Jay's Blog
Dust of Glory
When I made a trip to the bank that morning, it was still on my hand. I asked the teller if she believed in miracles and she said, "yes." I then showed her my hand and she was amazed. I also showed the loan officer and she, too, was amazed and looked at her hands, but found nothing. It was fun to watch their expressions and to give the glory to God.
When God spoke to me last January about this coming experience, he also told me it would happen someday in our church services. So I shared my testimony last night at our Friday Nite Live meeting and everyone started to look at their hands and it began to appear on some of the hands of the musicians on stage. One of the young men went to work the next day and shared his experience with his co-workers.
How amazing and intimately engaging is our God in our lives. The love he has is so intense that he would send this little miracle of his manifested glory. Why would he do this? What is it's purpose, anyway? It is what the Bible calls a "sign and wonder." A sign of his glory and a wonder to those who witness and experience the miracle.
Signs are designed to direct and point us toward a particular destination. The sign itself is not the destination; our destination is God himself...his glory, his love, his embrace. So when these types of miracles happen, they point us toward him and creates a desire within to draw closer to him.
Oh, BTW. He also told me angel feathers are coming (another one of my prayers) and the first one appeared last Sunday during our worship service. Thank you, Abba, Father for your love so kind that you would shower us with your signs and wonders.
Dr. J
Trust God
Recently, I've been reading the biography of my favorite devotional writer, Oswald Chambers. He wasn't a wealthy man, but possessed a rich faith in his God for everything. He was flexible to every situation revealed in this profound quote I've been able to apply to my life on a number of occasions. This is a quote that says don't be overly concerned about your life's needs, life's goals, daily accomplishments, or whether you are going in the right direction. Simply, trust God, then do the next thing that's in front of you. That certainly relives the pressure valve for me. Oswald knew that his life was solely in God's hands and, therefore, his steps would be ordered by the Lord.
Dr. J
We Become the Most
I'm not sure if I made this up or had heard a variation of it somewhere. But it is among my favorite quotes in the context of beholding the face of the Lord. I want to be transformed into his likeness, and if I spend intentionalized intimate times with him, then I will become more like him in my spirit, countenance and actions; I will reflect his glory. So what I spend the most time at beholding or listening to can have an impact on who or what I will become.
Dr. J
Don't Fret About The Future
Recently I had invited a guest speaker to share his research on the current economic trends and what secular economists are predicting about this country's future. It was very informative and especially encouraging when he told us about the personal experiences he went through during an economic downturn in another country. No one likes to hear about these things, but it does provoke prudence in the stewardship of our finances. It also acts as a reminder to not put our hope and trust in uncertain riches, but rather in the Lord (1 Tim. 6:17).
There is a two-edged sword, however, when it comes to predicting things about the "not so" positive economic forecast and the growing closeness of end-time events. The good part is that it reminds us that we are pilgrims on a temporary journey. The opposite part is that such news can create paralysis, anxiety, fretting, and fear about the future. The latter I wish to address.
As far back as the early church we see writings warning us about the return of the Lord and apocalyptic times. Paul the apostle addressed it, John wrote the Revelation about it, and many early church fathers believed it to be imminent. In the church of the 1900's, many preached that Jesus would return in their lifetime, yet they died and went on to be with the Lord. Many believed during WWII that Adolf Hitler was the antichrist. He was not. Thirty-seven years ago a preacher in the church I visited told me that Jesus was coming back and the kid sitting next to me said it could be that very night. I decided at that moment that now was a good time to get right with God and accepted Jesus into my life.
David Wilkerson, a prominent evangelist in the 70's, preached that the rapture could come at any moment. Another popular 70's and end-times expert, Hal Lindsey, had written a best-seller about the social, economic, political, and biblical signs of his day which led him to conclude that Jesus was coming back very soon. In the early 70's Henry Kissinger was believed to be the antichrist. He was not. In the late 70's significant men of God were predicting a serious economic crisis that perpetuated a movement of stockpiling food in the basement. It never came. In 1988, a book was distributed to all the churches in America. The title: "88 Reasons Why Jesus is Coming Back in '88." Many bought into it and did some fiscally irresponsible things. In my early years as a pastor, I sincerely believed and taught that Jesus would be back before 2000. This is 2009. I could go on, but you get the point.
The bottom line is that no one can guarantee, with complete accuracy, specific predictions regarding the economy or the coming events of the end-times. We can read the signs, the economic trends, and understand the "cause and effect" principle of what happens to a nation when debt gets out of control. It is obvious that previous decisions in the last administration and decisions being made in the current administration are creating definitive economic challenges for us down the pike.
But don't let these things take away your peace and joy. As Christians we don't have to live like that. We are told to not worry about tomorrow (Matt. 6:25-34). In reality you don't need a bad economy or the sudden appearance of the cataclysmic events of the Revelation to make life inconvenient and downright miserable. Anything can happen that's tragic enough to accomplish the same thing; a tornado, a fire, an accident, an earthquake, a tsunami, a hurricane, an unexpected doctor's report, and other tragic things have the potential to rob us of our peace and joy. So we must choose to live with the understanding and disposition Jesus encouraged us to have when he said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27 (NIV).
My advice, therefore, is to make a mental note that challenging times do lay ahead of us and we should live as though Jesus could return at any moment. But in your living, keep on doing business until he comes. That was the message Jesus gave to us in the parable of the talents (Luke 19:13 NKJV). We must approach the future with optimism and take what has been given to us to work with and multiply it until he comes back.
In every bad economy there are two types of people: pessimistic victims and optimistic creatives. The pessimistic victims whine and scramble for cover; fretting, paralyzed, and worrying while they miss out on the opportunities availing them to find a niche and fill a need that thrives in hard times. Opportunities to build community in the church. Opportunities to reach the lost who have no hope. Opportunities to awaken the creative entrepreneur within us that believes there is still a buck to be made out there. With God's help, we can find a way, a place, and a product or service that is recession and depression proof.
So let's go forward as planned and are exhorted by scripture to maintain: i.e. to work, to trust God, to be frugal, to save, to give, to invest in our talents and vision, to maintain our peace and joy through Christ, to not fret over what tomorrow might bring, and go forward to advance the kingdom of God. Take one day at a time and enjoy God.
Every generation faces its own economic and soci-political challenges. But God is always good, always providential, always on the throne, and he will never leave us nor forsake us. Jesus has the final word and the best insight for times like these..."In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
Dr. J
David Wilkerson's Prophecy 3/7/09
Now there is another prediction from David Wilkerson that came out via email on March 7th of this year. You can go to their website to read it in its entirety [see link below]. I've been asked by a number of people what my thoughts were about it, so I read it and prayed about his predicting that "an earth-shattering calamity is about to happen;" i.e.- something in the near future that will "be so frightening, we are all going to tremble." He continued to advise us to store up a thirty-day supply of non-pereishable food, toiletries, and other essentials.
Since I was saved, I've witnessed a number of similar predictions. In 1974 it was prophesied that Anchorage, Alaska was going to have another major earthquake and to prepare for it. It never came. In the late 70's it was prophesied [by someone who got a previous catastrophic pediction right] that Florida would be hit by a massive tidal wave and bury the entire state under water. People sold property to "get out of dodge" and yet, it never happened. Also, during the late 70's, it was predicted that America would come into an economic and food shortage crisis to which many stored up food to prepare for, but it never came to pass. In the late 90's, it was prophesied by prophets and predicted by computer experts that Y2K would create a global computer glitch that would send us spinning into a technical and electrical meltdown. The world prepared, food was stored, and everyone waited with bated breath to see what would happen on New Year's Eve, 2000. It didn't happen.
It is worthy to note, however, that there is a biblical precedence when the prophet Agabus predicted in Acts that a severe famine would spread throughout the entire Roman empire. This came to pass during the reign of Claudius Caesar. The disciples acted upon that prediction and prepared provisions for the saints in Judea (Acts 11:27-30). In that case, the prediction was true, they made the necessary preparations, and got through it. So what do we do; throw all caution to the wind and approach this new prediction with skepticism? Or do we prepare as in the other times of predicted disasters?
First, one must determine for themselves if David Wilkerson's former predictions were accurate and, therefore, worthy of our consideration; but you'll have to do your homework. Second, if it is true, we should ask God for mercy to hold it back. Third, in all reality it is possible that a second major terrorist attack could trigger another global financial glitch that could seriously compound the problems of our current economic challenges. If so, this could result in a pandemonium of mass looting and fires from desperate, scared, and frustrated people.
My recommendation is not to be alarmed and ask God what he would have you do. The only way we can know the certainty of this prediction is "if "or "when" it happens, whatever "it" is. I have no criticism of David Wilkerson's prediction and respect his courage to step out and put his reputation on the line. He acted on his conscience to warn us, because he believed the Holy Spirit led him to do it. Catastrophe or not, however, I believe our future will be filled with an ever increasing global challenge in every measure; financially, morally, politically, and governmentally. But I'm confident that God will give us answers and provision for such times as he has done throughout history with his people.
For now, I would encourage you to continue about your normal business. We can't run and hide from "what if's," or unsuspecting, potential, calamities. History's pages are filled with tragic calamitous events that affected saints and non-believers alike. No one is guaranteed exemption from these things. What we can do, to prepare for such times, is to develop a deep and growing relationship with Jesus who is our unshakeable Rock and Fortress. If we put our confidence in the "arm of flesh," or find our peace only in our "storehouses," then we will not have peace in times of suffering and hardship.
As for the preparation, yes, I do think it is prudent to make some preparations, but moderately and not excessively or we will put our confidence more in our "stash" than in God. Remember how the children of Israel went into a desert for 40 years where God fed them daily with manna from heaven (see Ex 16:13-26). He didn't want them to gather more than necessary for that day and gather twice on the sixth to cover their Sabbath meals. It was a point of trusting God for their daily provision [i.e.- Give us this day our daily bread].
So when it comes to potential catastrophes, it all boils down to having a balance of prudence and confidence in the Lord who is our Provider. He'll give us the strategy when, or if, the catastrophe comes.
~Dr. J
The Prophecy: http://www.worldchallenge.org/coverletter/an_urgent_message