The Armor of God (Part - 2)

Please read Part 1 if you haven't already!

"Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes." (Ephesians 6:11).








3. SHOES OF PEACE.
Our guide keeps our feet from stumbling and us from straying from God. "Away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commands of my God!" (Psalm 119:115). When we walk in the truth of the word (abide in it), it brings a sense of peace, joy and comfort that keeps us firmly standing in the face of a spirititual storm. It is the enemy's greatest desire and goal to rob us of this peace each day, because a lack of thereof, proceeds to rob us of our joy and in exchange...it instills fear, distress, depressing thoughts, and false delusions based on lies... etc. into our lives.  "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8)

A lack of peace and joy eventually leads us onto a path that diverts us from the perfect will of God for us, because it gives the enemy easy access to us. Just as physically walking without shoes leaves us vulnerable to bruising, or cutting, the soles of our feet by harmful objects, so is it in battling without our spiritual shoes of peace. Once the enemy robs us of our shoes of peace, we become susceptible to spirital injury, which then leaves us weak and feeling incapable of standing in the presence of God and His will in our lives! However, just us wearing shoes in the natural realm protects our feet from this very incident, so does walking with our shoes of peace. When we walk in peace, it keeps us strong and firmly rooted from falling prey to the enemy's traps to taunt us with 'time-outs' (ie. Laziness, nonexistent prayer life, etc). Bare-feet are dangerous! Keep your shoes on!

So! Are you wearing your shoes?

4. The SHIELD OF FAITH
Our cloak, just as a blanket covers us in cold weather, providing our bodies with warmth, our shield of faith protects us from fearful situations and the reminders the enemy throws at us. The devil knows our innermost fears and desires and knows how to make sure we are presented with situations that magnify them. Having our shield of faith helps us to protect ourselves from being "hit" with those fears and desires or allow them to affect us in any way. Faith activates God in our lives. "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)

When we respond to fear with faith, it disolves immediately. Lifting our shield of faith against the enemy's "arrows of fear" and "stones of empty delusions and lies" it causes them to boomerang back to its source. Our faith weakens the enemy, because it boasts about all The Promises That God has for us. We threathen the enemy when we are well informed AND confident about what is rightfully ours through Christ. Faith is a powerful weapon. Walk in faith. Run in faith AND Excercise it!

So! Are you holding your shield up?

Learn how to apply them and live with them as your armor! Pray long and hard. Don't let anyone fall behind or drop out. Hold on to your brothers and sisters in Christ and fight united! And, fight the Good fight!


PART 3 COMING SOON..!

The Armor of God - Part 1

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:10-17)

With all my wife and I have been through over the last few years this has been such an empowering piece of scripture! We live in a fallen world sadly, but yet we are no longer to be of this wold as Christians. This is a fight to the finish and God has not left us unarmed! God is strong and He wants us to be strong as well. We are up against so much more than we can handle, or even see, on our own in this life. We must take all the help we can get. All the help God has granted us with His great love and mercy.

Truth: The belt of Truth buckled around your waist.

Righteousness: The breastplate of Righteousness in place.
 
Peace: The feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of Peace

Faith: Take up the shield of Faith.

Salvation: Take the Helmet of Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.


"Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes" (Ephesians 6:11).

It is vital for us to be fully clad with our spiritual armor day in and day out, because it is our only way of defeating and revoking the enemy’s strategies against us. Just as a soldier cannot enter the battlefield half-armed, neither can we begin our day without our spiritual armor fully shielding us from the cunning works of the enemy. Being half armed will leave us partially vulnerable to being wounded, and not being armed at all, would leave us in total peril (think of stepping out of your house during a snow storm undressed for a day) this is why it is a MUST to always have on our...


1. BELT OF TRUTH

Our belt is equivalent to knowledge of our identity in Christ Jesus. Knowing what He says about us, feels about us, and has promised to us in His word. The devil is a liar and the father of all lies…and because this is true of him, he constantly seeks ways to whisper lies laced with fears into our ears, and plant them in our hearts in hopes that a manifestation will bloom in our lives. He will often inject negative thoughts about ourselves into our minds, magnify small (temporary) problems that we encounter throughout the day as huge and permanent, and often "hits us below our belts" bringing up hurtful mistakes of our pasts etc. Just as a belt upholds a pair of jeans--preventing them from falling, and also gives shape to a beautiful dress, so does our spiritual belt shape our minds with the truth, transforming it with the Light of the word.

Wearing the belt of truth protects us from being engrossed in the enemy's lies and allowing them to distract us from our main focus - Jesus! When we view ourselves from God's perspective, have extensive knowledge and BELIEF in what HE says, WANTS for, and THINKS of us, the enemy's lies will be nothing more than a mere annoying fly on a summer day. We will SQUASH it with GOD's truth.

So! Is your belt fastened?

2. BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

In the ancient times, soldiers never stepped out on the battlefield without a protective armor fully shielding their frontal body and back. This amor was usually made of an impermeable material such as brass or bronze, and covered the soldiers’ most sensitive and vital organs (Heart, Intestines, Kidneys, Liver etc...). Our spiritual breastplate does the same. It first and foremost covers our heart.

Our heart is what regulates our life. Without it, we die. With a corrupted one, we get ill. Knowing this,our opponent, the enemy, often likes to stir up situations that will spew negativity such as bitterness, anger, envy, unforgiveness into our hearts, and when the heart is spiritually contaminated with these things, it then spreads to the other vital organs, causing our spirits to slowly decay with sin...which eventually leads to a spiritual coma or death. Donning the breastplate of righteousness is equivalent to living in God's TRUTH and in HOLINESS. By meditating on His word and harboring it in our hearts, we prevent the filth and venom the enemy spits out from penetrating it and destroying us.

"I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." (Psalm 119:11).
Not 'wearing' the breastplate leaves us very vulnerable to spiritual 'heart attacks'. In our natural physical condition, we are said to be healthy when our heart is. And, just as maintaining a healthy heart requires water, exercise and healthy foods, the same is true of our spirit. We must feed it DAILY with the Word of God, in order to keep the unhealthy things the enemy feeds from clogging up our arteries. "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." (Proverbs 4:23)

So! How is your heart?

PART 2 COMING SOON..!!!!

Learn how to apply them and live with them as your armor! Pray long and hard. Don't let anyone fall behind or drop out. Hold on to your brothers and sisters in Christ and fight united! And, fight the Good fight!

YOUR TONGUE

YOUR NEIGHBOR'S REPUTATION AND YOUR TONGUE

“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” (Ex. 20:16).

 

 

This 9th Commandment has to do with controlling One's tongue. A very important, but extremely difficult task. James tells us the tongue can be tamed by no man, (James 3:1-8). However, Jesus reminds us that we can do all things through Him, (Phil. 4:13). Therefore, there is absolutely no excuse for a big mouth! We have an altar that is about 60 feet across. This should be sufficient space for just about anyone to lay their tongue on and get it under control.

Few people realize the incredible, destructive power of the human tongue.

Because of a few miss-spoken words:

1. Homes and families have been splintered,
2. Reputations shattered,
3. Careers shredded, and
4. Lives literally destroyed or even ended.

That little piece of muscle that lies in your mouth behind your lips and your teeth can bless or bruise, heal or hurt, love or lambaste. It all depends upon how you use it.

God says that we must never be guilty of lying on our neighbor thereby causing him to suffer. We are exhorted to always be truthful and absolutely honest when dealing with another person. As we consider some of what God has said about the tongue, may He help us to understand that every time we speak of another, we literally hold that person's reputation in our hands.

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NOTE:“Let us now turn to the topic of today: namely, gossip and slander. I'll begin by giving you some basic facts about these words and their appearance in the NASB

1. The word gossip, or a variant of it appears, 7 times; once in the Old Testament, and 6 times in the New Testament.
   1. 3 of the New Testament occurrences are in the form 'malicious gossips', which translates the Greek word diabolos – “devil”. This word occurs 34 other times; in all of those it is translated as devil. This perhaps provides some clue as to what God thinks of this activity.
   2. The other 3 NT occurrences translate Greek words that mean either whispering or babbling.
   3. The OT word means something like 'to be spacious, wide, or open.'
2. The word slander or its variants (including talebearer) occurs 29 times, 17 in the Old Testament, and 12 in the New Testament.
   1. The 17 OT occurrences are translations of 8 different Hebrew words, with basic meanings including 'going about on foot', 'whispering','tearing apart', and 'evil report'.
   2. The 12 NT occurrences include translations of a word that is also translated 'blasphemies', and other words with the basic meanings of 'speaking evil', and 'abusive speech'. “
   3. As was mentioned above, the LXX often translated the Hebrew word for satan with the Greek noun diabolos. That is where the English word "devil" has its root – it comes from the old Greek word diabolos which was used in such meanings as "slanderer" and "enemy".

C. Michael Holloway

11 October 1998

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How To Handle Your Neighbor's Reputation?

Or Better Yet

How Do You Handle Your Own?

1. A REPUTATION IS A VALUABLE POSSESSION

According to the Bible, one's "good name", or reputation, is far more valuable than riches or expensive ointments, (Pro. 22:1; Eccl. 7:1).

Your reputation determines the level of respect you receive - No one puts much confidence in a person who is dishonest, deceptive, or otherwise living his life in a sinful, shameful manner. I really respect people about whom I never hear a negative remark. Jesus was such a man - (Luke 2:52). We should do all that is in our power to see that we never allow our names to be associated with that which is disrespectful and shameful. It will undermine your good name and cause people to lose respect for you. Your life ought to be a beacon of integrity and decency.

Your reputation determines the level of the response you receive - Every Christian wants to be respected as a Christian and have his/her testimony be respected and responded to in a positive manner. The type of response that we can expect will always be determined by the kind of life others see us living! It has been said, "What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you are saying." In other words, the world will never believe what we say until they can see what we believe!

Your reputation is important, because what people perceive you to be is usually a fair indicator of what you really are. You see, your reputation is what others think you are and character is what you really are. However, people can misread us and misunderstand us and cause us to be something less than we actually are. However, as a general rule, your reputation is a direct result of your character. In other words, men think the way they do about you because of the way they see you act and live before them.

Your own reputation is valuable. Therefore, guard it with your very life. And, pray that others will do the same.

Now, you cannot be responsible for what others do with your reputation, but you are responsible for what you do with theirs.

Keep this in mind as we go forward with this message.

2. A REPUTATION CAN BE VANDALIZED PUBLICALLY

It is a serious thing - When we undermine the reputation of another by the words we speak, or write, we are guilty of destroying that persons respectability and credibility before others. We are guilty of doing unspeakable damage to a person's life and or ministry in life by the words we say about them.

I remember reading of a woman who was guilty of gossiping about another person. She was convicted and went to him to apologize to him and to try and make restitution for her wrongdoing. The person graciously accepted her apology and then told her that if she wanted to make it all right again, that she should take a pillowcase full of feathers to the top of the highest building in town and cast its feathers to the four winds. When this was done she was to return to him. She carried out his request and returned to him. He looked at her and said, "Now go and collect every one of those feathers." She replied, in horror, "That is impossible!" He said, "So, it is impossible for you to fully take back all those wrong hateful things you have said about me."

On another note a Pastor was having trouble with a gossip in the church. Every time she would see his car parked anywhere strange, she began immediately to spread the word that their Pastor was having an affair. There was no truth to her rumors, but she kept it up until the pastor, in an effort to stop her mouth, left his car parked in front of her house, day and night for a week. To say the least that cured the problem.

A lady was looking out her window, watching her neighbor hang her wash on the clothesline. As she watched, she remarked to a friend, "Our neighbor sure isn't clean. Why, just look at those streaks on her laundry." Her friend replied, "Those streaks are on your windows, not her clothes!" Sometimes, it is the sin in our own heart that makes us look for the evil in others!

The words of a false witness can be forgiven, but they will never be forgotten by those who are touched by their poison! Whether through wordy verbal gossip, email or Facebook, which seems to be today's arena of choice. Eternal damage can be done to reputations, relationships and ministries. People can even wind up in Hell because of the lies of a foolish person. I don't know about the rest of you, but I have absolutely no use for a gossip and a talebearer! I don't think the Lord does either!

It Is A Sad Thing

It is a sad day when one person thinks they have to repeat something on another. Embellish a false lie and involve others as joyful partakers in the conversations and afflictions. This is behavior that is hateful to God and demeaning to people! There are several ways in which people are guilty of using their tongues against another.

1. Slander – defined as, "Communication of false statements injurious to a person's reputation." We are guilty of slander when we knowingly lie about another person in an effort to harm their reputation.
2. Libel – defined as “Defamation by written or printed words, pictures, or in any form other than by spoken words or gestures. Anything that is defamatory or that maliciously or damagingly misrepresents.”
3. Lying – "A false statement deliberately presented as being true. We all have heard this one - “You know,?”, “Roomer Has It", “I've Been Told”, “You'll Never Guess What I Saw”, etc.
4. Talebearing – This is the practice of spreading gossip and rumors about others. It may be that the rumors are true. But, even that does not give us the right to tear down another's reputation. If we learn a secret about our neighbor, then we had better tell no one but God. He knows how to deal with their need and with them. I will promise you that He knows how to handle the gossip as well! Gossip is always a sin!
5. Insinuation – This is the practice of insinuating or hinting that something may be wrong in the life of another. When we are guilty of making people doubt another's reputation, we are guilty of sin before the Lord. This is the tactic that Satan tried to use against Job - (Job 1:11; 2:5).
6. Flattery – Flattery is saying something to a person's face that we would never say behind their backs. Usually flattery is given in an attempt to gain something from that individual. Flattery is lying!
7. Exaggeration – This is an easy lie to tell. We stretch numbers, statistics, etc., to make things look better. What fisherman is there who has not been guilty of stretching the size of the one that got away? When we exaggerate, we are lying!
8. Silence – When we here an untruth told and we remain silent, we are guilty of the "slander of silence." We become a party to the deception by not setting the record straight.
9. "Loose lips sink ships!" – This old saying is appropriate to the church today. Many churches are in turmoil because of gossiping and foolish talking today. God will deal with the gossip. Notice what the Word has to say about the trouble a gossip can cause - [Pro. 26:20-28].

This; whether we admit it or not, we are all guilty of lying. It's no wonder when 67% of North Americans do not believe in "absolute truth anymore”. It is said that 91% of us lie regularly. Most never make it through a week without lying, and 1 out of 5 cannot even make it through one day without telling a lie. But, we have gone way too far when we tell things on others that we know are untrue.

So... It Is A Sinful Thing? – When we practice any of these methods in regard to another, we are guilty of sin before the Lord! (Pro. 12:22; Lev. 19:16-17; Eph. 4:25).

In fact, God includes abuses of the tongue as three of the seven things He hates the most - (Pro. 6:16-19.) Are you guilty of using your tongue to harm another? If so, then you need to repent of that sin and get right with God! When you use your tongue to attack another, you are opening up your life to the judgment of God. James is exactly right when he says the tongue is a "World of iniquity."

So the question today now becomes; What shape is your world in?

Basically, God is saying that speaking evil is a big deal to Him. We humans may take it lightly, thinking "everyone does it" or "sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt them." God doesn't see it that way. He even compares speaking ill of others to murder!

Every Child of God needs to search his/her heart and determine for whose glory are we using our tongues.

3. REPUTATIONS SHOULD BE VIGOROUSLY PROTECTED

Confront The Gossip - Be quick to stand up for those who are being torn apart by the mouth of a gossip. We are just as guilty as the one talking when we stand there listening and do, or say, nothing in our brother or sister's defense. Be ready though, most gossips are sneaky, conniving people. They will be just as ready to turn their sharp tongue on you as they would on anyone else! In fact, if a gossip will gossip to you, he/she will probably gossip about you!

Conceal The Guilty – This does not mean that we condone sin in the lives of believers. It does mean, however, that we hesitate about bringing it out into the open. Many lives have been destroyed because people talked about others behind their backs and condemned them instead of praying for them and letting God work it out in His time and in His way.

As usual, God has a word about this matter also, (Pro. 11:13; 17:9; 1 Pet. 4:8).

Here is a good practice for living when it comes to what you will say or refrain from saying. We can form an acrostic from the word THINK. We should THINK before we speak of another.

T - Is it True?
H - Will it Help?
 I - Is it Inspiring?
N - Is it Necessary?
K - Is it Kind?

If what you have to say fails in any of these categories, then it is pretty safe to say that you would be better off not using your tongue for damage. A good habit to fall into is that of saying nothing about anyone unless it is good!

Are you guilty before the Lord today of using your tongue in a manner not pleasing unto Him?

If so, then I invite you to come to the altar and get that thing made right with the Lord. If you have been hurt by the long, wicked tongue of another, then I invite you to bring that injury to Jesus and let Him heal your heart.

My prayer today is simple really:

“May our almighty God help us to do and say the right things!” Amen.

The Test!

There's a Reason for That Test, You Know

via Answer for the Ailing Ministries by ** Michelle ** Answer for the Ailing Ministries on 7/23/11

Blessed are those who endure when they are tested ... James 1:12

We're always being tested - by major changes, delayed promises, impossible situations, unanswered prayers, undeserved criticisms, etc.


When you understand that all of life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant. Every day is an important day and every second a growth opportunity to deepen your character, demonstrate your love and make you depend more on God.

Are you in a time of testing? If so, know that God NEVER allows the test you face to be greater than the GRACE He provides. God won't allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you're put to the test, He'll give you strength to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
Every time you pass a test, God notices and makes plans to reward you. James wrote in James 1:12, 'When they pass the test, they will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.'

HANG IN THERE, for God WILL bring you THROUGH the tests of life and make you stronger and wiser.

Prayer: Father, where would we be if it weren't for Your grace? Thank You for equipping us with what we need to go through, for going before us, and for holding our hand through our journey. Wash away the disappointments and discouragements with Your love, Lord and renew our hope in You and the good plan that You have for our life. In Jesus' name, amen.

So... Do You Have Faith?

Scripture tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please God. It also tells us that even a tiny amount of faith pleases Him.

"(Jesus) He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
Matthew 17:20 (NIV)



A mustard seed is tiny, but once planted, grows into a large tree.
Jesus replied, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
Matthew 21:21-22 (NIV)

We all have faith right?
We go to a doctor we hardly know. They hand us a prescription we cannot read. We take that prescription to a pharmacist we have never met. They gives us a medication we do not recognize or understand and we take it ... all in faith right?

Just as in everyday life faith comes through a number of steps. Faith in God does not come all at once neither. Faith is a step-by-step process that begins with one small step and increases as we go. 

An Old Testament story found in Joshua 3 illustrates this truth.

The Israelites are camped on the bank of the Jordan River. Forty years earlier, they had escaped from Egypt and have been wandering around in the wilderness ever since. All of their needs have been met by God. They have seen miracle after miracle and now they can see Canaan, the Promised Land.

However, there is a problem.

A huge river stands between them and the Promised Land and there is no way around it. To make things worse, it is flood season and the usual places to cross are covered with deep, rushing water. The Israelites knew God could stop the river right before their eyes or He could throw a bridge across it - but He doesn't. Instead, He gives Joshua some very strange orders.

1. First order - The people are to keep an eye on the Ark of the Covenant.
2. Second order - As soon as they see the priests carrying the Ark, the people are to fall in behind them.
3. Third order - Joshua tells the people to expect amazing things to happen.
4. Fourth order - Joshua commands the priests to pick up the Ark and stand in the river.

God told His people that He would make a dry path through the river but the priests had never seen that happen. In fact, they hadn't even been born when the Red Sea was parted and there were no reruns of the Ten Commandments at the local Desert Wilderness Theatre. The Israelites had spent their entire adult lives in the wilderness and finally, they could see a way out. Oh, and one more problem - the priests couldn't swim. This was probably the first river they had even been close to in their lives. I can imagine their fear and questions. God was asking them to step out in faith as never before.

I don't imagine the Israelites had a great deal of faith in God at that very moment, but they had just enough faith to take that first step. And that was enough.

Let's look a little closer at this reading;
"Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground."
Joshua 3:15-17 (NIV)

Notice that God did nothing until those toes touched the water. That first step was all God needed to see. Many times, we won't take the first step because we're afraid we won't be able to make the whole journey. I know it has been a big part of my growing pains in faith.

So...what is your first step?

• Don't wait until you believe it all.
• Don't wait until you can see it all.
• Don't wait until you understand it all.

Step out in childlike faith and put your trust in God.

Some people say it doesn't really matter where we place our faith, as long as our faith is real. I could not disagree more, and here's why!

A United Press release told of a mid-western hospital where officials discovered that the firefighting equipment had never been connected. For 35 years, the medical staff and the patients had believed and had faith in this system, but it had never been attached to the city's water main. The pipe that led from the building extended 4 feet underground -- and then stopped. The expensive equipment was adequate for the building, but, it lacked the most important thing -- the water hook-up.
Yes, their faith was also real, but it was dangerously misplaced."

Our faith is worthless unless it is placed in God and God alone. We have no hope apart from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Now It's Your Turn!
Faith begins with one small step.
It's simple really. Begin by praying a simple prayer even like the following:

"Father, I come to You today in faith. I want to know You. I want to follow You for the rest of my life. I am afraid because my faith is small, but I am placing the faith I do have in You, Lord. I trust You to strengthen and grow that faith and help me become a fully devoted follower that pleases and honors You.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen."

 Jesus said a little faith can have incredible results. We don't need a lot of faith - just as much as a mustard seed to produce great results. Why? Because our God is an awesome God and our faith depends on Him!

Did the Biblical Characters, Places, and Events in the Books of Moses Really Exist?

This secret footage took my BREATH AWAY! - It was smuggled out across the boarders at GREAT RISK!!!

Did the Biblical Characters, Places, and Events in the Books of Moses Really Exist? Yes!
It always amazes me when people, places, and artifacts/sites are exposed in accordance with biblical writings and teachings. All too often it seems in today's world, with its vast base of technology and knowledge accessible at our fingertips, true biblical findings just get pushed off away from the mass media, destroyed or kept away from the local tourist and truth seekers. Most "non-christians" and its critics along with other various relegions are quick to judge, bury, block access and even distroy these findings, sites and evidence. Could it be that the Bible is so accurate from it bodies of doctumental evidence that even futher physical evidence and finding are deemed a treat. So, the question is did the Biblical characters involved with I'll let this litte video treasure speak for itself. This video was smuggled out of the country at a great risk.

Why Does God Allow Natural Disasters?

"Why does God allow natural disasters, i.e. earthquakes, hurricanes, and tsunamis?"

Why does God allow earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, tsunamis, typhoons, cyclones, mudslides, and other natural disasters? Tragedies such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the 2008 cyclone in Myanmar, the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, and the 2011 earthquake/tsunami near Japan cause many people to question God’s goodness. It is distressing that natural disasters are often termed “acts of God” while no “credit” is given to God for years, decades, or even centuries of peaceful weather. God created the whole universe and the laws of nature (Genesis 1:1). Most natural disasters are a result of these laws at work. Hurricanes, typhoons, and tornados are the results of divergent weather patterns colliding. Earthquakes are the result of the earth’s plate structure shifting. A tsunami is caused by an underwater earthquake.

The Bible proclaims that Jesus Christ holds all of nature together (Colossians 1:16-17). Could God prevent natural disasters? Absolutely! Does God sometimes influence the weather? Yes, as we see in (Deuteronomy 11:17) and (James 5:17). (Numbers 16:30-34) shows us that God sometimes causes natural disasters as a judgment against sin. The book of Revelation describes many events which could definitely be described as natural disasters (Revelation chapters 6, 8, and 16). Is every natural disaster a punishment from God? Absolutely not.

In much the same way that God allows evil people to commit evil acts, God allows the earth to reflect the consequences sin has had on creation. (Romans 8:19-21) tells us, “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.” The fall of humanity into sin had effects on everything, including the world we inhabit. Everything in creation is subject to “frustration” and “decay.” Sin is the ultimate cause of natural disasters just as it is the cause of death, disease, and suffering.

We can understand why natural disasters occur. What we do not understand is why God allows them to occur. Why did God allow the tsunami to kill over 225,000 people in Asia? Why did God allow Hurricane Katrina to destroy the homes of thousands of people? For one thing, such events shake our confidence in this life and force us to think about eternity. Churches are usually filled after disasters as people realize how tenuous their lives really are and how life can be taken away in an instant. What we do know is this: God is good! Many amazing miracles occurred during the course of natural disasters that prevented even greater loss of life. Natural disasters cause millions of people to reevaluate their priorities in life. Hundreds of millions of dollars in aid is sent to help the people who are suffering. Christian ministries have the opportunity to help, minister, counsel, pray, and lead people to saving faith in Christ! God can, and does, bring great good out of terrible tragedies (Romans 8:28).

Source http://www.gotquestions.org/natural-disasters.html

Our Christian Educational Background.

If somebody asks about your Christian educational background proclaim bodily that:

1. Church is my college,
2. Heaven is my university,
3. Father God is my chancellor,
4. Jesus is my principle,
5. The Holy Spirit is my teacher,
6. Angels are my classmates,
7. The Bible is my sylabus,
8. Trials and temptations are my exams,
9. Overcoming Satan is my hobby,
10. Winning souls to Gods Kingdom is my assignment,
11. Recieving eternity is the degree, AND, Praise and Worship is my Major.

Peter - "A Child of God"