|
DEAR READER
I recently
felt impelled of the Lord to study 2 Timothy 3 in depth. Paul
starts by stating bluntly (1), that in the last days very
difficult (stressful, perilous) times will come. The deceived
unbeliever will go from bad to worse (13) with a list of about 20
adverse qualities! In contrast the believer who desires to live a
godly life (12), should factor in persecution and suffering for
the name of Christ. But the word is clear - even in the most
stressful times we are to continue in what we have learned and
have firmly believed, knowing from whom we have learned it (14).
The Scriptures are God's inspired gift to us (16), so that we can
do His will under pressure. We are to be complete - ready for when
He needs us to be, and equipped - trained and ready to succeed,
for EVERY GOOD WORK! This is a call for biblical training and
mentoring with accountability. I pray blessing on you in 2006 that
no matter what pressures assail, you will do the good works that
God has prepared for you to walk in (Eph 2:10). Let's believe God
for good and great works for the Church of Canada!
FIRST OF ALL - PRAYER
After weeks of
prayer and activism Canada has a new Prime Minister elect, Stephen
Harper, with a minority Conservative government. Prime Minister
Paul Martin will not lead his party into the next election. We
have to trust that the Lord has allowed His sovereignty to guide
the democratic process. It is a mixed result but one that allows
the Lord to do the unexpected to release Canada's destiny. Pray:
1. That Stephen Harper would humble himself under the mighty hand
of God
2. That he would have much wisdom in choosing his new cabinet and
chief officers
3. That all four main party leaders would cooperate for the future
welfare of Canada
See also
www.int4canada.com
and Canada's 12 Most
Wanted #01
PRO-MARRIAGE
There has been much focus on the 12
candidates in Greater Vancouver likely to endorse a review of the
same sex marriage debate. Of the four who were incumbents 3 were
reelected. The 8 new candidates (7 CON, 1 IND) were swept away. At this stage it
does not look as though a free vote in Parliament for a review on
the issue would succeed. Pray for wisdom for Stephen Harper to
know how to present this subject to his own party and then the
Commons.
NORTH AMERICA WAS NOT DESTROYED TODAY!
Over this last weekend there was a
flurry of e-mails sincerely requesting urgent prayer for today,
January 23rd. A red prayer alert went out concerning an attack on
7 cities: New York, Cincinnati,
San Francisco, Atlanta, Dallas, Washington DC, and even Montreal!
This was not about our Federal Election today but about
catastrophic judgment on the world starting in North America. I
groaned inwardly when I saw this as there seemed to be little or
no discernment as to the accuracy of the prophecy. It is not good
enough to say that Just in case it is true - prayer will not hurt!
The so called confirmation to the originator that disaster would
strike on January 23rd, came on October 23rd through a 12 year old
boy, a seven year old girl, and another young girl all in the same
church in Dover, Tennessee. This is totally inadequate in seeking
confirmation of a word that affects a Continent! These prophecies
seem to have been posted on several web sites in recent months as
warnings but with little discernment. Somebody came up with a list
of 175 things that happened in history on January 23rd and asked
if that made it significant? Answer no! The theme of 7 cities is
not even original as it was the subject of a book last year
concerning suitcase bombs. Where is the maturity to urge caution
in giving prophecies like this that confuse the people of God and
invite scorn from unbelievers? At least Chuck Colson's New Year's
Dream/Nightmare was carefully described in non specific terms.
I mention this in the context of
a visitor who shared at our Pastors' Prayer Fellowship last week
in Vancouver, that he had been sent by God to declare that we were
a 'Sodom & Gomorrah City' and that catastrophic judgment was
coming this year to the West Coast. He said 'If 2005 was a year of
grace, then 2006 was the year of man, subject to God's judgments.'
What do we do with all of this? How do we validate the prophet?
May I suggest a few guidelines to aid in discernment of the
apocalyptic prophet and the message.
- Do they have letters of 'commendation',
see 2 Cor 3:1. It is fair to ask who they are. Who can speak on
their behalf to commend them for their character and
gifting. Who are they accountable to?
- What is their history of being a prophet? Are they accurate?
What is the maturity and measure of their gift.
If a date specific prophecy
does not come to pass then they should come under some sort of
discipline in humility. It is not good enough to say glibly that
our prayers averted a disaster without some mature
consideration of other factors.
Was the prophecy based on
numerology or Jewish festival dates and multiple coincidences? I
fail to see how 2006 means it is the year of man and
judgment. The real number is 2006 not 6, and in any case
in the occult the integers are added up to form a number between
1-9, so 2006 = 8 ! We must stop the
drift into mystical methods that open a door to the elemental
powers of the Universe.
Was the prophecy recycling
the obvious, or that which is already reported in the media?
Was the dream or vision
centered on a particular nation's destiny. There can be a form of
replacement theology where, in our enthusiasm for our own
nation, it takes the place of
Israel in terms of God's promises. Replacement theology
however well intentioned will lead to error.
PLANNING FOR A
PANDEMIC
This weekend I am preparing to be part
of a discussion panel at Missions Fest Vancouver on the churches'
preparedness for a possible flu pandemic. I do not minimize how
dangerous the world is and that 'in the last days perilous times
will come'. The Lord Jesus warned about wars and rumours of wars
in the last days, and there is abundant commentary on possible
natural and military disasters. Some level of contingency planning
is wise. In Acts 11: 27-230 there
is a timely example of how a prophetic word of a regional disaster
came to pass and how the saints prepared for it.
27 And
in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
28 And there stood up
one of
them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be
great dearth throughout all the world:
which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
29 Then the disciples,
every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto
the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
30 Which
also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of
Barnabas and Saul.
I believe that God's judgments can be
averted on occasion, they can also be downgraded in their
intensity, or even the timing changed. (see Matthew 24:20-22 for
the power of prayer). If a pandemic hit our nation for 12 - 18
months our church life would change beyond all recognition.
SEXUAL REBELLION AND
REGIONAL OPPRESSION
The
nine Judges of the Supreme Court are very influential in their
exercise of High Authority. Their decisions have recently been
very controversial. It led the Globe and Mail to say in an
editorial (January 3rd):
'The
Supreme Court's recent decision on sex clubs raises an interesting
question: Are there any social and moral norms in today's world?'
and
at the end of the column:
'Is there even such a
thing as public morals in a modern society?
The Supreme Court, by a majority of 7-2,
dismissed the traditional concept of a community having common
values and standards and went for tolerance as long as nobody was
coerced or injured! We have moved from tolerance of what people do
in their own homes to an amazing tolerance of what people can now
do in public places. The point that we cannot overlook is that
illicit sexual activity: swinging, prostitution, orgies etc does
have an effect on an area. The sexual rebellion against the
Creator empowers the demonic influence both in individuals and
over an area making it more resistant to the Gospel. Where will it
go from here, what will our children inherit unless God intervenes
with godly Judges? We need to pray hard for these Judges to rule
in the fear of God. See list of names at
www.int4canada.com Canada's 12 Most Wanted #01 January 2006
COAST TO COAST PRAYER
CALLS
On the second Thursday of each month ( 11:00 am ET), there is a national
prayer leaders' teleconference prayer meeting sponsored by a group
of prayer leaders who committed themselves to a united prayer
focus for 2006. Last week we had 28 people on the call and there
was a great spirit of prayer for the nation. I believe that we
will see remarkable prayer meetings springing up all over the
country.
*******
|
