Coronavirus and Christ by John Piper

In Coronavirus and Christ, John Piper invites readers around the world to stand on the solid Rock, who is Jesus Christ, in whom our souls can be sustained by the sovereign God who ordains, governs, and reigns over all things to accomplish his wise and good purposes for those who trust in him. Piper offers six biblical answers to the question, What is God doing through the coronavirus? —reminding us that God is at work in this moment in history.

https://www.desiringgod.org/books/coronavirus-and-christ

John Piper’s Prayer for the COVID-19 Pandemic

April 10, 2020 by: John Piper

Father,

At our best moments, by your grace, we are not sleeping in Gethsemane. We are awake and listening to your Son’s prayer. He knows, deep down, that he must suffer. But in his perfect humanity, he cries out, “If it is possible, let this cup pass.”

In the same way, we sense, deep down, that this pandemic is appointed, in your wisdom, for good and necessary purposes. We too must suffer. Your Son was innocent. We are not.

Yet with him in our less-than-perfect humanity, we too cry out, “If it is possible, let this cup pass” (Matt. 26:39). Do quickly, O Lord, the painful, just, and merciful work you have resolved to do. Do not linger in judgment. Do not delay your compassion. Remember the poor, O Lord, according to your mercy. Do not forget the cry of the afflicted. Grant recovery. Grant a cure. Deliver us—your poor, helpless creatures—from these sorrows, we pray.

But do not waste our misery and grief, O Lord. Purify your people from powerless preoccupation with barren materialism and Christless entertainment. Put our mouths out of taste with the bait of Satan. Cut from us the roots and remnant of pride and hate and unjust ways. Grant us capacities of outrage at our own belittling of your glory. Open the eyes of our hearts to see and savor the beauty of Christ. Incline our hearts to your word, your Son, and your way. Fill us with compassionate courage. And make a name for yourself in the way your people serve.

Stretch forth your hand in great awakening for the sake of this perishing world. Let the terrible words of Revelation not be spoken over this generation: “Yet still they did not repent” (Rev. 16:8-10). As you have stricken bodies, strike now the slumbering souls. Forbid that they would remain asleep in the darkness of pride and unbelief. In your great mercy, say to these bones, “Live!” (Ezek. 37) And bring the hearts and lives of millions into alignment with the infinite worth of Jesus.

In Jesus’s name, amen.

This article is adapted from Coronavirus and Christ by John Piper.

John Piper is founder and lead teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. He served for thirty-three years as the pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is the author of more than fifty books, including Desiring God; Don’t Waste Your Life; and Reading the Bible Supernaturally.

INTERNET SOURCE: https://www.crossway.org/articles/john-pipers-prayer-for-the-covid-19-pandemic/

   

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4 vs 19 (ESV)

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A Closing Prayer

Apr 13, 2020

Desiring God

Excerpted from John Piper’s book “Coronavirus and Christ,” which is available in audio, eBook, and paperback:

VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGQV-ag1ngM

  

OTHER LINKS:

https://www.crossway.org/books/coronavirus-and-christ-tpb/

https://lutherandcalvinbrigade914.blogspot.com/2020/03/prayers-against-coronavirus.html

 Coronavirus and Christ (Audiobook) // Ask Pastor John

•Apr 8, 2020

Desiring God John Piper’s book “Coronavirus and Christ” is available in audio, eBook, and paperback:

VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St8NlULiuvo

A PRAYER FOR JAMAICA

A prayer for Jamaica

Published: Saturday | August 8, 2015 | 12:00 AM Sonia Cranston

Pray for Jamaica

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Our Father in heaven, hear my voice as I call unto You, O God Most High. Unto You, I present the people of Jamaica. Lord, I place their future in Your hand, I ask that You will give them divine direction; and an ever renewed sense of Your purpose. Help them to never be resistant to change, instead. to always be open to new things that You want to do in their lives.

I take authority in the name of Jesus Christ against every yoke of bondage upon this nation the economic crisis, mismanagement, disunity, robbery, murder, drug-trafficking, corruption, idolatry, violent crime, limitation and any unspoken challenges be broken in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

I release the various communities that are known trouble spots from the circle of limitation in progress, their career that have been dormant will begin to walk, their business will begin to flourish, you will begin to live out your destiny in the name of Jesus Christ.

I break sin power over this nation, and I reverse every curse. I cancel all plans of assign agent of the devil in the mighty name of Jesus.

I release families from the cages of destruction, and yoke of generational curse be dismantle, satanic power that are influencing people's mind to do evil things be confounded in the mighty name of Jesus, I reverse wrong thinking in the name of Jesus. Thank You Lord for healing and restoring this nation from the many challenges.

Lord, I ask that You will give them the desire to draw close to You today, grateful that You will draw close to them as You promised in Your Word. Help them to become separated from the world without becoming isolated from it. Lord help them to set aside time each day to meet with You alone as You teach them to pray.

I pray that You will have mercy upon the people of Jamaica, O God according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out all their transgression, create in them a clean heart, and renew a steadfast spirit within.

Do not cast them away from Your presence, but lead them in the way everlasting.

Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. – Proverbs 11:14 (KJV)

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O Lord, I pray for a financial breakthrough in the lives of the many people who are experiencing hardship, may You abundantly bless their provision, so that the poor among them will be satisfy with food, and jobs, enabling them to pay their bills. Lord, let there be no more lack.

The scripture declare: Behold, the eyes of servant look unto the hand of their master and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that He have mercy upon us. Dear Lord, let these word manifest now; in the lives of the people in the name of Jesus.

Thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ...Amen.

INTERNET SOURCE: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20150808/prayer-jamaica

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. – I Timothy 4:12 (ESV)

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Jesus on the mainline is 24/7

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