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Back to: SOMETHING NEW UNDER THE SUN
PREPARATIONS IN THE NATURAL AND SPIRITUAL
Bob Neumann
Every year there are natural disasters. Some come in a moment like an earthquake or a tsunami. Others give a few minutes of warning like a tornado. For such all you can do is hold on, and wait till they are over. Some will give us days to watch the events fall in place as Katrina, floods and blizzards. We see them, hear warnings and then make decisions. But there are disasters that take weeks and months to show their devastation. Draughts and blights may take years to see the scale of their damage. And for volcanoes, decades and centuries can pass as people watch for the next eruption.
Common sense tells you to be prepared for events unexpected. Yet there are people who drive on bald tires with no spare in the trunk. Some people live on fault lines, in hurricane and tornado alleys, in the shadow of active volcanoes and never think anything will happen. Then there are man made situations just as threatening to us. Terrorism, the global economy, end time prophecy.
In the natural, annual warnings go out to plan for “7 days” of food and water for possible disruptions in our lives. There are those that say we will put our TRUST IN GOD and do nothing. The BOOK OF PROVERBS tells us to be proactive
20 He that walketh with wise [men] shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed
4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and [hath] nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat
3 The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked
When we look to the future we know that THE LORD is involved with those in whom HE IS IN COVENANT. But all we have to do is look at JOB to realize things do not always go nicely. But in JOB we have an interesting pattern.
Job 33:13 Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters
Job 33:14 For God speaketh once, yea twice, [yet man] perceiveth it not.
Job 33:15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
Job 33:16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,
Job 33:17 That he may withdraw man [from his] purpose, and hide pride from man.
Job 33:18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
In dreams and visions THE LORD speaks. But not once, twice. There is a duality for DIVINE WARNING. In verse 18 GOD protects man’s soul(SPIRIT) and life (natural). So in GOD’S VIEW POINT we should be paying attention for instructions on preparing for natural situations and spiritual situations.
For years we have talked about preparing for natural events….but what should we be observant for in the spirit? In the future we have been told that there would be SEIZMOS and RUMORS of WARS…..but we were told to be aware of deceptions. And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. Deception will come from human beings. There will be FALSE CHRISTS…FALSE BRETHERN…FALSE GOSPELS. How do you “prepare” to handle such when they entrap and ensnare the unsuspecting and the unknowing? In the book of Isaiah we are told where there will be a time…. Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because [they have] no knowledge: and their honourable men [are] famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. When this time comes we should know it by the actions of those around us…
20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter
21 Woe unto [them that are] wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight
Woe unto [them that are] mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink
23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him
Those who espouse FALSE GOSPELS and FALSE DOCTRINES will justify themselves and attack all who stand for righteousness. People will follow along and place themselves in opposition to GOD.
Isa 5:24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, [so] their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel
Destruction will come because GOD is MOCKED by these FALSE LEADERS.
Isa 5:25 Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and thehills did tremble, and their carcases [were] torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.
All who follow these NICOLAITINS make their GOD their worst enemy….and have no clue of their danger.
Hbr 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
DISCERNMENT must be a daily exercise. Like PHYSICAL FITNESS…we should be fit in our SPIRITS.
So who wishes the GIFT OF DISCERNMENT?
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another [divers] kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will