As I drove down the streets of Kingston Jamaica, it was Sunday morning. It was a strange Sunday. A Why? It was too quiet. There were four churches on this street, and there is usually a lot of noise and music, preaching and dancing. But now, there was only stillness. The organs, drums and microphones were silent and the pews were empty.

Everything we had come to expect from the church was now silent, every definition that we have made about ‘church- going’ was now in question.

The year 2020 has brought about a major SHIFT IN THE SPIRIT. God, under the cover of COVID19, is releasing His purpose. We are encountering the stopping of all things concerning the church, we are seeing it, we are experiencing it but do we know why? During the times of revival in England, during the Welch revival, everything stopped. Schools were closed down, bars were closed, sporting events were cancelled, the people were driven to the Mega revival meetings in the cities and the towns, the nation was locked down but the church was in full flow.

This time, we are again under lock down but this time we have been driven to our rooms, our home, for the wise we are finding the secret place alone with God. It is as if we are playing a game of soccer and the referee blew his whistle and the game came to a stop. I strongly believe God has a master plan beyond this pandemic. The world is dealing with it the only way they can, by running to and fro looking for answers and relief. Sadly, the church is following suit and is running after the world’s agenda, to find a natural solution to a spiritual situation.

Why is this a spiritual situation? God has not sought to give the church any remedies or answers to the pandemic question. That simply means for the church the pandemic is not the real issue, God is after something else. It will be a tragedy for the church if we find a vaccine and don’t hear from God. I believe God is wooing His bride in this very dark hour, under the cover of a major pandemic, God is courting His bride. On the night before His crucifixion, he lovingly broke bread with His disciples. Making them a part of Him forever as they ate bread and drank wine. There is a sound of the bridegroom’s return in our ears, but we can only hear when we still our hearts and get silent before Him.

Many will try to go back to how things used to be… but they will only encounter death, only those who move forward, they might be timid, a bit nervous or fearful, but even though fearfully, they are still moving ahead, like the four lepers in 2 Kings 7. If we go back into the city we will die, if we stay here we will surely die. But if we go forward we might die. Finding God will bring death to the flesh. Let’s get ready to go deeper in God at this moment because He is calling us and we can’t hear and respond unless we just, STOP! p

By Dino Nicholas A Maranatha Ministries International Pastor, Author, Leadership Counsellor and Church planter