This morning when I awoke, I heard the Lord speak to my heart, “Are you through with being intimidated by the coronavirus? Are you ready for peace to be back in your home?”

I said, “Lord, I do believe I have allowed this to consume us. Our home is not walking by faith. How do I fix this?”

Here are five things He told me:

1. Turn off TV! The 24-hour news cycle reminds us every day the world is doomed. We must quit paying them to defeat our faith. The airwaves in your home will disrupt your spiritual airway! “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty has given me life” (Job 33:4). It is time to breathe again! God has got this! It’s time to wait on the goodness of the Lord! “Fear corrodes our confidence in God’s goodness.”

“So why would I fear the future? For your goodness and love pursue me all the days of my life. Then afterward, when my life is through, I’ll return to your glorious presence to be forever with you!” (Ps. 23:6, TPT).

2. Turn worship music on in your home and speak peace and safety over your home.

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isa. 26:3, MEV).

Worship restores God’s heart to your dwelling. “Lord, how wonderful you are! You have stored up so many good things for us, like a treasure chest heaped up and spilling over with blessings—all for those who honor and worship you! Everybody knows what you can do for those who turn and hide themselves in you” (Ps. 31:19, TPT).

3. Declare and speak Psalm 91 over your family, friends, church, city and finances. Especially declare, “He will rescue you from every hidden trap of the enemy, and he will protect you from false accusations and any deadly curse. His massive arms are wrapped around you, protecting you. You can run under his covering of majesty and hide. His arms of faithfulness are a shield keeping you from harm” (Ps. 91:3-4).
4. Take back your God-given authority! Pray the prayer that apostle Paul prayed in Ephesians 1:18-23 (MEV): “[I pray] that the eyes of your understanding may be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance among the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He performed in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principalities, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet and made Him the head over all things for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all things in all ways.”
5. Go outside! Have fun as a family! Use this as a time of peace and solitude. Walk, run, dance, play and dream! “A merry heart does good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones” (Prov. 17:22). Your family is watching you! Be the spiritual thermostat. “You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16:11).

Soon this will pass. You, with a smile on your face, will be able to say, “I knew that God could handle this! He is faithful!” {eoa}

Pat Schatzline is a leading international evangelist and author. He and his wife, Karen, co-founded Remnant Ministries International.

Psalm 46 says, “The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered and were moved; He raised His voice; the earth melted … Be still and know (recognize and understand) that I Am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us… !” (Psalm 46:6, 10-11, AMP).

“The Lord roars from Zion” (Joel 3:16a, MEV). From this Scripture we developed our concept for Head of the Year 5780, entering this new era with the roar of the Lord. During that Head of the Year 5780 gathering on Sept. 26-29, 2019, I began to prophesy that the nations would come into turmoil until Passover.

At Starting the Year Off Right 2020, God was saying that there would be a massive plague-like invasion that would test us through Passover. When I prophesied that in Las Vegas on Jan. 26, I did get several comments and certain rebuttals for repeating that our nation would go into some sort of major trial through April. I believe that we are seeing this not only in this nation, but throughout the nations at this time in history.

In Joel 2 and 3, we find these statements: “Do not be afraid, land; exult and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things! Do not be afraid, beasts of the field, because the wild pastures flourish, because the tree bears its fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield their abundance. And children of Zion, exult and rejoice in the Lord your God” (Joel 2:21-23a).

Passover Will Become a Dividing Line

As God’s kingdom people, we must understand this is where the Spirit of God now has us in the earth realm. We must always hear what the Spirit of God is saying to the church. Several interpretations could be given over the situation of COVID-19 as havoc occurs throughout the nations. Some would even say that this virus has stopped any movement where revival can continue. I would say: “God has put a pause until He sees who is willing to cross over with Him through His blood at Passover.” This Passover will become a dividing line for our future!

Cindy Jacobs prophesied to me on Jan. 3, 2020 that in the first three months of this year, I would have to be cautious in how much I travel. I had gone 570,000 miles last year and was weary from all the travel and warfare. She actually shared that the Lord was saying that I needed rest, but I recognized the admonition to be a caution on my travel for the first three months of 2020. Therefore, I have watched the Lord make sure I’ve had more time to rest and write, and have actually stopped most international travel during these three months.

Susan Stanfield, who has worked here for 40 years, shared with us that the Lord told her to “gird up your loins for spring storms ahead.” I believe this is what God is saying to all of us. At the beginning of 2020, the Lord said to me to “Tighten your belts!” This is the same principle as “girding up your loins.” The Lord said this would be a hard financial year. However, if we would gird up our loins, we would end up doing exploits.

Let’s get ready to cross over!

Overcome Fear with Laughter

Adar is known as a month for abounding joy, and the power of barrenness being broken. We can invite the Lord to quicken our emotions so that our expectations are aligned with what He desires to bring forth at this time. During this Purim week, declare that plans for destruction are being overturned, and that your fear will be overcome by laughter!

The Redemptive Work of Trauma (Linda Heidler)

This is also a month of deliverance, and how we speak determines how our freedom will manifest. As Linda Heidler shared yesterday morning: forgiveness plays a big part in our restoration and freedom. Unhealed trauma perpetuates trauma, and since trauma is an issue of the spirit, not just the soul, true healing can only come through the Spirit of God. He is able to work trauma for our good! When we are delivered from areas of loss, we can speak with authority to the demons holding others captive. God’s redemptive work forms our testimony of overcoming trauma, which can then set others free!

The Month of Naphtali: Preparing to LEAP (Robert Heidler)

As Robert Heidler taught during our celebration service, this is a time to leap. However, if our lives are not overflowing with the joy of the Lord, we will not have the strength to resist the enemy and will remain captured in an old season. The Lord desires to give us hinds’ feet to become like a deer let loose!

Robert shared five key ways to help you prepare to leap all month long:

1. Choose to rejoice—whether you feel like it or not.
2. Root out depression!.
3. Develop a war strategy—you are in a battle.
4. Break off wrong decrees—know what God has said.
5. Discover your true identity.

Your Time to Climb

God says, “I am releasing a new level of faith within My people! What you did not see in the last season you will now begin to see. You will now begin to see and ascend in a new way. Reach up and climb the waterfall before you. As you reach up, a stairway will form to where I am taking you.

“Climb what I have set in front of you! Climb what I have set in front of you! Although the enemy has laughed and said you will never get to the top and through the next door, this is your time to climb the stairs I have placed in front of you. I am already behind that door at the top of the stairs and laughing at your enemy.

“In this season of overcoming joy, begin to release your laugh and experience My freedom that will enable you to overcome. Even though you may feel you are at the point of absolute failure and defeat, My angels will help you ascend, step by step, and cause you to keep pressing forward.

“I am opening a new portal in the heavenly realm and assigning new angels to help escort you up into the heavenly places and back onto the earth. I stand in the heavenlies and laugh, and I cause you to stand in the earth and laugh at your enemies. For at this time and this season, I will cause you to laugh at your enemies as an overcoming and victorious spirit rises within you as you have not had in times past.

“There is a new source of wind in the earth. This movement is not just My breath that is going forth, but the wind created by the wings of My angelic hosts. I am releasing a unique host to create winds to blow away occult coverings, and to bring forth winds of refreshing and rain from the atmosphere.

“There are things I am beginning to shake within you that will cause a new breath to come into you. As you ascend, you will be positioned on My new trajectory of advance.” (Prophetic word given by: Brian Kooiman, Sheryl Price, Chuck Pierce, Mistie Lohse, Eleanor Roehl, Lisa Lyons and Dee Dee Roberts) {eoa}

Charles D. “Chuck” Pierce serves as president of Global Spheres Inc. (GSI) in Corinth, Texas. This is an apostolic, prophetic ministry that is being used to gather and mobilize the worshipping triumphant reserve throughout the world. Chuck also serves as President of Glory of Zion International Ministries, a ministry that aligns Jew and Gentile. He is known for his accurate prophetic gifting which helps direct nations, cities, churches and individuals in understanding the times and seasons in which we live. Chuck and his wife, Pam, have six children and seven grandchildren. He has authored over 20 books, including the bestsellers Interpreting the Times, Redeeming the Time and Time to Defeat the Devil.

The coronavirus pandemic that has swept the globe the past few months has sent people into a state of pandemonium.

End times expert Michael Snyder says he isn’t sure whether or not it is the second pandemic John Paul Jackson prophesied years ago or another one that is coming, but Snyder says God’s children need not fear.

“Jackson said, ‘The Lord told me there would be a pandemic that came, and the first one would prove to be little but fear,'” Snyder told Dr. Steve Greene on a recent episode of Greenelines on the Charisma Podcast Network. “‘But the second one that comes will be serious.’

“Now, we have seen there was a scare about Ebola a few years ago, and there have been other things like swine flu. We don’t know if those were the first and that there was another one coming later. We do know that a major pandemic is coming at some point, and that it’s going to be extremely serious.

“What we do know is that since the last time we talked, this virus has become a whole lot more serious. The last time we talked, it was primarily focused on China. Now, Europe has become the epicenter of this outbreak, specifically Italy. But it went from basically zero cases to now more than 15,000. More than 1,000 in Italy have already died. The health care system there is overwhelmed. I mean, doctors are literally having to choose who lives and who dies. So, it’s a concern, and we’re seeing the world respond with great fear and great concern. We’re seeing shutdowns all over the world.

“But there is no reason to fear. The Lord has a plan for you. He has his hand on your life. Ultimately, God is in control. … Hardly anyone is out there talking about the fact that when we look at the Bible, Jesus warned us what life would be like as we approached His return and the last days. Whenever there’s an earthquake or a conflict somewhere, people will say that Jesus is coming back. But very few people point out that in Luke 21:11, Jesus warned there would be pestilences that would be another one of the signs. He told us it was going to happen. But He is in control. He has a plan.”

For more of Michael Snyder’s thoughts on the coronavirus pandemonium, listen to the entire podcast.

As a successful businessman, Tom Cartwright is a firm believer in Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV), which says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

It is a Scripture that has sustained him through his ups and downs in the business world, and it moves him to lean on Holy Spirit when he needs a spark in challenging times. Cartwright says Holy Spirit will jump-start your creativity in whatever your kingdom calling.

“Your faith is definitely tied into God’s leading, and he has things preplanned for you,” Cartwright, the founder of Invent Shine, told Dr. Steve Greene on a recent episode of Greenelines on the Charisma Podcast Network. “There are businesses you can go into if you just open your heart, and you’re willing to step out and let Him lead you. …

“Most businesses today have challenging times—it’s just part of the landscape. There’s always a virus coming along. When that happens, you need to get hold of a specific Scripture—a word from God. You get that word, and then you have something to stand on.”

Cartwright’s daughter, Allison, who has been managing and developing products for the company for many years, says it’s all about your relationship with Jesus.

“It all comes to, in the morning, spending time and making sure you’re filled up with Holy Spirit’s grace and direction,” Allison says. “You and He are both creative. You have to be, because God made you in His image. You can pray, ‘Lord, it’s not my business, it’s Yours. Please lead me today and show me what to do specifically in my business because it’s what You’ve called me to do.’

“You have to trust that you’ve prayed that prayer in the morning and that God is going to lead you and guide you, that you’re going to know what it is you have to do. Trust in God’s promises that He’s going to work everything together for good, even when you make a mistake.”

For more about how Holy Spirit leads you to creativity and success, listen to the entire podcast.

This word has been burning in my spirit for the past couple of weeks. The Lord initially gave me a prophetic word regarding the mouth (pey) before the start of this year.

As we go through the third month of 2020, He’s been emphasizing and highlighting the word “roar.” Roar, as defined in the dictionary, means to “laugh loudly.”

This is the season that both lions (men) and lionesses (women) will begin to laugh in the face of the enemy! The devil will disclose his plans for their demise, and they will simply roar in his face with power and authority. This roar will confound and confuse Satan, because last year, their response was to worry, become depressed or cry. He will be at a loss because what he used on people in 2019 won’t work in 2020! Glory to God!

As the Lord highlighted the word “roar,” he accentuated the word “lioness.” This caused me to study this animal in relation to the revelation God had given. I learned that lionesses are the primary providers for their prides (group). They are the ones who do the majority of the hunting and bring back food for the pride. They hunt in packs, with stealth, cunning and purpose.

Many times, the head of the pride (the lion) relaxes and enjoys the fruit of the lionesses’ labor. This is the season where the lioness (women) will come to the forefront.

Lionesses, 2020 Is Your Year

The Lord is calling out to His lionesses in this season! He’s calling you to prophesy, pray, worship, minister and intercede on an entirely different level. Women of God who used to sit in the back of the church will move to the front.

This is symbolic of them transitioning to another realm of glory and responsibility! Lionesses, your preparation over the years has paid off, and it’s truly your time to roar in 2020.

As previously stated, one definition of roar is “to laugh loudly.” The devil will try to come at you, desiring to dampen or reduce the volume of your roar. He’ll attempt this by attacking those around you to get to you. It won’t work this time!

Why? Because there’s power in your roar (laugh). It’s time to roar loudly at the enemy, especially when he tells you his evil plans for your life. Roar when he tells you all the demonic things he’s going to do to your family. When you do this in faith, all the steam goes out of his balloon! He won’t know what to do with you. Lionesses, arise! It’s your year, now more than ever.

It’s Your Season to Roar

Let the lions and lioness roar this year! A lion’s roar can be heard for miles away. When you roar, Satan hears it and trembles.

In Scripture, the devil walks about as a roaring lion, but he can never truly be one (1 Pet. 5:8). You are the lions and lionesses of the Lion of the tribe of Judah! Roar! Go after the enemy, instead of waiting for him to come after you!. Roar after him! Psalm 104:21 tells us that “The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their food from God.”

The Roaring ’20s
Here, I want to us to comprehend meaning, biblically, of the number 20. Let’s briefly look at an era in history referred to as the Roaring ’20s.

“It was a period of economic prosperity with a distinctive cultural edge in the United States and Europe , particularly in major cities such as Berlin,[1] Chicago,[2] London,[3] Los Angeles,[4] New York City,[5] Paris,[6] and Sydney. In France, the decade was known as the “années folles” (‘crazy years’).” (Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roaring_Twenties)

A Crazy Year

I truly believe that somebody reading this right now is about to have an absolutely crazy year! By “crazy,” I mean good, anointed and prosperous! In fact, I decree that the Lord will supply you with His suddenlies (unexpected blessings and breakthroughs) in this season. In fact, I declare that the next 10 years will be années folles for you! But it’s is contingent on your roar. Not only the loudness of that roar, but the consistency of it. Can you still laugh when going through immensely trying times? Your roar must combine with your faith in order to make it through.

The Perfect Waiting Period

The biblical meaning of the number 20 is “a complete or perfect waiting period.” I believe that the things that you have waited for will manifest this year. What you saw in your spirit last year will happen this year, based on what you allow to come out of your mouth. In fact, you will receive double for your trouble, a double portion so to speak!

From the age of 19 until now, I’ve seen the number 220 everywhere, almost every day! It’s even on my license plate right now! It wasn’t planned or purposed. I believe it’s the number the Lord has assigned to my destiny. A minister friend of mine in college told me that it would be the number to the room of my deathbed if I didn’t get saved. Thank God, I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior! For years, I was cautious about being associated with any variation of the number. As the years passed, I studied the number and decided that maybe 220 is a good thing.

I really believe that this year is special. I’m sure some naysayers will comment otherwise, but I’m of the opinion that your year will be as great as the words (or the roar) that you produce. In other words, our blessings will raise to the level of our confessions or decrees by faith, in Jesus’ name.

20: The Complete and Perfect Waiting Period

For 20 years, Jacob waited to get possession of his wives and property, and to be freed from the control of Laban, his father-in-law (Gen. 31:38-41). This ‘perfect’ waiting period caused Jacob to receive double, Leah and Rachael.

For 20 years, the children of Israel waited to be freed of Jabin, king of Canaan, who oppressed them. God response was to raise up Deborah and Barak, who freed the people from bondage (Judg. 4-5). The children of Israel’s complete 20-year waiting period resulted in them procuring their freedom.

Solomon spent seven years building the house of God in Jerusalem and another 13 building his own home, for a total number of 20 years. After he had completed both buildings, he gave Hiram, the king of Tyre, 20 cities in the land of Galilee (1 Kings 9:10-11). Remember, victory comes after building!

Roar Together

“They shall roar together like young lions; they will growl as lions’ whelps” (Jer. 51:38).

I’m of the mindset that not only will you roar, but you will roar as sons and daughters of the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Being a child of the Most High provides you with the power, authority and jurisdiction to restrain all the limited powers of the devil.

Use the power of the blood of Jesus to come against the strategies of the evil one. Roar, even when you feel like crying! Have the God-kind of courage to laugh loudly when all hell has broken loose in your life. You’ve already won. Roar not only this year, but throughout this decade! {eoa}

Dr. John Veal is the senior pastor/prophet of Enduring Faith Christian Center and the CEO of John Veal Ministries, Inc. He is passionate about pursuing God’s mandate to preach, teach, impart and activate people within the prophetic. John is a regular contributor to Charisma magazine Online, The Elijah List, IMAG, Spirit Fuel, Reformation Today and others. John has been featured on various media outlets, including an upcoming episode of Sid Roth’s It’s Supernatural and Elijah Streams. Dr. Veal is a highly sought-after conference speaker due to his uncanny prophetic accuracy, humor, candor and unconventional preaching style. He has traveled the nations, presenting a myriad of prophetic training and ministry. John currently resides in Chicago, Illinois, with his wife, Elisa, and their three children. For more about Dr. Veal, visit Johnveal.org.

As women of God in the 21st century, we have a choice: We either believe what God has said in His Word, or we believe the lies of Satan.

We either believe that God loves us and blesses us, or we believe the lies of the enemy. We either believe that we were made in the image of God for His glorious purposes, or we believe the lies of the enemy.

We can see a miraculous and different outcome when we determine that we will believe the truth of the Father rather than the lies of the enemy. We can live an entirely different life due to the simple fact that we determine to believe that we are, indeed, who God says that we are! If God didn’t say it … then I don’t believe it!

God is a genius at everything He does, and He fully expressed His indescribable brilliance when He created you! He created you with three distinct and separate parts—a body, a spirit and a soul. Each of these amazing facets of our being is significant.

Your body is only your packaging, my friend. Your body does not define you, and it does not determine your destiny or your value. The world might base its judgment of you upon your facial features and your body, but that’s because it looks only at the outward appearance. The world doesn’t see what God sees!

Your spirit is the part of you that reflects the DNA of God, and it is where His blessing is imparted to your extraordinary life. Your spirit is the aspect of you that hears the voice of God and responds willingly to Him. Your spirit is the component of your makeup where the kingdom of God is established, where the fruits of the Spirit are cultivated and where you walk by faith and not by sight. Your spirit should be the most powerful part of your makeup as you travel through life.

The third part of your God-engineered makeup is your soul, which is comprised of your mind, will and emotions. Your soul is empty until you fill it with something. From the beginning of time, it was always God’s plan that you would fill up your soul with Him!

It was always His intention that you, who have been made in His divine image, would choose intimacy with Him over intimacy with the world. It was also His heart’s desire that you would fill up the hollow places in your soul with all that He has to offer.

True beauty radiates from a woman’s soul. The sad news of our existence is that we have filled up our souls with the values of a culture whose priority is not God and His Word, and we have believed the outrageous lie that God isn’t enough. We have turned to clothes, men, bank balances, entertainment and addictions to fill up the empty places in our hearts.

You will never understand how God sees you, see the real you, or become the genuine you if you foolishly try to fill your soul with trash rather than with treasure.

God gave you a soul so you would be a woman who walks in divine destiny and confident identity. God gave you a soul so you could lavishly spread joy, hope, peace and righteousness in your world. God gave you a soul that flourishes only when you spend time with Him. Your loveliness was never meant to be determined by your outward appearance; your true beauty was always meant to be a reflection of your relationship with your Father.

You were created for intimacy with Christ. The King of all kings longs to have close and cherished contact with you. Too many women in our culture make the heartbreaking mistake of never living the life of companionship and friendship with God that He has planned for us!

As a woman, if you can comprehend that there is absolutely no one else whom the Father would rather spend time with than you, you will start to choose priorities and activities based upon His pleasure rather than your own. When you understand how precious your very life is to the Creator of the universe, your desires will align with His desires.

This will never happen, however, until you get close enough to Him to see yourself in His loving gaze.

If you struggle with intimacy with the Father and wonder how to make it happen, let me assure you that it is not rocket science. Open your Bible to the Psalms and allow the wonder of His presence to wash over your weary soul. Spend some time in worship every day, and even sing out loud as you become better acquainted with your dad. Expose yourself to powerful and positive Bible teachings through podcasts and books.

Our knowledge of who we are is extracted from the culture of God. Our job description is found in His Word, and we will carry out His plans until we join Him in eternity. While we are here, we walk by faith and not by sight because our eyes are firmly fixed on a different world altogether.

This present world does not issue our identity papers, but they have been issued by a kingdom that is unshakable!

You are exactly who God says you are. Now, believe it! {eoa}

Carol McLeod is an author and popular speaker at women’s conferences and retreats, where she teaches the Word of God with great joy and enthusiasm. Carol encourages and empowers women with passionate and practical, biblical messages mixed with her own special brand of hope and humor. Carol has written 11 books, including Significant, StormProof and Guide Your Mind, Guard Your Heart, Grace Your Tongue. Her teaching DVD The Rooms of a Woman’s Heart won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award for excellence in religious programming.

This week the World Health Organization (WHO) has officially raised the global coronavirus crisis status to a “pandemic” level. Even as the disease may be lessening at its source in China, it is quickly spreading globally and many say Europe is now the new China in this health crisis and global calamity.

In the United States, President Trump took the prudent and preventive steps in January to evacuate U.S. diplomatic personnel and block all visitors from China. This undoubtedly has lessened the crisis for this nation.

However, we now have over 1,100 reported cases of the disease and more than 30 deaths. Globally, there are over 120,000 cases reported in 114 countries on six continents.

Health officials and leaders at various levels have acted in an abundance of caution to postpone or cancel various events, gatherings and activities. Many who may have even been in proximity with victims have been quarantined or self-quarantined for up to two weeks, to be sure they do not have nor will spread the disease.

Discerning the Spiritual Implications

The word “pandemic” is formed by the Greek word pan, meaning “all,” and the word demos, “people.” It is used to identify or define an outbreak of disease occurring over a wide geographic area and affecting an exceptionally high proportion of the population. A pandemic can also mean “relating to Pan,” the Greek mythical god (or demon) of the forests, who supposedly frightened people with his loud roaring noises from the untamed woodlands.

Meanwhile, “pandemonium” is defined as a “wild uproar” or “tumult.” Pandemic, widely-spread diseases or conditions can cause such fear among the people that pandemonium breaks out, as the Bible speaks of it in Zechariah 14:13; Mark 5:38 and 2 Corinthians 6:5. Notice our Greek/English word “demon” is found in the middle of the word pandemonium and suggests the unrest or fear is prompted by a demon or evil spirit.

We cannot ignore the potential connections of the current “pandemic” novel coronavirus with evil spirits causing disease and deaths of great proportion around the globe, even as suggested in Scriptures for the last days. There may be prophetic implications in these physical manifestations.

Jesus described (Matthew 24:4-13) social upheaval and calamities (“famines, epidemics, and earthquakes in various places,” v. 7b) as part of what is to be expected to precede the end-times, which will mark the transition from this present age to the “age to come” (Heb. 6:4-6). However, He urged His disciples to “See that you are not troubled. For all these things must happen, but the end is not yet” (Matt. 24:6b).

When I think of plagues, I’m drawn to the Passover story and the plagues God poured on the Egyptians to soften Pharaoh’s hard heart and force him to recognize His superior and divine power and “Let my people go!” God wanted the Israelites free to worship Him in their own land.

As we have said, the epicenter of the current coronavirus (COVID-19) is China, a nation that persecutes our brothers and sisters in Christ! Iran, likewise, persecutes believers, and it has been hard-hit with this global pandemic. From that perspective, this plague could be a judgment from God on those nations, with the intention of softening their hearts and their policies of persecution of God’s people! Asher Intrater, a Messianic Jewish leader in Israel, teaches on this theme HERE.

Your Prophetic Worldview and this Pandemic

Yes, challenging times are coming to our world! Though fear is not to rule us, the “beginning of sorrows” may now be beginning, where there will be great political upheaval, social unrest and religious persecution. Many will be spiritually deceived, disillusioned and will even defect from their faith.

Jesus said of this season that “he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matt. 24:13). We need to precommit to patient endurance. This means “to hold one’s ground in conflict, bear up against adversity, hold out under stress, stand firm, persevere under pressure, wait calmly and courageously. It is not passive resignation to fate and mere patience, but the active energetic resistance to defeat that allows calm and brave endurance.”

Such endurance is nothing new for readers of both the Old and New Testaments. Even prophets of old were persecuted and killed for their faith. Likewise, Jesus and His apostles (Matt. 5:12, Acts 5:12, 1 Thess. 2:15) walked in the presence and power of God but also went through great tribulation.

If your understanding of future end-times living says you or your children will never suffer adverse circumstances nor go through testings and tribulation, it is not the reality of Scripture (John 15:20; 2 Tim. 3:12; James 1:2-4; 1 Pet. 1:6-7; 4:12-19). Therefore, we must also “be ready, for in an hour when you least expect, the Son of Man is coming” (Matt. 24:44). {eoa}

Ordained to the ministry in 1969, Gary Curtis is a graduate of LIFE Bible College at Los Angeles (soon to become Life Pacific University at San Dimas, California). He has taken graduate courses at Trinity College in Deerfield, Illinois, and Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California. Gary served as part of the pastoral staff of The Church on The Way, the First Foursquare Church of Van Nuys, California, for 27 years (1988-2015); and served for the last 13 years as the vice president of Life on The Way Communications Inc., the church’s not-for-profit media outreach. Now retired, Gary and his wife have been married for 50 years and live in Southern California. They have two married daughters and five grandchildren.

Spiritual warfare is a subject that Blake Healy consciously avoided writing about for a long time. Not because he was nervous about addressing it, but because he says he doesn’t want to give the enemy too much credit for his destruction in people’s lives—something he has seen many times before in print.

But, the director of the Bethel Atlanta School of Supernatural Ministry says, God showed him how to do it in a way that solely glorified God instead, and he has learned about the nature of spiritual warfare. The result was his new book, Indestructible, which teaches readers that they need to realize they are already fighting their spiritual battles from the winning side.

“I have a strong value for really focusing on God and focusing on what He’s doing,” Healy told Dr. Steve Greene on a recent episode of Greenelines on the Charisma Podcast Network. “A big part of my story is that, for as long as I can remember, I’ve seen in the Spirit angels, demons and other spiritual things.

“I was resistant to writing about spiritual warfare because a lot of times I’ve found it can be difficult to talk about it without doing something I really dislike doing, which is to focus on the enemy and what he is doing rather than the great things God is doing.

“Spiritual warfare is a part of what I see on a daily basis. I’ve noticed that there is a lot of fear when it comes to even talking about the demonic. The enemy steals, kills and destroys and he will try to get away with everything he can. …

“We need to posture our hearts and minds for personal spiritual battles as well as global spiritual warfare. We need to learn how to live from the victory that Jesus won on the cross and take our authority as Christians.”

For more of Healy’s thoughts on living an indestructible life, listen to the entire podcast.

Evangelist Kenneth Copeland says the coronavirus has been around for a long time, and that it has only been a “weak” strain of the flu in the past. But, Copeland says, it isn’t the coronavirus that believers should focus their attention and concerns on in this hour.

The coronavirus has killed more than 4,600 people worldwide in recent months, with more than 126,000 reported cases. Copeland took to the airwaves Wednesday night on Victory Channel and said the fear that COVID-19 has caused around the globe is much worse than the strain of virus itself, spiritually speaking.

“Fear is a spirit. It is an evil spirit, it is the spirit of death,” Copeland says. “But 2 Timothy 1:7 says it clearly that God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Forget about the coronavirus. It’s the flu.

“Fear is a spiritual force. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Well, fear comes by hearing and hearing by the word of the devil. Fear tolerated is faith contaminated. The coronavirus is a curse of the law.

“Fear is not OK. It is sin. It is a magnet for sickness and disease. The moment you begin to fear about anything, the devil goes to work on you. You are giving the devil a pathway to your body.”

Copeland cited Job 3:25, which says, “For the thing which I greatly feared has happened to me, and that which I dreaded has come to me. I am not at peace, I have no quiet, I cannot rest, turmoil has come.”

Copeland says the enemy is working overtime on God’s people in this hour to keep them in a state of panic. And the sad part, he says, is that people are succumbing to the spirit of fear instead of living in faith.

He said he heard that some pastors around the country are asking congregants not to come to services on Sundays, but to watch them at home via live streaming.

Copeland also cited Romans 14:22-23, which says, “The faith that you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because is it not from faith, for whatever is not from faith is sin.”

“Living in fear is simply a decision,” Copeland says. “Fear is not of God. Fear is faith in whatever you are afraid of. If you have fear of snakes, you have faith in that snake that he is going to harm or kill you.

“Who is the tormenter? It’s the devil. People are so tormented by this coronavirus that they’re going out and buying up everything in sight. People do crazy things when they live in fear. But I tell you, you’re just asking for the virus and sickness when you choose to live in fear, whether it’s the coronavirus or losing your job or anything else. You can be afraid of anything and bring it to yourself.

“We have shifted from spiritual thinking to carnal thinking. If you listen to people long enough, it will get through to you and control your life. If you’re afraid of something, it gets down in your spirit and controls your life. That is what has happened with this coronavirus.”

Copeland invites those who want to rid themselves of the spirit of fear to call his ministry at 877-281-6297. He is also giving away his booklet, Freedom From Fear, as a free digital download at Govictory.com/coronavirus.

Wednesday Coronavirus Developments

In a national address Wednesday evening, President Donald Trump announced a ban on travel from Europe to the U.S. for 30 days, beginning Friday at midnight, which will not include travel from the United Kingdom.

The National Basketball Association announced Wednesday that it has suspended its season indefinitely because a Utah Jazz player tested positive for the coronavirus. Also on Wednesday, the NCAA announced that fans will not be able to attend its championships, including the 2020 men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments amid concerns of spread of the coronavirus.

MSN.com also reported that actor Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Having grown up as a Messianic Jew, David Tokajer knows that most believers treat Holy Spirit as a “New Testament phenomenon.” But, Tokajer says, we must not forget that Holy Spirit can be found all over the Old Testament—a concept that many simply miss.

Two years ago, Rabbi Tokajer, the son of Charisma contributor Rabbi Eric Tokajer, began an in-depth Bible study to teach his congregation that idea and spread the message that Holy Spirit has been around since Genesis.

“Most of the teachings I have ever encountered on the Holy Spirit begin with Acts 2, and most of the body of Messiah focuses primarily on the New Testament, and that’s it,” Tokajer told Dr. Steve Greene on a recent episode of Greenelines on the Charisma Podcast Network. “There are nice, neat, little Sunday school devotional stories that are drawn out of the Tanakh, or the Old Testament, like Joseph and his coat of many colors, or Jonah in the big fish.

“Very rarely do we actually look at, within the greater body of Messiah, the Tanakh of the Old Testament, the foundation of what the New Testament is written upon. So if we’re looking at the book of Acts, or we’re looking at the Pauline letters, discussions of the gifts of the Spirit or the move of the Spirit, it’s important to understand that these were not concepts that were suddenly thrust upon the first century body of Messiah.

“These are concepts that have been a part of what God is doing among His people since the very foundations of time itself. And now, instead of on an individual basis, it is revealed in a corporate expression through faith in Messiah and through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Elijah had the mantle of the Holy Spirit. A double portion was placed upon him. And we see that Elisha did an even greater ministry than what Elijah did. His ministry was even greater through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

And, Tokajer says, it is the Holy Spirit that will eventually unite Jews and Gentiles.

“We can understand that the Holy Spirit wasn’t given to us to be a divider, but instead, to be a uniter,” Tokajer said. “We recognize that Jesus isn’t coming back for thousands of brides; He’s coming back for one. If we operated in that mindset of Holy Spirit, we can truly and completely change not only our lives and the lives of our families, but the world around us.”

For more about the Old Testament ideal of the Holy Spirit, listen to the entire podcast.