BIRTH PAINS

THE EARTH IS CONVULSING AND CONTRACTING!

December, 2009 we saw three active volcanoes
7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti on Tuesday, January 12
5.6 magnitude earthquake in Venezuela on January, 16
6.3 magnitude earthquake in Argentina on January, 17
The ring of fire is very active around the Pacific Ocean.
The first week of January saw abnormally frigid cold in US and Western Europe
Worst freeze in Florida on record that destroyed the fruit crops which will affect food prices
The earthquake in Haiti is the worst ever recorded in Western World and this earthquake rates with the top ten in recorded history.
We saw severe storms in California with tornadoes
Earthquake in Cayman Islands
Another aftershock in Haiti measuring 6.1

The earth is convulsing and the contractions are becoming harder! The earthquake in Haiti was the worst ever recorded in the Western World and measures in the top ten of the worst earthquakes ever. This catastrophic earthquake produced much death and destruction. After days of lack of food and water, groups of young men with machetes roamed the streets and mass looting were reported. Chaos broke out as the aftershocks and fear continued and people wandered around in the streets without the basic needs of man such as housing, clothing, food and water; not to mention adequate medical help, these people are reduced to survival mode doing whatever they can to stay alive. It is survival of the fittest. This is a terrible state to be in without the Holy Spirit for man will operate in a “me” mentality. They will climb on the necks of those who are weak in order to survive. But at the same time we have witnessed incredible acts of kindness and love among the Haitian people. We saw men working feverishly to free men, women and children from the rubble with their bare hands or with one shovel. We also witnessed the joy they all felt when there was a successful rescue. We all cheered and cried with them. Yes, there were heartbreaking stories of death but there were also stories of miracles and survivors. We saw a famous American surgeon work alone to take care of critically ill people who were injured in the quake after a team of doctors left the scene. What a blessing it is to live in a time that we have the technology to locate loved ones by internet and to reassure family members of a person's survival.

The earth shook for 35 seconds!!!! Thirty five seconds produced unbelievable devastating death and destruction. We haven’t even heard a total for those who lost limbs or seriously injured in this quake. But the thing is, 35 seconds completely changed the lives of those in Haiti. It only takes seconds to turn a person’s world upside down. CNN ran a video of two cars driving down the street when the quake struck and we saw how quickly our lives can change. One event changed the lives of so many in a blink of an eye. For those in the area of destruction we understand how their lives changed but it also changed for those of us who sat back and watched this event unfold on television. But how were we changed? Were we driven to pray? For those of us in the Church we should understand that prayer changes things. I believe this is an opportune time for the people of God to pray that God sends missionaries and apostles to those areas that were hit. The men and women of God can make a huge difference in the lives of those who are hurting. Those with the gift of healing are very much needed in disaster areas. The evangelists are truly necessary to preach the gospel to those who need a word of comfort. God looks at what we do in situations like this. All of us can pray and some can “go.” I had to travel out of town a few days after the earthquake in Haiti. I didn’t hear one mention of the suffering of the people in the circles I traveled in. Life went on as usual and so did complaints of immature Christians coveting more material things in their lives. I heard people complain about their “problems” not even realizing that there is suffering all around them and that in a blink of an eye their life can come crashing down. Most of these conversations I heard were from Christians.

The truth about all these disasters is that birth pains of the planet are coming closer and closer with a greater intensity toward destruction. We are hearing from the experts that most natural disasters are the worst or more intense in decades or ever. As we see these birth pains increasing and becoming more powerful, we must began to realize that we are getting closer to the return of Christ. To the people of God I ask; what are we doing in our personal lives? Are we asking God to help us walk in His image? Are we examining ourselves to rid our lives of those things that would prevent us from walking in the Spirit? God help us all if we see these the birth pains in nature increasing and not consider the time we now live in. Do we love God with all our hearts, soul, mind and strength and love other’s as we love ourselves? If you are not; I warn you to get yourselves together. Are we identified for our love walk toward one another? We must all examine ourselves to see if we truly love one another. That is the badge we are suppose to wear. LOVE! We are called to love with agape love. Jesus said that all men will know us if we have love for one another. If for some reason you don’t know how to love, it is spelled out for you in 1 Cor. 13. Love with all your heart and bless those God has called into the fellowship of faith. Forgive every offense and bless those who have hurt you. Don’t engage anyone in conversation that is against another brother or sister. When you refuse to add your comments or listen to the gossiper, they will move on to someone else who they can spew their venom toward. It is past time to get it right.

Apostles and Prophets, we are called at watchmen! We have been given the mandate by God to know the times and the seasons. Proclaim, decree and declare to a dying world and a sleeping Church that the birth pains have gotten stronger and closer. In the natural realm when a woman’s birth is imminent, the pains get stronger and the contractions come closer with one right behind the other and are very powerful. The medical staff will examine the mother on a regular basis to determine the stage of the birthing process and to begin to make preparation for the delivery. The medical staff doesn’t want the baby to come unexpectedly so they will keep a close watch on things. In the same manner, the watchmen need to watch!

Watch therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord will come. But know this, that if the good man of the house had know in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore, be ye also ready for in such an hour as ye think not the son of Man cometh.
Matt. 24:42-44