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Ministries Message of the Week
by Betty Miller
FINANCIAL MELTDOWN - HOLOCAUST- ARMAGEDDON - FIRESTORM - CRISIS
These are the words we are hearing from all sectors right now. People are concerned and fearful about the critical financial and political situation in the world as we see a shaking going on all over the world. This is not just a crisis on Wall Street in the USA but it has had a rippling effect all over the world. We get lots of e-mail newsletters and a couple of those made these statements that express the grave danger and perilous times that we are living in. Here are a couple of quotes from those newsletters "The UK Telegraph is reporting that we face “extreme danger” in the financial sector on a worldwide level. They say that without 'immediate intervention on every front by all the major powers acting in concert, we risk a disintegration of global finance within days. Nobody will be spared, except those who own gold bars.'
Germany has their own version of Lehman Brothers weakening their country and Chancellor Merkel had to guarantee all German savings to stave off panic, as did Ireland. Netherlands is nationalizing their banking system. Ireland and Greece have had to rescue all their banks. Iceland is facing a collapse similar to what Argentine experienced and the US commercial paper market was virtually shut down. With all these things going on, there is talk about an unannounced bank holiday which would mean no access to funds for awhile. Probably won't happen, but if it did would you know how to survive in that kind of chaotic environment?" -- Excerpt from Michael Pink's Christian Business Newsletter. You can read more on his blog at: http://www.sellingamongwolves.com/blog/
"Treasuries rose, sending the yield on the 30-year bond to the lowest since regular issuance of the securities began in 1977, as widening financial turmoil wiped more than $10 trillion off stock markets worldwide this month." -- "In Jesus' day when his disciples asked him what it would be like in the world before his return ("Second Coming") in Matthew 24 and 25, he warned them of a evil, wicked unstable, turbulent world in which there would be great deception, betrayal, wars, rumors of war, persecution of his followers, a great falling away of believers, as well as famine, huge earthquakes and physical disasters. (It all sounds a lot like our own day to this writer!) He warned his followers to be prepared and acknowledged that only a remnant would be prepared and most would not!) -- Excerpts from the March 2008 MIA (The McAlvany Intelligence Advisor) in which he states the seriousness of the financial losses worldwide and what this means to the average person. Don McAlvany is a Christian business man and advisor and has information on his site to help in financial matters. http://www.miatoday.com/
BIBLICAL WARNINGS
What is the Lord speaking to His people in the midst of all the financial chaos? So many are feeling lots of unrest, fear and concern about the future. Some people are losing their jobs and many their homes and the cost of living has sky rocketed. What can we do when the effects of this crisis touches us? The first and foremost thing is that we must be totally committed to God and learn to hear His voice. There is not one situation that He cannot show us how to deal with it and come out victorious. Jesus promises us, as His children, to always take care of our daily needs and to never leave us nor forsake us.
Matthew 6:30-33:
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Hebrews 13:5 (AMP): Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]
What wonderful promises from the Word of God. We are praying that we all hear God as to those things we should do right now in preparation for the days ahead, since we are getting reports from ministers, Christian businessmen, prophets, etc. to prepare for the hard times we face. Some are suggesting having some cash on hand and extra food and emergency supplies right now if a meltdown comes. Other Christians are taking their funds out of the stock and bond markets. God does not want His people to panic and make unwise decisions. He stands ready to let us know what we should do in our own particular situation. God wants us to put our faith and trust in Him because He cares for us. We can hear Him if we seek Him with our whole heart diligently.
The current events going on in the world were recorded in the Bible so that when we began to see these things unfold, we would not fear, but rather do as the scripture tells us to do and that is to "look up for our redemption draweth nigh."
Luke 21:25-28:
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
We are not to yield to fear, but rather put our trust is in the Lord and have the assurance that He will take care of us. However, there were many warnings in the Bible for people to do things in the physical realm when there was impending circumstances that were occurring in the world. Even Joseph and Mary were warned to get out of Bethlehem and flee with baby Jesus to avoid his death when Herod gave the edict to kill all the baby boys. Noah was also warned to take certain steps when God saw that the incredible violent wickedness in the earth had to be dealt with by the judgment of the flood, lest the wicked destroy the righteous.
Hebrews 11:7: "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith."
Notice two things here: It was both by faith and fear that Noah prepared the ark. In the natural, we may be fearful in regard to the future when we think about what is coming. This is a healthy fear when it moves us to respond to, and obey God. The Bible says in Proverbs 1:7: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction." This kind of fear is a respect for what God says. It is not the tormenting kind of fear that the devil uses to attack us with. We must have faith in the Lord that He will preserve us even as He did Noah and his family in the ark.
OUR ARK IS JESUS
Preparing for emergencies is not a lack of faith when it is done out of wisdom and God's leading. We should pray for the best, but God knows the future and He may be directing us to take certain steps now so that the days ahead will not be as difficult for us. Making preparations for the unknown is not a lack of faith, any more than it is to keep a spare tire in our cars in case we have a flat. It is just wisdom to have a spare tire in your car in case you do have a flat. Flats do happen to all of us at times because we live in a imperfect world. The Lord is warning His people to make preparations for the days ahead with the spiritual preparation being the most important. One of the words that the Lord spoke to me about the days ahead was this: "It is going to be a time of the trying of men's souls." Although it is going to be a time of much pain for many people, there is an answer to that pain. We must remember Jesus died on a cross and took our grief and our sorrows so that means we do not have to take it, as we can give it to Jesus. We must also stand ready to tell others where they can go to get relief from their pain and sorrow. This is not an hour to "play" church. Rather we must have a strong relationship with the Lord to carry us through. We all need to be in a place spiritually so that we can hear the voice of God and remain under the "shadow of the Almighty." We claim the entire chapter of Psalm 91 daily over us and our family and our circle of friends. Our ark today is Jesus.
Psalm 91:1-2, "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust."
As God's people we must resist fear and walk in faith. God's promise to us is that He will never leave us nor forsake us. He always has a way for us no matter what we face. He is ever faithful.
FINANCIAL ADVICE
As Christians, we must remember, we are in the world, but not of this world. This applies to us spiritually, as well as financially. If we have given everything we have to God, then the devil has no authority over our finances and our possessions. They belong to God and the devil cannot rob us if we stand in faith against him. No man can really take something from us if it does not belong to us in the first place. We are simply stewards of all that we own in this world. If we do lose anything, God will make it up to us another way.
John 17:14-17:
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Now the promises of God are conditional and that means we must keep the Word of God in regard to His instructions about tithing and giving. If we are tithers, that means we have a covenant with God and He certainly will not fail on His part to meet my needs. We can trust Him because we have sown into the kingdom of God and therefore He is bound by His own Word to cause the fruit of what we have sown to be multiplied back to us. The Word of God also says that in the end times we are to be watchful in prayer and making ourselves ready for the coming of the Lord and if we are faithful to do this then He will make us a ruler over all our "goods." That means we will not be robbed of our possessions.
Matthew 24:42-47:
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
Not only can we believe for our financial house not to be broken up, but we can also believe for our families because this applies to our children as well, because the Bible says, "The seed of the righteous shall be delivered. (Proverbs 11:21b)"
SPIRITUAL ADVICE
The Lord is impressing us to pray more and stay close to Him so that we can hear what He is telling us daily. It is exciting to hear His voice. Here is what we must all do to remain spiritually strong:
1.) Pray
2.) Fast
3.) Read and study the Word of God
4.) Join with other believers in prayer and fellowship.
5.) Reach out to the poor and others with our testimony and help them in their need.
6.) Tithe and give (This is not the time to stop giving as it establishes our covenant with God and shows that we trust Him and His promises and our provision and security is not in the world's financial system, but rather comes because we are connected to the Kingdom of God.)
7.) Speak words of faith according to the Word of God and do not speak lack or fear in regard to our individual circumstances. God is greater than our circumstances. He will not fail us no matter what we may need.
Although everything is shaking, we are assured that everything that is built on the rock of Jesus will remain standing once the shaking ends. Praise God!
Hebrews 12:25-28:
25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
To read more Bible Answers go to this link: http://www.bible.com/bibleanswers.php
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Bible.com has many things on the site to help you grow in God. As Christians, one of the most important things we can do to overcome in this life is to become strong in God, by studying His Word. Here are some links with information that will help you so that you can be prepared in a day such as this:
READ THE BIBLE - Daily reading plan designed so that you can read the Bible through in a year. You can start anytime. <More Info>
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Overcoming Life Series Bible Study
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Teachings that help you lay a proper and systematic foundation in the Word of God so you can become an overcomer in Christ! If Betty Miller's writings on the Bible.com site have been a blessing to you, we are offering the Paperback Version of the entire Overcoming Life Bible Study Series. You will receive 9 books and 9 workbooks for a total of 18 books for the price of $200.00. You may also order sets, or singles.
Click here to order or read more information about this series.
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