We have found ourselves in a struggle for answers for Y2K. A possible doomsday scenario has alerted our attention, but we must be careful of the driving force behind our actions. We could very easily be deceived into "natural" solutions for "spiritual" problems. This could very easily be a test for Christians. The real question we must answer is: are we hearing or reacting?
John 16:13 However when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it to you.
John reveals three things that the Spirit of truth will do:
1. He will "Guide you into all truth.." Once a people lose touch with the Lord, they begin to react. They rationalize their problems with natural solutions. In Proverbs 3:6, direction comes as we acknowledge Him and give Him our first priority, "In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths."
2. "He will show you things to come.." That is a promise. If we are unaware of things to come, it is because we have lost contact with the one who holds the future. Amos 3:6, 7: "When a trumpet sounds in a city, do not the people tremble? When disaster comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it?’ Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets." Gen 18:17 "Then the LORD said, ‘Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?’"
3. He will "Receive of mine, and shall show it to you.." The Holy Spirit will reveal Jesus to you; in the time of trouble, the only stabilizing factor is a revelation of Jesus. Our relationship with Jesus is our refuge in the time of trouble. I believe many saints will get so caught up in self-preservation they will have no revelation on the real problem they are facing.
If we are going to receive guidance, according to John, it is going to be in truth and intimacy with God.
Make sure that you hear what I am saying: it is not wrong to naturally prepare, but with that preparation, we need to hear from God.
EVEN A GOOD KING CAN GO WRONG.
2 Chr 16:12 "In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the LORD, but only from the physicians."
The key word in this verse is "only." He tried to take care of spiritual problems with natural answers. He became so fearful in protecting his life, he revealed his lack of faith in God in the time of trouble: he reacted, rather than acted. The word tells me that Asa was a good King "the heart of Asa was perfect all his days." (2 Chr 15:17) Even the best of us can make the wrong decision based on self-preservation.
BE CAREFUL THAT YOUR SECURITY IS NOT IN YOUR PROVISION.
Luke 12:18-20, "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.' But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you.’"
It is clear that this man’s security was in his provision and not in his Provider. He felt that his abundance would give him the freedom to "Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."
HEARING - OVERCOMING.
Rev 2:7,11,17,29; 3:6,13,22
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches… To him that overcomes..
Every church in the book of Revelation was required to do two things: hear and overcome. I believe that you cannot overcome unless you hear. "Today if you will hear his voice…" (Heb 3:7)
THE MOUNTAINS:
Many will find refuge in the mountains because they are not capable of dealing with the problems of this world and society. Rather than threatening the world, the world will threaten them into retreat. Their presence in this world will mean no more than protecting what they have. If they are not into evangelizing, then they will be into some form of isolation and separation, the lost will mean nothing. You are called to be light and salt in this world. Your very existence is to claim others for his kingdom and glory.
Ps 11:1 "In the LORD I take refuge. How then can you say to me: ‘Flee like a bird to your mountain.’"
John 17:15 "I pray not that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil."
Matt 5:13-16 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Matt 25:24 "Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
Their are many good people who have been given talent from the Lord and have buried it in some isolated place on this planet. Be careful O man that fears the world, that you don’t get caught into hiding and burying.
THE JOSEPH ANSWER
I often hear the reference to Joseph’s preparation in Egypt as the answer to Y2K. Let’s take a further look. I will be jumping through the various verses in Chapter 41 to make my point.
Gen 41:16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.
32 The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.
38 So Pharaoh asked them, "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?"
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you.
40 You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you."
Where are the prophets today? Where is God’s voice in Y2K?
The whole scheme of preparation for Joseph came through a word from God. You cannot separate provision from direction in the story of Joseph. Joseph story is not a mandate for preparation, but a mandate to hear what God has to say.
ARE WE IN A WIN/WIN SITUATION?
It has been said that we are in a win/win situation. That we cannot lose no matter what happens. Think again.
First of all, if God is sending judgment to this country, there is no amount of provision that will keep you. The excuse that it will provide us with a good opportunity to evangelize is myopic in disposition. If you aren’t evangelizing now, what makes you think you will evangelize then?
God could potentially send a blistering winter that could cause havoc on our nation. Millions would flee to warmer climate sending cities into chaos.
Secondly, if nothing happens, there are two problems;
1. The world will make a fool out of us and play it to the hilt.
2. We will become hardened for the next or real act of God’s judgment.
We should be more concerned about being on our knees than on our needs.
I am surprised by the lack of God’s voice in this crucial matter, I hope it is not a judgment on our spiritual condition.
I am sure that those who have given themselves to preparation for Y2K are thinking that I am against preparation. Let me make it absolutely clear-- if we don’t hear from the Lord, we better be prepared. I am not against preparation; I am only concerned that we get our priorities straight. We desperately need to hear from God. This is a biblical appeal for us to pursue and hear from God. Action without God is a reaction to the situation. This is the time to get together to fast and pray and hear from God.
God is good…..
