I’ve been asked recently, “How should we prepare for the
upcoming hard times in our nation?” The topic comes up a fair bit in one form
or another.
I started to reply to the individual who asked this one, but
there are several folks with questions on this topic. Here’s what I observe on
the topic:
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No single prophet will have all the insight on
this (or any other) topic. Father promises to reveal his secrets to “the
prophets” not “to each prophet.” I won’t have anything close to a complete
picture. Having said that,
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It’s not the prophet’s job [ever] to replace
your hearing from God yourself. Take what you hear from the prophets to God to
get your instructions for your own situation.
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I believe that fear is the primary danger ahead
of us: the enemy is making a pretty strong focus on this sin, trying to drive God’s.
If believers resist that temptation, we’ll be positioned to get the rest of it
right. (This means, of course, filtering what we listen to, and HOW we listen
to it.)
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It’s my opinion that the disaster
prognostications flooding the media are fear-based, and are in error, if only because
they’re based on fear.
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While God is calling some of his children into
the prepping community, “prepping” is not the answer. Luke 12:20-21 applies to
those who, because of fear, store up all they’ll need to survive Armageddon: I
don’t believe that’s actually possible; if we knew all that we needed to store
up, that violates the First Commandment, and God has promised to not permit
that. (Note: the “first commandment” is more of a threat than a commandment: “You
will not be able to have any other gods before me: you set ‘em up & I’ll
knock ‘em down!” [bit.ly/1nn65Rm])
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I personally believe that the epic disasters of
Matthew 24 and the Book of Revelation are clearly behind us, not in front of us
(that is perhaps another conversation, and others believe differently). Nevertheless,
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That does NOT mean I see blue skies and
butterflies. Someone really smart said, “In this world, you will have
tribulation.” I suspect that’s related to the fact that we are engaged in the
greatest war this universe has ever known. It’s NOT “good vs evil.” It’s about
the Kingdom of Heaven
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It is my opinion that the most critical things
we can do are in John 2:5 (“Whatever He [Jesus] says to you, do it.”) and Hebrews
12:1&2 (“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of
witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily
entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing
our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before
him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of
the throne of God.”) Key: fix our eyes on Jesus. Having said that,
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This does not mean “Don’t prepare.” It means
look at what Jesus is doing and do what he says. He has had me make SOME
preparations (we have gotten out of debt, and we grow some of our own food on
our city lot, etc).
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I’m reminded of stories like Matthew 17:24-27 (and
we could choose many others!): It appears that Jesus is invested in
provisioning us. Which leads to,
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I believe we’re coming into a season where we rely
on the supernatural for our daily lives. We need to (and are, in fact,
beginning to) get used to miracles, so that we can multiply food or raise the
dead comfortably and consistently.
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Whatever troubles that come are an opportunity
for the Kingdom
of God
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Other people may be called to different
responses. I am clearly called to a non-political response, but Father has
specifically spoken to me about others whom He may be calling to be involved
with politics, or even with forceful resistance to evil. Their calling is not
my calling, but I need to not hinder them.
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The story remains unchanging: God’s goal for us
is still intimate relationship, his instruction is still to extend the kingdom,
by means of the Great Commission.
So what do you hear God saying to YOU about this season
ahead of us?
2 comments:
You actually worded what God has been showing me the last few days, maybe weeks; "I believe we’re coming into a season where we rely on the supernatural for our daily lives. We need to (and are, in fact, beginning to) get used to miracles, so that we can multiply food or raise the dead comfortably and consistently."
I'm also having an ongoing conversation with God about what is and isn't supernatural. There's the clear, 'obvious' difference between the things in the physical and the the things unseen, but what about love?
Basically just thinking out loud there, but I feel a shift coming there to what is defined as supernatural and what isn't.
Peace out.
I agree with the above comments. Thanks for keeping the theology out of it, as that would marginalize your audience. Relationship with our Creator, and obedience to Him is crucial, and His perfect love casts out fear, even during this time when we don't have all the answers to our questions.
So sorry that our brothers and sisters in many countries are becoming martyrs for their faith. We were told to pray for them as though we are there with them....
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