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How to Respond to Economic, Political and Moral Devastation (Insights in Prophets)

9/19/2012

When people trust in idols, devastation occurs in a country. The economy tanks and people lose jobs. God is no respecter of persons, including the US. Trusting in something besides God brings deception to leaders causing a nation to go astray. In contrast, God blesses and glorifies anyone who trusts Him. Fear motivates people to worship God sacrificially causing healing and witness to the world. Demonstrate Christ's love by providing basic necessities to those who lost their jobs. Learn how to respond properly to economic, political and moral devastation from Is 17-21.

The Lord said Damascus became a heap of ruins, cities of Aroer deserted and the fortified city from Ephraim disappeared. The remnant of Aram became like the glory of the Israelites. Jacob's glory faded and his body wasted away with little fruit remaining. In that day men looked to their Maker and turned their eyes to the Holy One of Israel without regard to the work of their hands. Strong cities became desolate before the Israelites because they forgot God their Savior, the Rock and their fortress. Their harvest became nothing because of disease and pain (Is. 17:1-14). When people forget God their Savior, cities become devastated.

Nations feared oppressive and powerful Ethiopia that sends envoys by sea. An aggressive nation of strange speech brought gifts to the Lord Almighty at Mount Zion, the place of His name (Is. 18:1-7). God imparts glory to anyone who worship and bring gifts to Him.

The Lord rode on a swift cloud to Egypt as its idols trembled before Him and their hearts melted within them. He stirred each person to fight against one another. The Egyptians lost heart and God brought their plans to nothing. They consulted idols, mediums and spiritists. God handed the Egyptians over to a fierce king who ruled over them. The streams dried up and fields along the Nile became parched. The fishermen languished, weavers of fine linen despaired, workers in cloth were dejected and all wage earners were sick at heart (Is. 19:1-10). People spur economic downturn and job reductions when they lose heart and trust idols.

The officials of Zoan became foolish, Pharaoh's wise counselors gave senseless advice and the leaders of Memphis were deceived. The cornerstones of her peoples led Egypt astray. The Lord mixed a spirit of distortion like a drunkard staggering in his vomit so its leadership could not do any meaningful work (Is. 19:11-15). God distorts and disables leaders toward deception causing their country to go astray.

Th Egyptians shuddered with fear like women when the Lord Almighty raised an uplifted hand against them. Judah brought terror and dread to Egypt because of what God planned against them. Five cities spoke the language of Canaan swearing allegiance to God including the City of Destruction. People cried to the Lord and He sent a Savior and a Champion to deliver them. God made Himself known to Egypt and they came with sacrificial worship. They returned to Him after God struck and healed them. In that day there was a highway from Egypt to Assyria so both nations would worship together. Israel joined them as a blessing to the earth so God said, "Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance" (Is. 19:16-25). Fear motivates people to worship God sacrificially causing healing and witness to the world.

Isaiah went naked and barefoot as a sign when Assyria led away Egyptian and Ethiopian captives naked and barefoot. They feared and were ashamed because they hoped in Ethiopia and boasted in Egypt. This was warning to those who trusted in Egypt and Ethiopia for deliverance from Assyria (Is. 20:1-6). Trusting in something besides God leads to defeat and shame.

A harsh vision was shown of the treacherous and destroyer that caused deep anguish and overwhelming horror. Pay close attention day and night to hear God say that Babylon fell along with her gods shattered on the ground (Is. 21:1-10). God reveals how false gods will be shattered during times of destruction and anguish.

Be silent concerning Edom as one kept calling from Seir when watchman waited during the night. Bring water for the thirsty among Tema in Arabia. Meet the fugitives with bread as they fled from swords in the press of battle. In a year, Kedar's splendor stopped with few mighty bowmen left (Is. 21:11-17). Demonstrate Christ's love by providing basic necessities for those who lost their jobs.

Are you trusting in God or something else? If you are trusting in something else like family, job, hobby, money, entertainment, etc, confess your sin and begin to worship God sacrificially by spending more time in His word and prayer.

Are you fearful about the economic conditions? Let your fear motivate you to worship God sacrificially by spending more time in His word and prayer.

Do you see people out of work and struggling financially? Meet basic needs and then train them to be self-sufficient with a circle of support.

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How God Responds to Political Tyranny, Economic Depression and Leadership Crisis (Insights in Prophets)

9/16/2012

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"Satan's arsenal consists of such things as fear, worry, doubt, and self-pity. Every one of these weapons robs us of peace and leaves us troubled inside. Do you want to discern where the enemy is coming against you? In the network of your relationships, wherever you do not have peace, you have war. Conversely, wherever you have victory, you have peace. When Satan hurls his darts against you, the more peace you have during adversity, the more truly you are walking in Christ's victory" (Francis Frangipane). Isaiah 13-16 explains how God responds to political tyranny, economic depression and leadership crisis.

God Destroys Ungodly Plot and Humbles Pride
God commanded holy warriors from a far country who rejoiced in His triumph to carry out His wrath against Babylon and destroy the whole land. In the day of the Lord, every man's heart melted with terror while pain and anger gripped them. They writhed like a woman in labor. The Lord made the land desolate, destroyed sinners, and darkened the stars, sun and moon. God punished the world for its evil and the wicked for their sins. He ended the arrogance of the proud and humbled the pride of the ruthless. The heavens trembled and the earth shook at God's wrath and burning anger. Everyone returned to his native land like sheep without a shepherd. Their infants were dashed to pieces, houses looted and wives ravished (Is. 13:1-16). God destroys ungodly plots and humbles prideful people.

God Shortens Future of Wicked
God stirred up the Medes against Babylon even though they did not care for silver or gold. They struck down young men and showed no compassion on children. God overthrew Babylon like Sodom and Gomorrah. God shortened her days so only desert animals would inhabit Babylon through all generations (Is. 13:17-22). God shortens and halts the future of the wicked.

God Imparts Peace and Stops Bondage from Evil One
Because of compassion, the Lord chose Israel again to settle in their own land along with aliens. Israel possessed the nations and ruled over their oppressors. He gave them relief from suffering, turmoil and cruel bondage. He broke Babylon's oppression and pomp so all nations could experience rest and peace. As the morning star, they fell from heaven and cast down to the earth. His heart said he would ascend to heaven, raise his throne above the stars of God, sit enthroned on the sacred mountain, and make himself like the Most High. He was thrust down into the pit of Sheol (Is. 14:1-15). God stops bondage from the evil one so you experience peace and rest.

God Removes Burdens and Provides Refuge
People pondered Babylon's fate in overthrowing cities, but soon was not mentioned again like a rejected branch who could not inherit the land. The Lord Almighty cut off Babylon's name and descendants. He turned her into a place for owls and swept her with the broom of destruction. God's fulfills His purposes. He crushed Assyria and removed his yoke and burden from His people. No one thwarts God's plan. He destroyed Philistia's root with famine and killed his survivors. The most helpless ate and the needy lied down in safety. The Lord established Zion and His afflicted people found refuge (Is. 14:16-32). God removes burdens and provides refuge for the afflicted.

God Causes People to Lose Wealth and Their Lives Overnight
Moab was destroyed in a night. People went to its temple, high places, streets and public squares to weep and wear sackcloth. Moab's armed men cried out with faint hearts. God's heart cried out for Moab. Her fugitives left as far as Zoar and lamented their destruction. The waters of Nimrim dried up and the vegetation withered. They carried wealth they stored up over the Ravine of the Poplars. Dimon's waters were full of blood with more coming upon those remaining in the land (Is. 15:1-9). God’s judgment causes people to lose wealth and their lives overnight.

God Seeks Justice and Speeds Cause of Righteousness
Send lambs as tribute to the ruler of Moab. The women were like fluttering birds pushed from the nest. Fugitives sought counsel and shelter from the destroyer. The oppressor came to an end and destruction ceased after the aggressor vanished from the land. In love a throne would be established and a man from the house of David who sought justice and prompt in the cause of righteousness would sit on it (Is. 16:1-5). Christ seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness by destroying wickedness.

God Laments Over Excessive Pride Causing Political, Economic and Leadership Crisis
We heard of Moab's excessive pride, conceit and empty boasts. Therefore Moabites wailed together for Moab and grieved for the men of Kir-hareseth. The fields of Heshbon and vines of Sibmath withered. The rulers of the nations trampled down the choicest vines that once reached Jazer and went to the sea. The shouts of joy over their ripened fruit and harvest were stilled because no one treaded out wine in the presses. God's heart and inmost being lamented for Moab and Kir-hareseth like a harp. Moab wore herself out praying with no results at her high place and shrine. Within three years, Moab's splendor and her many people would be despised leaving a small, weak remnant (Is. 16:6-14). God laments over excessive pride causing political tyranny, economic depression and leadership crisis.

How God responds to political tyranny, economic depression and leadership crisis:
1. God destroys ungodly plots and humbles prideful people
2. God shortens and halts the future of the wicked
3. God stops bondage from the evil one so you experience peace and rest
4. God removes burdens and provides refuge for the afflicted
5. People lose wealth and their lives overnight during judgment
6. Christ seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness by destroying wickedness
7. God laments over excessive pride causing political tyranny, economic depression and leadership crisis
Pray for Christ speeding the cause of righteousness by destroying wickedness

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Process of Implosion Unless You Repent (Insights in Prophets)

8/19/2012

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Joel C. Rosenberg book, Implosion: Can America Recover From Its Economic & Spiritual Challenges in Time?, explains how the US is in the midst of unprecedented and skyrocketing federal debt, severe economic troubles, political uncertainty, declining morality, a weak church, growing spiritual apathy and apostasy, historic natural disasters and other daunting challenges that many wonder if America's best days are behind her.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote, "Does it grieve you my friends, that the name of God is being taken in vain and desecrated? Does it grieve you that we are living in a godless age... But, we are living in such an age and the main reason we should be praying about revival is that we are anxious to see God's name vindicated and His glory manifested. We should be anxious to see something happening that will arrest the nations, all the peoples, and cause them to stop and to think again."

Isaiah 3-5 explains the process of implosion from removing resources and leadership to being conquered by another nation unless the church repents of its sin.

God Removes Resources & Overthrows Leadership
The Lord took all the supplies of food and water from Jerusalem and Judah along with the military, politicians, judges, pastors, businessmen and workers. He made children govern them, people oppress each other, young rise up against the old and inferior against the honorable. No one would take leadership without having answers and their sin exposed like Sodom. The righteous enjoyed the fruit of their deeds but the wicked got what they deserved. Youths oppressed God's people and women ruled over them. Guides led them astray and confused the direction of their paths (Is. 3:1-12). God removes resources and overthrows leadership because sin causes implosion.

God Judges Pride and Injustice
The Lord judged the people including elders and leaders who ruined the vineyard and plundered the poor to their own advantage. The women of Zion were proud, flirted with their eyes and drew attention by the way they dress. The Lord brought sores on their heads, mad them go bald and removed the beauty of their clothing and accessories. The gates of Zion mourned after the men are killed in battle (Is. 3:13-26). God judges pride and injustice toward the poor by killing men in spiritual battle.

God Washes Away Sin
Seven women took hold of one man to remove disgrace and be called by his name. The Branch of the Lord would become glorious. The fruit of the land was the pride of Israel's holy survivors. The Lord washed away the filth of Zion's women and cleansed Jerusalem's bloodstains by a spirit of judgment and fire. The Lord created a canopy of glory using a cloud of smoke by day and flaming fire by night as a refuge from heat, storm and rain (Is. 4:1-6). God washes away sin and returns His glory and protection if His people repent.

Consider this the point of no return. If the church fails to repent of sin, pride and injustice toward the poor, God commands desolation, brings fruitlessness, burns in anger and empowers nations to defeat the country where the body of Christ resides.

God Commands Desolation
He planted a loved one's fertile vineyard with the choicest vines. He cut out a winepress but it yielded only bad fruit. Judge between the builder and the vineyard as you consider why it yielded bad grapes. He commanded the vineyard to become a wasteland with thorns and no rain. The vineyard of the Lord Almighty was Israel and the men of Judah as the garden of His delight. He looked for justice but saw bloodshed, for righteousness but heard distress (Is. 5:1-7). God commands desolation for His people if they shed innocent blood and are unrighteous.

God Brings Fruitlessness
God declared that all fields and great houses would be left unoccupied. The vineyards would yield little fruit. People pursued alcohol and parties while disregarding the Lord's deeds and disrespecting His works. Therefore He exiled people for their lack of understanding, leaders died of hunger and masses were parched with thirst. Many entered hell humbling the pride of mankind. The Lord Almighty will be exalted by His justice and show Himself holy by His righteousness. Sheep graze in their own pasture and lambs feed among the ruins of the rich (Is. 5:8-17). God brings fruitlessness to His people if they disregard Him, disrespect His works and lack understanding of His word.

God Burns in Anger
Woe to those who glory in deceit and ask God to rush His works so they may understand it. Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, and substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, heroes at drinking wine and justify the wicked for a bribe but deny justice to the innocent. Because they rejected the law of God and despised His word, tongues of fire consumed them, their roots decayed and their flowers blew away as dust. God's anger burned against His people (Is. 5:18-25). God burns in anger if His people do not trust His working and timing while calling evil good and good evil.

God Empowers Nations
He lifted up a banner for distant nations. No one grew tired, stumbled or slept. Their arrows were sharp, all their bows were strung and chariot wheels were like a whirlwind. They roared like young lions and seized their prey with no one to rescue. If one looked at the land, they would see darkness and distress (Is. 5:26-30). God empowers nations to be the means of judgment against His people.

Consider the process of implosion in the church and how repentance begins with you and me in #3 below so we don't enter into the point of no return in #4-#7:
1. God removes resources and overthrows leadership because His people sin causing implosion.
2.   God judges pride and injustice toward the poor by killing its men in spiritual battle.
3. God washes away sin and returns His glory and protection if His people repent.
4. God commands desolation for His people if they shed innocent blood and are unrighteous.
5. God brings fruitlessness to His people if they disregard Him, disrespect His works and lack understanding of His word.
6. God burns in anger if His people do not trust His working and timing while calling evil good and good evil.
7. God empowers nations to be the means of judgment against His people.

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Responding to a Leadership Crisis (Insights in Prophets)

12/18/2011

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America has a crisis of confidence in its government, its large businesses, its schools and its churches. For the last few decades Americans have been leaving existing organizations and not joining new ones. Robert Putnam discussed the decline in social capital the US has experienced in his book Bowling Alone. Part of our loss of leadership is our loss of belonging.

Lao-Tzu's Tao Te Ching said,
"Learn from the people
Plan with the people
Begin with what they have
Build on what they know
Of the best leaders
When the task is accomplished
The people will remark
We have done it ourselves."
2 Samuel 20 explains how David responded successfully to a leadership crisis.

Rebellion
Because Sheba, a worthless fellow, said Israel had no portion and inheritance in David, they followed Sheba instead of David. Judah remained steadfast to David. The ten concubines remained widows until they died (2 Sam. 20:1-3). People easily rebel from God's plan and follow worthless leaders.

Responsibility
Abishai, Joab, David's servants and the mighty men pursued Sheba. When Amasa was not on guard, Joab killed him with his sword. Joab and Abishai continued to pursue Sheba. A wise woman told Joab not to destroy the city, Abel Beth-maacah, and "swallow up the inheritance of the Lord." The woman wisely came to all the people and they killed Sheba (2 Sam. 20:4-22). Let people take personal responsibility for their welfare instead of relying on the government.

Service
Joab was over the Israel's army, Benaiah over the Cherethites and Pelethites; Aboram over the forced labor; Jehoshaphat was the recorder; Sheva was scribe; and Zadok, Abiathar, Ira the Jairite were priests (2 Sam. 20:23-26). Let people serve according to their gifts and talents.

Prayer
David sought the presence of the Lord during three years of famine. God said the reason was Saul putting the Gibeonites to death. David asked them how he could make atonement that they would bless the Lord's inheritance. They wanted seven men from Saul's sons to be hanged (2 Sam. 21:1-6). Seek God's presence to learn the reason for any lack or need.

Obedience
David gave the Gibeonites seven sons, which they hanged in the mountain before the Lord during the first days of barley harvest (2 Sam. 21:7-9). Obey what God says even though it's costly.

Unity
David gathered Saul's and Jonathan's bones with the bones of those who were hanged. They buried Saul's and Jonathan's bones in the grave of his father, Kish, according to what David commanded. God was moved by entreaty for the land (2 Sam. 21:10-14). Pursue unity as you intercede to God in times of famine and need.

Rest
David became weary as he and his servants fought the Philistines. Abishai killed one of the descendants of the giant who sought to kill David. They told him to not go out to battle again (2 Sam. 21:15-17). Take time to rest as you overcome weariness in the midst of spiritual battles.

Repentance
Four descendants of Goliath who reproached Israel were killed by David and his servants (2 Sam. 21:18-22). Repent of sin vigorously so it won't have a foothold.

Go through the following checklist when you face a leadership crisis:
1. Take personal responsibility to act
2. Serve according to your gifts and talents
3. Seek God's presence to learn the reason(s) for the deficiencies or lack
4. Obey what God tells you even though it's costly
5. Pursue unity as you intercede to God in times of famine and need
6. Take time to rest in the midst of the spiritual battle
7. Repent of sin so it won't have a foothold

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How to Respond to Economic, Political and Moral Devastation (Insights in Prophets)

How God Responds to Political Tyranny, Economic Depression and Leadership Crisis (Insights in Prophets)

Process of Implosion Unless You Repent (Insights in Prophets)

Responding to a Leadership Crisis (Insights in Prophets)

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