March 11, 2011

Earthquakes and Tsunamis

Blessings folk!

Pray for Japan and those that live in the Pacific “circle of fire” region.

As you have likely heard by now an incredibly powerful earthquake struck Japan this afternoon around 3 p.m. An 8.9 on the Richter scale.

This is one of the 5-7 most powerful earthquakes every recorded.

There have been several earthquakes of late...one in Japan...several in Arkansas… many around the Pacific realm.

We know these are to be expected.

Some of the disciples had ask Jesus a couple of questions…

Matthew 24
3 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"

Now, give heed to the Lord’s answer. I’ve been covering this the past several weeks on the television program “Answers” (hope to have the episodes posted online by next week).

Matthew 24
 4 And Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads you.
 5 "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many.
 6 "You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.
 7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.
 8 "But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

Note that there are some things in which we are responsible.

We are to see to it that no one misleads us.
How?
We must know the Word of the Lord.
We must abide in the Lord.
We must be filled with the Spirit

We are to see to it that we are not frightened.
This is accomplished by trusting and resting in the Lord.
Anything else will lead to fear

There are things which we can not control, but which we are to be aware.

There will be wars and rumors of wars...but that is not yet the end.
Nation will rise against nation - ethnic group against ethnic group.
Kingdoms against kingdoms.
There will famines.
There will be earthquakes.

Earthquakes will increase.
Yes, a portion of this is due to our ability to detect and to communicate about such.
But, there has been a tremendous increase in the actual number of seismic events in the past century.

Such is to be expected.

What are we to do?

See to it no one misleads you.
Fear not.

Then, watch this…!

In the parallel passage found in Luke 21 several other things are emphasized.
Read this.

Luke 21
10 Then He continued by saying to them, "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom,
 11 and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
 12 "But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name's sake.
 13 "It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony.

There will be even greater earthquakes then we have ever experienced.
We will be persecuted.
But “it will lead to an opportunity for your testimony”.

Wow.

What are we to do?

Be ready in season and out of season.

2 Timothy 4
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
 3 For the time will come when they will not endure(H)sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires

But, there is more.

Luke 21
14 "So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves;
 15 for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.
 16 "But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death,
 17 and you will be hated by all because of My name.
 18 "Yet not a hair of your head will perish.
 19 "By your endurance you will gain your lives.

We as Believers are to make up our mind not to prepare beforehand to defend ourselves. Not our usual reaction. We normally seek to defend/explain ourselves.

The Lord tells us that He will give utterance and wisdom which will resist and refute those that oppose.

Why worry?
Why fret?

Finally, we see that we will be betrayed by those who we love the most.
Some will be put to death, yet not a hair of our heads will perish.
How is this?

We might die, but we will not perish in the second death that occurs in the lake of fire.

Hallelujah!

Therefore…when you hear of earthquakes and such…

See to it the no one misleads you.
See to it that you are not frightened, terrorized (Luke 21)
Be ready in season and out of season.
Realize that it will lead to opportunity to testify.
Make up your mind to be not prepared in the flesh, but rather in the Spirit.
Remember that by our endurance we will gain our lives…

Pray for…
Allyson in Japan
Don and wife in Hawaii
Cindy in Hawaii

Blessings!

Also, have just completed the videos for the study of “Amos - Prepared to Meet Your God” course. You can view them in a couple of places.

AlabamaPrecept Blip.tv
http://alabamaprecept.blip.tv/ Click on “Episode Archive” to find all videos.

JubileePrecept YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=A3A0D860C56884EB

dalemoore.tv
http://www.dalemoore.tv

Pass the word.
People want to know what is occurring. They need the Truth.