Christian Life 

What is going on and why?

In times of tragedy the same questions arise. "Who was at fault and why has  this happened?"
 
first published 14/02/14

Fallen TowerBack in the time of Jesus, a human tragedy hit the headlines. When a tower building in Siloam fell and killed
eighteen people the disciples asked Jesus what was going on. 2000 years later as the south of England suffers a deluge of biblical proportions we see the same question being asked.

One church leader with a prophetic ministry has responded in the context of the conspicuous silence emanating from most of the church.Writing for the 'Heart of Sussex' newspaper Rev. Dr. Clifford Hill asks: "

"What’s going on? Two thousand five hundred years ago the Prophet Haggai foretold a time coming when God would shake all the natural environment and the political, economic and social foundations of the nations. He said, “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations’.” Clearly, the “little while” was in the context of God’s timing, where 1,000 years is like a single evening (Psalm 90:4)!"

Pointing out that the cost of reparing the water damage and the work of building protection into the future is likely to negatively impact on the economy just at a time when political leaders have been starting to talk about an economic upturn. The sociologist, clergyman and author states:

Storms1"The great storms battering our coasts and sweeping across the land are a precursor and a warning of the social and economic tsunami that will follow. The present storms are just a small foretaste and warning of what is to come, unless there is a major change in the nation."

Dr. Hill's comments reflect the mind of God through an Old Testament prophet. Facing national calamity the prophet Jeremiah reminded the people of God's warnings:
 
"If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed,
and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned.
And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted,
and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it."
    (Jer. 18:7-10)

Progressively and relentlessly since the end of the Second World War we have seen our nation travel further and further into rebellion against the statutes of God. The laws against witchcraft were repealed, and abortion and homosexuality legalised. Many Christians now believe that the legalisation of same-sex marriage represents a watershed in the life and welfare of the nation: a tipping point in the very fine balance between God's mercy and judgement.

In Old Testament times the psalmist summed up the prevailing attitude in Psalm 2:

Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
"Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us."

 
Yet regarding man's rebellion we go on to read:

He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision.
Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure:

 
And of God's purposes through Jesus Christ:

You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.' "
Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

Implicit in their question to Jesus regarding those who died under the falling masonry at Siloam is the disciples' thought that the victims were suffering judgement because of their behaviour but Jesus turned their question back on those around him:
 
"Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish". (Luke 13:5)

The finger of blame is being pointed in many different directions, but Jesus points it back to ourselves. The apostle Paul wrote:
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."
(Acts 17:30-31).

The response then? Some scoffed: othes responded positively.

'When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject."' (Acts 17:32).

What will our response be today?

The Editor, 14/04/2014

Feedback:
David Wilkerson ministry (Guest) 26/02/2014 15:09
PREACHING REPENTANCE
by David Wilkerson

What was the first message Jesus delivered after He emerged from the temptation in the wilderness? Scripture says, "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17).

Jesus called people to repent before He even called them to believe.
Mark writes, "Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:14-15).
Christ preached, "Repent first-and believe."

Elsewhere Jesus says of His mission, "I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Matthew 9:13). And He told the Galileans, "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3).

Jesus´ gospel was all about repentance!

John the Baptist also preached repentance, to prepare Israel for the coming of Christ. John´s message to the Jews was simple and straightforward: "In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:1-2).

People came from everywhere to hear John preach. And he told them in no uncertain terms: "The Messiah is soon to appear in your midst, so you´d better get ready to meet Him! You may feel excited that He´s coming, but I´m telling you, your hearts are not prepared because you´re still holding on to your sins.

"Outside you appear clean and holy. But inside, you´re full of dead men´s bones! You´re a generation of vipers, snakes, with absolutely no fear of God [see Matthew 3:7-12]. Yet you have no concept that you´re even sinners. I warn you-you must deal with your sin before you can believe on the Savior and follow Him. So, repent, turn from your sin and live in a way that reflects genuine change!"

-Source-

http://davidwilkersontoday.blogspot.com/2014/02/preaching-repentance.html

Gordon (Guest) 14/03/2014 22:30
Repentance doesn't mean the decision and ability to discard all sin, and thereafter to live a spotless moral life . It doesn't work that way , as we all know.
Even less is 'individual sins repentance' a condition for putting our faith in the divine person of Jesus Christ, and for trusting in the efficacy of His atoning work on the Cross. It is through the act of faith that we are reconciled to God and declared righteous in His sight. Unbelief in Jesus Christ is THE great sin, not whether you ate some forbidden food or worked on the Sabbath day at any time of your life.

Repentance means turning from the kingdom of Satan and Darkness to the kingdom of Heaven, through the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ. His Holy Spirit is the earnest/down-payment of the glorious inheritance which we are yet to share with our Saviour. Through His Spirit, Jesus turns us from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. This is true repentance , accomplished through His grace.


The dead works from which are to turn/repent is our own self-effort under the old Law of Moses, and the new Covenant to which we are to turn is an on-going life of faith and trust in the redeeming work of Jesus, and the transforming power of His Spirit.


(Guest) 15/03/2014 10:50
Well stated Gordon
Den Middleton (Guest) 10/05/2014 20:52
Witchcraft laws repealed. Has anyone got an issue with that? And does anyone believe that natural disasters are instigated by a god? Really?

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Christians Together in the Highlands and Islands > Christian Life > Is there any word from the Lord? > What is going on and why?