Wake up church !!

 02/10/2009

                         Counsel for the times!

A recent article in NBC headlined that the psychics are seeing a boost in their business due to the economic distress. Some of them even up to 70 %. Not that it has never been happening before, but it sadly reflects a growing statistic that people of the world (in States particularly) for whatever many different reasons aren’t looking to the church as a main source of light and hope anymore.

One of the main reasons being we haven’t had proper counsel during times of crisis to give to people in the past.

For example, when 9/11 happened the immediate news was that the churches were full and overflowing. However, did we utilize that opportunity properly? Did we give people the proper counsel for the hour? An honest look at the pathway we have taken from then on till now would show us that we have failed very badly. This is not to discredit the ones who stood up for the task. However, when the church by and large is unprepared for a time of crisis, then it becomes an almost impossible burden for a few to carry for long.

We are close to a similar situation like 9/11 but in a different setting and circumstance. The economic crisis has worsened during these times and a collapse is very well on the cards. When David Wilkerson and a few others talked about the coming economic crisis a few years back people ridiculed and joked at it. Now it is at the verge of reality. Is the Titanic sinking? Whether it will drown or not will soon be known.

In this current situation and a greater trial impending we as the church need to be prepared and ready to give hope to a hurting people. If revival is to happen in the States, the current situation is a very good opportunity. In that light we will look into several important factors.

The word of God is very clear that we are pilgrims and sojourners on this earth, and we ought to live that way. Our home and our treasure are in eternity. Today we have lost sight of this truth. The prosperity gospel most hold onto today hasn’t helped either. This has shifted our focus from the eternal to the carnal. When we are in such a place and there arises a crisis like this one, naturally we will be confused along with the rest of the world who are materially minded and carnal and not be able to give proper counsel.

During the Tsunami in Southeast Asia many lost everything in an instant. Homes, property and precious loved ones. It was a sober reminder that everything in this world is but passing and we carry nothing away with us. If we have stored up treasures in heaven, we have done well. Are we prepared to stand before our Lord on judgment day and give an account of our lives? When we do that will we hear Him say “well done” and then reward us? If we have been rich toward the world but not toward God, He calls us fools (The story of the rich man who stored up treasures in his barn.) However, it is not too late to change.

The Prophecy-2009 regarding the US is well on track to coming to pass. As a matter of fact, it could be interpreted as being fulfilled (the part mentioned below).

(In US great turmoil and confusion will arise. Is there a solution? Does the church have counsel for the hour? She is bending low trying to gather the scattered pieces. Her vision is marred with the dust of the earth. She needs to look up cast away her muddy clothes. For the Lord restores her vision and cleanses her from all filth.)
If we would notice here our vision is focused down below rather than on the Lord and up above. Church, we need to change our focus upward and towards the Lord and eternity if we are going to be of any use for the Lord this hour. If we think this current crisis will soon pass away; it is the beginning of many other sorrows and everything that needs to be shaken would be shaken.

When we have our eyes set on an eternal kingdom then no matter what happens we can tell people about the eternal kingdom and prepare them for it. This is what brings true peace, hope, source of strength and joy.

Some economists predict that the economy will get better. Some others say that it will get worse. Some say that the economy has hit rock bottom and so it will bounce back while others feel that it is a downward spiral and that is not the case.

Even with the stimulus bill being passed no clear outcome can be predicted. It is simply because a hundred to thousand things have to work well for the bill to even have some impact on the economy, save the clear problems in the bill by itself. While the bill hopes to create jobs that have been lost, has anyone considered how many jobs that could be lost from the present till then?

So, what happens to those people and what is being done in that regard? Even with the money being put into jump-starting the economy there are other sectors that badly need help. Even if everything goes through perfect the money still falls back to a great extent on people who have made bad decisions in the past. So, what is the guarantee that they will make the right decisions in the future? If the government is going to monitor the progress what are the setbacks to such a system?

If we try figuring these things out or try to reach a conclusion without God in the equation it is distressing. Also, if we are looking to what people are saying or predicting without hearing the Lord in these times we are going to be as little children tossed to and fro. We could also be in for great disappointments or surprises that we aren’t prepared for as a result.

One of the reasons for the questions above is for us to see the complexity of the situation and understand our need for God.

The other reason for such elaboration on the economy was for the purpose that we are not ignorant of the current events. On the other hand, we need to put them in their proper place and perspective looking to God as our ultimate counsel. If we don’t have the former, we can never properly relate and if we don’t have the latter, we will not have the much-needed counsel for the time and the hour. We need, not just an understanding of the situation but also the counsel from Lord for the situation. His counsel stands above every other.

In scripture we see that whenever a significant event such as this took place the prophets had already predicted it. Not only that they told us why it happened. When it was in regard to Israel (many times) it was for the express purpose that it (Israel) sees its mistakes, repents and turns back to God.

Now, if we as the church in America want to see a reversal to these events in our nation and God move in these times, we need to understand what God is saying through this time to us first and then to the nation. It is understanding why we have arrived here and doing the necessary to get back on track. Simply put in spiritual terms (other than what needs to be done in the natural) our sins were the reasons that led us here and we need to “REPENT” of them. When we cleanse ourselves then we can think of impacting our nation. Interestingly we have tried many other ways other than simple repentance. Here are a few ways we have tried without repentance.

1) We’ve bound principalities and powers that control our nation.

It is futile to take this approach when these same principalities have a legal hold on us due to our sins and the sins of this land. The are ‘sins that are reaching their fullness’ and to be ignorant of this and involve in such warfare will have disastrous consequences.

2) We prayed for a more Righteous President in McCain and then when that didn’t work, we are now praying for a sudden change in the present President.

Brethren when will we learn or grow up? We can’t plant a poisonous tree and when the fruit is about appear ask God for an orange fruit. It is against God’s Righteousness to answer such prayers. A lot of what is being fulfilled today and will be in fulfillment are as a result of the sins of several generations and the downward moral spiral.

If we want to see real lasting fruit to Godliness, then let us start from the roots. Let us repent. Let us start by repenting of our sins first.

Here are a few things we need to repent from.

1) Pride.

As a foreigner and now an American I think I am qualified to comment on this. For some time now America has been on the forefront spiritually and naturally. This has led to pride in many ways. It is no denying that we have developed a superiority complex. I’ve been a witness to this from both sides (as a foreigner and as an American). The Bible is very clear; God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. If we are going to start repenting of our sins we need to start by repenting of our pride first and in one-way how that has led us to look down on others. If we do not repent, we will reap what we have sown.

2) Love of money

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to discern where the problem is given the nature of the present events. If we have allowed greed and the love of money in us, then we need to repent of it. No matter how many leaves we have used to try to cover up our love for money with and no matter how beautiful and good they might seem on the outside God sees through all of it. He is asking us to repent!!

3) Sins we have allowed and tolerated in the church.

It is more than hypocritical when we have failed to deal with the sins amongst us but yet stand to point an accusing finger at the world. Paul’s writings to the church in Corinthians (in context) show that we have no business in judging the people of the world. This is what has made us a laughingstock in the eyes of the world. For sadly, our own sins have been exposed. In saying this I’m not discrediting people who have taken a stand for truth in these times. We need them. I’m just pointing out the imbalance in regard to dealing with our own sins.

4) Repent of our own failings and shortcomings.

5) Repent on behalf of our nation.

When we have repented of our own sins and have taken our proper place as a church then we can stand in the gap for others. When we do that then maybe God will show mercy and heal us!

Who is he that has counsel for this hour? Is he the one that has clean hands and a pure heart or is he the one whose heart is full of perdition and sin?

 

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