13 Wash Your Hands

Reading Time: 5:30

I’m late on writing this blog because our church continues to be shut down in the wake of the virus that is ravaging our land. As a result I feel like a fish out of water. This has given me time to evaluate the condition of my spiritual life. On a lesser a scale it’s like a doctor or even a chef. You spend all your time ministering to others and your preparation is to keep yourself ready to serve. You really don’t think much about yourself or the condition of your own health or diet. However, during the present situation I’ve had a lot of time to think. I’ve asked the Lord a lot of questions about how to minister to others during this time. I’ve even considered calling this the sabbatical I never had and just resting through this time of isolation. I miss church, but maybe it’s because I’m not fulfilling my role as a pastor and teacher.

Yet, sometimes a season of reflection is good. Sometimes you need to sit down and reassess all that you are doing and why you are doing it. Maybe that is the best use of my time during the next 30 days. For me life moves quickly. I rarely know how to just sit and rest. It’s not that I don’t take naps or watch TV, but my mind is always moving on to the next thing that needs to be done. I guess some downtime will help me get some of the smaller projects on my list done here at Calvary. Susan and I are working on the guttering and drains, as much as the weather will allow. I also have some material for other projects that has been sitting around here and needs to be used up. After that, who knows?

Looking at my ministry, I recognize that the flow from God through me is part of my spiritual life. Now with that weekly demand postponed, I seem to have dried up. It bothered me intensely to cancel two services in March. I can’t even get my head around not having services throughout the month of April. The people of Calvary are entwined in who I am and what I do. Somehow, for me, having church online is not the same. We have told people for years that they could not sit home and experience the same things over the internet that happens in a church service. Now we want to tell them they can. I just believe you can’t. Church attendance, corporate worship, the anointed preaching of the Word with the feedback the congregation, all these are necessary to experience God in his fullness. 

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them.”
Matthew 18:20 KJV

I have thought about trying to put videos on Facebook, but it would only reach a small portion of our congregation. Since we are going to be separated for an entire month of April, I am going to write everyone an Easter letter. I do receive calls and pray daily for our people. Yet, the coming together in the presence of God is where the Spirit of God truly flows. You’ve felt it and you know what I mean.

So as a pastor I can counsel this: During our time apart, do what I am doing. Spend time alone with God. The secret place is designed for isolation. It’s not only where you get to know God better, it is where you get to know yourself better also. These days are a season of reflection. Know this, a season of refreshing will follow.

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,
when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.”
Acts 3:19 KJV

I further counsel you to do this: Hide from the danger and do everything our leaders suggest. This is hard for me too, but it can demonstrate faith in God as well as anything else. If they say stay in, stay in. If they say wash your hands, wash your hands. Life does not always have to be a party. There are seasons in this life.

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV

The Bible concurs with this passage about a season where we voluntarily turn our laughter into mourning and our joy into gloom. May it lead us to purer hearts and more focused minds.

8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.
Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts,
you double-minded.
9 Grieve, mourn and wail.
Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
James 4:8–10 NIV

Stay safe, be patient, and if you need anything, don’t hesitate to call. There’s nothing more stressful to a true shepherd than being separated from his sheep. Until we can gather once again, may the Lord himself, that great shepherd of the sheep, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.“
Hebrews 13:20–21 KJV

Susan and I love you and miss you very much.

Pastor Brian Jenkins
Calvary Assemblies of God

Calvary Assemblies of God | 720 N Plum St Union City IN 47390 | Pastor Brian P. Jenkins |  (765) 229-4013 | www.calvaryassembliesofgod.org