Sunday, December 12, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
La Resurrección: ¿Historia o Superstición?
La creencia más importante del cristianismo es la doctrina de la resurrección de Jesús. Como dijo el apóstol Pablo, si Cristo “no ha resucitado, nuestra predicación no sirve para nada, como tampoco la fe de ustedes” (1 Cor. 15:14, NVI). Y si bien el creer en la resurrección es, a fin de cuentas, una cuestión de fe, el hecho es que sí existe evidencia que testifica de su realidad. Veamos parte de ella.
La tumba vacía
El Nuevo Testamento dice que la tumba en donde Jesús fue colocado terminó estando vacía.
¿Podemos estar seguros de eso?
Bueno, velo de esta forma: Si Jesús aún hubiese estado en su tumba cuando los discípulos comenzaron a predicar, ¿no crees que alguien hubiese dicho: “¡Un momentito, aquí está el cuerpo! ¡Olvídense de esa tontería de la resurrección!”? Pero, por supuesto, eso nunca sucedió.
Algunos dicen que los discípulos se robaron el cuerpo mientras que los guardias que cuidaban la tumba dormían. Pero esto no tiene sentido, porque la tumba estaba siendo vigilada por soldados romanos cuyas vidas dependían del cumplir su trabajo con efectividad. (Para un soldado romano, el quedarse dormido durante una guardia era una falta digna de muerte).
Por otra parte, en el siglo primero las tumbas eran selladas con una roca muy pesada, que no podía ser movida fácilmente—y mucho menos silenciosamente. De manera que aun si los guardias estaban dormidos, los discípulos no hubiesen podido mover la piedra sin despertarlos.
La explosión del cristianismo
Jesús acababa de ser crucificado como un criminal cuando los discípulos comenzaron a predicar su resurrección. Y lo que sucedió después es uno de los eventos realmente más inexplicables de la historia: miles y miles de personas se comenzaron a convertir en seguidores de un “muerto”, y su mensaje comenzó a propagarse de una forma exponencialmente más rápida después de su crucifixión.
Y por cierto que tanto Josefo como otros historiadores de la época testifican directa o indirectamente de todo esto, proveyéndonos prueba conclusa del inexplicable crecimiento del cristianismo, y de la existencia del Jesús histórico.
El testimonio de los discípulos
Los discípulos sufrieron tremendamente por predicar la resurrección. Según la tradición de la Iglesia, Pedro fue crucificado (probablemente de cabeza), y Pablo y Jacobo fueron decapitados (la muerte de Jacobo se nos cuenta en Hechos 12:1-2). Y según algunas tradiciones un poco menos confiables, todos los demás discípulos, con la excepción de Juan, también murieron por predicar el mensaje de la resurrección.
¿Crees que Pedro, Jacobo, y los demás hubiesen muerto por una farsa? Yo pienso que no.
El testimonio de millones a través de la historia
Por último, si Cristo no resucitó, ¿cómo podemos explicar el sinnúmero de vidas que han sido cambiadas a través de la historia a raíz de su creencia en él? Y, ¿cómo explicamos los muchos milagros que han sido reportados (y en muchos casos bien documentados) por gente que oró en el nombre de Jesús?
Uno de estos milagros le ocurrió a Norma Morán, quien vive en la Florida, en los Estados Unidos. En septiembre del año 2002, un cálculo renal le obstruyó la uretra, lo cual causó que su vejiga contaminase su sangre con orine. Los doctores le dieron 21 horas de vida. Pero su familia creía que la oración hecha en el nombre de Jesús tiene poder, por lo que les pidieron a muchos que oraran por ella. Tres semanas después los doctores le estaban dando de alta. Cuando Norma llegó al hospital decían que no tenía esperanza—ahora la llamaban “la paciente milagro”.
¿Puede un Dios muerto hacer estas cosas? ¡Claro que no!
Hay mucho más que podría decir, pero creo que lo anterior es suficiente para mostrar que la creencia en la resurrección de Jesucristo, lejos de ser nacida de superstición e ignorancia, está basada en hechos históricos.
¡Feliz Domingo de Resurrección!
“¿Por qué buscan ustedes entre los muertos al que vive? No está aquí; ¡ha resucitado!” (Lucas 24:5-6, NVI).
En el Señor,
Miguel A. Cañete
www.VientosDeAvivamiento.org
La tumba vacía
El Nuevo Testamento dice que la tumba en donde Jesús fue colocado terminó estando vacía.
¿Podemos estar seguros de eso?
Bueno, velo de esta forma: Si Jesús aún hubiese estado en su tumba cuando los discípulos comenzaron a predicar, ¿no crees que alguien hubiese dicho: “¡Un momentito, aquí está el cuerpo! ¡Olvídense de esa tontería de la resurrección!”? Pero, por supuesto, eso nunca sucedió.
Algunos dicen que los discípulos se robaron el cuerpo mientras que los guardias que cuidaban la tumba dormían. Pero esto no tiene sentido, porque la tumba estaba siendo vigilada por soldados romanos cuyas vidas dependían del cumplir su trabajo con efectividad. (Para un soldado romano, el quedarse dormido durante una guardia era una falta digna de muerte).
Por otra parte, en el siglo primero las tumbas eran selladas con una roca muy pesada, que no podía ser movida fácilmente—y mucho menos silenciosamente. De manera que aun si los guardias estaban dormidos, los discípulos no hubiesen podido mover la piedra sin despertarlos.
La explosión del cristianismo
Jesús acababa de ser crucificado como un criminal cuando los discípulos comenzaron a predicar su resurrección. Y lo que sucedió después es uno de los eventos realmente más inexplicables de la historia: miles y miles de personas se comenzaron a convertir en seguidores de un “muerto”, y su mensaje comenzó a propagarse de una forma exponencialmente más rápida después de su crucifixión.
Y por cierto que tanto Josefo como otros historiadores de la época testifican directa o indirectamente de todo esto, proveyéndonos prueba conclusa del inexplicable crecimiento del cristianismo, y de la existencia del Jesús histórico.
El testimonio de los discípulos
Los discípulos sufrieron tremendamente por predicar la resurrección. Según la tradición de la Iglesia, Pedro fue crucificado (probablemente de cabeza), y Pablo y Jacobo fueron decapitados (la muerte de Jacobo se nos cuenta en Hechos 12:1-2). Y según algunas tradiciones un poco menos confiables, todos los demás discípulos, con la excepción de Juan, también murieron por predicar el mensaje de la resurrección.
¿Crees que Pedro, Jacobo, y los demás hubiesen muerto por una farsa? Yo pienso que no.
El testimonio de millones a través de la historia
Por último, si Cristo no resucitó, ¿cómo podemos explicar el sinnúmero de vidas que han sido cambiadas a través de la historia a raíz de su creencia en él? Y, ¿cómo explicamos los muchos milagros que han sido reportados (y en muchos casos bien documentados) por gente que oró en el nombre de Jesús?
Uno de estos milagros le ocurrió a Norma Morán, quien vive en la Florida, en los Estados Unidos. En septiembre del año 2002, un cálculo renal le obstruyó la uretra, lo cual causó que su vejiga contaminase su sangre con orine. Los doctores le dieron 21 horas de vida. Pero su familia creía que la oración hecha en el nombre de Jesús tiene poder, por lo que les pidieron a muchos que oraran por ella. Tres semanas después los doctores le estaban dando de alta. Cuando Norma llegó al hospital decían que no tenía esperanza—ahora la llamaban “la paciente milagro”.
¿Puede un Dios muerto hacer estas cosas? ¡Claro que no!
Hay mucho más que podría decir, pero creo que lo anterior es suficiente para mostrar que la creencia en la resurrección de Jesucristo, lejos de ser nacida de superstición e ignorancia, está basada en hechos históricos.
¡Feliz Domingo de Resurrección!
“¿Por qué buscan ustedes entre los muertos al que vive? No está aquí; ¡ha resucitado!” (Lucas 24:5-6, NVI).
En el Señor,
Miguel A. Cañete
www.VientosDeAvivamiento.org
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Perseguidos
Perseguidos
Puede que suene increíble, pero se estima que entre 30 y 40 millones de cristianos murieron por su fe durante el siglo veinte—y el sufrimiento continúa.
Por ejemplo, días antes de yo escribir este artículo cuatro maestros cristianos fueron asesinados en Somalia, 46 creyentes fueron encarcelados en China por llevar a cabo una reunión religiosa “ilegal”, y un grupo de niños cristianos fueron atacados y golpeados por distribuir tratados bíblicos en la India (y esto es sólo parte de una larga lista). Sin duda la persecución de cristianos es real, muy real. ¿Qué podemos hacer al respecto? Podemos orar, dar y educar. Permíteme explicarme.
Orar- Piensa en esto: Aun mientras que lees este artículo, un incontable número de cristianos se encuentran presos por su fe, mientras que millones más viven con un miedo constante de terminar igual. Lamentablemente, tú y yo no podemos visitar a un prisionero en Somalia, por ejemplo, ni tampoco podemos cambiar las leyes religiosas en China o en Arabia Saudita—pero podemos orar.
Podemos orar para que el Señor le de fortaleza a los creyentes que sufren persecución. Podemos pedirle que les ayude a mantenerse fiel, a amar a sus perseguidores, y a testificar de Cristo a pesar de su situación. Y también deberíamos orar por su liberación. ¿Acaso no fueron las oraciones de la Iglesia las que sacaron a Pedro de la cárcel en el siglo primero (Hechos 12:6-19)?
Dar- Además de orar, también podemos ayudar financieramente a organizaciones que trabajan a favor de la iglesia perseguida. Ministerios como la Voz de los Mártires (www.persecucion.org), La Liga Bíblica (www.ligabiblica.org), y Open Doors (www.opendoorsusa.org), están al servicio de la iglesia perseguida. Ellos ayudan económicamente a familias de pastores y líderes que han sido encarcelados o asesinados. Ellos “contrabandean” Biblias dentro de países cerrados; construyen cisternas para cristianos que viven en lugares en los que se les niega acceso a las cisternas comunes; proveen discipulado y entrenamiento para los creyentes, y también se encargan de hacer público el sufrimiento que millones de cristianos enfrentan, ayudando así a crear presión política sobre las naciones perseguidoras.
Educar- Además de orar y dar para ayudar a nuestros hermanos perseguidos, también podemos animar a otros a hacer lo mismo. Muchos cristianos no están al tanto del sufrimiento de sus hermanos alrededor del mundo debido en parte a que la prensa raramente reporta al respecto. Por eso es importante que nosotros les eduquemos acerca de la situación de la iglesia perseguida y que les recordemos de su responsabilidad para con su familia en Cristo. Después de todo, si nuestro hermano en la carne estuviese siendo perseguido, ¿no haríamos algo al respecto?
Es mi esperanza que después de leer esto comiences a orar con frecuencia por la iglesia perseguida (si es que no lo estás haciendo ya), que consideres el usar tus recursos financieros para ayudarles en su sufrimiento, y que animes a otros a hacer lo mismo. Un día, en el Cielo, cuando finalmente los veas cara a cara, te lo agradecerán, y quizás Jesús te recuerde que cuando lo hiciste “por uno de mis hermanos, aun por el más pequeño, lo [hiciste] por mí” (Mt 25:40, NVI).
Por: Miguel Canete
Vientos de Avivamiento
Puede que suene increíble, pero se estima que entre 30 y 40 millones de cristianos murieron por su fe durante el siglo veinte—y el sufrimiento continúa.
Por ejemplo, días antes de yo escribir este artículo cuatro maestros cristianos fueron asesinados en Somalia, 46 creyentes fueron encarcelados en China por llevar a cabo una reunión religiosa “ilegal”, y un grupo de niños cristianos fueron atacados y golpeados por distribuir tratados bíblicos en la India (y esto es sólo parte de una larga lista). Sin duda la persecución de cristianos es real, muy real. ¿Qué podemos hacer al respecto? Podemos orar, dar y educar. Permíteme explicarme.
Orar- Piensa en esto: Aun mientras que lees este artículo, un incontable número de cristianos se encuentran presos por su fe, mientras que millones más viven con un miedo constante de terminar igual. Lamentablemente, tú y yo no podemos visitar a un prisionero en Somalia, por ejemplo, ni tampoco podemos cambiar las leyes religiosas en China o en Arabia Saudita—pero podemos orar.
Podemos orar para que el Señor le de fortaleza a los creyentes que sufren persecución. Podemos pedirle que les ayude a mantenerse fiel, a amar a sus perseguidores, y a testificar de Cristo a pesar de su situación. Y también deberíamos orar por su liberación. ¿Acaso no fueron las oraciones de la Iglesia las que sacaron a Pedro de la cárcel en el siglo primero (Hechos 12:6-19)?
Dar- Además de orar, también podemos ayudar financieramente a organizaciones que trabajan a favor de la iglesia perseguida. Ministerios como la Voz de los Mártires (www.persecucion.org), La Liga Bíblica (www.ligabiblica.org), y Open Doors (www.opendoorsusa.org), están al servicio de la iglesia perseguida. Ellos ayudan económicamente a familias de pastores y líderes que han sido encarcelados o asesinados. Ellos “contrabandean” Biblias dentro de países cerrados; construyen cisternas para cristianos que viven en lugares en los que se les niega acceso a las cisternas comunes; proveen discipulado y entrenamiento para los creyentes, y también se encargan de hacer público el sufrimiento que millones de cristianos enfrentan, ayudando así a crear presión política sobre las naciones perseguidoras.
Educar- Además de orar y dar para ayudar a nuestros hermanos perseguidos, también podemos animar a otros a hacer lo mismo. Muchos cristianos no están al tanto del sufrimiento de sus hermanos alrededor del mundo debido en parte a que la prensa raramente reporta al respecto. Por eso es importante que nosotros les eduquemos acerca de la situación de la iglesia perseguida y que les recordemos de su responsabilidad para con su familia en Cristo. Después de todo, si nuestro hermano en la carne estuviese siendo perseguido, ¿no haríamos algo al respecto?
Es mi esperanza que después de leer esto comiences a orar con frecuencia por la iglesia perseguida (si es que no lo estás haciendo ya), que consideres el usar tus recursos financieros para ayudarles en su sufrimiento, y que animes a otros a hacer lo mismo. Un día, en el Cielo, cuando finalmente los veas cara a cara, te lo agradecerán, y quizás Jesús te recuerde que cuando lo hiciste “por uno de mis hermanos, aun por el más pequeño, lo [hiciste] por mí” (Mt 25:40, NVI).
Por: Miguel Canete
Vientos de Avivamiento
Monday, February 8, 2010
Estrategias del Diablo
Satanás convocó una convención mundial de demonios. En su discurso de apertura dijo:
• No podemos hacer que los cristianos dejen de ir a sus reuniones espirituales.
• No podemos evitar que lean la Biblia y conozcan la verdad.
• No podemos evitar que formen una relación intima con su Salvador. Una vez que establecen esa conexión con Jehová, nuestro poder sobre ellos se pierde.
• Así que déjenlos asistir a sus congregaciones ; déjenlos que tengan sus cenas familiares con platos y cubiertos, pero róbenles su tiempo, de manera que no tengan tiempo para desarrollar una relación con Jehová..
Esto es lo que quiero que hagan: Distráiganlos durante todo el día.
¿Como haremos eso? Gritaron los demonios.
• Manténgalos ocupados en las nimiedades de la vida e inventen innumerables proyectos que ocupen sus mentes respondió Satanás.
• Tiéntenlos a gastar, gastar y gastar. Persuadan a las esposas para que vayan a trabajar por largas horas y a los esposos a trabajar de 6 a 7 días cada semana y de 10 a 12 horas al día, hasta que queden cansados y sus bolsillos vacios.
• Por nada del mundo los dejen pasar tiempo con sus hijos y seres queridos.
• A medida de que sus familias se fragmenten, pronto, sus hogares no serán un escape a las presiones del trabajo.
• Sobre estimulen sus mentes para que NO puedan escuchar esa VOZ (la de Dios).
• Tiéntenlos a que escuchen sus radios siempre que conduzcan sus vehículos.
• A que mantengan constantemente encendidos, en sus hogares, su TV, DVD y su mundo toque constantemente música degradante con letras obscenas.
• Llenen las mesas de centro con revistas y periódicos.
• Bombardeen sus mentes con noticias las 24 horas del día.
• Inunden su correo con basura, catálogos, rifas, servicios y falsas esperanzas.
• Pongan modelos bellas y delgadas en las revistas en la TV, para que los esposos crean que la belleza exterior es lo que importa y se sientan insatisfechos con sus esposas.
• Mantengan a las esposas demasiado agotadas, para NO amar a sus esposos por las noches, ellos empezarán a buscar en otra parte rápidamente.
• Emociónenlos con las nuevas tecnologías a sus hijos ,para que lleguen a pensar que las cosas materiales son importantes...
• Aun en horas de distracción y esparcimiento, háganlos que sean excesivos. Que regresen agotados.
• Y cuando tengan reuniones de tipo espiritual, involúcrenlos en chismes y charlatanería, para que salgan de ahí con sus conciencias perturbadas....
• Pronto estarán trabajando con sus propias fuerzas, sacrificando su salud y su familia por el bien de la causa.
¡Funcionará! agregó triunfante.
La pregunta es: '¿Ha tenido éxito el diablo con su plan?'
'¿Qué crees tú?'
Y manténgalos ocupados cuando les lleguen mensajes como este , para que no los puedan reenviar( agrego el diablo) y así no sepan lo k planeamos.
Por favor pasa este mensaje si no estás tan OCUPADO??!
Provisto por: Maria Sena
• No podemos hacer que los cristianos dejen de ir a sus reuniones espirituales.
• No podemos evitar que lean la Biblia y conozcan la verdad.
• No podemos evitar que formen una relación intima con su Salvador. Una vez que establecen esa conexión con Jehová, nuestro poder sobre ellos se pierde.
• Así que déjenlos asistir a sus congregaciones ; déjenlos que tengan sus cenas familiares con platos y cubiertos, pero róbenles su tiempo, de manera que no tengan tiempo para desarrollar una relación con Jehová..
Esto es lo que quiero que hagan: Distráiganlos durante todo el día.
¿Como haremos eso? Gritaron los demonios.
• Manténgalos ocupados en las nimiedades de la vida e inventen innumerables proyectos que ocupen sus mentes respondió Satanás.
• Tiéntenlos a gastar, gastar y gastar. Persuadan a las esposas para que vayan a trabajar por largas horas y a los esposos a trabajar de 6 a 7 días cada semana y de 10 a 12 horas al día, hasta que queden cansados y sus bolsillos vacios.
• Por nada del mundo los dejen pasar tiempo con sus hijos y seres queridos.
• A medida de que sus familias se fragmenten, pronto, sus hogares no serán un escape a las presiones del trabajo.
• Sobre estimulen sus mentes para que NO puedan escuchar esa VOZ (la de Dios).
• Tiéntenlos a que escuchen sus radios siempre que conduzcan sus vehículos.
• A que mantengan constantemente encendidos, en sus hogares, su TV, DVD y su mundo toque constantemente música degradante con letras obscenas.
• Llenen las mesas de centro con revistas y periódicos.
• Bombardeen sus mentes con noticias las 24 horas del día.
• Inunden su correo con basura, catálogos, rifas, servicios y falsas esperanzas.
• Pongan modelos bellas y delgadas en las revistas en la TV, para que los esposos crean que la belleza exterior es lo que importa y se sientan insatisfechos con sus esposas.
• Mantengan a las esposas demasiado agotadas, para NO amar a sus esposos por las noches, ellos empezarán a buscar en otra parte rápidamente.
• Emociónenlos con las nuevas tecnologías a sus hijos ,para que lleguen a pensar que las cosas materiales son importantes...
• Aun en horas de distracción y esparcimiento, háganlos que sean excesivos. Que regresen agotados.
• Y cuando tengan reuniones de tipo espiritual, involúcrenlos en chismes y charlatanería, para que salgan de ahí con sus conciencias perturbadas....
• Pronto estarán trabajando con sus propias fuerzas, sacrificando su salud y su familia por el bien de la causa.
¡Funcionará! agregó triunfante.
La pregunta es: '¿Ha tenido éxito el diablo con su plan?'
'¿Qué crees tú?'
Y manténgalos ocupados cuando les lleguen mensajes como este , para que no los puedan reenviar( agrego el diablo) y así no sepan lo k planeamos.
Por favor pasa este mensaje si no estás tan OCUPADO??!
Provisto por: Maria Sena
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Remarks from CBS Sunday Morning (everyone should read!)
The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.
My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish.. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees.. I don't feel threatened.. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.
Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.
Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'
In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.
Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.
Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.
Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.
Are you laughing yet?
Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.
Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.
Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.
My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein
Provided by: Patria Sena
My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish.. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees.. I don't feel threatened.. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.
Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.
Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'
In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.
Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.
Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.
Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.
Are you laughing yet?
Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.
Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.
Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.
My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein
Provided by: Patria Sena
Oración Controversial
Oración de apertura en el senado de Kansas
Tal vez quieras leer esta oración que fue hecha en Kansas en la sesión de inauguración de la 'Kansas House of Representatives.'
Parece que esta oración molesto a algunas personas... Cuando se le pidió al pastor Joe Wright que hiciera oración de apertura en el senado de Kansas, todo el mundo esperaba una oración ordinaria, pero esto no es lo que ellos escucharon:
Señor, venimos delante de Ti este día, para pedirte perdón y para pedir tu dirección.
Sabemos que tu Palabra dice: 'Maldición a aquellos que llaman bien lo que está mal' y es exactamente lo que hemos hecho..
Hemos perdido el equilibrio espiritual y hemos cambiado nuestros valores.
Hemos explotado al pobre y hemos llamado a eso 'suerte'.
Hemos recompensado la pereza y la hemos llamado 'ayuda social'.
Hemos matado a nuestros hijos que aun no han nacido y lo hemos llamado ''la libre elección'
Hemos abatido a nuestros condenados y lo hemos llamado 'justicia'
Hemos sido negligentes al disciplinar a nuestros hijos y lo hemos llamado ''desarrollar su autoestima'
Hemos abusado del poder y hemos llamado a eso: 'política'
Hemos codiciado los bienes de nuestro vecino y a eso lo hemos llamado 'tener ambición'
Hemos contaminado las ondas de radio y televisión con mucha grosería y pornografía y lo hemos llamado 'libertad de expresión'
Hemos ridiculizado los valores establecidos desde hace mucho tiempo por nuestros ancestros y a esto lo hemos llamado 'obsoleto y pasado'
Oh Dios, mira en lo profundo de nuestros corazones; purifícanos y líbranos de nuestros pecados.
Amen.
La reacción fue inmediata. Un parlamentario abandonó la sala durante la oración. Tres más criticaron la oración del pastor calificando la oración como 'un mensaje de intolerancia''
Durante las seis semanas siguientes, la iglesia 'Central Christian Church' donde trabaja el pastor Wright recibió más de 5000 llamadas telefónicas de las cuales sólo 47 fueron desfavorables.
Esta iglesia recibe ahora peticiones del mundo entero, la India, África, Asia para que el pastor Wright ore por ellos.
EL comentarista Paul Harvey difundió esta oración en su emisión de radio ' The Rest of the Story ' (el resto de la historia) y ha recibido una acogida mucho mas favorable por esta emisión, que por cualquier otra.
Con la ayuda de Dios, quisiéramos que esta oración se derrame sobre nuestra nación, por tanta semejanza con lo que está ocurriendo en México y que nazca en nuestros corazones el deseo de llegar a ser una ''nación bajo la mirada de Dios'
Si puedes hacerlo, envía esta oración a tus amigos en un espacio de 30 días el mundo entero lo habrá leído..
Si no tenemos el valor de mantenernos firmes en nuestras convicciones, entonces caeremos delante de cualquier otro argumento, o enemigo.
Provista por: Patria Sena
Tal vez quieras leer esta oración que fue hecha en Kansas en la sesión de inauguración de la 'Kansas House of Representatives.'
Parece que esta oración molesto a algunas personas... Cuando se le pidió al pastor Joe Wright que hiciera oración de apertura en el senado de Kansas, todo el mundo esperaba una oración ordinaria, pero esto no es lo que ellos escucharon:
Señor, venimos delante de Ti este día, para pedirte perdón y para pedir tu dirección.
Sabemos que tu Palabra dice: 'Maldición a aquellos que llaman bien lo que está mal' y es exactamente lo que hemos hecho..
Hemos perdido el equilibrio espiritual y hemos cambiado nuestros valores.
Hemos explotado al pobre y hemos llamado a eso 'suerte'.
Hemos recompensado la pereza y la hemos llamado 'ayuda social'.
Hemos matado a nuestros hijos que aun no han nacido y lo hemos llamado ''la libre elección'
Hemos abatido a nuestros condenados y lo hemos llamado 'justicia'
Hemos sido negligentes al disciplinar a nuestros hijos y lo hemos llamado ''desarrollar su autoestima'
Hemos abusado del poder y hemos llamado a eso: 'política'
Hemos codiciado los bienes de nuestro vecino y a eso lo hemos llamado 'tener ambición'
Hemos contaminado las ondas de radio y televisión con mucha grosería y pornografía y lo hemos llamado 'libertad de expresión'
Hemos ridiculizado los valores establecidos desde hace mucho tiempo por nuestros ancestros y a esto lo hemos llamado 'obsoleto y pasado'
Oh Dios, mira en lo profundo de nuestros corazones; purifícanos y líbranos de nuestros pecados.
Amen.
La reacción fue inmediata. Un parlamentario abandonó la sala durante la oración. Tres más criticaron la oración del pastor calificando la oración como 'un mensaje de intolerancia''
Durante las seis semanas siguientes, la iglesia 'Central Christian Church' donde trabaja el pastor Wright recibió más de 5000 llamadas telefónicas de las cuales sólo 47 fueron desfavorables.
Esta iglesia recibe ahora peticiones del mundo entero, la India, África, Asia para que el pastor Wright ore por ellos.
EL comentarista Paul Harvey difundió esta oración en su emisión de radio ' The Rest of the Story ' (el resto de la historia) y ha recibido una acogida mucho mas favorable por esta emisión, que por cualquier otra.
Con la ayuda de Dios, quisiéramos que esta oración se derrame sobre nuestra nación, por tanta semejanza con lo que está ocurriendo en México y que nazca en nuestros corazones el deseo de llegar a ser una ''nación bajo la mirada de Dios'
Si puedes hacerlo, envía esta oración a tus amigos en un espacio de 30 días el mundo entero lo habrá leído..
Si no tenemos el valor de mantenernos firmes en nuestras convicciones, entonces caeremos delante de cualquier otro argumento, o enemigo.
Provista por: Patria Sena
David Wilkerson's Economic Vision/La visión económica de David Wilkerson.
Este post está en inglés.
Key points to remember about this vision:
From the time the first country goes down, you'll have two weeks to get
your money out of the bank.
America will come through this crisis-there will be restoration.
But the nation will never be as it was before.
God is saying: Get our lives straight... Get rid of idols... Seek the
face of God in holiness..
God will be a wall of fire about you... And the glory in the midst of you!
"It's about to happen---very soon, one nation, and I'm speaking
prophetically--if I've ever heard anything from God in my life, I heard
it ... Very soon a European or North African or Eastern nation is going
to default on its international loan and when that happens, within two
weeks, Mexico is going to default. Mexico owes $100 billion ---80% of it
to American banks---and here's what is going to happen: about two weeks
after the first country goes bankrupt, (we're going to survive that,
because most of that (money of the first country) is owed to European
banks---German, Swiss and French banks) but a second country is going to
go down, probably Argentina or Brazil, and we'll kind of live that down
and say: "Well, maybe it's not going to hurt," but two weeks after the
first country goes down, Mexico's going to default on $100 billion.
And when the banks open the next day at 9 in the morning, $15 billion an
hour is going to be withdrawn from our American banks - they're going to
be running our banks-the Arabs---all the Latin American countries,
they're going to be running our banks- and before the day is over, the
U.S.A is going to have to declare a "bank holiday."
SIX MONTHS OF HORROR:
And we're going into six months of the worst hell America has ever
seen---there's going to be chaos---not even the National Guard's going
to be able to quiet it down---we're going to have to call out the whole
U.S. Army.
Now I've had visions recently, for I've been in New York City and I was
in Macy's in a vision, and I saw people walking around stunned because
they couldn't get their money out of the bank.
Now I'm going to give you a word of advice, the first country goes
bankrupt---I've documented this and I've got it sealed in an envelope,
and I'm going to call all my friends and I'm telling you---this is the
first time I've said it in a public meeting like this---but the first
country that bellies up, you go get every dime you have---church get
your money out of the bank--because there's going to be a 'bank holiday'
and you won't be able to get a dime for six months. Now, of course,
there's going to be -restored, but the nation will never be like it is
again.
There's going to be fear like we've never known---judgment at the
door. When I was at Macy's Dept. store in a vision and I watched people
walking around stunned, they didn't know what to do, they didn't know
what was happening; then a bunch of people walked into Macy's and
suddenly went wild and began to steal and within an hour everybody---I
saw the spirit of everybody in the store---they were robbing and
stealing---they raped Macy's and destroyed five floors--- Macy's was
raped and ruined in a period of an hour or two.
That's just the beginning. Folks it's all in this book (the Bible)
---we've been warned and warned and warned---you can't tell me God
hasn't warned us. You can't tell me God isn't saying something awesome
here tonight in this church...we better get our prayer life straightened
up, our lives straightened up, get rid of the idols, as Paul writes, and
seeking the face of God in holiness or you're not going to be ready for
what's coming. God's warning, get ready and you'll not fear these things
that come onto you and you'll start rejoicing, you'll not be afraid
because your hands will be clean. You've been praying and God's building
a wall of fire around you to keep you."
We'd like to teach you a song about God's protection. It goes like this:
"There's a wall of fire around me...There's a wall of fire between my
soul and the enemy. There's a wall of fire that you can't see...Between
my soul and the enemy. There's a wall of fire around me. May it be so
with us all..."
Sermon excerpts from David Wilkerson...
"The prophet Isaiah warns us that in the last days God is going to turn
the world upside down.� He declares, Behold, the Lord maketh the earth
empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down (Isaiah 24:1).
According to this prophecy, sudden judgment is coming upon the earth,
and it will change everything in a single hour. Within that short span,
the whole world will witness fast-falling destruction upon a city and a
nation, and the world will never be the same.
If you are attached to material things if you love this world and the
things of it you won't want to hear what Isaiah has prophesied. In fact,
even to the most righteous of Gods people, what Isaiah says might seem
unthinkable. Many would surely ask, How can an entire world be stricken
in one hour?
If we didn't believe the Bible is Gods pure Word, few of us would take
Isaiah's prophecy seriously. But Scripture makes it clear: in a single
hour, the world is going to change. The church is going to change. And
every individual on earth is going to change.
The apostle John gives a similar warning in Revelation. He speaks of
destructive judgment coming upon a city and nation: In one day, death,
and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for
strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. For in one hour so great riches
is come to nought (Revelation 18:8, 17).
In Isaiah's prophecy, the city under judgment is cast into confusion.
Every house is shut up, with no one coming or going. The city of
confusion is broken down: every house is shut up, that no man may come
in� (Isaiah 24:10). The entire city is left desolate: In the city is
left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction (24:12). All
entrances and exits to the city are gone. The passage indicates that a
fire has come, a blast that has shaken the very foundations of the earth
(see 24:6).
1. In one hour, God is going to change the whole world.
A sudden cataclysmic event will strike, the first of the final judgments
of God. This great event will cause the earth to reel. And Isaiah says
that when it hits, there will be no place to escape:The lofty [proud]
city, he layeth it low even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the
dust(Isaiah 26:5). The inhabitants of the earth are burned (24:6).
Once this happens, utter chaos will erupt. All civic activities will
stop, and society will descend into massive disorder. Government
agencies will be helpless to restore any kind of sanity. No state
troopers, no national guard, no army will be able to bring order to the
upheaval.
You well remember that when the Twin Towers were destroyed, help poured
into New York from all over the world. An army of people came to assist
in whatever way they could. But the scene in Isaiah's prophecy is
different: this calamity is clearly beyond humankind's capacity to respond.
Once this judgment strikes, it will devastate the economy. Rich
merchants will stand by watching in torment, weeping and mourning, as
they face bankruptcy. In an instant, all the wealth they amassed will be
reduced to nothing. John describes the scene: The merchants of these
things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear
of her torment, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city
For in one hour so great riches is come to nought� (Revelation 18:15-17).
Overnight, all buying and selling will cease. Every restaurant and bar
will be shut down, and all drinking and music making will end.
Indeed,
every trace of mirth and delight, joy and gladness, will vanish: All the
merryhearted do sigh. The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them
that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth. They shall not drink
wine with a song. The mirth of the land is gone(Isaiah 24:7-9, 11).
Yes, this is a picture of gloom and doom. But it is not my prophecy.
This word was given by the Holy Spirit of Almighty God, to be delivered
by his righteous prophet Isaiah. Even the secular world is preparing for
it to happen. Billions are being spent on homeland security in the U.S.,
England, Europe and Israel. Why? Military experts warn that a
world-impacting terrorist attack is sure to come.
You may ask: Why would the whole world change, if a nuclear attack
occurs in just one city?� It will happen because of the fear of
retaliation. If a rogue nation sends such an attack, you can be sure
that within hours that nation will be wiped out. Consider the plan
Israel has in place, known as the Samson Option. The moment a nuclear
warhead is launched against them, within moments Israel will unleash
nuclear missiles to devastate the capital cities of all enemy states.
The world has become a ticking bomb, and time is quickly running out.
2. In one hour, God is going to change the church.
This hour of devastation will suddenly change churches, whether they are
alive or dead. Isaiah writes, There shall be the shaking as of an
olive tree� (Isaiah 24:13). The image is of God shaking an olive tree
after it has been picked of fruit. In short, he's going to shake
everything that can be shaken, sparing nothing. It will be a time of
cataclysmic destruction and overwhelming darkness.
So, you ask, What about God's people in the midst of all this? What will
happen to the church?� Isaiah gives us an incredible word about what
will happen with believers.
In the midst of the terrible shaking, a song will be heard, and its
sound will grow steadily stronger. Suddenly, in that darkest of hours, a
worldwide chorus of voices will sing praises to the majesty of God: They
shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord,
they shall cry aloud from the sea� (24:14). Do you get the picture?
There will be panic everywhere. Men's hearts will fail them for fear, as
fires belch smoke seen for hundreds of miles. Disorder and chaos will
reign on all sides. Yet amid the devastating fires and calamity, the
world will hear a glorious song being sung: Glorify ye the Lord in the
fires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel From the uttermost part
of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous [One]
(Isaiah 24:15-16).
A holy remnant is going to awaken, and a song will be born in the fire.
Instead of panicking, the people of God will be praising his awesome
majesty. Imagine it: in the darkest hour of all time, a collective voice
will rise by the millions out of every nation, not in fear or agony, but
in joyful praise to the Lord.
How will this happen, you ask? In one hour, God is going to regenerate
and restore his church. Dry bones will shake and rattle, and the
righteous will be awakened, as the Holy Spirit calls multitudes of
lukewarm believers back to their first love. In his mercy, He's going to
rouse those who have neglected him, ignoring his Word, avoiding prayer,
perhaps even contemplating divorce Suddenly, their souls will be flooded
with pangs of remorse and godly sorrow. And many will fall on their
knees, crying out in repentance.
There will be a revival of glorifying
God's majesty. And the song of this revival will be heard from the
uttermost parts of the earth. East, west, north and south from Arab
lands to China, Indonesia, Africa and all parts of the earth a glorious
song will rise up from the midst of the fires. In one day's time, those
who survived the fires are going to be singing a new song throughout the
world.
Isaiah 25 tells us wonderful miracles will come in this time, as God
makes all things new.
All around the world, the Lord's people are going to feast� on his Word:
In this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of
fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow,
of wines on the lees well refined� (Isaiah 25:6).
And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over
all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations� (25:7) Right
now, in this time of prosperity, the world's masses seem to be covered
with a veil, unable to see the truth of Jesus Christ. But when God rises
up to shake the world through judgment, the shrouds covering the minds
of billions will be cast aside. The veil of darkness will be removed,
and many will see the Lord in his glory. The Holy Spirit won't force
Christ upon these opened eyes and hearts; rather, a remnant is going to
rise up from among them.
I believe the darkest shroud-coverings today are over the eyes and
hearts of youth worldwide. This is especially true of college-age
students, whose faith has been bombarded for up to four years. Over that
time their minds have been indoctrinated by godless professors in
classrooms where belief is attacked, mocked and scorned. Now these young
men's and women's faith has been shipwrecked. They leave college
convinced God is dead. But in one hour of devastation nuclear, economic
and social all such hypocritical veils are going to fall away. Those
same professors who mocked them will realize, as they face the
possibility of death, a choice must be made: What about eternity? Is
there life after death?
They're going to look for someone to explain to
them all that's happening. When the song is sung, it's going to be heard
by young people from every walk of life, from every nation under the
sun. Many will harden their hearts and curse God at the sound of this
song, but multitudes of others will join in singing of his majesty.
3. In one hour, God is going to change us as individuals.
In a single hour, the focus of our lives will be changed. We'll no
longer obsess about our own adversities and troubles. Suddenly, so many
things that we held dear will no longer be of any value to us. Why? In
that hour, everyone will be in the same boat: It shall be, as with the
people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as
with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the
seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of
usury, so with the giver of usury to him� (Isaiah 24:2).
The sudden judgment that comes will not be a respecter of anyone.
Rather, it is going to touch all who are within the realm of its fury.
Presidents, kings, the world's richest and most famous all will tremble
just like the poorest of the earth. And this cataclysmic event will
bring to naught every idol, purging iniquity and tearing down all false
altars:
By this [the calamity] therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged;
and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he maketh all the
stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves
and images shall not stand up [be left standing (Isaiah 27:9).
The world's most prominent idol is money, and right now America is
facing a monstrous financial disaster.
Investors are scrambling to move
their money out of high-risk funds, and mortgage companies are going
bankrupt. One recent financial headline read, Abandon Ship Everyone is
selling and nobody is buying. Many households are in a panic, as
overnight their lives are changing. I think of the president of a
multi-billion-dollar hedge fund, who recently put up for sale his
142-foot yacht and his sixteen-bedroom mansion in Aspen, Colorado. His
fund had dried up virtually overnight.
The day is coming when sports will be the last thing on people's minds I
have nothing against sports, but soon there will be no more
250-million-dollar deals for athletes, when so much of the world is
starving. All idols will come crashing down, crushed to dust, and the
playing field will be leveled. The richest and the poorest alike will
face the same conditions..
It will all happen within a day. When they shall say, Peace and safety;
then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with
child; and they shall not escape (1 Thessalonians 5:3).
Why such apocalyptic warnings?
You may wonder: what good can come of these prophetic messages? Why
should anyone have to live under such anxiety? I remind you, Jesus
warned Jerusalem of sudden devastation to come upon that city. It was
going to be burned to the ground, with over a million people murdered.
Christ explained his warning: I have told you before it come to pass,
that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe (John 14:29). He was
saying, in essence, When it happens, you'll know there is a God who
loves you and forewarned you. Paul calls such warnings light, insights
that expel darkness. He says, in short: You are children of light,
because you know what's coming in the future.
So, when destruction
comes, and there's panic all around, you will have the calm of the Holy
Spirit. Something will quicken inside you, and you'll remember, God
warned me. This prophecy isn't a message of wrath to God's people, but a
wakeup call to begin preparing. God hath not appointed us to wrath, but
to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that,
whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him� (1
Thessalonians 5:9-10). Paul is speaking here of a time of possible
destruction. Therefore, he says, Comfort yourselves together, and edify
one another, even as also ye do (5:11).
In this day of prosperity, nobody wants to hear a message like
Isaiah's.. I certainly don't want to hear it. But we cannot ignore it,
because it is here at our door. In such times, Paul says, when we have
knowledge that sudden destruction is coming, we are not to tremble or
sorrow as the world does. Instead, we are to comfort one another in
faith, knowing that God rules over every aspect of our lives.
Be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an
helmet, the hope of salvation� (5:8). Paul instructs, Arm yourself with
faith. Build up your belief now, before the day comes. Learn your song,
and you'll be able to sing it in your fire. Glorify ye the Lord in the
fires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel (Isaiah 24:15).
copied from David Wilkerson's Sermon Series:
IN ONE HOUR EVERYTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE
Provided by Carmen Barreto.
Key points to remember about this vision:
From the time the first country goes down, you'll have two weeks to get
your money out of the bank.
America will come through this crisis-there will be restoration.
But the nation will never be as it was before.
God is saying: Get our lives straight... Get rid of idols... Seek the
face of God in holiness..
God will be a wall of fire about you... And the glory in the midst of you!
"It's about to happen---very soon, one nation, and I'm speaking
prophetically--if I've ever heard anything from God in my life, I heard
it ... Very soon a European or North African or Eastern nation is going
to default on its international loan and when that happens, within two
weeks, Mexico is going to default. Mexico owes $100 billion ---80% of it
to American banks---and here's what is going to happen: about two weeks
after the first country goes bankrupt, (we're going to survive that,
because most of that (money of the first country) is owed to European
banks---German, Swiss and French banks) but a second country is going to
go down, probably Argentina or Brazil, and we'll kind of live that down
and say: "Well, maybe it's not going to hurt," but two weeks after the
first country goes down, Mexico's going to default on $100 billion.
And when the banks open the next day at 9 in the morning, $15 billion an
hour is going to be withdrawn from our American banks - they're going to
be running our banks-the Arabs---all the Latin American countries,
they're going to be running our banks- and before the day is over, the
U.S.A is going to have to declare a "bank holiday."
SIX MONTHS OF HORROR:
And we're going into six months of the worst hell America has ever
seen---there's going to be chaos---not even the National Guard's going
to be able to quiet it down---we're going to have to call out the whole
U.S. Army.
Now I've had visions recently, for I've been in New York City and I was
in Macy's in a vision, and I saw people walking around stunned because
they couldn't get their money out of the bank.
Now I'm going to give you a word of advice, the first country goes
bankrupt---I've documented this and I've got it sealed in an envelope,
and I'm going to call all my friends and I'm telling you---this is the
first time I've said it in a public meeting like this---but the first
country that bellies up, you go get every dime you have---church get
your money out of the bank--because there's going to be a 'bank holiday'
and you won't be able to get a dime for six months. Now, of course,
there's going to be -restored, but the nation will never be like it is
again.
There's going to be fear like we've never known---judgment at the
door. When I was at Macy's Dept. store in a vision and I watched people
walking around stunned, they didn't know what to do, they didn't know
what was happening; then a bunch of people walked into Macy's and
suddenly went wild and began to steal and within an hour everybody---I
saw the spirit of everybody in the store---they were robbing and
stealing---they raped Macy's and destroyed five floors--- Macy's was
raped and ruined in a period of an hour or two.
That's just the beginning. Folks it's all in this book (the Bible)
---we've been warned and warned and warned---you can't tell me God
hasn't warned us. You can't tell me God isn't saying something awesome
here tonight in this church...we better get our prayer life straightened
up, our lives straightened up, get rid of the idols, as Paul writes, and
seeking the face of God in holiness or you're not going to be ready for
what's coming. God's warning, get ready and you'll not fear these things
that come onto you and you'll start rejoicing, you'll not be afraid
because your hands will be clean. You've been praying and God's building
a wall of fire around you to keep you."
We'd like to teach you a song about God's protection. It goes like this:
"There's a wall of fire around me...There's a wall of fire between my
soul and the enemy. There's a wall of fire that you can't see...Between
my soul and the enemy. There's a wall of fire around me. May it be so
with us all..."
Sermon excerpts from David Wilkerson...
"The prophet Isaiah warns us that in the last days God is going to turn
the world upside down.� He declares, Behold, the Lord maketh the earth
empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down (Isaiah 24:1).
According to this prophecy, sudden judgment is coming upon the earth,
and it will change everything in a single hour. Within that short span,
the whole world will witness fast-falling destruction upon a city and a
nation, and the world will never be the same.
If you are attached to material things if you love this world and the
things of it you won't want to hear what Isaiah has prophesied. In fact,
even to the most righteous of Gods people, what Isaiah says might seem
unthinkable. Many would surely ask, How can an entire world be stricken
in one hour?
If we didn't believe the Bible is Gods pure Word, few of us would take
Isaiah's prophecy seriously. But Scripture makes it clear: in a single
hour, the world is going to change. The church is going to change. And
every individual on earth is going to change.
The apostle John gives a similar warning in Revelation. He speaks of
destructive judgment coming upon a city and nation: In one day, death,
and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for
strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. For in one hour so great riches
is come to nought (Revelation 18:8, 17).
In Isaiah's prophecy, the city under judgment is cast into confusion.
Every house is shut up, with no one coming or going. The city of
confusion is broken down: every house is shut up, that no man may come
in� (Isaiah 24:10). The entire city is left desolate: In the city is
left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction (24:12). All
entrances and exits to the city are gone. The passage indicates that a
fire has come, a blast that has shaken the very foundations of the earth
(see 24:6).
1. In one hour, God is going to change the whole world.
A sudden cataclysmic event will strike, the first of the final judgments
of God. This great event will cause the earth to reel. And Isaiah says
that when it hits, there will be no place to escape:The lofty [proud]
city, he layeth it low even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the
dust(Isaiah 26:5). The inhabitants of the earth are burned (24:6).
Once this happens, utter chaos will erupt. All civic activities will
stop, and society will descend into massive disorder. Government
agencies will be helpless to restore any kind of sanity. No state
troopers, no national guard, no army will be able to bring order to the
upheaval.
You well remember that when the Twin Towers were destroyed, help poured
into New York from all over the world. An army of people came to assist
in whatever way they could. But the scene in Isaiah's prophecy is
different: this calamity is clearly beyond humankind's capacity to respond.
Once this judgment strikes, it will devastate the economy. Rich
merchants will stand by watching in torment, weeping and mourning, as
they face bankruptcy. In an instant, all the wealth they amassed will be
reduced to nothing. John describes the scene: The merchants of these
things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear
of her torment, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city
For in one hour so great riches is come to nought� (Revelation 18:15-17).
Overnight, all buying and selling will cease. Every restaurant and bar
will be shut down, and all drinking and music making will end.
Indeed,
every trace of mirth and delight, joy and gladness, will vanish: All the
merryhearted do sigh. The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them
that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth. They shall not drink
wine with a song. The mirth of the land is gone(Isaiah 24:7-9, 11).
Yes, this is a picture of gloom and doom. But it is not my prophecy.
This word was given by the Holy Spirit of Almighty God, to be delivered
by his righteous prophet Isaiah. Even the secular world is preparing for
it to happen. Billions are being spent on homeland security in the U.S.,
England, Europe and Israel. Why? Military experts warn that a
world-impacting terrorist attack is sure to come.
You may ask: Why would the whole world change, if a nuclear attack
occurs in just one city?� It will happen because of the fear of
retaliation. If a rogue nation sends such an attack, you can be sure
that within hours that nation will be wiped out. Consider the plan
Israel has in place, known as the Samson Option. The moment a nuclear
warhead is launched against them, within moments Israel will unleash
nuclear missiles to devastate the capital cities of all enemy states.
The world has become a ticking bomb, and time is quickly running out.
2. In one hour, God is going to change the church.
This hour of devastation will suddenly change churches, whether they are
alive or dead. Isaiah writes, There shall be the shaking as of an
olive tree� (Isaiah 24:13). The image is of God shaking an olive tree
after it has been picked of fruit. In short, he's going to shake
everything that can be shaken, sparing nothing. It will be a time of
cataclysmic destruction and overwhelming darkness.
So, you ask, What about God's people in the midst of all this? What will
happen to the church?� Isaiah gives us an incredible word about what
will happen with believers.
In the midst of the terrible shaking, a song will be heard, and its
sound will grow steadily stronger. Suddenly, in that darkest of hours, a
worldwide chorus of voices will sing praises to the majesty of God: They
shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord,
they shall cry aloud from the sea� (24:14). Do you get the picture?
There will be panic everywhere. Men's hearts will fail them for fear, as
fires belch smoke seen for hundreds of miles. Disorder and chaos will
reign on all sides. Yet amid the devastating fires and calamity, the
world will hear a glorious song being sung: Glorify ye the Lord in the
fires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel From the uttermost part
of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous [One]
(Isaiah 24:15-16).
A holy remnant is going to awaken, and a song will be born in the fire.
Instead of panicking, the people of God will be praising his awesome
majesty. Imagine it: in the darkest hour of all time, a collective voice
will rise by the millions out of every nation, not in fear or agony, but
in joyful praise to the Lord.
How will this happen, you ask? In one hour, God is going to regenerate
and restore his church. Dry bones will shake and rattle, and the
righteous will be awakened, as the Holy Spirit calls multitudes of
lukewarm believers back to their first love. In his mercy, He's going to
rouse those who have neglected him, ignoring his Word, avoiding prayer,
perhaps even contemplating divorce Suddenly, their souls will be flooded
with pangs of remorse and godly sorrow. And many will fall on their
knees, crying out in repentance.
There will be a revival of glorifying
God's majesty. And the song of this revival will be heard from the
uttermost parts of the earth. East, west, north and south from Arab
lands to China, Indonesia, Africa and all parts of the earth a glorious
song will rise up from the midst of the fires. In one day's time, those
who survived the fires are going to be singing a new song throughout the
world.
Isaiah 25 tells us wonderful miracles will come in this time, as God
makes all things new.
All around the world, the Lord's people are going to feast� on his Word:
In this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of
fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow,
of wines on the lees well refined� (Isaiah 25:6).
And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over
all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations� (25:7) Right
now, in this time of prosperity, the world's masses seem to be covered
with a veil, unable to see the truth of Jesus Christ. But when God rises
up to shake the world through judgment, the shrouds covering the minds
of billions will be cast aside. The veil of darkness will be removed,
and many will see the Lord in his glory. The Holy Spirit won't force
Christ upon these opened eyes and hearts; rather, a remnant is going to
rise up from among them.
I believe the darkest shroud-coverings today are over the eyes and
hearts of youth worldwide. This is especially true of college-age
students, whose faith has been bombarded for up to four years. Over that
time their minds have been indoctrinated by godless professors in
classrooms where belief is attacked, mocked and scorned. Now these young
men's and women's faith has been shipwrecked. They leave college
convinced God is dead. But in one hour of devastation nuclear, economic
and social all such hypocritical veils are going to fall away. Those
same professors who mocked them will realize, as they face the
possibility of death, a choice must be made: What about eternity? Is
there life after death?
They're going to look for someone to explain to
them all that's happening. When the song is sung, it's going to be heard
by young people from every walk of life, from every nation under the
sun. Many will harden their hearts and curse God at the sound of this
song, but multitudes of others will join in singing of his majesty.
3. In one hour, God is going to change us as individuals.
In a single hour, the focus of our lives will be changed. We'll no
longer obsess about our own adversities and troubles. Suddenly, so many
things that we held dear will no longer be of any value to us. Why? In
that hour, everyone will be in the same boat: It shall be, as with the
people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as
with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the
seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of
usury, so with the giver of usury to him� (Isaiah 24:2).
The sudden judgment that comes will not be a respecter of anyone.
Rather, it is going to touch all who are within the realm of its fury.
Presidents, kings, the world's richest and most famous all will tremble
just like the poorest of the earth. And this cataclysmic event will
bring to naught every idol, purging iniquity and tearing down all false
altars:
By this [the calamity] therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged;
and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he maketh all the
stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves
and images shall not stand up [be left standing (Isaiah 27:9).
The world's most prominent idol is money, and right now America is
facing a monstrous financial disaster.
Investors are scrambling to move
their money out of high-risk funds, and mortgage companies are going
bankrupt. One recent financial headline read, Abandon Ship Everyone is
selling and nobody is buying. Many households are in a panic, as
overnight their lives are changing. I think of the president of a
multi-billion-dollar hedge fund, who recently put up for sale his
142-foot yacht and his sixteen-bedroom mansion in Aspen, Colorado. His
fund had dried up virtually overnight.
The day is coming when sports will be the last thing on people's minds I
have nothing against sports, but soon there will be no more
250-million-dollar deals for athletes, when so much of the world is
starving. All idols will come crashing down, crushed to dust, and the
playing field will be leveled. The richest and the poorest alike will
face the same conditions..
It will all happen within a day. When they shall say, Peace and safety;
then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with
child; and they shall not escape (1 Thessalonians 5:3).
Why such apocalyptic warnings?
You may wonder: what good can come of these prophetic messages? Why
should anyone have to live under such anxiety? I remind you, Jesus
warned Jerusalem of sudden devastation to come upon that city. It was
going to be burned to the ground, with over a million people murdered.
Christ explained his warning: I have told you before it come to pass,
that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe (John 14:29). He was
saying, in essence, When it happens, you'll know there is a God who
loves you and forewarned you. Paul calls such warnings light, insights
that expel darkness. He says, in short: You are children of light,
because you know what's coming in the future.
So, when destruction
comes, and there's panic all around, you will have the calm of the Holy
Spirit. Something will quicken inside you, and you'll remember, God
warned me. This prophecy isn't a message of wrath to God's people, but a
wakeup call to begin preparing. God hath not appointed us to wrath, but
to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that,
whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him� (1
Thessalonians 5:9-10). Paul is speaking here of a time of possible
destruction. Therefore, he says, Comfort yourselves together, and edify
one another, even as also ye do (5:11).
In this day of prosperity, nobody wants to hear a message like
Isaiah's.. I certainly don't want to hear it. But we cannot ignore it,
because it is here at our door. In such times, Paul says, when we have
knowledge that sudden destruction is coming, we are not to tremble or
sorrow as the world does. Instead, we are to comfort one another in
faith, knowing that God rules over every aspect of our lives.
Be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an
helmet, the hope of salvation� (5:8). Paul instructs, Arm yourself with
faith. Build up your belief now, before the day comes. Learn your song,
and you'll be able to sing it in your fire. Glorify ye the Lord in the
fires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel (Isaiah 24:15).
copied from David Wilkerson's Sermon Series:
IN ONE HOUR EVERYTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE
Provided by Carmen Barreto.
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