Follow up thots on earthquake

Some of you have been asking about my last post on praying and preparing for a possible earthquake or disaster in Los Angeles...a few simple thots on how to take this...

1. The blog post written is not to predict a earthquake, but to share with those in the body of Christ to simply be alert and pray into this possible situation. The prophetic signs, warnings, confirmations, that I have been experiencing are subjective to my own personal encounters, all prophecy is to be tested, "do not despise prophecies, test all things, hold fast to what is good." 1 Thess 5:20-21. Indeed, others have had similar visions, burdens and warnings, again all is to be tested. How do we do this? By subjecting all prophecy to the Word, prayer, the Church and to see if a prophetic word bears fruit. Please bear in mind, my last blog was NOT a prediction, it is only what I am sensing. I feel convicted strongly that I need to share what I am hearing with the rest of the body of Christ so we may pray, discern and seek God's mercy in this situation. My prayer is that there would be no earthquake, tsunami, or impending judgment at all costs, but we can only hope for the best and prepare for the worst if there is an impending natural disaster. If the Holy Spirit is revealing such warnings or possibilities it could be an invitation to pray for mercy and for as many lives to be protected.

2. Regardless of prophecy, it would always be good to prepare for an earthquake since this is a very real occurance in California. Scientists and researchers have been predicting (just from scientific data) that we are due for another big earthquake in southern california for some time. Realisticaly speaking, we should always be prepared and pray for God's mercy in the inevitabiltiy of one taking place in the near or far future.

3. We should not fear, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7 Our trust is in the Lord our God, knowing that our life is in Him eternally, not on this earth. We are ready to go or ready to stay at any given moment. I believe God can protect lives through the intercession of the saints (Abraham & Lot "Sodom and Gomorah" for example) who fear the Lord and put their trust in Him. It is not a promise of sure protection, but God's mercy can be released through His saints praying for mercy. But like Paul to live is Christ to die is to gain. Our security is that our names are written in the book of life, not in this passing world.

4. We must understand the sovereignty of God does not mean that God brings about earthquakes, disasters, sufferings or evil occurences. God is love (1 John 4:8) but the earth has been subjected to a "curse" since sin has entered into the world through the human fall (Rom 19-21). Jesus told us clearly not to be alarmed "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are NOT TROUBLED; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." (Matt 24:6-8) Earthquakes are a sign of the end times, as we have seen in natural disasters like in Indonesia and many other nations across the earth. Today there was a 6.5+ earthquake that shut down Hawaii, we are not to be surprised or alarmed, but we are to be prepared, alert and always praying for God's grace in this. God is good. The Devil is bad period. People can cause suffering, judgment, through choosing sin and giving into the temptation of the evil one. Satan comes to lie, kill and destroy (Jn 10:10) not God. Jesus came to give life and more abundantly, not to take life. So we must understand clearly an earthquake happenning in California can be caused by many factors, but lets not blame God. His heart and will is to love, not kill. We can not explain all kinds of sufferings, for there are times where God brings about judgment and discpline because He is a God of justice, this Biblical understanding of God's justice we can not excuse. God judges the wrong to make things right.

5. My heart is that we would pray first, prepare second, and be ready to give a testimony of the Gospel if judgment were to come. In a natural disaster many people will be needing help, needing hope and most of all needing Jesus. It is in this time of crisis the Church is to rise up and be LIGHT in darkness. It is in the darkest of hours that the Church will shine the brightest. We are not to run, flee, but we are to embrace, stand in faith and show the world our hope is in Christ not in the perishing things of this world. During Katrina it was the church that rose up and aided the many who were helpless, if something of that magnitude smaller or greater were to occur in Southern California we as the Church must prepare to be Jesus hands and feet to the many who will need His grace, help and mercy. It is in judgment that there is also great mercy (Book of Joel is such a book about "judgment and grace" working together upon a nation) Let us always be ready, praying and prepraing.

Lastly, I pray you will all pray. Personally, I believe a natural disaster could happen very soon, but this is what I sense, it is not a prediction. You may choose to believe and prepare, or believe I can be totally off in what I am sensing in my spirit. I honestly hope I'm wrong and that nothing happens in this season of time, but I don't want to be ignorant if the spirit is revealing a warning so that His people, intercessors may pray and seek God's mercy so that many lives will be protected, saved or judgment even possibly be averted. Honestly, I believe a big one 'earthquake' is inevitable, its not a matter of "if" but "when?"

Let us not fear, but pray and keep our faith in the rock of our salvation knowing He is the only thing sure and firm that we can stand upon. God is good. I know God works all things together for the good (Rom 8:28) and we are always to ask God, would you receive maximum glory in all things at all times. May this be true also whether an earthquake is occur or not. Father, we put our trust in You alone.

Shalom,

Jaeson

posted by Jaeson Ma @ 10/15/2006 11:00:00 PM