Hope In Christ Series

Pastor Asif M Sadiq (Sunday Sermon Delivered Live on 22-03-2020)

HOPE

“ So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36)

God has already informed us in the Bible through prophets and prophesies long ago concerning the things and problems world is facing today.

“These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come” (1 Corinthians 10:11),

Therefore, I urge you to not ignore this message which is directed by the Holy Spirit, many have engaged themselves with the world and keep ignoring the message of God.

God the Father has always wanted us to hear the Spirit, the echo sound of these words we hear in the Gospel through Jesus “those who have ears to hear will hear it”, that is exactly what the Holy Spirit says in Revelation.

“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches...” (Revelation 2:7)

This proves that the Holy Spirit kept communicating to the world throughout the history of mankind through prophets, messengers and even through missionaries and Church leaders in the modern ages, yet many either rejects or do not hear.

We are all globally plagued by a pandemic and the world is experiencing her worst in the history and is in uncertainty. No one knows what will happen next.

Today humanity is experiencing both the positive and negative sides of mankind in these hard times, the selfishness of humanity and the Passion and love of humanity. We see many profiteers, opportunists and selfish people who consume food and other essentials of daily life either with the fear of tomorrow or stocking up for making profit and selling on high prices and are not thinking of others. Despite of being advised on national level that be wise whilst shopping so that everyone could have enough. But still certain groups of people and cultures are shopping and looting everything rationally and unfairly which shows that most of humanity is still possessed by evil thoughts. We see in the Bible that famine of Egypt was a natural disaster or God’s plan to teach his laws to the evil generation of that time and to save latter world, but this time maybe we will bring down disaster on us by our own hands.

However, we also see a positivity and a hope that humanity is not totally dead yet. Many are trying to do something good and positive to others, some are urging people to stay safe by posting suggestions and remedies through social media and internet, TV or any possible means. Many are worried for others who are suffering or dying, some are passionate, sympathetic and hoping for a positive change, many are turning to God and praying according to their beliefs. NGO’s and charities are engaged for the goodwill and wellbeing of humanity.

Its a fact that thousands are dying daily due to this new pandemic call Corona virus. However, there is another bitter truth which no one can deny that natural and other disease morbidity statistics are also in many millions on daily basis such as;

Common Coled Suicide rate

HIV or immorality

70, 000 155, 000 240, 000

Malaria Accidents Alcohol

140, 000 194, 000 360, 000

Tobacco 720, 000 Cancer 12,00, 000 And natural death 1500,000

Collectively there are millions of people dying in this world on daily basis and people are afraid of death.

Let us talk about another death “Spiritual Death” which is far more dangerous and hapless. Spiritual death toll is far greater than any other death statistics.

Today people are escaping from a virus called corona virus, I wish they could run away and escape from the root cause of all viruses the “Sin-Virus”. Sin is much more dangerous than any known or unknown viruses and any fatal disease. In the Bible sin is described as leprosy.

90% of our world is in quarantine today, but I am sure, that this will not last forever “IF” we “believers” do our part and know our obligations then we can cut these hard times short. This plague is not for a specific nation or a tribe but the entire whole world and humanity is suffering of this pandemic. Now only “believer’s prayers” can cut these days short. Jesus said that only because of the church these days will be cut short, means only saints and believers can save this world now. “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:22).

This is God’s promise that His wrath will pass away, but for a while people need to separate themselves from the businesses this world and businesses like Sodom and Gomorrah. “And of course this planet Earth needs a rest of her Sabbaths too which she haven’t had for decades.” “Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doorsbehind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by. See, the LORD is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins.The earth will disclose the blood shed on it; the earth will conceal its slain no longer.” (Isaiah 26:20- )21