3 pieces of news grabbed the headlines in the UK in the past 2 weeks - the tragic cyclone disaster in Burma, an Austrian man fathered his own daughter's 7 children and the "clown" of the Conservative Party Boris Johnson became Mayor of London. I firmly believe that what happens in the natural reflects the spiritual. Whilst the first 2 pieces of news are merely confirming Matthew 24 (Signs of the End of the Age) respectively in v.7b and v.12, I find the 3rd one particularly revealing.
The choice made by the people of London of a man who very few people take seriously as the Mayor somewhat perplexed me. I pondered on it and I asked God what this means for this city at this time. The impression I got was found in [Prov. 29:18] "Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint...". It reminded me of the rebellious spirit the Israelites that we see in [1 Sam 8:1-22] "When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges for Israel......But his sons did not walk in his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice. So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, "You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have." But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.......When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the LORD. The LORD answered, "Listen to them and give them a king." ......"
We know from history that God gave the elders of Israel Saul as their king. So let us understand that THE PERMISSION OF GOD IS NOT ALWAYS THE WILL OF GOD!
Man is the crown jewel of God's workmanship. But if we reject Him, He will reject us. Even King David, one who was after God's own heart knew it well when he said "You have rejected us, O God......you have been angry-- now restore us! You have shaken the land and torn it open; mend its fractures, for it is quaking. You have shown your people desperate times.......But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow....Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered. Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless. With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies." [Ps 60:1-5,11-12 NIV] So, why should we be surprise when disaster strikes some people. Why should we not understand when some people experience desparate time and failure. But let those who fear God be assured that victory is on their side!
We are living in a time that demands our faith to be strong and courageous because the natural is challenging the spiritual."They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community.....they reported to them.....and showed them the fruit of the land......it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large......Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." [Num 13:26-33 NIV] We can choose to have the faith of the timid spies who were scared of the enemy that APPEARED to be powerful, or we can be like Caleb who believed in the promises of a mighty God.
Also, we will eventually be standing before God and each will have to give his or her accounts to God. "Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load. Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." [Gal 6:1-10 NIV]
Indeed let us work hard to please the Spirit. Let us ask God to grant us the strength and hardwork of an ox trusting that ".........from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest........The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good man rewarded for his....... All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." [Prov 14:4,14,23 NIV]
Amen!
The choice made by the people of London of a man who very few people take seriously as the Mayor somewhat perplexed me. I pondered on it and I asked God what this means for this city at this time. The impression I got was found in [Prov. 29:18] "Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint...". It reminded me of the rebellious spirit the Israelites that we see in [1 Sam 8:1-22] "When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges for Israel......But his sons did not walk in his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice. So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, "You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have." But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.......When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the LORD. The LORD answered, "Listen to them and give them a king." ......"
We know from history that God gave the elders of Israel Saul as their king. So let us understand that THE PERMISSION OF GOD IS NOT ALWAYS THE WILL OF GOD!
Man is the crown jewel of God's workmanship. But if we reject Him, He will reject us. Even King David, one who was after God's own heart knew it well when he said "You have rejected us, O God......you have been angry-- now restore us! You have shaken the land and torn it open; mend its fractures, for it is quaking. You have shown your people desperate times.......But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow....Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered. Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless. With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies." [Ps 60:1-5,11-12 NIV] So, why should we be surprise when disaster strikes some people. Why should we not understand when some people experience desparate time and failure. But let those who fear God be assured that victory is on their side!
We are living in a time that demands our faith to be strong and courageous because the natural is challenging the spiritual."They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community.....they reported to them.....and showed them the fruit of the land......it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large......Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." [Num 13:26-33 NIV] We can choose to have the faith of the timid spies who were scared of the enemy that APPEARED to be powerful, or we can be like Caleb who believed in the promises of a mighty God.
Also, we will eventually be standing before God and each will have to give his or her accounts to God. "Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load. Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." [Gal 6:1-10 NIV]
Indeed let us work hard to please the Spirit. Let us ask God to grant us the strength and hardwork of an ox trusting that ".........from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest........The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good man rewarded for his....... All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." [Prov 14:4,14,23 NIV]
Amen!
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