Saturday, November 8, 2014

SERMON - TRUST IN GOD BUT OBEY HIM pt2


Trust In God
But
Obey Him
Part 2
 
 
In the Book of Revelation there is the mention of Wormwood.
 
Revelation 8: 10 The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.
 
As I teach out of the New International Version of God’s Word I viewed several other versions of our Bible and learned that ‘wormwood’ describes bitterness as well as the name of ‘a great star.
 
Were a ‘star’ to move so as to disturb the earths position in our solar system there might be debris that falls from the ‘star’ thereby poisoning waters all across the world.  
 
Let’s consider the time frame within which God’s Word was revealed to man. Any heavenly body that shown in the night sky (other than the moon) was thought to be a star. Even to this day we see Jupiter and Venus in the night sky and think each to be a star. It would not be a real stretch of the imagination to see Wormwood as a planet rather than a star. This could be the something that, in passing closely to earth, would create widespread destruction. That planet’s gravitational pull could even accomplish the same destruction.
 
There are educated men that claim that a planet exists within our solar system that revolves around our sun as earth does. This planet, yet named, does not orbit in the same manner earth does but is a bit erratic in its orbit. I tell you this as there are prophesies that tell of earthquakes, rains of fire, mountains thrown into the sea as well as other destructive events.
 
Consider the effect to our planet if a planet were to pass close enough to cause a gravitational pull that caused earthquakes. That planet could cause earthquakes, meteorites, some rather large, to ‘rain’ down as if ‘fire’ were falling all about.. 
 
This might sound like science fiction to you but allow me to assure you God’s Word tells of catastrophic events that defy imagination but will occur! Whether a previously unseen or unknown planet or other heavenly body causes disruption and havoc to this world, God has said this is to happen.
 
Revelation 6: 12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
 
And:
 
Joel 2: 30 I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 31 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood
   before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
 
This is not to be confused with the very end of the tribulation as at that time the moon gives no light at all!
 
Matthew 24: 29 “Immediately after the distress of those days “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky,    and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.
 
The events set forth in Matthew immediately preceded the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
 
Let us now regress to the words of Revelation as well as those of Joel.
 
A blackened sky can be seen as the results of fires and smoke. Much like the fires intentionally set by Saddam Hussein during the Gulf War as he set oil wells afire there was a huge volume of smoke that blackened the sky. It is difficult to imagine the fires that would produce enough smoke to cover the entire world!
 
A red moon can be equated to a lunar eclipse just as stars falling to earth seen as meteorites.
 
The most difficult imaginations of all are: The great numbers of homeless; the lack of communications; no running water; no electricity; travel troubles, famine and civil unrest, rioting, looting and chaos!
 
Then there are, by all accounts of the Bible, a number of deaths beyond imagination. The world population is an estimated 6.5 billion and to think of 3.25 billion dying in a relatively short span of time boggles the mind.
 
Brothers and sisters this earth is in one state of disarray and there seems to be no hope on the horizon. It is our duty to be the servants of God that begin to realize ours is of doing His will be utilizing every talent He has bestowed upon us. This means that we are to oppose evil, wickedness, non-believers and any that oppose Him. We must stand up for Him when called on and if we must call on Him for strength, do so with faith that He will hear our request.
 
There are those that claim to be Christian that openly oppose war as well as the military. That is abysmal as throughout God’s Word there are times when God positioned Himself at the head of an army. Our Lord and Savior performed a miracle for a military leader without hesitation. With that in mind there may be a time whereby physical confrontation may be necessary to survive.
 
If you are to survive the destructive forces that are to come then you must keep your trust in the Lord knowing that He has created you at a time when He knew you were His servant who would not fail Him!
 
Luke 21: 34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.
 
It is our duty as well as our responsibility to be on our best Christian acting lifestyles. You never know just when He will begin the Last Days actions. He may be waiting to see you oppose the evils presented. He may be waiting for a strong Christian to oppose the wicked and move His time to a later date. He has charged us with spreading the Good News and although difficult at times think of what someone, if not you, will face at a time in the future!
 
For any that continue to believe in the ‘Rapture’ I pray that you consider the words of Peter
 
2 Peter 3: 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
 
If you really read and understand you see that God is being patient knowing many will repent. When He is satisfied in that number the end will come SUDDENLY!
 
(Closing prayer)
 
Abba, Father, we come to You as we seek Your attention in allowing us to praise and worship You. There are so many things that are at Your control that we do not really know how to control and leave it to You and Your powers. Lord, You are our El Gibbor, our Rock and the source of our Strength. Take us under Your Mighty Wings and comfort us.
 
You have given us men and women who have prophesied to us telling us of the terrible times ahead. Lord, whether those times are to be within our days on earth or in days after we come to You, we ask that You be ever merciful to us and or our descendants. Grant any that take You as their God the strength and wisdom to survive the rigors and hardship of those days. Enlighten their hearts and minds and be with them. Guide and shower Your love and mercies upon them.
 
Just as we pray for our descendants we pray for ourselves. May we always be in Your grace.
 
We also ask that You shower Your love and mercies upon our men and women in the military forces. As our Yahweh Saoboth, King of the angels, please \send them to watch over and protect those who look to You for their protection.
 
These things we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who is One with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever,
 
Amen, amen and amen

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