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The subject of ADDICTION reveals a wide world of perceptions and opinions. Some consider themselves to be “experts” on the subject because of personal experiences and connection into organizations designed to help “addicts” cope and/or escape their addictions.  Many find themselves justifying their behaviors by comparing their struggle to a lesser struggle.  And, many fall into a trap of blame-shifting, avoiding healthy, personal responsibility (humility).  Just today in the Staten Island Advance, we read on the front page, “Desperate addicts now targeting drug stores to get fix.” The article goes on to describe robberies on the Island with a focus on prescription drugs.  Such addictions motivate people to do things they never dreamed of when they were kids…stealing from their loved ones and threatening innocent store-owners, at times even taking their lives.  While this may seem extreme, it is becoming all the more common these days.

First, I want to briefly demythologize our common stereotypes of addictions. Society, including many Christians, assumes that this category is only for those who abuse alcohol, drugs, and pornography, to name a few.  However, a careful observation of the words habit and addiction reveal they are not terribly different and are certainly tied together for the purposes of beginning to understand this life-altering reality in all walks of life.

HABIT – An acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary

ADDICTION – to devote or surrender oneself to something habitually or obsessively.

Clearly, there is a distinction between innocent habits like watching too much TV or drinking too much soda (both can be harmful to your health, of course) and addictive items like cigarettes (nicotine), alcohol, drugs (crack, heroin), and Internet pornography, to name a few.  The issue here is not so much whether the addictive behavior is illegal or not.  For instance, while cigarettes are legal, it is clear they are lethal and self-destructive (as well as expensive).  I have yet to meet a person who loved their first cigarette.  In fact, for most, if not all, who find themselves addicted to a substance, the first encounter was in the context of some type of “peer pressure” and a desire to belong in a social group.  A simple “try this…” has been the beginning of the downfall of thousands who thought they could control “it.”

Most of us would look at the above examples, compare ourselves, and say that addiction doesn’t apply to us.  But, there are many kinds of addictions.  Any life-altering habit that steers us away from our God-given responsibilities and general God-given freedom can be defined as a metaphysical addiction (meta-physical – beyond the physical). In this context, work, money, TV, texting, Facebook, and food are just a few examples that can become unhealthy addictions…and they are all perfectly legal!  But, just because something is legal does not mean it is healthy and life-giving!  Read the following paraphrase carefully.

“Just because something is technically legal doesn’t mean that it’s spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I’d be a slave to my whims. You know the old saying, ‘First you eat to live, and then you live to eat?’ Well, it may be true that the body is only a temporary thing, but that’s no excuse for stuffing your body with food, or indulging it with sex. Since the Master honors you with a body, honor him with your body! Don’t you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don’t you see that you can’t live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body.” I CORINTHIANS 6:11,12,19,20  (MSG)

My Dad has used very helpful metaphors in past messages on Breaking Strongholds in our lives.  He refers to how a “toe-hold can become a foot-hold and before you know it becomes a STRONGHOLD.” I use the examples of monkeys, gorillas, and King Kong to illustrate the progressive nature of addiction. Think of how a monkey on your back (alias bad habit) can easily grow to become an 800-lb. Gorilla (compulsive habit) in your life.  I have noticed that those who have this Big Gorilla of a habit often ignore and even deny its very existence (thus, we have the AXA commercial with the Financial Advisory Gorilla being ignored by would-be clients). The problem is that the Gorilla doesn’t go away by simply acting like it is not there.  And, it is not long before that 800-lb. Gorilla (which is, by no means controllable in the first place) turns into a veritable KING KONG, with no seeming way of escape for the addictive prisoner.

In stark contrast to this, Jesus announces a freedom alert!

“THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND,TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED.”  Luke 4:18  (NASB)

In John 8:32, Jesus again boldly proclaims, “and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free.” And, further, in verse 36, “So, if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” This is not a promise to struggle through “recovery” for years upon end, but a promise of deliverance and maintenance of FREEDOM! The common cycle of recovery organizations can lead to help in avoiding substance abuse, but often never leads to true deliverance and freedom.  This kind of freedom can only be obtained by coming into a life-transforming encounter with Jesus Christ.  (If you haven’t been Born Again, then you are missing the key to what it really means to live free. Call us or email us anytime to find out what the Bible explains about this.)

So many today have bought the lie that they are independent and can handle any habit and/or addiction on their own.  God never intended that we be independent, but rather DEPENDENT on Him.  Many today find themselves in an unhealthy “codependency” on mere human beings, and an unhealthy “dependency” on things…all of which can be taken away at any moment.  The realization of this fact brings fear, anxiety, and even depression.

So, what is it that stands in the way of a life full of freedom the way God intends?  Last week, we heard a clear message from Dr. Henry Blackaby on the “Mother Of All Monsters…PRIDE.”  James 4 has some timeless wisdom that is key to gaining and maintaining freedom from anything or anyone that is in the way of a healthy, God-blessed life.

“GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”

⁷ Submit therefore to God^. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

It is well-known in the recovery movement that the first step in getting help is admitting one is powerless over their addiction.  But, this is not only true of the addict but of all of us!  We cannot expect to receive God’s help if we are acting like we are god, acting as the boss of our own lives.  God resists such pride and arrogance. On the other hand, He gives His awesome grace (the power and desire to do His will) to anyone who submits to Him.  Not only does He give His grace for whatever the need, but an added promise comes with it…if we draw near to Him, He will personally draw near to us!

Herein is the true essence of freedom…God is calling us to be addicted to Him, walking in a day-by-day relationship of intimacy, growing, and struggling in the right direction.  If we don’t focus our lives on cultivating our relationship with the Personal God of the Universe, we will find ourselves trying to replace Him with things and people.  This only leads to frustration, addiction, and despair.  To the degree that we are “addicted to the One and Only God of the Bible” is the degree that we will be free!!  Let’s all commit to walking in this freedom by connecting with God daily in an ever-growing, intimate relationship.

Check this out…advice from the Apostle Paul…

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” Romans 12:1,2  (MSG)

God wants to invade our lives…not with a set of religious rules…but with Himself!  Then, following His ways and principles become…a freedom walk!

God is the only One who can control our lives without destroying them.  Conversely, as He controls and molds our lives, we are living according to His blueprint and design, enjoying the daily joy of cultivating a friendship with Someone who can never be taken away!

So, then addiction is good…but, it is only good when addicted to Almighty God!

~May 2, 2010 – Pastor Tim Mercaldo

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In his writings, St John of the Cross, coined the phrase the “Dark Night of the Soul. “There comes to all souls, at least once in life, a severe test.  It is known as the Dark Night of the Soul. It is when we are beleaguered by darkness: spiritual and mental and where no hope seems to be near and everything we try to do is thwarted. It is where the soul is forced to persist and enter into the glorious Golden Dawn of Illumination and kinship with God, or relax into the dull slumber of a mediocre physical existence.  You cannot avoid it.  If this test hasn’t already come in your life — it will. How will you deal with it is as important as life itself.”

That was a description centuries ago, and it sounds very much like our 21st Century description of a “Depression.” That’s the “Monster Within” that we want to deal with in this message.

Depression is a “psychoneurotic or psychotic disorder marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty in thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal tendencies”

The National Institute of Mental Health now estimates that about one out of 6 adults suffer from depression. Although depression does not have a single cause, many things contribute to the feeling of depression. Gender may additionally be a contributing factor. Men are more prone to depression.

Depression is universal and no respecter of persons. It affects the rich, poor, all races, both genders, people of faith and atheists, young and old.  In fact, they have discovered that each age group has to face its own potential for depression. Children are increasingly diagnosed as depressed. What a monster!

What causes depression?  Sickness, rejection, divorce, job loss, disappointment, lack of self-esteem, unfair comparisons, ambivalence (feeling of entrapment or hopelessness), biological malfunction, the death of a loved one. I believe the hidden cause is SIN, whether due to fact that we live in a fallen world with fallen people, or that we just choose to disobey God and His Word.

No God, no peace. Know God, know peace!

What are some of the symptoms?

A) Physical- lethargy, apathy, loss of appetite, erratic sleep behavior, loss of sex drive, unkempt appearance, many physical ailments.

B) Emotional – sadness, weeps, hostility, irritability, anxiety, loss of affection, fear, worry, hopelessness. Many medical doctors believe that emotional depression is at the root of many physical ailments.

With the increasing awareness of depression and numbers of depressed people, doctors are trying new ways to treat people: Psychotherapy, Electrotherapy, even back to Shock Therapy, and the epidemic increase of Drug Therapy, creating great controversy today, especially in its use with children.

In his book, “RECLAIMING OUR CHILDREN,” Dr. Peter Breggin warns parents of the effects of drugs on children when prescribed by school psychologists and counselors for even the slightest “abnormalities.”

In every case, among doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, or pastors, using any form of therapy, there is total agreement on one principle, A DEPRESSED PERSON MUST BE AIDED EXTERNALLY.  He is inadequate to totally cure himself without getting help from others.

That’s ideal for Jesus to step in and do His work! Read what Dr. John MacArthur talks about in his book, “Our Sufficiency In Christ.”

“There may be not more serious threat to the life of the church today than the stampede to embrace the doctrines of secular psychology. Don’t be intimidated by its false claims. No higher knowledge, no hidden truth, nothing besides the all-sufficient resources that we find in Christ exists that can change the human heart.”

Yes, I understand why some people, even believers, may still feel they need visits to a psychologist, or the use of drug therapy, but through the centuries those Christ-followers who have applied God’s answers have found peace in Jesus Christ.  At least, why not try God’s way first!

Let me point you to God’s Biblical answer to depression. It is given in Psalm 42.  I want to share THREE STEPS the Psalmist took and taught to overcome the Monster of depression that is lurking within, attacking our mind, will, and emotions…

1 - MEMORY.  (42:1-4) “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”  These things I remember and I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go along with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God, With the voice of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival.”

The Psalmist was facing depression and despair in vs. 3: When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, (MES) “I wonder, “Will I ever make it—arrive and drink in God’s presence?” I’m on a diet of tears—tears for breakfast, tears for supper. All day long people knock at my door, Pestering, “Where is this God of yours?”

Isn’t it true? In a deep depression, when you need people most, they don’t — or can’t — understand what you are going through. They may even challenge you sanity, your stability, even your spirituality.  Then you begin to question it yourself.

But note how the Psalmist handles it (42:4: “These things I remember and I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go along with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God, With the voice of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival.’ (LNT) “My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be.”

Hebrew for “remember” means, think of, mention, bring to remembrance, recorder.” Think of it, he turned on the MP3 in his mind and started playing those old memories. He went back to those past experiences He had at church with the people of God in worship and fellowship; times of seeking and meeting God in His glory and power.

What memories do you recall when you get depressed?  What fills your mind when you go through the Dark Night of the Soul? What can you remember about those intimate times with God?

The Monster Within wins over depressed people if they have nothing Godly to remember!  A life that is lived with a close relationship with God is filled with memories of experiencing God, His Word, the fellowship of His Spirit within, and His power! How close are you to God today?

Even Believers can be defeated by this Monster! You can’t miss devotional times, prayer, Bible reading, church attendance weekly, small group, Christian fellowship, and win over depression.  The Psalmist knows the way to win, “Take courage my soul.  Do you remember those times, I was always at the head of the worshiping crowd, right out in front, Leading them all, eager to arrive and worship, shouting praises, singing thanksgiving—celebrating, all of us, at God’s feast!

It is so important that we engage in the Biblical discipline of memorizing the Bible verses, sections, even chapters.  In times of depression, the child of God can “bring to mind” the truth, the blessings, the experiences, the messages and teachings that they have in their SOUL (mind, will, emotions).

Are you depressed, downcast, sad, dejected and feeling hopeless? Well, commit to MEMORY the things of God you are reading and hearing now. Make new memories every day.

- David did it in Psalm 103:1-5, “Bless the Lord, O my SOUL….and forget not all His benefits.”

- Peter challenged the believers… (II Pet. 3:1)“I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord & Savior spoken by your apostles”

Start today to memorize God’s Word and see what happens when you face the Monster Within now, or in the “Dark Night of the Soul.”

2 - MEDITATE.  (Vs. 42:5-7) ”Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?  Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God—soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God.  When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse everything I know of you. Chaos calls to chaos, to the tune of whitewater rapids. Your breaking surf, your thundering breakers crash and crush me.”

Look at Satan’s counterfeits! He uses Eastern Mysticism to tranquilize the American, Western mind. Transcendental Meditation (TM) failed a generation ago. But look at what is taking center stage now: “Yoga Therapy is based on the premise that tight areas of the body are due to undigested emotional (soul) experiences. Hatha yoga was designed centuries ago to prepare the body for meditation. Yoga was first introduced by Swami Vivekananda in 1883, at the World Parliament of Religion.” Yoga unmasked is simply a form of Hinduism. If you practice it, you need to  know that it is a religious practice.  Base your decision on that fact.

Maharishi Yogi said, “TM will enable all men to find God within themselves.” But, the Bible says there is a Monster Within.  Jer. 17:9- “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it? The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful.” I warn you, it can’t be trusted apart from the Holy Spirit within.

“Meditation” is described as, “private devotion consisting of deep and continued thought and reflection on some deep religious thought.” Well, look at what the Psalmist “thought & reflected” on in his meditation. Not Eastern meditation’s emptying of the mind, but filling the mind and heart with the infallible, authoritative, eternal Word of God.  

Psa. 42:6- “When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse everything I know of you, Psa. 63:5 -“My soul is satisfied. I stay awake through the night, thinking about your promise. (MES) I eat my fill of prime rib and gravy; I smack my lips. It’s time to shout praises! If I’m sleepless at midnight, I spend the hours in grateful reflection. 143:5 - Remember the days of old. I ponder (meditate on) all your great works and think about what you have done.” That will make the Monster run!

Bill Gothard said, “Meditation is prayerful recitation of Scripture TO the Lord, with prayerful application.”  He proved its effectiveness personally in his own life. After failing grade after grade, someone encouraged him to meditate God’s way on God’s Word, and his life and mind was changed.

Tom Maharias believes that meditation on God’s Word restored his drug-destroyed mind physically as well as spiritually.

What does true Biblical Meditation involve?

a) MEMORIZE – Learning words, thoughts sections of Bible.

b) VISUALIZE – Picturing each important word working in us.

c) PERSONALIZE – Changing the pronoun “you” to “me”

d) VOCALIZE – Putting those Scriptures into melodies, songs.

e) ACTUALIZE – Putting into action what we meditate on.

3. MAGNIFY.  Psa. 42:8-11 (MES) “Then God promises to love me all day, sing songs all through the night! My life is God’s prayer. Sometimes I ask God, my rock-solid God. “Why did you let me down? Why am I walking around in tears? These tormentors taunting day after day, “Where is this God of yours? Why are you down in the dumps dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God. Soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God.”

No wonder there are so many depressed people.  Have you listened to the music filling their souls? Who cheats on his wife; who falls for another man; who is lonely, broken, depressed?

Think again of some of the causes of depression: -rejection  -disappointment   -ambivalence  – sickness –death; then think about “hoping in God,” and praising Him for His life-giving help.

Ephesians 5:18-20 (MES) “Don’t drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! (26 bottles of beer on the wall) Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ”

Depressed?  Turn on a gospel CD and fill your soul with the Jesus’ music and messages from the Word. How about singing the choruses you remember from church service this week?

Depressed soul today, you can defeat this Monster Within. Psa. 42:11 (LB) “O my soul, don’t be discouraged. Don’t be upset. Expect God to act! For I know that I shall again have plenty of reason to praise Him for all that He will do.  He is my help! He is my God!”

Listen, if I read my Bible correctly, we can have victory over depression.  But the victory begins in the first verse of that Psalm 42:1- “As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God.” Are you hungering and thirsting for God?  Jesus promises you will be filled!

Will you let Jesus help you to defeat this Monster Within?

Here’s my prescription for depressed people –Philippians. 4:4-9. Use it with the outline of this message.  It worked for me personally as I went through a “dark night of MY soul” in 1992, as God brought me through a depression.

If He did it for me, He can and will do it for you!  Go for it!

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When you “ignite” something, it means, “catch on fire, arouse an emotion, to ignite a fury, inflame, or instigate.” In this series of messages we have chosen four areas of our lives that we want to “ignite, to catch on fire!”

We spoke about igniting our passion for Christ, our compassion for the lost and needy, our vision for what we want God to in our lives, families, marriages, ministry, businesses.

Today I want to address how our FAITH gets ignited, aroused, inflame to a new fire and fury.  Anybody need his or her faith ignited?  I confess this is one of my most frequent prayers, “God renew and rekindle my faith, not just ordinary daily faith to trust, but the “gift of faith” that expects life changing miracles to happen in my life and your lives…in our marriages, families, ministries and our businesses.”

When I delved into this message, I didn’t know if I liked what I found in the Bible about igniting, inflaming, increasing my faith. I know our minds go first to Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (MES) “The point is: Before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ’s Word is preached, there’s nothing to listen to.”

That’s the part I knew about and liked, because I love the Bible and the enrichment that comes from reading, studying, and most of all, putting those truths into my life, marriage, family, work.

It’s when I got into it more diligently, that I discovered three ways God challenges, builds, ignites the flame of faith in us.

I. TRIALS – I Peter 1:6-7 (1211) “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Hey, wait a minute Lord. Here I am praying, desiring, seeking after a growing dynamic, miracle-working faith, and You send along trials!  What’s up, Lord.”?

Listen, Peter just didn’t pull this out of the air after eating some calamari & cream cheese.  He was bred and fed on this truth.

DAVID (Psalm 119:67  “Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word. (NLT) I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word.”

Listen to Paul Bellheimer, “Don’t Waste Your Sorrows”

“Is it difficult to receive injury from others without feeling resentment. Is is hard to suffer wrongfully without becoming cynical and bitter.  It is a problem to keep Love in the heart through all unkindness, ingratitude, misunderstanding, injuries, abuses, and grief’s. God may permit great personal inequity to come to one because it is one of the ways agape love can grow and eternal rank be enhanced. Trouble is a trust!”

Does God trust you? Don’t just count your blessings, but count your trials! That must be what James meant in (1:2-4) (MES) “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.”

Do you want your faith ignited so you can believe for miracles, answered prayers, breakthroughs in relationships, finances, sicknesses, and depressions? Well, get ready for Trials!!  Song, “Through It All”- “He only sent my trials to make me strong!”

Somebody said it well, “A faith that hasn’t been tested, can’t be trusted.”

(MES) “Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.”

II. TITHES – Malachi 3:10-12 (952) “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. “Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes,” says the Lord of hosts. “All the nations will call you blessed,

Let me address a great challenge we are facing today financially in this Recession (and it is) that has affected every industry and financial institution.  Yes, Christians have experienced hard times too, and it has affected the work of the Kingdom through at least a 30% drop American church giving.

There are only a few times in the Bible that God, the great Creator, condescends to invite us to “TEST” Him. One of those times is related to “tithes and offerings.”

Let me explain the “tithe” It is the Hebrews word for “tithe” is “the tenth.”  Throughout Scripture, the “tenth” is the one figure mentioned in relation to giving from Abraham, to Moses, to the Kings, the Prophets, Jesus and Paul.  Tithing is a “test of our faith” as well as our love and obedience.

In Genesis 26, God ignites the faith of ISAAC, in a time of economic depression, to obey Him, stay in the land of promise, and trust Him. Vs. 12 – “Now Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in that same year a hundredfold, and the Lord blessed Him, and he became rich, and continued to grow richer until he became very wealthy.”

I am not saying that when we sow or give we will always become wealthy, but I can say, we will not beg for bread,

The Bible teachers that “God is no debtor to anyone,” and that when we faithfully obey Him in our tithes and offerings, “God will supply all our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus.”

I believe God is waiting to ignite our faith as we “sow seeds of faith in the time of famine” as Isaac, & faithfully bring the whole tithe (10%) plus offerings in support of His Kingdom’s work.

Imagine how secure, how joyful you’ll feel when you faith is ignited by trusting your loving Heavenly Father, and obeying him in giving.  Even if you face a setback financially, it is a test of your faith, and remember “The proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor.”

Billy Graham, in his sermon “Partners with God,” says: “One of the greatest sins in America today is the fact that we are robbing God of that which rightfully belongs to Him. When we don’t tithe, we shirk a just debt. Actually we are not giving when we give God one-tenth, for it belongs to Him already (Lev. 27:30). This is a debt we owe. Not until we have given a tenth do we actually begin making an offering to the Lord!”

ILLUS. R. G. LeTourneau, was a Christian who had failed God in a time of financial testing.  He made $35,000 profit one year in the middle of the depression. Puffed up with pride, he withheld the payment of his $5,000 annual pledge to his church in order to reinvest it in his business, anticipating a net profit of $100,000.  After withholding of his tithe from God’s work, within a year his anticipated $100,000 profit was turned into a $100,000 loss. He was brought to his knees, and cried out to God. In the face of a $100,000 debt and no money for payroll, a thoroughly chastened and repentant LeTourneau pledged not only $5,000 to his church for the year he skipped, but also the same amount for the following year. His bookkeeper was ready to quit.  However, on his knees that day, God gave him a vision of a giant earth-moving vehicle that became the first bulldozer.  From that point on, LeTourneau’s fortune changed and within four years, he and his wife founded the LeTourneau Foundation the earnings of which financed evangelical Christian work worldwide, and eventually built a great Christian college in Texas.  At one time, his foundation was worth $40 million. His tithe of 10% turned into 90% as God continued to bless him. LeTourneau often said: “It is not how much money I give to God, but how much of God’s money I keep for myself.”

ILLUS. The Christian who tithes will be surprised:

(1) At the amount of money he has for the Lord’s work,

(2) At the deepening of his spiritual life in paying the tithe,

(3) At the ease in meeting his own obligation with the nine-tenths,

(4) At the ease in going from one-tenth to a larger percentage,

(5) At the ability this gives to be a faithful and wise steward over the nine-tenths remaining,

(6) At himself for not adopting the plan sooner!

III. TEMPTATIONS – I Cor. 10:13 (1147) “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. (MES) All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.”

Go home and read Hebrews 11, and you will quickly notice that every great person and action came when faith was ignited.  They were faced with temptations whether to trust and obey God or not.  Look at some with me:

MOSES (11:24-26) “By faith, Moses, when grown, refused the privileges of the Egyptian royal house. He chose a hard life with God’s people rather than an opportunistic soft life of sin with the oppressors. He valued suffering in the Messiah’s camp far greater than Egyptian wealth because he was looking ahead, anticipating the payoff. “

All JOSEPH had to do was give in to the temptation of sex with Potiphar’s wife, and he could have spared years in prison.  Hebrews 11:22 says, “By faith, Joseph…”

Oh, what DAVID and his family could have been spared if only he resisted the temptation of a night with Bathsheba (Psa. 51)

Let’s set this straight, God does not tempt us to evil. (James 1:13-14) “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.” (MES) “The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust.”

However, God may allow temptations to come our way, morally, emotionally, financially, even spiritually in compromising His truth, WHY? “You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.”

Bellheimer, “If failure works better than success to prepare a man for (Kingdom) rulership, you can be sure that God loves him too well to shield him at the expense of his “eternal weight of glory. The temptation of many gifted Christians is to aim and work for temporal success, and while the applause and praise comes to the successful person, the poet is right when he penned these profound words, “They only the victory win, who have fought the good fight, and have vanquished the demon that tempts us within!”

Some of you are facing temptation to give in to sin right now! It may be selfish ambition, compromise (Youth), and disobedience to God’s Word. Please let that temptation IGNITE your faith to grow & become stronger. Remember what Peter said, “When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.”

Want to see your faith ignited today? Listen to Laura Snow, as God speaks through her poem, “This Thing Is From Me.”

“My child, I would have you learn when temptations assail you, and the “enemy comes in like a flood,” this thing is from Me, that your weakness needs My might, and your safety lies in letting Me fight for you. The sting will go as you learn to see Me in all things.”

William James said, “If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.”

Are you going through a stormy time in your life, marriage, family, and business? Listen, your faith can be ignited by the trials you are facing, by the financial challenges you are experiencing, and even by the temptations you are battling right now.

Here is my advice today, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”

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Our Founding Fathers had a glorious dream. They saw a nation being born and people living on this Earth with certain unalienable rights such as life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness. Those early Pilgrims landing on Plymouth Rock were greatly influenced by the Protestant Reformers of the 16th Century, who believed that God was finished with Israel as His Chosen people.  They sincerely believed that this new land, New England, was now the chosen heir to the blessings God had promised to Israel.

Toward the end of the 19th Century the voices of the Orthodox Rabbis and Evangelical preachers were heard, creating new interest in the Biblical promise of a restored Israel in the Holy Land.  First, the Balfour Declaration in 1918, and then the eventual rebirth of Israel as a nation in 1948. The rest is history. Most Evangelicals believe that the unfulfilled promises made to Israel in the Bible, will be fulfilled in the Last Days. America is not the new Israel, or Washington, DC, the New Jerusalem of Revelation.

Well, then, what about America in the Bible prophesies?  Let me review some of the theories about America in prophecy:

1- The Coastlands – Ezekiel 39:6 -“And I will send fire upon Magog and those who inhabit the coastlands in safety; and they will know that I am the Lord.  (LGPE)  “Coastlands were designated as the great Gentile civilizations across the seas which were usually settled along coastlands. This could be referring to the future islands of the Western Hemisphere” (America?)
Isaiah 66:19-20 “I will set a sign among them and will send survivors from them to the nations: Tarshish, Put, Lud, Meshech, Rosh, Tubal and Javan, to the distant coastlands that have neither heard My fame nor seen My glory. And they will declare My glory among the nations. “Then they shall bring all your brethren from all the nations  to My holy mountain Jerusalem.”

2-Restored Babylon – Revelation 18:1-3, 10, 17-18 “After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority and the earth was illumined with his glory. And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons…. “For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality (10) Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come (17) And every shipmaster and every passenger and sailor, and as many as make their living by the sea, stood at a distance, and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What city is like the great city?”

Is this a possible new Babylon that reports say is in process of being planned for in Iraq?  Could it be NYC, and is 9/11 a preview of future?

3-The Eagle – Some see America’s presence in the End-times scenario as identified with the eagle mentioned in Bible.  Is that why the Founders chose the eagle as the symbol of the new nation?

4-Revived Roman Empire – Is America’s place in prophecy linked to a Revived Roman Empire in today’s European Union?  Our roots certainly go back deep into Europe.
Remember Daniel’s vision of Empires in Chapter 2 – Babylon-gold; Medo-Persian-silver; Greece-bronze; Rome-iron/clay; and the final Divine Kingdom-a stone cut out of the mountain that crushes all others.

Of all the theories, I believe the key to understanding America’s role in prophecy is its relationship to a Revived Roman Empire, or the present European Union.  Before Christ returns, the focus will shift to Europe in preparation for “Antichrist’s” rise to power. Many believe he will rise out of the new Confederation of a United Europe.

If this is a possibility, then it is worth exploring as we see what is happening in America today.  Can we still sing with pride, “America, the Beautiful?”

Let’s look at some of the current issues to WATCH in 2010.  Now, just in case some of you think I am getting “political” you are right, for I see much of what is happening in Washington and America today directly related to the signs Jesus spoke of, particularly in Matthew 24:12-“Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.”

Paul warned in II Tim. 3:1-7 -(MES) “Don’t be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people. Depressed by their sinfulness, take up with every new religious fad that calls itself “truth.” They get exploited every time and never really learn.”

If there is one thing I don’t want believers to be is ignorant and uninformed about the issues facing America today.  Let’s explore some:

1. STATISM:

“Statism” is the belief that the civil government (man) is the ultimate authority in the earth, and as such is the source of law and morality.  The state defines what is right or wrong, lawful or unlawful, moral or unmoral. The state becomes the “de facto” god of the society. As Roscoe Pound, Pres. of Harvard Law School in the 1920’s said, “The state takes the place of Jehovah.”

Listen, this is the worldview held by our present Administration, the Senate and House majority.  That’s why 4,000 babies a day are being aborted (slaughtered), why same-sex marriage is supported, why spending is out of control, why taxes and inflation will skyrocket in the next few years, why our Government is moving toward a European style socialism (the State taking the place of the individual in determining his destiny), why a soft tyranny could take the place of liberty.

Stephen McDowell (Rendering To Caesar The Things That Are God’s)“The fruit of socialism is loss of liberty, loss of prosperity, and loss of the ability for the Church to disciple the nations. A statist gov’t will suppress Christian involvement in gov’t, education, and social life. While civil gov’t is a divine institution with an important purpose, it is very limited in what it is supposed to do. It basically is to protect the life, liberty, and property of its citizens. Many people look to the state to meet their needs from the cradle to the grave, to bring peace and utopia on earth, to help them in times of trouble, to solve their problems, to care for them in sickness, to control and regulate all things.  We as a nation have given over to the state many of the responsibilities that God says belong to the individual, the family, or the church. Liberty is freedom to do God’s will.”

2. ECONOMY – No issue probably threatens the long-term interest of our families and future like the burgeoning national debt. If America goes bankrupt in the next ten years, we won’t have to worry about the debate that caused many minority American Christians to vote for a President they thought would focus on Social Justice over Moral Issues like abortion and same-sex marriage. We will have not money to give anyone Medicaid, Welfare or Food Stamps.  Could it happen?

SHAKESPEARE said, “Neither a borrower nor a lender be.”

APOSTLE PAUL said, Romans 13:8- “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another.”

CAL THOMAS said, “The Obama Administration is bankrupting our future, all in the name of taking care of us.”

Rick Warren’s $900,000 deficit (now erased) is just the beginning of the impact on churches in America, and when we suffer, the world suffers.  The root cause of financial drop in churches is a failure to love and trust God, not the faltering economy.  When God’s people are faithful in their tithes and offerings, the windows of heaven open and pour out the blessings!

3. HEALTH CARE REFORM -

There is no question that we need reform in Health Care, but why don’t we start with the individual, instead of the gov’t. Newt Gingrich spells it out in his book “Real Change.”  Look at some of the suggestions he got from the average American citizen when asked what they would do about reform:

-Informed and responsible citizens, who use prevention, self-control (obesity) exercise, technology to manage health.

-Move from paper based records to IT based systems. How about E-prescriptions instead of reading handwriting?

-Change from acute-care system to prevention/early detection, lowering cholesterol, high blood pressure, and weight.
“We must demand nothing less than an electronic, consumer-centered, personalized health system that will improve individual health, reduce costs, and build a brighter future for all Americans, and while change of such magnitude is never easy, America has a long history of taking on great challenges and emerging triumphant.”

The recent election in Massachusetts may slow down this madness in Washington in passing a bill that will change Health Care in America for decades to come and move us toward bankruptcy.

4. EDUCATION – As a “watchman” on the wall of education in America today, and a former school teacher, I cry out a warning to parents who choose to send their children into the “morally bankrupt” public educational system (from pre-school to graduate school) PRAY, read, study, review text books, question your children, guard their relationships, join the PTA, and consider alternatives like home-schooling, Christian schools and colleges. And don’t forget to……PRAY, PRAY, PRAY.

Our children are no longer allowed to children because they live in an age of
information explosion that will precede Christ’s return.  Such was prophesied in Daniel 12:4- “But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.”

5. MORALITY – Remember what Paul said of the last days, “For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,”

When an Administration appointed “Czar” calls for more immorally explicit teaching on sexual perversion in public schools beginning in kindergarten, how far can we be from Sodom!

6. IMMIGRATION – This will be one of the next battles in Congress, as the Democrats try to legalize as many as 30 million illegal aliens. If they voted Democrat, we would not see a Republican or Conservative in power for generations.

No civilization has ever survived without proper border protection from illegal aliens. Again, reform is needed, but it must protect our borders and the sovereignty of our Nation.

7. RELIGION – II Tim. 3:5  “holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. (7) Always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

The condition of the Church is paramount to the condition of the World.    A recent article asked the question, “How Spiritual Are We Americans?” The answer was alarming, as questions were asked related to…..
-Religion’s Purpose = 40% say it holds truth; 22% say it has no place in their lives; 19% say it helps teach morals to children.
-Reasons We Pray = 72% pray for the well being of others; 60% pray for forgiveness; 21% pray for material things.
-Our New Beliefs = 82% would marry someone of another faith; 59% say all religions are valid; 29% say they are spiritual but not religious.

What does this mean for the Church in 2010?
-I believe we will continue to see the demise of dead, lifeless denominations, and continue to see more Americans hunger for reality in their religion.
-I believe we will see young people rediscovering the church as they keep filling Bible preaching churches to learn the truths of God’s Word for their generation.
-I believe that God will continue to raise up “worshippers” who are tired of dead formalism and are hungering for the presence of God in their lives.
-I believe the harvest is coming that will usher millions into the Kingdom of God through the work of the Holy Spirit in a new surge of intelligent, relevant witnesses, who can speak to the culture with Biblical understanding and knowledge.
-I believe God is even now preparing His Church for the return of Christ, as the message of His soon coming is revived and renewed.

Well, that’s what I believe we need to be watching for in 2010.  How long do we have, as a Nation, if God doesn’t step in and send a spiritual awakening to America? Our heart-cry must be “Revive us again!”

The Scottish Historian, Alexander Tyler, wrote in 1787, “A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations from the beginning of history has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, those nations always progressed through the following sequence:
From bondage to spiritual faith.  (America’s Pilgrims)
From spiritual faith to great courage. (Revolutionary War)
From courage to liberty. (Vision of the Founding Father’s)
From liberty to abundance  (200 years to Ronald Reagan)
From abundance to complacency. (Late 1990’s)
From complacency to apathy. (Since 9/11/01)
From apathy to dependence.  (Today)
From dependence back into bondage!  (Tomorrow)
(My words in italics)

Jesus said in Mark 13:28-37 (MES) “Take a lesson from the fig tree. From the moment you notice its buds form, the merest hint of green, you know summer’s just around the corner. And so it is with you. When you see all these things, you know he is at the door. Don’t take this lightly. I’m not just saying this for some future generation, but for this one, too—these things will happen. “But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven’s angels, not even the Son. Only the Father. So keep a sharp lookout, for you don’t know the timetable. It’s like a man who takes a trip, leaving home and putting his servants in charge, each assigned a task, and commanding the gatekeeper to stand watch. So, stay at your post, watching. You don’t want him showing up unannounced, with you asleep on the job. I say it to you, and I’m saying it to all: Stay at your post. Keep watch.”

With Christ’s return at hand, how then should we live as Americans, as Christians?  I believe the destiny of America is in God’s hands, and to some extent in our hands as Christ-followers.
Can this Nation be saved?  Can we see that Heaven-sent Revival in America before Jesus returns?  Can we still say it, “America, the Beautiful?”
YES, but only by God’s grace!  Amen!

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What do we have to know about Prophecy to understand the signs of the end-times; the signs of Christ’s return, the significance of what happening in the news today?  We are hoping to answer these questions in this series.

Why do we have to know it? First, to encourage those of you who are not sure of your readiness for Jesus’ return to get right with God in this day of Salvation.  Second, to encourage believers to become “watchmen” on the wall of history & prophecy. Jesus delays His return for one reason: LOST SOULS!

What must we do with this knowledge? Prepare to meet our God, and prepare others, and then influence our society to order our ways according to God’s Word, while there is time.

We have looked at the signs Jesus predicted before His return. Then we looked at the signs in Nature that would be present and increasing just before His rapture of the Church, and the beginning the Great Tribulation.

In this message, I want to look at one of the most fascinating aspects of the Prophetic signs of the last days,  “Sign in the Nations”

Luke 21:7-10 “Teacher, when therefore will these things happen? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” And He said, “See to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not go after them. “When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately.” Then He continued by saying to them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. (25)“There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world;”

While it would be impossible to cover all the Nations mentioned in Biblical prophecy, I want to focus on Nations that I believe are emerging as the key signs in the end-times.

1. Africa – We are seeing Africa beginning to emerge as an ally of China and a supplier of, not only gold’s growing value, but also oil. The Prosperity Gospel, duping many believers with false teaching and false hope, unfortunately heavily impacts the spiritual awakening in Africa that is driving the Muslims north.

2. Japan is pushing for East Asia Union modeled on the European Union, building on the present 10 nation Association. The members would be Japan, China, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines, Burma, Brunei, Cambodia and Laos. By the way, the absence of India is interesting.

3. European Union picked its first full-time president, Belgium’s Prime Minister, Herman Van Rompuy.  Tony Blair was favored, but lost the election. Believed by many to be the “Revived Roman Empire”, keep your eyes on Europe & the powerful Euro. Isn’t it interesting that, while Europe is moving away from Socialism, America is moving toward it!

4. Turkey – Watch their rapid Islamization, and their emergence as a leader of the region (remember the Ottoman Empire) I quote:” The Islamic World is incapable of uniting voluntarily. It is, however, capable of being dominated by a Muslim power. Throughout history, Turkey has been the Muslim power most often able to create that Muslim empire”

5. Middle East – Be alert to what’s happening in Yemen, the new hotbed of terrorism, Two things to watch in Iran; the continued development of nuclear weapons, and the quiet rebuilding of Babylon.  The present U.S. Administration is reportedly buying 125 acres of land to build a new embassy in the “Future Babylon Project”, fifty miles south of Bagdad.

6. The Vatican – The Pope recently called for a “world political authority” to manage the global economy, “with authority to endure compliance with its decisions from all parties.”  Is this the coming “one world” government?

7. China – China is calling for a new world currency to replace the dollar as the world standard, while her economy surges forward.  China just overtook Germany as the world’s biggest exporter.  Could it be that China’s growth and power portend the prophecy of Rev. 9:13-16 - “Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind. The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them.” Rev. 16:12- The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east.”

A recent report told of China considering setting up military bases in the Middle East over the next decade.

8. Russia – Russia’s revival is a direct result of the leadership of Vladimir Putin, who is still in control.  The Russian government has again taken control of mass media organs, and human rights activist are being murdered.

Russia plays a major role in Last Days prophecy, and many believe will be involved in what is shaping up to be WW III, that could occur before Armageddon. Look at Ezekiel 38:1-3, 7 “And the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. (7) “Be prepared, and prepare yourself, you and all your companies that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them.”

9. Israel – Called the “super-sign” by scholars of Bible prophecy, always remember that Israel if God’s “timepiece” in the prophetic scenario. Jesus made it clear that she plays the major role in the End-times countdown:

Luke 21:26 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. “Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city; because these are days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled. “Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land and wrath to this people; and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Can Israel allow Iran to continue the development of nuclear weapons? Will the Jews allow another Holocaust? Will Israel surrender its determination to defend itself against a hostile Arad and Muslim world to appease our present Administration?  These and other questions will probably be answered in 2010.

Jesus made it clear, that in the Last Days, just before his return to rapture His Church, and usher in the Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:29-36), that according to Luke 21:26 -“There will be signs on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity, men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world;”

My hearts cry is that we will be alert and prepared for what is “coming upon the world” & become “watchmen” to alert others!

Jesus said, (Matt. 24:33-36 – MES)  “So it is with you: When you see all these things, you’ll know he’s at the door. Don’t take this lightly. I’m not just saying this for some future generation, but for all of you. This age continues until all these things take place. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won’t wear out. “But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven’s angels, not even the Son. Only the Father knows.”

Listen, you can speculate about the signs, but don’t speculate about your salvation.  Get right with God and others, and get ready for Christ’s return. Watch for the signs in 2010.

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Matt. 16:1-3 (MES) “Some Pharisees and Sadducees were on him again, pressing him to prove himself to them. He told them, “You have a saying that goes, ‘Red sky at night, sailor’s delight; red sky at morning, sailors take warning.’ You find it easy enough to forecast the weather—why can’t you read the signs of the times?”

In Part 1 of this current series, we looked at the general scenario of what many believe the End Times or Last Days will look like. We focused in on the signs Jesus said to watch for as His return draws near:

1. Deception
2. World Conflicts
3. Natural Catastrophes
4. Persecution of Believers
5. Israel Reborn
6. World-wide Spiritual Revival

In Ezekiel 33, God calls His people to be “Watchmen” on the wall of history an dprophecy.  A “Watchman” sees, hears and warns of what it coming.

In this message, I want to speak on a prophetic subject that preachers rarely deal with, “Signs in Nature,” particularly the environment.  Let’s go to the Word of God, Luke 21:7-11: “They questioned Him, saying, ‘Teacher, when therefore will these things happen? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?’ And He said, ‘See to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not go after them. When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately.’ Then He continued by saying to them, ‘Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. (25) There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. (MES) “It will seem like all hell has broken loose—sun, moon, stars, earth, sea, in an uproar and everyone all over the world in a panic, the wind knocked out of them by the threat of doom, the powers-that-be quaking.”

Could it be that we will see on the news what we have seen on the big screen over the past few years. Movies like “The Day After Tomorrow” and “Deep Impact” gave a glimpse on what “could” happen as nature explodes before us. I think the big question is this, “Who’s in control around here… Mother Nature or Father God?”  We have to know the answer to the questions people ask about Katrina, Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Tsunamis.  Are these natural catastrophes or “Acts of God” that play out as we near the Lord’s return?

USGS reports, “There’s a 100 percent chance of an earthquake today. Though millions of persons may never experience an earthquake, they are very common occurrences on this planet. So today — somewhere — an earthquake will occur.”  In checking a list of the history of earthquakes, it just takes a glance to see the increase of earthquake activity in the past 40 years.  Tsunamis are the result of earthquake activity under the sea or ocean, and could result from an Asteroid falling from space.

A recent news article out of Russia suggests that the Russians are ready to spend millions of dollars to find a way to prevent an Asteroid from hitting the Earth in the next 20 years.

Can we doubt that we are seeing another plague with the AIDS epidemic spreading across the Globe? Like most plagues, we usually know the cause. The root cause of AIDS is sexual immorality, starting with homosexuality, not beyond that practice.

Famine is devastating entire nations and peoples no matter how much we seem to be spending to feed millions on the brink of starvation.

But perhaps the most controversial sign in nature is the ecology. The great debate raging today in our world relates to the question, “Is there truly global warming, and if so, what is causing it? Is it Mother Nature, Father God, or man?”

I want to look at this today, and teach you how to answer the question.  Remember the fairy tale, “Chicken Little,” who ran around the barnyard shouting, “The sky is falling, the sky is falling.” An article in “Imprimis” by Dr. Fred Singer debunks the claims that there is truth to the claim that there is unusual climate warming today any more than in past centuries, or that man is causing it.

President Obama says, “Few challenges facing America and the world are more urgent than combating climate change. The science is beyond dispute and the facts are clear” (11-19-08).

However, a statement signed by more than 100 of the world’s top scientists and researchers challenges the President’s statement in an open letter to him in the NY Times, Wash. Post, and LA Times on March 30, 2009:  “With all due respect, Mr. President, that is not true. We, the undersigned scientists, maintain that the case for alarm regarding climate change is grossly overstated. Surface temperature changes over the past century have been episodic and modest and there has been no net global warming for over a decade now. After controlling for population’s growth and property values, there has been no increase in damages from severe weather-related events.  The computer models forecasting rapid temperature change abjectly fail to explain recent climate behavior. Mr. President, your characterization of the scientific facts regarding climate change and the degree of uncertainty informing the scientific debate is simply incorrect.”

Most Americans don’t realize where the “cap and trade” legislation could lead us. In an article entitled “Cap and Trade for Babies” a feature writer for the NY Times actually suggested that we might end up punishing families with more than two children with extra financial responsibility for sending more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. WOW! Wake up, America, and speak out now about such foolishness.

I think it is tremendously important to state here the position of our National Association of Evangelicals on this subject in our recent publication. Contact me for a copy of “For The Health of the Nation.”

The Biblical Mandate is clear for Christ-followers:

1. Christians care about climate control, but want the facts.  We support any effort to protect God’s creation, considering the benefits clean air, water, and agriculture will be to the even the poorest among us.  Our mandate is Matt. 22:36-40 (MES): “Teacher, which command in God’s Law is the most important?” Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence. This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: “Love others as well as you love yourself.” These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.

2. Christians believe that God is the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, and has mandated US to care for it.  Gen. 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Gen. 2:7, 15: “Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.”  Psa. 24:1, 2:  “The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it. For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.”   Col. 1:16, 17: “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”

Just remember, like the old hymn says so well, “This is my Father’s world, O let me ne’er forget, that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.  This is my Father’s world, the battle is not done; Jesus who died shall be satisfied, and EARTH and HEAVEN be one.”  In the end of this age, Jesus will reign. The question is, “Will you reign with Him?

II Peter 3:14 (NLT): “And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.  And remember, the Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved.”

Again, I say it clearly, I believe the only reason Jesus has not returned is because there are still lost souls to be saved. “The Lord’s patience gives people time to be SAVED!” Well, I’m saved, and I’m glad that I am! Are you?