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THE RING OF FIRE IS NOW SHAKING WITH EARTHQUAKES
ALMOST WEEKLY--THE WEST COAST IS ON THE SAME RING OF FIRE
Rick Joyner
MorningStar Ministries
www.morningstarministries.org
Boldness, courage, and trust in the Lord will be increasingly
demanded by those who will stay on the path of life. Of course,
many brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world have
lived in such a place for a long time, having to walk in bold
faith to survive every day.
The United States is one of but a few very rare nations where
radical Christianity has ever been tolerated without severe and
continuous mortal persecution. Even the so-called "Christian
nations" have rarely, if ever, tolerated radical Christians.
They may encourage institutional or almost any form of
non-threatening lukewarm Christianity, but not radical faith.
It has likewise been rare for even the United States to tolerate
radical Christians, though rarely has that persecution been unto
death. Just a few decades ago, it was nearly impossible for
Pentecostals to get a job if it were known that they spoke in
tongues.
Today, there are forces promoting the freedom to do or say
just about anything anywhere, while laws are passed or court
decisions are handed down to deny Christians even the most basic
freedom of speech. Students can freely use curse words in class,
but if they dare to mention the name of Jesus, they can be
suspended. Likewise, if a teacher ever gives a student a Bible
or a religious tract, they will likely be fired. It is
interesting that the same is not necessarily true if a teacher
gives a student a Koran.
True, radical Christianity, which does not seek political
correctness, will always be offensive to those who are
controlled by the fear of man. True Christians, who seek to live
lives in obedience to God, are, and almost always will be, under
continual attack everywhere in this present age. If we want to
get along with this present world, we will have to compromise
our faith.
"True Christianity will always be persecuted."
Yet, true Christianity is the only hope for the world and for
those who are doing the persecuting. If we do not radically
obey, the salt quickly loses its ability to preserve. So true
Christians will never be prone to seek security or approval from
the world, but from God alone. To live that way is also the
greatest freedom and greatest peace that we can have.
It Was
as the Best of Times and the Worst of Times
Not only the United States, but much of the world was
traumatized by the Hurricane Katrina disaster. The world watched
in anxious astonishment as the wealthiest, most powerful nation
on earth was brought to her knees by a single storm--the worst
problems being caused by the breaking of a single levee. How
could this have happened? Can it happen again? Even more
importantly, what can we do about it?
Just as a bad automobile accident can leave a family wounded and
affected for years, Hurricane Katrina will have an impact on our
nation for years to come. However, a great deal of good can come
from it, if we handle it right. Just as a bad car accident can
make better drivers out of everyone touched by it for a long
time, and make them appreciate each other much more, Katrina can
do the same for us.
"The point of this Bulletin is to help us use every coming
storm or disaster to become stronger and better."
President Bush was appointed to serve through eight years of
troubled waters, and to appoint Supreme Court Justices who could
begin to reverse the persecution of Christians in America, and
the evil that will bring much more severe discipline from the
Lord if not repented of. To fulfill its purpose as a nation, the
United States will have to walk in an increasingly lonely place,
enduring the rejection from many other nations. The approval and
favor of God is worth much more than all the other nations could
ever offer us.
Likewise, Christians who walk without compromise, repenting of
the things that the Lord disapproves of, taking a stand for
truth and righteousness, will not have many friends in this
world.
We will, however, help save the world from destruction and
prepare the way for the Lord. |
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