HURRICANE PATRICIA, EARTHQUAKES & WARNINGS

The news of Hurricane Patricia headed toward southwestern Mexico Friday as a monster Category 5 storm—the strongest ever in the Western Hemisphere that forecasters said could make a “potentially catastrophic landfall” later in the day were signs that the earth is groaning. It seems like a repeat of what happened off the coast of South Carolina and North Carolina the weekend of October 2^nd and 3^rd.

The Bible says:

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.  (Romans 8:19-22)

The name Patricia is Latin in origin, and means “noble; patrician.” The Romans once were divided socially and politically into two major classes, the plebeians and the patricians. To be patrician meant one was highly ranked, an aristocrat. The name became popular when it was used for one of Queen Victoria’s granddaughters.

Storms have a way of bringing people to the awareness of what really matters in life—people and eternity. As I was researching the meaning of the name chosen for this storm, I found something very interesting. People with this name seem to have a deep inner desire for love and companionship, and want to work with others to achieve peace and harmony.

America is divided and we have a “Trojan Horse” within. What you don’t know in life can harm you. You can be trusting people in positions who are not doing their jobs ethically and morally. Not only can a nation or a group of people be divided, the heart can also be divided. Anyone can be drawn away from God. When we don’t guard our borders, we invite the enemy within. We must choose to guard our hearts as well.

People experience painful relationships and hurts and can oftentimes buy into the lies of Satan about what is right and wrong.

Satan comes to sow division and discord among God’s people because he knows his time is short and he is evil. Jesus came that we might have life!

God Himself has the greatest love for all mankind. He sent His Son Jesus to redeem all. If you don’t receive the gift of salvation, it will be your own fault.

The earth is groaning for the return of Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). We all have difficulties and trials that we are going through, especially if we are Christians. Satan hates Jesus and His followers. We must keep in mind that we are in the last days and things are going to be more difficult as the Word of God says. While many are trying to find God in the midst of life’s challenges, He may be closer than you think.

In the Bible, Romans 8:19 reveals that all of creation cries out and waits for the return of Jesus Christ. What can we do? We can cry out to God for conviction and repentance for all the lost and for all humanity as in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah. We must cry out for God to cleanse our hearts from all filth and seek God with all our hearts.

We find in Isaiah 24:5-6 why the world cries out for the return of Jesus as “the earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant…” and “the world is crying out in labor pains for the return of Jesus” to make all things right. Jesus said in Luke 19:40, “I tell you,” He replied, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out” and for Jesus to come to them.

We are called to be living stones—and cry out for Jesus! (1 Peter 2:5) Until He comes, the function of the living stones is to “declare the praises of Him” who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light (1 Peter 2:7-9).

Names are important –if you will also reflect on what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah for a moment you will see for yourself. In Genesis 19:4-5 we can understand better when we pay attention to the word “know.” The word “know” is the same word in Genesis 4:1 where Adam “knew” Eve, and she conceived. In the context, Genesis 19:5 clearly reveals that “know” refers to sexual relations. The Sodomites were homosexual rapists as referred to in the Bible.

It became necessary for the angels to act and they pulled Lot into the house and shut the door. The Sodomites had given themselves over to sexual abandon of one kind or another. God’s purpose in destroying Sodom and Gomorrah is a lesson for us all today.

The pre-Flood world was destroyed for the same reason, so this kind of conduct was not new. (See Genesis 6:5, 11) Now we live in a nation who has changed laws to go against God’s Word. In Ephesians 6, the word “powers” is representative of evil in government. What more do we need to recognize the times?

We must pray for God to frustrate ALL EVIL PLOTS and UNGODLY COUNSEL. We bind the spirit of deception and injustice, and loose the Spirit of Truth and Justice from Heaven—in the name of Jesus—the Name above ALL names. It is time we rise up and bring the Kingdom of God to earth! The Christian life is difficult, but is also the most rewarding way of life.

Jesus said society would be similar to Sodom and Gomorrah before His return. The Apostle Paul wrote: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness…Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened…For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet” (Romans 1:18, 21, 26-27).

How long will God wait before He acts again? God desires that none should perish. He is longsuffering and has been sending messages to all to turn to Him. Turning to God in repentance will change your life forever. One day soon, the door will also be shut. Time as we know it will be over. What will you do?

We were recently at a wedding during the storm Joaquin and the flooding. After the rehearsal and dinner the night before the wedding the church was flooded—but the wedding still went on the next day. We must each be flooded with the Word of God and be ready for His return. Our foundation must be in Jesus Christ—the Living Word of God. Nothing else will stand!

The day of the wedding, we all headed to the reception. The storm ceased. What was quite interesting to me was a natural manifestation of things to come. We arrived with the wedding party and had the kids of my best friend in Texas, the Mother of the Groom, and my mom with me. The door had been shut for people to enter at the entrance for quests, so we entered in behind the Bride and Groom.

Just as the door was shut for anyone else to enter, we must keep in mind that the door will be shut for all eternity when Jesus calls us home. It is not enough to be onlookers or simply guests; we must be saved, stay close to Jesus and become part of the family of God.

When we go home to be with Jesus, the storms in our lives will cease forever as well. Like the disciples, we must stay in the boat with Jesus during the storms in this life.

We must stay close to Jesus (The Bridegroom—so that when time is over and He calls us home, we will be swept over the threshold for all eternity to be with Him). What a revelation from God of where we are in these last days! Make sure you are ready.

Christianity offers the best hope in a world that is passing away! He is coming back for His Bride—His Church.

“The One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out. Their King will pass through before them, the LORD at their head.”(Micah 2:13)

After a wedding in the natural, it is customary for the Groom to pick up His bride and carry her over the threshold of their new home. As we stay close to Jesus, we will be swept over with Him. Jesus is the soon coming Bridegroom for His Bride—the Body of Christ (the Church).

God is calling us to share our faith and take as many with us—we must have childlike hearts and stay close to Jesus, watching for His return! Look up—our redemption draws near (see Luke 21:24-28).

GOD, have mercy on America and the nations!