We’re battling through hurricanes, floods, raging fires, earthquakes, mudslides, droughts, and so on, and so on, and so on.
I’ve been watching Christians across the United States as they debate back on and forth about the reasons why all of this is happening, especially in America.
Everyone’s theological and end-times views are being spewed forth as the opinions range from “This is the end of the world” to “Jesus rebuked storms, so we need to stand up and speak life and not death in the same manner as Jesus.”
We do not seek to enter into the debate, but we will attempt to give you some perspective and a few things to consider in the midst of your own internal struggle to sort out the meaning of what’s happening to America and the world.
This past Sunday, 9/10/17, Carol and I were absolutely led by the Spirit of God to exhort a small rural congregation in south central Pennsylvania from 2 Chronicles 7. Many Christian Believers are familiar with this segment of the Bible especially because of verse 14.
“.....if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. “
All we knew was that we were instructed to declare that this is a time of repentance on the part of God’s people. We did not attempt to explain the three active hurricanes, the very recent earthquake in Mexico, or the raging fires in Oregon and California. We could not enter into the debate about God’s judgment and how it is carried out. All we knew was that God’s people are being called to repentance.
Carol and I delivered the message about Repentance; a message we later titled, IF MY PEOPLE. It was not a thought-out and pre-planned message. Lately the Lord has been leading us to read a passage of scripture and then allow Him to speak through us, spontaneously. I must admit that it’s very unsettling to go into a sermon without an outline and a plan.
The message went into things I would never say publicly. I don’t like being in the controversial side of the issues surrounding the debate on how Believers should respond to the outbreak of natural disasters. The debate is basically this: Should we be rebuking the storm and speaking life, or should we be preaching a message of judgment, or should we be preaching a message of repentance. The answer, during the unrehearsed message was YES!
In this season, it’s not about one message or the other. It’s about ALL of these messages converging on the United States, all at the same time. We need all three messages right now. However, we need to hear God’s voice and discern which message needs to be given, to whom it should be given, where it should be given, and when it should be given. We can give the wrong message, to the wrong person, at the wrong time. So what is the right message, to the right people, at the right time?
There are some people who need a message of life and blessing because of all they have gone through. There are others who need a message of judgment because the day has come for them to reap from the pain and trauma they have caused. Still others, like the Church in America (Believers and Followers of Christ) who need the message of repentance for their indifference to social issues, the poor, the widows, the orphans and the disenfranchised.
After presenting this message of repentance on this past Sunday morning, God confirmed it with such a heavy anointing of His presence that no one could move at the end. The pastor got up and publicly repented for some unforgiveness that he had in his heart toward some people in the business community. God confirmed the word with signs and action.
