the world (Col. 1:17). Pray for God's healing mercy and that He would graciously bring this pandemic to an end. Pray for healing for all those affected by the virus.
2. Pray for government leaders. At all times, Christians are called to pray for those in positions of authority (1 Tim. 2:2). This is especially true during a time of national emergency. Pray for the President, Vice President, governors, mayors, and all those making decisions related to public health and safety. Pray for a spirit of bipartisanship as lawmakers work together to protect people.
3. Pray for church leaders. Pastors around the country are making difficult decisions related to public worship and the safety of their members. Pray that pastors will have wisdom to faithfully shepherd the congregations under their care, even if they are unable to physically gather (1 Peter 5:2). Pray that Christians will love their neighbors well during this time (Mark 12:31).
4. Pray for the vulnerable. Authorities tell us that immunocompromised people are especially at risk as the virus spreads. Pray for protection for the elderly, diseased, and those facing financial hardship. Pray for students who are being required to vacate university and college housing with very little notice. Over the next few weeks, there will be many opportunities to meet tangible needs. Pray that God's people meet these opportunities with wisdom and grace (Mat. 25:35-40).
5. Pray for health care workers and first responders. In the midst of the crisis, doctors, nurses, health care workers, and first responders are working long hours to provide much needed medical care to those affected by the virus. Pray they'll have wisdom as they care for patients. Pray for energy and stamina as they work. And pray for their families who are making tremendous sacrifices as well.
6. Pray for honest reporting. Christians should pray for those in the news media. Pray that reporters and journalists would accurately report updates about the status of the virus, and not seek to peddle conspiracies, politicize the threat, or stoke fear where it is unwarranted.
7. Pray for a spirit of generosity. During this time, churches will face a loss of income at a time when there are many opportunities to meet physical needs. Pray that God's people will manifest a spirit of generosity and sacrificially give of their time and resources to meet needs that will arise (2 Cor. 9:6-8).
8. Pray for a posture of trust. Scripture teaches us that God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control (2 Tim 1:7). Pray for enduring faith during this season of heightened fear, anxiety, and confusion. Appropriate precautions should be taken, but Christians must continue to rely on God and trust His purposes and plans (Rom. 8:28).
9. Pray for the spread of the gospel. In this time of great anxiety, pray that God's people would be ready to meet the world with the comfort and hope that only the good news of Jesus Christ can offer.
- posted at frc.org/pray