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Tomorrow’s Forecast Uncertain
Contributed by Ralph Andrus on Jan 6, 2013 (message contributor)
Summary: Looking back on 2012. 2013 brings fear. The command to "fear not"
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- Gen. 6:5-6,11-13; Mt. 24:37-39
- Note Mt 6:52
- Do you have any doubt that we are officially in the "days of Noah?"
- Our days of grief & violence in 2012
Jan - Italy
Costa Concordia runs aground – 32 Die
Feb - Florida
George Zimmerman allegedly shoots and kills Trayvon Martin, sparking protests and outrage
Mar. -
Deadly tornadoes ravage the Midwest and the South. – 36 dead
April - Pakistan
Islamic militants attack a Pakistan prison, freeing nearly 400 inmates
May -
President Obama announces that he supports same-sex “marriage.”
June
Wildfires destroys Colorado Springs homes.
July –
- Auroora Col movie shooting 70 people shot, 12 dead
- The Obama administration files two cases with the Supreme Court that challenge the Defense of Marriage Act.
Aug - Syria
Civil war between 45,050 and 57,745 people have been killed of which about half were civilians,
Sept - Libya
Benghazi attack that killed four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens.
Oct - NY NJ WV
Superstorm Sandy destroys property & knocks out power for days
Nov US Election
Four more years of President Obama
Maine, Maryland, and Washington approve same-sex “marriage,” while Minnesota rejects an amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman.
Dec
- Sandy Hook school shooting kills 26 (20 grade 1 students 6 adults)
- Webster NY Sniper entraps firefighters Kills 2 , and wounds 2
("I still have to get ready to see how much of the neighborhood I can burn down, and do what I like doing best: killing people.")
Where Are We Headed?
- We're heading even more into rampant acceptance
• Same-sex marriage, Polygamy/men Polyandry/women
• Abortion - 60 million have taken place since 1973.
• Legalized recreational marijuana.
• Disrespect; Adults not honoring their parents and our children learn from their parents.
• Gay Rights, Homosexuality, Adultery, Fornication
• Remove Prayer
- Evil is called good and good is called evil.
- Do you have any doubt that we are officially in the "days of Noah?"
- We're in the fast lane to the end of the age now.
- There are 28 Atheists in Congress.
- The new Senate sat a Buddhist member for the first time
- House of Representatives has its first Hindu member (Hawaii)
- Muslims in congress are serving Indiana & Minnesota.
- Obama stated on CNN that he is Muslim. YouTube
- He's a politician. He's a Christian to Christians & a muslim to muslims. So we have become one nation under many gods.
- We're all so busy that we don't pay careful attention to how late it is.
- We’re seeing an erosion of many of our basic rights, values, and traditions.
- Apathy – Just don’t care
- We have rejected God
- Technology has become God
- Globalism & the cashless society is our next desire
• Stuff gets in the way
• Clutter is anything that distracts, that takes me out of focus, that keeps me from thinking or doing what I ought.
• Clutter is weight, baggage, whatever bogs me down.
Compare Mt 14:22-33; Mt. 8:23-27 - Had they forgotten?
- Mk 6:45- Here we are constrained (made or insisted to get in…)
- As they went events remembered
- Darkness descends, storm arises,
- We are constrained to go into 2013
- Mk. 6:48 Toiling, wind contrary – Our actions will not be enough to get us through to what lies ahead
- Fear to take action
- What is the most common command in the Bible?
• 79x - Fear Not
• 366x Be not afraid, Dread not, Courage
Mt. 14:26 And when the disciples saw him
- Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.
7 Fear Not’s
1. Blessing in the Journey – Genesis 26:24 (AV)
24 And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.
2. Supplies in the Famine – 1 Kings 17:13 (AV)
13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
3. Protection in Trouble – 2 Kings 6:16 (AV)
16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
4. Strength in Weakness – Isaiah 41:10 (AV)
10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
5. Present in Trial – Isaiah 43:1–3 (AV)