Marriage Before God- Identifying the causes

Submitted by: Pastor Wanderson Da Silva

Brazil

Note: 2011 brings many tragedies even worse than Katrina! Please pray for all, Japan, Haiti, and all others!

Why Does God Allow Disasters?

Dear Friend, my beloved in Christ, in the first topic of this message — Hurricane Katrina, Finding Hope through the Storm — you and I learned how to snatch victory out of defeat. In other words, you learned how to use your faith in God to see you through the storm, to lift you up again, to restore and rebuild everything that might have been taken away from the storm or the aftermath of it.

By now you know how to stand on your ground and say to yourself and others the same words spoken by Joseph of Egypt, the son of Jacob, who once had been unjustly sold into slavery and put in prison for years. He believed in God and eventually through his confidence in God, he became the governor of all Egypt. Look at what he said.

“But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good. . .” Genesis 50:20 (NKJV)

As Joseph said to those who had wronged him, you also can confidently say today: “The pain and devastation that was meant to destroy me my God will turn into good.” That is the assurance of anyone who trusts in God regardless of how bad it may seem.

Even though we have faith in our Savior Jesus, the son of God, it doesn’t stop us from time to time from asking questions such as these:

Where was God when I lost my house?

Where was He when I lost my son?

Why didn’t God do something to stop the hurricane?

Is our God really a good God?

Who is to blame???

Questions such as these are frequently asked when tragedies of a great proportion come around. We saw it with the Tsunami not too long ago and now with Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath. Questions that many times will rob someone’s faith in God if he is a immature Christian, questions that will puzzle the minds of those who consider themselves to be skeptics and finally questions that will support the cause of those who say they don’t believe in God. Well, if they don’t believe in God, they don’t have any business asking these questions anyway.

Usually men seek to blame someone when something goes wrong. Adam blamed Eve, Even blamed Satan. Today we see civil citizens blame the mayor who blames the governor who, in turn, blamed someone else. Not finding someone else to blame, many blame God. But instead of questioning our minds, let’s see the answers we may find in the Bible which is God’s word and no one is better than Himself to answer your questions.

Yes, God is Love. I John 4:8, yet He is still a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:29 God’s love and grace are being neglected by men of this generation far greater than our previous generations.

v.1: “About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were sacrificing at the temple in Jerusalem.

v.2: For you think those Galileans were worse sinners than other people Galilee? He asked. “Is that why they suffered?

v.3: Not at all! And you will also perish unless you turn from your evil ways and turn to God

v.4: And what about the eighteen men who died when the Tower of Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem?

v.5: No, and I tell you again that unless you repent you will also perish.” Luke 13 1-5 (NLT)

Worse sinners . . . more guilty? In ancient times it was often assume that a ?????? would befall only those who were extremely sinful, but in this passage of Luke 13: 1-5, Jesus clearly declares that unless you repent of your sins, you perish, suffer the consequences of disobeying the most high God.

Everyone likes it when they hear a message of faith, hope, healing, prosperity and all the good promises God has for those who love Him. But the same and only true God does not condone sin.

It is not God’s plan to bring calamity upon man’s life. He is a just God who will not violate His principles and law of justice.

— God Judges the Nations —

I would be a liar or deceiver if I didn’t tell you that God will punish the wicked. Let’s go straight to the point. From the ancient times up to now, we have the word of God and history that testify to a God who corrects or punishes the nations.

See the account of the Flood and Noah’s Ark in Genesis chapters 6 through 8. Briefly God sent the Flood on earth in order to put an end to men’s sin. Everyone, human and animal alike, perished due to wickedness of man. Only Noah (considered to be a righteous man) and his family survived.

But God didn’t decide from one moment to the other to destroy humankind. The Bible says, “the earth was corrupt, full of violence, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways.” See Genesis 6:9-13. God was grieved that He had made man and his heart filled with pain, Genesis 6:6, and as He wants the best for us, He had promised to start a new civilization through Noah’s family, the only family who pleased God.

I believe during the many years taken in the construction of the Ark, Noah probably tried to alert his neighbors and friends of the coming judgement, but no one repented. See 2 Peter 2:5/ 1 Peter 3:20

Then you know the famous account of Sodom and Gomorrah. Take some time and read the whole account of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis chapters 18 through 19. Many generations had come and gone after the Floor in Noah’s time.

God made a covenant with Abraham that through him all nations of the earth would be blessed, and as God is a faithful and just God, who doesn’t violate His word, destroyed only Sodom and Gomorrah and not the entire region or earth as He did in Noah’s time.

Why did punishment and destruction befall on these two cities? Because they were filled with corruption, sin, sexual immoralities, homosexuality and all the things contrary to God.

God gave Abraham a chance to intercede for Sodom, but after he didn’t find anyone living righteously, the only one saved was Lot due in part because of Abraham. Genesis 18:20-33 and 19:29 So once again we see a nation, a city being punished for its wicked ways, for turning away from God and not seeking repentance.

If you want to see how God is a loving God, read through the book of Exodus; you will se how He cares for His people. But if you want to see God’s wrath upon the non-repented nations, sinners and pagans, read through the entire Old Testament.

In other words, God has always blessed and protected the one who lives a righteous life, yet he punishes the non-repented ones, and God has expressed His ways and Will openly in the Bible.

“The Lord preserves all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy.” Psalm 195:20

In one single verse the Bible tells you what I just told you. And if the Bible says, I believe!

— Why Does God Allow Disaster? —

Simply because He can’t violate His word, rules and principles. Read Deuteronomy 28 and you will see the blessings and the curses based on obedience. It was then and it is now. It goes further than this. Are disasters God’s will? Of course not! And you know why?

Jesus said: “The thief (Satan) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

Although it is not God’s will for humankind to suffer, He allows disasters to happen, but you must understand why it is so in balance with God’s word.

In John 10:10, Jesus says that He has come to give you life, but on the other hand Satan has come to destroy you, to kill you. So it becomes easy for you to conclude that it is Satan who brings calamities, destruction and death. And even though God is in control, He allows it because Satan is the god of this world according to 2 Corinthians 4:4. How is it possible? you may be asking! That is true, Satan is the one who rules in this decayed world and briefly I will explain the reason why.

Another proof that Satan is the ruler of this world is found in Matthew 4:9. When Satan was tempting Jesus in the desert, he took him to a high mountain and showed all his kingdoms of the earth and promised to give them to Jesus if He would bow down to him. If Satan was not the owner/ruler, it would not have been a real temptation. If God was in control right now, the earth would be running smoothly.

God created the first man Adam. He created man after His own image and God gave the dominion, the authority to rule over all things on earth in this world. Genesis 1:26-28 So Adam had full control and dominion. God did not say He would run the show on earth for Adam, instead He said Adam you do it, you rule over all things. I give you the power.

But in the very moment, Adam sinned. He lost his dominion and it passed on to Satan’s hand. So Satan took over until God’s appointed time. God sent His Son, Jesus, to conquer Satan and defeat Him and so He did. That’s way Jesus is the only one who can set you free. If you don’t come to Jesus, you are still being held under Satan’s dominion.

“For He (Jesus) has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son He loves.” Colossians 1:13 (NIV)

Jesus also said: “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.” John 18:36 (NIV)

Jesus kingdom is not on earth. The world He has prepared for you and me will descend from heaven, the New Jerusalem. Revelation 21:2

God allows disasters to happen because as I said before He doesn’t condone sin. The Bible says, “For the wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23 It is saying spiritual death as well as physical death.

Bringing into the same perspective the accounts of the Flood, Sodom and Gomorrah and Nineveh and combining them with the tragedies, disasters and calamities taking place worldwide, we realize they have one point in common: Rebellion against God’s principles, in other words, sin.

So it is fair to say that God allows disasters to come in order to punish sin. Satan is behind all sinful actions actions and Jesus Himself said that worse sinners as well as lesser sinners will perish if they don’t repent. Luke 13:5

God being the same yesterday, today and forever, Hebrews 13:8, would violate His principles against sin if He would let it go unpunished.

“You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it. . .” Deuteronomy 4:2 (NKJV)

“So do not corrupt yourselves by making a physical image in any form whether of a man or a woman. Deuteronomy 4:16 (NLT)

“Do not make idols of any kind, whether in the shape of birds or animals or fish. You must never worship or bow down to them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god.” Exodus 20:4-5 (NLT)

After you read these four versus Deuteronomy 4:2, 16, Exodus 20:4-5, I want you to compare them with the profiles of some areas devastated by calamities.

Tsunami: Caused deaths in about a dozen countries such as Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka. What do they have in common? Most of these affected countries, that combined lost over 300 thousand lives, worshiped creatures, idols images anything, but God Jehovah. Indonesia, in particular, the majority are Muslim. They don’t believe in Jesus as the Son of God and the Bible says that Jesus is the only way to the Father.

Africa: Devastated by Aids and famine for decades over decades. Africa is known for its occult’s services, demonic worship service, and thousands of religious services and cults that adore other God.

Haiti: A country stroked by the death of thousands due to famine, natural disasters and civil war. The main religion, Voodoo, is a kind of occult service dealing with demonic forces to control others lives or to gain power, etc.

My point is that the great disasters and calamities have been taking place in areas where sin and false religions are predominant. It is a fact that you may not want to see while others live in denial. What about you? Is it a coincidence?

Natural disasters were more commonly seen in Japan, China, North Korea and others. Countries that throughout centuries have been hit by deadly earthquakes, floods, typhoons, storms, etc. But today this type of episode is becoming more common in America.

The United States has departed from its Christian roots, from its foundation of a blessed society under God. There is no more prayer in schools; schools’ teach evolution but refuse to teach our kids about the living God, the Creator; approval of homosexual marriages, sexual immoralities, violence and sins of all kinds are dominating America’s society. Even the Ten Commandments’ sign was ordered to be removed from federal buildings.

So who is it to blame when trouble comes?

“Don’t you know that those who do wrong will have no share in the kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, who are idol worshipers, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, greedy people , drunkards, abusers and swindlers, none of these will have a share in the Kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NLT)

If a Godly life living through Christ is the only way to be saved, why is our country getting further and further away from him?

As you see 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 describes some of the many sins that are condemned by God which seems to be so normal in our days. Why? Because like in Noah’s day, men became corrupted and judgment is to come. See Revelation 6.

The correct conclusion is that we ought to take a good look at ourselves rather than always examining God.

— A Call to Repentance —

Despite of all the sorrow and pain we may feel when we are faced with chaotic situations as Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath, Tsunami, war in Iraq and others, we must seek the truth and the truth is we need Jesus, we need to repent of our sins and ask for His forgiveness.

“Seek the Lord while He may be found, call on Him while He is near: Let the wicked forsake His way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will freely pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7 (NIV)

Seek the Lord while He may be found because the time is drawing near to the end and many will be left behind. Are you ready? Things will get worse before the end comes. Read Matthew 24 and you can have a glimpse of what time it is.

One thing I can tell you for sure, I may not have all the answers for your questions, but I can assure you that unless you are with your life in Jesus’ hand living a Godly life, you will not be safe of the things to come. The old bumper sticker is true: “Repent or Perish.”

“Today I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life so that you and your children may live.” Deuteronomy 30:19 (NIV)

The choice of life and death, fear or security, it is yours. So instead of throwing a pity party or blame others, we must set and fix our lives before God because God is no respecter of persons. Acts 10:34 He gives life to the righteous but he punishes the wicked. He love the sinner but hate sin. He desires all men to be saved, 2 Timothy 2:1-6 yet He will not force anyone to do accept him and receive the free gift of salvation.

“Whosoever believes in the Son has eternal life but whoever rejects the Son [Jesus] will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on Him.” John 3:36 (NIV)

I pray God to touch your life today so that you may receive eternal life through Jesus Christ and get the assurance that the God most high will deliver you from any evil because He cares for you. He loves you!

God bless you!

Hurricane Katrina Finding Hope through the Storm Part One

Wanderson Da Silva

Servant of God!

The victory is yours in Jesus’ name. Amen

SECOND STEP WALKING IN VICTORY

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Part II

— Hurricane Katrina

Finding Hope through the Storm —