Churches open during Lockdown Level 3
Churches open during lockdown level 3: President Ramaphosa announced on 26 May that Churches can open from 1 June 2020.
The Church all over South Africa is elated at the reopening of churches, even though there are still strict measures in place to control church gatherings.
The opening of the Churches comes as a surprise to many, especially in the way that it was announced. The President, Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa had just 2 days earlier addressed the nation on the covid-19 lockdown regulations, which were relaxed country wide to lockdown level 3 right through all the provinces in South Africa.
He did not mention that Churches would be opened, but rather stated that Government was in discussions to reopen Churches. So when he on 26 May made a special announcement that Churches may be opened now it was really a welcome, albeit very late and long overdue concession by Government.
Christians have rallied since the start of lockdowns against the draconian laws of Government declaring that Churches are Non-Essential Services, Government oppressed and despised Churches, classifying them with shebeens and taverns, made the Church a scapegoat for the coronavirus spreading and has sublimely made the Church the enemy of the people through the mainstream media.
The damage in the public’s eye has already been done and now the President calls for a National Day of Prayer? While every prayer is desperately needed, Government’s hypocrisy is noted in the overall handling of the Church during the pandemic. No wonder the public has made outcry’s against the Church re-opening. Its because of the negative media time that Government has given the Church. Think about it , the President of the Country singles out onlyone Church in Bloemfontein where there was a so-called outbreak of the virus, as the reason for the spread of covid-19. Why did he not talk about the porous airports, the drunkards in the shebeens, the taxi drivers dispising the laws of the land as being the ones spreading the disease? Why did he single out ONLY a Church? It’s clear that the antichrist agenda was being pushed from all angles on all levels of society.
One wonders what God thinks about the actions of Government against the Church. No wonder God has forced Government to concede and made Government to open the Churches again. The Bible says “God is not mocked”, and when God arises, there is no remedy against Him. 2Ch 36:16 “But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.” God will rise up against those people who despise His Church, even if it is the so-called religious people themselves. And we can see the result now, Churches are open and Government cannot stop it.
What are the requirements for the opening of Churches?
The requirements for churches to reopen are strict and Government has asked Churches to comply with the rules and regulations set out regarding holding Church services under level 3 lockdown.
In summary it entails the following:
- Churches may reopen from 1 June 2020.
- Health and hygiene standards should be observed.
- Church gatherings are limited to 50 people.
- Social distancing must be observed, a minimum of 1,5meters between church congregants is permitted.
- Congregants have to wear masks.
- Places of worship must be sanitized.
- Screening of participants is mandatory.
- Congregants should wash hands and sanitize before Church services
- Other elaborate Lockdown regulations are to be onserved.
CoGTA Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma is quoted to say the following about the reopening of churches:
“Indeed, the virus, has challenged our ways as a society and our various cultures.
This is a time when we should all join in meditation, fellowship and prayer. Consequently, we will have a national-day-of-prayer, on Sunday, as announced by the President. This day must be observed in the comfort of your homes or through virtual means.
We have also widely consulted with the religious sector and are now in a position to categorise religious counseling as an essential services. This will enable the millions who have been affected by the virus, to receive this much-needed service, since the majority cannot afford professional attention of this nature.
We will also permit religious gatherings such as church services as of June 1, so long as health, hygiene and social distancing is observed. This means that we must maintain 1.5metres between the maximum of 50 congregants, should the chosen venue be able to accommodate such. We must all be wearing masks when we attend our places of worship, and the washing of hands or sanitization should be undertaken prior to worship.
Our places of worship must be sanitized, and the screening of participants is mandatory. The issued directions elaborate on the other protocols that should be observed.
Our lived experiences have shown funerals as high COVID-19 transmission vessels. Consequently, we will continue to limit the number of funeral attendees to 50. Provided the transportation, hygiene, health and social distancing protocols and guidelines are observed. The station commanders of all our police stations a charged with the duty to keep meticulous records with regards to the funerals and number of attendees.
Some Churches decided not to open?
According to the measures set, there will only 50 people be allowed in a service. Eeven though 50 people might not sound like much, 50 worshippers is already a mighty army in the spiritual realm, and should not be despised.
Some churches have however decided to still keep their churches closed since their congregations are too large and that only having services for 50 people is not conducive or practical enough to have a full blown church service. Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Should these churches not reconsider?
The spiritual significance of a Church to be opened, even if its only for 50 people, it cannot be underestimated. Spiritually, it sends massive signals in the spirit realm, and the Power of Corporate worship in physical presence cannot be ignored when one look at the Bible. The unity of fellowship as a unified Church, made the Church to grow so exponentially quickly in the Book of Acts. So if the Church wants to have bigger meetings, clearly it should now start with the smaller meetings. Look at the early Church example, even though persecution against the Church was rife (just like today during the covid19 lockdowns), the Church persevered in coming together in unity in greater ways:
Acts 2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
Act 2:45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
Act 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Act 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Everybody came together, and owned things together.
This is the example the Church should follow today. The Church will have to come together to be strengthened in unity in order to get the doors open wider to allow more people to gather for Church services, even to get Churches to open fully and functioning normal again.
If Churches however do not open now, what signal does it send in the spirit realm? Does it not show a lack of commitment and faith in the principles of the Bible? Jesus said in Luke 16:10 “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. “
So if you cannot even fight to open the Church for 50 people, how do you want to get your Church of 50,000 people back?
In the light of the Bible addressing this situation it is clear: Churches should make good use of the opportunity to open the doors of the Church and resume the activities of the Church without delay.
The Mainstream Media paints a picture that Churches are a place of infection
We know that Mainstream Media is not run by Christians and that their agenda is the opposite of that of the Bible. And the Mainstream Media has had a field day on reporting how risky it is to open Churches and focused on a few faithless so-called Church leaders who have opposed the reopening of Churches. The Church has been depicted by Government and the Mianstream Media as a place of infection, rather than a place of healing, this is while God has said the Church will be a place of healing.
The Psalmist clearly states in Psalm 67:1 To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song. God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
Psalm 67:2 That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
God is a God that brings salvation and health to the sick and the oppressed. That is why Jesus died and paid for our sins on the Cross. The Bible says Matthew 8:16 “When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: Mat 8:17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.”
Jesus came to take away people’s infirmities, not to make people sick! That’s the job of the devil according to John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
We know the thief is the devil who steals people’s health and money from them. satan’s antichrist is behind covid19 and his plan is to rush as many people to hell as soon as he can with the disease. In the wake of the disease he wants nations to become poor, bankrupt economies and dump people into poverty.
And the only thing that can save humankind is the Church, the prayers of the Church. In the spirit realm the unified prayers of the Church blocks and stops satan and his evil spirits from hell from taking innocent people’s lives. We can clearly see none of the so-called experts death projections have realised; and its due to the huge amounts of fastings and prayers that have been done during the lockdowns. It’s because of the prayers of the saints.
And that is why opening Churches is so important, to get corporate, unified, intense prayers and worship going on again. As the Church prays and worships God in unity, healing will come to the people, its a promise from God: 2Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
God WILL heal the people of the land when the people turn to Him.
So don’t be fooled by the Mainstream Media Fear reports which are Fake News saying the Word based living Church of Jesus Christ is a place of infection. That is how Hitler used the Media against the Jews and the Nazi’s started seeing the Jews as an infectious disease that had to be removed from society.
So Church of JEsus Christ, stand up! Open the Churches and heal the sick as Jesus commanded the Church to do: Mark 16:16 “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mar 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; Mar 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
Jesus Himself said the sick will recover by the laying on of hands. Either you believe it or not. If you truly believe it, then you will have to live and act your belief out. Make Churches the places of healing again that God intended them to be. If you don’t, God will hold you responsible.
God's Scriptural warning to Pastors that do not heal the sick in their congregation
The Church is a place of healing, and if Churches do not open, how can the diseased be healed?
Eze 34:2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
Eze 34:3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.
Eze 34:4 The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.
Eze 34:5 And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.
Eze 34:6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.
Eze 34:7 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
Eze 34:8 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;
Eze 34:9 Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
Eze 34:10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.”
Nationwide calls to prayer
If you are on a prayer group or would like to get your church involved in a nationwide movement in which the church is standing up, whether it be against unethical laws or corona viruses, please sign up here. 31 May 2020 is a National Day of Prayer. Please join the Prayer and make a difference.
The Christ Life Commission Church in Kempton Park has been praying for many years at unified prayer at 12 noon daily, and has stepped up prayers to include the Coronavirus pandemic in the daily prayers. Prayer warriors from all over the world join the daily prayer. A call is made to all Christians to join the prayers and bring about a change to the situation SA and the world finds itself in.
The Good News in all these uncertainties is that, as the Church prays, miracles happen and circumstances change. None of the so-called “expert’s models” have realised anywhere in the world. Its because of serious prayer. When the Church applies the Word, Good will prevail. Acts 12: 5-11. The sooner the Church wakes up and rises to the occasion the better.
Be inspired and encouraged by uplifting music in a time of solidarity and listen to the testimony covered in the song that destroys enemies: “I raise a hallelujah” by clicking here.
