This is the fourth in what has become a series of articles regarding the storm that is coming to the church in America. I Believe a Storm is Coming is the introductory article. The second, A Storm is Coming – Spiritual Preparation is Paramount, suggests that our physical preparation could be wasted. The third article is a collection of notes from a meeting of 22 leaders on the topic of spiritual preparation. This article highlights a few of the more critical points made in that meeting.
FYI: If you have not already, I encourage you to read The Harbingers’ Deeper Meaning – An Open Letter to Jonathan Cahn. Also, please note that I am renaming the articles in this series to match “A Storm is Coming” theme. I hope you are encouraged by God to join in the discussion – here and with those in your spheres of influence.
It’s the Same, but Different
We must recognize that the spiritual preparation we are talking about is something we, as Christians, should have been doing anyway. Everything that was shared in our meeting had been heard, in one way or another, at some point in the spiritual journey of everyone present. There is nothing new under the sun. The church today is suffering in many of the same ways it has suffered over the past 2000+ years (e.g., division, apathy, worldliness). The solutions, though daunting, are unchanged (e.g., surrender, die to self, love God and love others, sacrifice, serve).
However, there are least two things that are different for the church during this season. First, there is a growing urgency. Whether from those that sense a storm is coming, or from those that have experienced the slow but growing decline of the church’s influence in society, those that will take their heads out of the sand and truly consider the situation will sense the growing urgency.
This urgency has created, and will continue to create, a new type of opportunity. As the American idol continues to disappoint its worshippers (and I am not excluding us Christians), the light of the life of Christ will be seen in those that have build their houses on the solid foundation of hearing and doing what Jesus says (Matthew 7:24-25). Those that will shore up their foundation will become houses of refuge in the storm.
Hopefully, we will not be like the people that lived below a dam, meeting regularly to discuss the cracks, but continuing to live as if the dam would never fail. The foolish man knows what is right, but doesn’t take action. The wise man stops investing in what is passing away. We must lay up treasures in heaven. We must buy the truth. May we be found “dressed in readiness with our lamp’s lit”. The words for the season are: Extreme, radical and consuming.
Storms from God are Good
Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue. And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time. Daniel 11:32-35
Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand. Daniel 12:10
See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:25-29
A significant step in our spiritual preparation is our willingness to embrace the storm as something for the church; and something that will be good for us. The storm is for the church, because the church is for the Son (i.e., it is for the preparation of His Bride). The storm will be exactly what is needed; nothing more or less.
The storm that is coming is not the rise of social ills (e.g., homosexuality, abortions, etc.). It is the judgment of God; that the children of God would:
- Be willing to confess and repent.
- Serve God reverently.
- Lay aside every weight in marriage, family, church, etc.
- Become radical.
- Allow the storm to bring purity.
There will be a shaking; to remove and to remain. This will not only shake out things that don’t belong to an individual Christian, but it will shake out persons. This is one of the more sobering things to me. The shaking is also for things to remain (i.e., to strengthen our abiding in Christ).
Storms and fires are necessary to bring life to a forest that has been unattended. We need to recognize why the storm is needed. Now is the time to begin removing what does not belong. It will be less painful to do so before the storm and fire come.
Humbly yours and forever His,
