Sound The Midnight Cry

“Mission Impossible”

The television show “Mission Impossible” would always start with, “Your mission, Jim, should you decide to accept it, is (mission named).  As usual, should you or any member of your I.M. Force be captured or killed, the secretary will disavow any knowledge of your existence. This tape will self-destruct in five seconds. Good luck, Jim.” One would then sit back for an hour of intense drama (at least, intense for those days; nothing compared to the MI movies on the big screen now).

The idea of course was that the mission faced difficult circumstances and objectives but that somehow the team would be able to overcome those impossibilities.

There have been other shows over the years based upon the same premise of doing the impossible (A-Team, MacGyver). Movies have been depicted achieving unrealistic storylines (most sci-fi and tech-action films).

I began thinking about this when a headline on WND.com reported, “IRAN PREPARING NOW FOR ARMAGEDDON”. Sources in Tehran reported Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been heard to say that the coming of the last Islamic Messiah, is near and that specific actions need to be taken to protect the Islamic regime for upcoming events. The Shiites’ believe that 12^th Imam known as the Mahdi will reappear at the time of Armageddon.

It is a well documented that Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has stated that he feels his destiny is to create the global chaos that is prophesied to force the Mahdi out of hiding. The Shiite belief is that that al-Mahdī was born in 869 and did not die but rather was hidden by God to be brought out in the last days to bring peace on the earth.

So the leadership of Iran that is working feverishly to acquire nuclear technology while threatening to cutoff the path of world oil exports is also preparing for Armageddon. If it was only the introduction to a novel or upcoming movie, I would be intrigued. However, it is more than that—and it’s a mission impossible.

The reason I say this is due to the misapplication of the word “Armageddon”. In the everyday use of the term, it means “the end of the world” based upon a worldwide conflict, usually inferring the use of nuclear weapons. The fallacy however, is that the original meaning of Armageddon is biblical and has a totally different reference.

The word Armageddon appears only once in the New Testament; Revelation 16:16. It is a place in Israel where a battle between the forces of the Anti-Christ will come that will result in a return of Jesus Christ to earth with the armies of heaven. The result will be a 1,000 year time frame of peace before the final judgment takes place.

When I read the article of the Iranian leadership preparing to take “specific actions need to be taken to protect the Islamic regime for upcoming events”, I deemed it a mission impossible.

Revelations 6 states, “Then everyone—the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful, and every slave and free person…cried to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to survive?”

There is only one way to prepare for Armageddon and it isn’t with weapons; it’s surrender to the true Messiah—Jesus Christ! 

 

“No Effect”

Have you ever heard someone exclaim, “That has no effect on me?” The claim is that something or someone has no final outcome as to the behavior of the person. An example might be specific prescription used for relieving pain. The drug may work for the majority of people but have no impact on others. It doesn’t mean that the product in ineffective as a whole; it simply means that its intended result doesn’t work as it should for some people.

This week an article appeared relating to a new study that was headlined, “Nearly half of churchgoing Americans say church doesn’t have an effect on their lives.”

“Nearly half (46 percent) of churchgoing Americans report that their lives have not changed at all as a result of attending church... nearly one-third of individuals report not having ever felt God’s presence while attending church” according to the Barna Group, an evangelical company that studies faith in America.

The article did point out that there are those that can point to a point of influence or change as a result of their attending church. Yet, the article noted of those that participated in the study, “Six-in-ten church attenders, when asked to recount their last visit to a house of worship couldn’t remember any significant insight they gained related to their faith. Even more startling, among those who attended church in the past week, half said that they couldn’t recall any spiritual tidbits.”

There are so many questions that arise from this study that it’s hard to know where to focus one’s attention. Some people would simply shrug it off by saying, “It’s a sign of the times” meaning that it’s a fulfillment of scripture referring to that in the last days people’s hearts growing cold towards God. However, that wouldn’t be exactly true as the study concerned those that were attending church. I would like to think that at least some of them are there looking to find something.

If there is a place to start in trying to find out where the problem lies, I would suggest that it isn’t in the pews of the church but rather the pulpits and those filling them. I remember many years ago attending an event in Shreveport, Louisiana to hear the late David Wilkerson speak. Before he did, he invited to the podium the elderly Leonard Ravenhill (now deceased) to say a few words. I will never forget what he said that day to over 1,000 ministers gathered in that place.

“Almost 40 years ago I wrote a book titled, “Why Revival Tarries”. I’m writing a new book called, “Why Revival Still Tarries”. Do you want to know the reason why it hasn’t come yet?” (the response was a unanimous “Yes”). At that moment, Ravenhill pointed his finger at the crowd of ministers and said, “You’re the reason!” and he simply walked back to his seat.

Leonard Ravenhill’s point was clear: if there is no effect on the person in the pulpit, how can one expect there to be any effect upon the people in the pews.

Yes, there will be those that fall away in the last days for various reasons. However, the same scriptures say that there will be many who come into the knowledge of knowing Jesus Christ.

Church attendance in itself is not the answer; experiencing the power of Christ to change one’s life and the daily presence of His love is the answer.

It’s time for this cause and effect to happen from pulpit to the pew so that the Church is impacting the world instead sitting in pews waiting for something to change them.

Are you ready?

 

“The Beginning of the End?”

How many times have we used the phrase, “The beginning of the end?” It’s most common use is when we see change taking place. 2012 is beginning to do just that—changes that are aligning themselves with God’s Word. Let me give you just a few examples:

• Iran is boldly following its plan to develop nuclear technology. Two weeks ago, they boasted that they had begun processing nuclear enriched fuel rods. The EU and other western nations are debating to put an embargo against Iran for continuing down this path. Iran’s leaders simply mock the perceived weakness of the West due to their need for oil that passes through the Straight of Hormuz.
• Syrian president Assad is preparing for a civil war as he continues to try and quell the civilian uprising in that nation. Fear is that he could back a war against Israel to turn attention away from him.
• Russia has sold Iran sophisticated anti-aircraft missiles in hopes of protecting the Iranian nuclear facilities from an attack.
• The Egyptian uprising that began this time last year, it now coming full circle as the people rebel against the military powers that they once supported.
• Meanwhile, the Muslim Brotherhood that everyone said was harmless has all but taken control of the political arena in Egypt and stretching into other nations.

All the while, Israel is being surrounded by hostiles equipped, funded and trained by Iran with the aid of Russia. Israel’s leaders are preparing for what appears to be certain war instigated by Iran and its proxy states.

Ancient prophecies in the Bible point to two events that will signal the apocalyptic end times—Isaiah 17:1 says, “Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.” The other is Ezekiel 38 where it is said that Gog, Magog, Persia, Ethiopia and Libya will come against Israel and be defeated. These are widely thought to be Russia, Iran, Northern Africa and the former Persian Empire.

I believe that 2012 will see an increase in the tumultuous changes already at work across the earth. The aligning of these nations is occurring stronger each day and the end result seems to point toward war against Israel. “Will it come this year?” The experts say “yes”—only God knows for sure. However, He points out for us in His Word the signs of the times. Why? That we may know the time is near and that we might soberly be about our Father’s business. No fear—just assurance that God’s Word is true and that Jesus is coming soon.

So watch and pray and live with confidence that God is in control!

 

“Walk Forward With Confidence”

As we stand on the threshold of a New Year, none of us know what lies ahead. Many of the predictions for 2011 never came to pass. Yet, many people are fearful of the future because of the “unknown” factor. That fear paralyzes them from ever fulfilling the purpose of their life. So the question that needs to be answered is, “How can one face the future without fear and with a sense of purpose?”

In John 14:1, Jesus told his disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” Jesus is trying to let them know that He is about to go away and that things are going to be different than they had been for the last 3 years. As He reveals some of the plan for the disciples, Thomas asked the question that many people today would ask; “How can we not be fearful about the future? You say you are leaving and we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (John 14:5) The fear of the unknown has struck the hearts of his closest friends.

Change is difficult for most people. We like the conveniences that technology and science bring our way but we don’t like what we don’t know. The disciples were not any different so Jesus reveals this truth: “… The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.” John 14:10

All that was happening in the life of Jesus was the work of his Father in heaven: His birth, his flight into Egypt, his growing up as the son of a carpenter, his encounters with the religious leaders of the day, and the miracles done by his hands. All this was the working of the Father.

And what lay ahead of him was also the working of the Father: The betrayal by a friend, the trial by his peers, the beatings by the soldiers, the mocking of the crowd, and the laying down of his life. All this too was part of the working of the Father. But let's not leave it there: the resurrection, victory over death, hell, and the grave were also a working of the Father.

The point is this: With Jesus Christ as our source, we can face the challenges of each day with the understanding that He is working His work in us. (Romans 8:28). What God has started, He is able to complete.

So face 2012 with a sense of purpose, a sense of destiny and a sense of adventure and walk forward in confidence of the One who has called you His own!

 

“Coming Home For Christmas”

In December 1903, after many attempts, the Wright brothers were successful in getting their “flying machine” off the ground. Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Katherine: “We have actually flown 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas.”

Katherine hurried to the editor of the local newspaper and showed him the message. He glanced at it and said, “How nice. The boys will be home for Christmas.” He totally missed the big news—man had flown!

 As the events of the Christmas season wind down, I can’t help but wonder how many people today once again have missed the real story. The message of Christmas is not gifts and gadgets, bows and lights or trees and tinsel. The message of Christmas is that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son—for one purpose.

“An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” Gospel of Luke 2:9-11

The good news is that a Savior came into the world to rescue its inhabitants from the penalty of sin. The sad news is that so many have never heard the good news, while many others simply scoff at the message. Like the editor reading the telegraph about the accomplishment of the Wright brothers and not comprehending what was being said, many people today fail to understand the greatness of that first Christmas message.

The amazing truth is that of all the prophecies foretold concerning the first coming of Jesus Christ, there are seven times more divine predictions about His second coming. And once again, millions have never heard the message or those that have, simply ridicule the whole idea.

There is no greater opportunity to focus on the real message of Christmas than now—before it gets packed away with the decorations and memories of another December 25^th. Christmas is the coming of a Savior for those needing saving (all of us) and a new home being prepared by the One that came to save us.

Don’t miss the big news of Christmas—Jesus Christ has come once and He is coming again!