The pandemic is here! Nations are in crisis! The world is being shaken!
We are witnessing something that is literally unprecedented. Joel 1:2 aptly says, “Hear this, you elders, give ear, all you inhabitants of the land! Has anything like this happened in your days, or even in the days of your fathers?”
Every sphere of society is being shaken to its core and foundations. Sports events are being cancelled or postponed indefinitely. Air travel is coming to a standstill. The political and economic arenas are facing turmoil. The entertainment world is not spared either.
Haggai 2:6-7 says, “For thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the LORD of hosts.”
We are literally and definitely experiencing the Haggai 2 shakings though not in its fullness.
WHO declared the coronavirus a pandemic for the first time on 11 March 2020, saying that Italy and Iran are now on the frontlines of the disease and other countries will soon join them. WHO is deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of the spread and its severity, and also by the alarming levels of INACTION by many nations.
We the people of God must not be quick to point our fingers at the governments of nations. The question of the hour for us is: Are we as passive, unresponsive and inactive in our response to God in prayer and fasting? As people of God, we can do and respond much better by God’s grace.
In light of the global pandemic and the call by Lou Engle for a 3-Day global Esther Fast (18-20 March), IHOP – One Thing Ministries is calling for 5 days of fasting and prayer from 16 – 20 March to stand in the gap like Esther did in her day.
It is at this critical time in human history that the Lord is looking for ones who will hear Him and respond to stand in the gap in the midst of crisis. Esther 4:14 says, “Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
It is time for each person to arise and be counted in this hour. It is time to leave “business-as-usual” behind. It is time for His people to awaken to earnest prayer and fasting. May God grant us the spirit of the sons of Issachar, so that we will have understanding of the times and know what to do (1 Chr. 12:32). Let us rise up in such a time as this, responding to His call to rend our hearts and gather for Joel 2 sacred assemblies.
THE MEASURE OF OUR RESPONSE HAS TO EQUATE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE CRISIS!
Fast Focuses:
- Return to WHOLEHEARTEDNESS
- Walk in HOLINESS
- Humble ourselves and turn from our wicked ways
- Stopping of the current COVID-19 pandemic
- Breaking in of the Holy Spirit
- Unprecedented prayer and unprecedented harvest
For those who want to join us, we urge everyone to fast in some measure during these five days. It can be an Esther fast (no food, no water – but for not more than one or two days), full water fast, full liquid fast, or Daniel Fast etc., and also come to the House as often as possible to engage in prayer!
Our response should not be one of praying and hoping that this pandemic will be over so that we can return to life business-as-usual. We want to rend our hearts to respond with the sustained Joel 2 Lifestyle that God requires of His people!
