During and After This Global Crisis

Hi everyone – May the following be a source of encouragement during this unprecedented season.

We are currently streaming our Frontline services online. We invite you to tune in on Sundays at 11:30 AM and Tuesdays at 7:00 PM on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Frontline.Worship.Center or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frontlineministriesintl.

To view the most the most recent live stream videos, go to https://frontline-ministries.org/stay-connected/.

“O clap your hands, all peoples; shout to God with the voice of JOY, for the LORD Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth, He subdues peoples under us and nations under our feet. He chooses our inheritance for us, the glory of Jacob whom He loves. God has ascended with a shout, The LORD, with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises; Sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth. Sing praises with a skillful psalm. God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne.The princes of the people have assembled themselves as the people of the God of Abraham, for the shields of the earth belong to God. He is highly exalted.” Psalm 47

Blessings and love to you, in the name of Jesus, who reigns forevermore! We believe that the Lord is allowing all of us the amazing opportunity to be brought into new places of seeking Him above ALL else, experiencing new levels of the fear of the Lord, and respecting His divine purposes, plans, and ways. While we all are asking Him many new questions, we believe even more importantly that we are to be wisely and clearly listening, discovering, and receiving from Him. He is not silent in this hour. We believe that the Lord is setting the stage for a global outpouring of His glory as seen in Joel 2:28-29 and is preparing His global bride for that purpose. An unprecedented harvest of souls is upon us and we are being prepared in 2020. Thank You, Lord! We encourage you to read all of Joel 2 so your spiritual understanding of God’s heart and ways would increase. The Lord clearly defines what is best for us in this chapter so these global promises are received.

We have been praying for all of you during this challenging time. His continual desire for us in this season is found in the Apostle Paul’s prayer for the believers in Colossians 1:9-12. He knew what these precious people were about to face as they counted the cost of following Jesus. He knew how they needed to be strengthened so they could stand in the face of extreme evil, suffering, and darkness upon them and to come. He knew how to calm their fears. He knew they needed intense intimacy with the Lord to survive and overcome. He knew how to release joy. He knew how to release hope in the middle of crisis, calamity, and persecution. He was a very wise father. 

“For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.” Colossians 1:9-12

The question of the hour: What does it mean to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and to please Him in all respects?

Paul begins to answer that question at the very beginning of the book of Colossians so believers would not be confused as to their hope, calling, or marching orders. He clearly states in this powerful chapter that the precious believers in Colossae now serve their Father, the God of Peace and Grace (verse 2) who has rescued them from the domain of darkness, and transferred them into the kingdom of His beloved Son in whom they have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (verses 13-14). Paul continues on through the rest of the chapter (and the entire book of Colossians) describing JESUS and their new life in Him, as it was the Father’s will and good pleasure for all the fullness of Himself to dwell in Jesus. Jesus was to have FIRST place in everything (vs. 18-19). It’s the same for us today.

Is this the heart of the Lord for people worldwide during and after this global crisis? We believe so.

How are we to continue to navigate well through this crisis? Colossians is loaded with clear and practical ways of the Kingdom to help us discover and receive more love and freedom in Jesus. We can be fortified, bolstered, and strengthened in the inner man which enables us to move forward wisely. As we are bombarded with new ideas, opinions, and thoughts, as well as governmental and other mandates, we need to accurately interpret the Scriptures so we are clearly following the One who reigns over the nations and sits on His holy throne as mentioned above. 

As we read, ponder, and consider the Lord through Colossians, we will be led into greater resting in and obeying the greatest love commandment from God found in Mark 12:30. It reads: “You SHALL love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Then, and only then, can we effectively fulfill the 2nd love commandment in verse 31: “You shall love your neighbor as you love yourself.” During this time of global corona crisis, think of God’s order in giving us these commands. People on the Lord’s frontlines will truly bow in humility to our King of Glory in this season. These are words to totally live by during the COVID-19 crisis. We encourage you to spend deepening time in the presence of the Lord, reading this powerful part of the Bible, along with other places in the Word that the Lord highlights for you, living in true repentance and delighting in the One who knows all and acts as He desires. We are to continually cry out to our Merciful God who fills us with the hope and joy to keep doing so. Our lives are not our own. 

Be strengthened and encouraged today, filled with hope and peace, abounding in joy! Let’s all remember that Christ in us is our hope of glory (Col. 1:27), and that we will all solidly stand on Jesus’ words:

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Jesus has overcome the world (which includes COVID-19 and all insurrection worldwide). He is our Solution. He is our Peace. He is our Deliverer. He is our Healer, He is the Lord of the Harvest. HE IS OUR LORD. We are to continue to believe and enjoy Psalm 91 as we enter this Passion week. The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ is powerful, valuable, and beyond any way of man. Enjoy and live in the book of Hebrews for even more depth of our new and better covenant, and the blood of our Jesus. We are covered, beloved! As Holy Week and Resurrection Sunday is approaching, may we engage in the fullness of who Jesus is and why we celebrate. LOVE THE WORD in this season, as we worship, watch, and pray. Passover (Good Friday) is approaching. May we join in fullness in what the Lord is doing and saying to all of us. We will continue to connect with you in the coming days. 

We encourage you to participate in the opportunities presented below that are meant to spiritually increase all of us as individuals and as the worldwide Ecclesia (Church). Unified together we stand!

Love, Grace, and Peace to all!

Bill and Mary Pat Gokee

Directors, Frontline Ministries International
Pastors, Frontline Worship Center