PROPER RESPONSE FOR THE CHURCH TODAY IN THE MIDST OF THESE DAYS OF EVIL, SIN AND UNBELIEF
I am left in a full state of emotions on these uncertain days. There is much that hangs in the balances for today, for tomorrow (the Lord permitting) and definetly for all eternity for the souls of men. An improper response between man and God will lead to God's proper response. God does not make mistakes, nor false judgments or justice. Understanding this truth is needful in our day, God is right in all His choices and actions. He is holy; He is without sin; He is perfect, there is no folly within Him or about Him; His ways are just and correct, and He judges by His Own righteous ways and knowledge.
Men cannot say this of themselves. Men's ways are full of rebellion, mistakes, missed moments, blown opportunities, sin, great evil, dire circumstances, darkness in wisdom and this all leads to regrets. Vance Havner once said in a sermon, 'the 4 greatest tragic words in the English language: "What Might Have Been"'. We are there brethren; we are at the tipping place for our nation, for the state of the church and for the hope of our children and grandchildren's future. The day of our calamity is at hand.
The hope of revival is always present. Revival is God's soveriegn act of mercy upon a wicked people. And, just as today, where there is so little light, in days gone by when such darkness covered the land, God came down. Yes, that is exactly what is needed today, for God to come down in mercy and quickening of His people once again. Without revival there is no hope for the future. REvival deals with sin as is proper in the sight of God. Real confession, real repentance, real yieldeness is the fruit of revival. It is the verse, 'godly sorrow that worketh repentance.'
If this does not happen, then the sin that is rapidly multiplying is continuing to mount up and face the full wrath of God. God in His justice must meet the sin of the land and the failure of the church to deal with it. As one preacher said it, 'If God doesn't judge America, He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.' And that was spoken over 30 years ago. This is why we need a PROPER RESPONSE TODAY FROM THE CHURCH.
This is designed to address these things and teach and set the mandate for a proper response here and now. Without it, we are destined to bring a fit of wrath and judgment unparalled upon us. Everything is at stake; every souls is in jeporady; and we are left to give heed to these words for His glory to be borne to the nations.
Now before we address the issues at hand and set the 'Proper Response' from the church, we will look and examine the opposite side. Many times the opposite response gives a clear definition of what is being explained and declared. Let us look first at what would be classified as 'An Improper Response' of His people and the land.
Improper response is that which should not be considered or done by the church. It is false in its response to sin, and failue to meet that which God has spoken as acceptable. The action may be right, but the intent or motive by it, could be considered by God as improper. IN such times, this is God knowing the heart and intent of the person or people. For example, Israel would pray, offer sacrifice and declare His ways. YEt, God found, that those these things were proper in their response, their hearts were not right in it and that voided it; made it improper unto Him. 'You profess Me with your mouths, but your hearts are far from Me.'
IMPROPER RESPONSES FROM GOD'S PEOPLE:
- apathy; distractions away from God; roaming eyes during service; yawning/bored/uninterested; callous; children playing (in revivals even the youngest of children were attentive and partaking of the worship); rolling eyes in response to truth and biblical principles (an outward response of the inward acknowledgements); sighing out of disgust; a spirit of unbelieving; a spirit of the world;
These are descriptions of reactions and responses to such times of gatherings, preaching and congregated for worship.
A few verses reveal an improper response by the people to the man of God:
Genesis 6 - Noah is called to foretell the destruction; the people in seeing after days and months that nothing was happening, they settled down and continued a state of wickedness; Not that there was ever any indication tthat they ceases. But I would imagine that some sat around in wonder and curiosity to see if anything would happen. But when nothing happened they quickly returned to their folly.
Numbers - the children of Israel rebel against going up to take the promised land, due to the evil report by the 10 spies; and after God says they shall not inherit the land for their unbelief but remain in the wilderness for 40 years, they further disobey God and say they will go up and take it. Moses tells them that God is not with them, nor for them and that they will be destroyed. They refuse to listen and go on and get defeated by the enemy. An improper response here is the rebellion and disboedience when God is clearly speaking.
Amos 6:6, '. . .but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph'; no sorrow or anguish over the sins of the people;
Amos 7:12, 'they tell the prophet to leave and the result follows in verse 17;
Addressing the current problems:
Sin - our first understanding should parallel Daniel 9; In this passage of Scripture Daniel identified the reason of Israel and Judah being removed for Jeremiah's prophecy of 70 years away in captivity. He reveals this in verse 5, 8, 11, and 15: "We have sinned against You, O Lord".
the state of the church
the state of the family
the state of our nation - we see a nation with the greatest of potentials to be the supreme, dominated nation in the history of the world if only it would surrender unto the way of Christ. Christ first, Christ last and Christ always! However, we see a nation that was rooted and founded upon Christian teachings and Biblical knowledge and application, now having forsaken that way and embracing the evil of humanism, love of self and greed. Seeing the truth of our present condition and what the future is shaping up to be, may be the response we need to say, 'we can't travel this road any more'.
I believe that there are more people looking to the near future and are very worried about it. It seems for a long time we had blinders on, and it was only about here and now for many. the majority of the population is still submerged in this way of life. The root cause of this for many is 'busyness'. Schedules, appointments, calendars are filled with day to day inventions. And these are not church, spiritual activities, they are vanity and rule the time God has given and granted to us. It is in a huge majority of percentage about self and not God.
But there is a voice of some that you hear making the cry about tomorrow and especially the all-importnat issue, eternity. 'Only one life, twill soon be past and only what's done for God will last. . . .and then my Lord to meet. . . ' And what was yesterday? what is today? what about tomorrow? except steps towards eternity forever.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Friday, October 19, 2012
PRAYING STRATEGICALLY
I am re-reading the biography of Rees Howell by Norman Grubb. And right before World War II began, God began to work and lead Rees Howell in a world wide ministry of prayer for the nations. We also know by study that God also prepared China before World War II through the labors, tears and prayers of such men as William Burns; Hudson Taylor and China Inland Mission; John Sung; Jonathan Goforth and Watchman Nee.
The church in China is still thriving today, despite persecution and communist rule for over 60 years. The exploits, prayers and labors of these men are recorded for us to understand that God knew and knows world events and was preparing His people for these days in such extrordinary fashion.
Now Rees Howell was being led to prepare for a 'Every Creature' commission. And in this he saw and planned for 'PRAYING STRATEGICALLY'. "their prayers became strategic. They must face and fight the enemy wherever he was opposing freedom to evangleize. God was preparing an instrument - a company to fight world battles on their knees."
The following are ways that I see in my own prayer life God speaking, leading and opening channels for me to pray over the world. It is my prayer in sharing some of these things that you might be helped, encouraged and willing to join in this call of prayer for our Lord to be glorified in all the earth.
Things that I pay attention to and incorporate into my prayer life:
1. WEATHER
Weather is a factor any given day. The weather channel is a one resource on this. Not simply to know my local forecast but keeping up with storms across the nation. Weather is constant indicator of God's hand no matter what time in the year.
another venue for seeing this is on NOAA, National Weather Service for they have a 'drought conditions' which has been promenient the last 18 months in regions of the south around Atlanta; Arkansas over the summer months and the main region of the central plains states currently in 'exceptional drought'.
Also to watch during season is hurricanes.
Tornadoes flare up in the spring and the last several years have produced 'record' destuction.
This is the key term to watching and observing this for prayer interest: 'historic', 'record', 'destructive'. It is that which is accentuated above the norm and should require our observation. And at least to ask, 'why is this happening?' 'what is significant about this?' 'why this area?' You may not get an answer for those type of questions, but God does not do, nor allow things by chance or accident. It is always purposeful and pointed for His Divine will and ways.
2. EARTHQUAKES
Earthquakes are a norm for any given day. Multitudes of earthquakes happen each moment all around the earth. The website of USGS reveals each moment of the world and where, when and what magnitude of earthquake registers. The increase of destruction, because it is so sudden and power as we saw last year in Japan and the fallout still impacting. Praying for the given moment and the response that follows is necessary.
3. NEWS HEADLINES
A news headline reveals immediate occurrences from around the nation and the world. A headline catches our attention to announce. That announcement should produce an effect inside of us. Healines that reveal God's judgment are 'eye' opening things to cause us to respond to the need at hand. And to see the spiritual implication from which it was generated.
4. MAPS
I was blessed with a shopping trip into a unique children's toy store. In that store I found table place mats of all the contients of the world and a world map of the nations. I bought them for the simple use of praying over regions, nations, areas and people. The news headlines help me locate and know that area. Strategic praying of the world is needful to know geography. My, how I hate for people to say that they hate geography. That is God's creation, His design and it helps us to see globally His kingdom to spread to the areas.
The church in China is still thriving today, despite persecution and communist rule for over 60 years. The exploits, prayers and labors of these men are recorded for us to understand that God knew and knows world events and was preparing His people for these days in such extrordinary fashion.
Now Rees Howell was being led to prepare for a 'Every Creature' commission. And in this he saw and planned for 'PRAYING STRATEGICALLY'. "their prayers became strategic. They must face and fight the enemy wherever he was opposing freedom to evangleize. God was preparing an instrument - a company to fight world battles on their knees."
The following are ways that I see in my own prayer life God speaking, leading and opening channels for me to pray over the world. It is my prayer in sharing some of these things that you might be helped, encouraged and willing to join in this call of prayer for our Lord to be glorified in all the earth.
Things that I pay attention to and incorporate into my prayer life:
1. WEATHER
Weather is a factor any given day. The weather channel is a one resource on this. Not simply to know my local forecast but keeping up with storms across the nation. Weather is constant indicator of God's hand no matter what time in the year.
another venue for seeing this is on NOAA, National Weather Service for they have a 'drought conditions' which has been promenient the last 18 months in regions of the south around Atlanta; Arkansas over the summer months and the main region of the central plains states currently in 'exceptional drought'.
Also to watch during season is hurricanes.
Tornadoes flare up in the spring and the last several years have produced 'record' destuction.
This is the key term to watching and observing this for prayer interest: 'historic', 'record', 'destructive'. It is that which is accentuated above the norm and should require our observation. And at least to ask, 'why is this happening?' 'what is significant about this?' 'why this area?' You may not get an answer for those type of questions, but God does not do, nor allow things by chance or accident. It is always purposeful and pointed for His Divine will and ways.
2. EARTHQUAKES
Earthquakes are a norm for any given day. Multitudes of earthquakes happen each moment all around the earth. The website of USGS reveals each moment of the world and where, when and what magnitude of earthquake registers. The increase of destruction, because it is so sudden and power as we saw last year in Japan and the fallout still impacting. Praying for the given moment and the response that follows is necessary.
3. NEWS HEADLINES
A news headline reveals immediate occurrences from around the nation and the world. A headline catches our attention to announce. That announcement should produce an effect inside of us. Healines that reveal God's judgment are 'eye' opening things to cause us to respond to the need at hand. And to see the spiritual implication from which it was generated.
4. MAPS
I was blessed with a shopping trip into a unique children's toy store. In that store I found table place mats of all the contients of the world and a world map of the nations. I bought them for the simple use of praying over regions, nations, areas and people. The news headlines help me locate and know that area. Strategic praying of the world is needful to know geography. My, how I hate for people to say that they hate geography. That is God's creation, His design and it helps us to see globally His kingdom to spread to the areas.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
THE CUP OF WRATH
THE CUP OF WRATH
Mark 14:36, 'Abba, Father' Oh, the cry of a Son to His Father. And a cry from this son in the faith to my Heavenly Father. 'all things are possible unto Thee; take awy this cup from Me: nevertheless not what I will but what Thou wilt."
Matthew 26:39, "And He went a little further, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt."
26:42, "He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if this cup may not pass away from Me, except I drink it, Thy will be done."
Luke 22:42, "Saying, Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me: nevertheless not My will but Thine, be done."
Revelation 14:8, "And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." - And what do you drink out of? A Cup.
Revelation 15:1, "And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last palgues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God."
15:7, "And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, Who liveth for ever and ever."
16:19, "And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath."
Psalm 11:6
Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
Jeremiah 25:15, "For thus saith the Lord God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at My hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it. v. 16 And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them. v. 27, Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you."
Matthew 26:27, "And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them. . . "
The cup of wrath vs. the cup of blessings is before us in Scripture. As so many things are in paradox of the Scriptures, so we see the cup is also. Everyone wants the cup of Psalm 23, 'my cup runneth over' with blessings. But very few want to address the cup of wrath upon the nations, upon our nation, upon the church, upon our families, and yea, upon our very loved ones.
The Cup of Wrath
We see the phrase used in both Old Testament and New Testament. And neither brings joy to our heart, minds or lives. The cup of wrath we see illustrated for nations, and for individuals. I can literally see a goblet, being held and each drop that goes into it of a drink, of a liquid, is one drop closer to being full. And upon that fullness of the cup, it overruns and is poured out.
In Jeremiah we see the Scripture reveal that God makes the nations drink of the cup to internalize their place of receiving of His wrath that is gone out from Him against the wicked and evil. Oh, how dreadful is the wrath of God.
'It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Lord.'
'There is no peace, saith the Lord, to the wicked.'
'He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.'
And so we see that God sets Himself against such as chose their ownselves and sin over Him. And the response from a holy, just God is punishment against such that seek to make themselves god, instead of recognizing Him, as God. And this punishment comes through judgments, afflictions, curses, that represent a desire for God to receive glory and honor. If man seeks to rob God of His honor and glory, they literally seek to replace God. And God respons in fashion to undo this deception and lie and restore the first grace. If it cannot be restored and redeemed, then it is judged and sentenced to removal from God's presence forever. Eternity separated from God's mercy and grace; truth and light; love and favvor is Hell.
Hell is not only the punishment of God toward this wicked ones, it is separation from Him. It is not just the punishment on the soul through weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth; it is also separation from that which is good and right.
Mark 14:36, 'Abba, Father' Oh, the cry of a Son to His Father. And a cry from this son in the faith to my Heavenly Father. 'all things are possible unto Thee; take awy this cup from Me: nevertheless not what I will but what Thou wilt."
Matthew 26:39, "And He went a little further, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt."
26:42, "He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if this cup may not pass away from Me, except I drink it, Thy will be done."
Luke 22:42, "Saying, Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me: nevertheless not My will but Thine, be done."
Revelation 14:8, "And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." - And what do you drink out of? A Cup.
Revelation 15:1, "And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last palgues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God."
15:7, "And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, Who liveth for ever and ever."
16:19, "And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath."
Psalm 11:6
Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
Jeremiah 25:15, "For thus saith the Lord God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at My hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it. v. 16 And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them. v. 27, Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you."
Matthew 26:27, "And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them. . . "
The cup of wrath vs. the cup of blessings is before us in Scripture. As so many things are in paradox of the Scriptures, so we see the cup is also. Everyone wants the cup of Psalm 23, 'my cup runneth over' with blessings. But very few want to address the cup of wrath upon the nations, upon our nation, upon the church, upon our families, and yea, upon our very loved ones.
The Cup of Wrath
We see the phrase used in both Old Testament and New Testament. And neither brings joy to our heart, minds or lives. The cup of wrath we see illustrated for nations, and for individuals. I can literally see a goblet, being held and each drop that goes into it of a drink, of a liquid, is one drop closer to being full. And upon that fullness of the cup, it overruns and is poured out.
In Jeremiah we see the Scripture reveal that God makes the nations drink of the cup to internalize their place of receiving of His wrath that is gone out from Him against the wicked and evil. Oh, how dreadful is the wrath of God.
'It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Lord.'
'There is no peace, saith the Lord, to the wicked.'
'He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.'
And so we see that God sets Himself against such as chose their ownselves and sin over Him. And the response from a holy, just God is punishment against such that seek to make themselves god, instead of recognizing Him, as God. And this punishment comes through judgments, afflictions, curses, that represent a desire for God to receive glory and honor. If man seeks to rob God of His honor and glory, they literally seek to replace God. And God respons in fashion to undo this deception and lie and restore the first grace. If it cannot be restored and redeemed, then it is judged and sentenced to removal from God's presence forever. Eternity separated from God's mercy and grace; truth and light; love and favvor is Hell.
Hell is not only the punishment of God toward this wicked ones, it is separation from Him. It is not just the punishment on the soul through weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth; it is also separation from that which is good and right.
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