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#God'sGotThis! - A challenge from Pastor Todd
11/19/2020 - By Pastor Todd Nathan
It’s easy to remember these simple words and yet hard at times to live out.
"#God'sGotThis!" I first heard the statement over two years ago when Pastor Andrew Stoeklein took his life after struggling with anxiety, depression and intense demonic attacks.
I wear the #God'sGotThis bracelet on my wrist so that every day I am reminded that truly God has whatever I or any other believers are going through. This simple phrase has been the motivation for the current series that will run through the end of the year.
It captures for me who we are in Christ and what our lives are to demonstrate, even through the toughest times. We have gone through a lot as a country this past year - 2020. Many have commented that they can't wait for the new year to come! The pandemic has had a dramatic impact on many people's lives, though the overwhelming majority who have had it recover. Peaceful protesting, rioting and looting have almost become a normal part of our every day lives. On top of it all, we have faced a presidential election that has been polarizing at best. People are weary. But as believers, this is our absolute hope and confidence - "#God'sGotThis!"
God has absolute control over all world events, world governments and the course of history as it plays out. He has never made a mistake and is using all of this for His divine purpose. So where do we go from here?
When we say #God'sGotThis, it means that we have "unwavering faith", "unwavering trust", "unwavering hope" and "unwavering confidence" (the gospel is the answer!) in our Lord! Put simply, we believe in God, trust God, find hope in God and have confidence in God because God is true and in control of all things! We don’t have to live in fear of our world, or possibly getting COVID, or even of a shift in government leadership! #God'sGotThis!
I love the way Pastor Doug stated it in his sermon this past Sunday: "Wise people trust God!" The pandemic lockdowns and government imposed restrictions has resulted in great economic loss for many people, increased mental health related issues, an increase in porn, alcohol and drug use, and has kept many people from vital relationships - even within the church. Now, with the recent surge of COVID cases across the country, Governors are considering new lockdowns and restrictions in gathering even as families through the holidays. What should our response be to all of this as believers?
#God'sGotThis! We need to demonstrate "unwavering faith", "unwavering trust", "unwavering hope" and "unwavering confidence", and live it out daily, without fear. We need to keep worshipping together wisely and safely. God's instructions to the wavering believers was clear in Hebrews 10:23-25, and it's the same instruction He would give to us today.
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
You may be quick to say, "It's not safe to meet together. Life was different then and they weren't facing what we are today!" Read a little further to understand what life was like for these believers (vv26-39). I am not saying that we should foolishly gather together disregarding sound wisdom and counsel. But rather that we should not fear meeting wisely and safely. We need each other!
Some of you may be offended by this. I understand. I think about persecuted believers around the world who face severe beatings, assault, rape, imprisonment and forced slavery because of their faith. They find ways to meet anyway. Whether it is in an underground or secret church, or in the open, they meet, they care for each other, they serve one another, and they worship the Lord. They believe fully that "God'sGotThis!" Otherwise they would never risk their lives for the sake of the gospel.
I still pray Acts 9:31 for our church, which God put on my heart over 3 years ago. It says, "So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied." God has done so much in our church and has truly united our hearts together.
Now, I have added to my prayer for our church that we would also have "unwavering faith", "unwavering trust", "unwavering hope" and "unwavering confidence" (the gospel is the answer!) in our Lord, as a witness to those around us.
Are you struggling in your faith? #God'sGotThis! Is it hard for you to trust the Lord in your circumstances, or with everything that is happening around you? #God'sGotThis! Is your hope wavering? #God'sGotThis! Do you truly believe that the gospel is God’s answer to man’s problem's? Do you have pure confidence in the Lord? #God'sGotThis!
May God be glorified as we continue to pursue Him together, worship Him together and hold out the gospel of hope together, for His glory!
Pastor Todd (#God'sGotThis!)