Showing posts with label John 16:33. Show all posts

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Franklin Graham's End Times View: We're Seeing 'Biblical Signs Before Christ's Return' - CBN News

Franklin Graham's End Times View: We're Seeing 'Biblical Signs Before Christ's Return'

09-13-2017

Hurricane Irma's trail of destruction is the latest in a string natural disasters unfolding around the world and Evangelist Franklin Graham believes the ongoing events could be "Biblical signs before Christ's return."

In a recent post on Facebook, the Samaritan's Purse CEO wrote, "Wildfires raging on the West Coast. Violent hurricanes, one after the other, ravaging everything in their paths, with one of the worst-Irma-bearing down on Florida. A magnitude 8.1 earthquake shook the southern parts of Mexico this week, and we even recently experienced a rare solar eclipse."

After listing that sampling of natural phenomena, Graham pointed his fans, followers and readers to the scriptures.

He noted, Luke 21:25 reads, "There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves."

Matthew 24:7 says, "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places."

Graham said, "These are some of the Biblical signs before Christ's return. Nobody knows the day or hour, not even the Son of God, but it is a reminder to all of us to be ready to repent and confess our sins, and ask for God's forgiveness. In the meantime, we can find comfort, peace, and hope in Him."

Graham added, "As we pray for all those affected by the current disasters, we should also remember God's promise to us in John 16:33, 'I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world'."

READ: Signs in the Heavens: Biblical Darkness, the Solar Eclipse, and the End Times

Hurricane Irma hit the Florida Keys Sunday. It left at least seven million people without power.

Graham's Samaritan's Purse is one of the Christian relief groups helping in the hurricane disasters afflicting America.

Other prominent Christian leaders have also said the recent events could be taken as a reminder of Christ's coming return.

The senior pastor of San Antonio's Oak Hills Church, Max Lucado, shared his thoughts with CBN News.

Lucado said, "The Psalmist said, 'I will lift my eyes unto the hills from whence comes my help. My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and the earth.' This was an intentional decision on the part of the Psalmist. He said, 'I will lift up my eyes.' We have to choose to lift up our eyes and stare less at the storm and stare more at the Maker."

READ: When We See the Face of God: Why the Solar Eclipse Is a God-Shaped Shadow of Eternity

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

4 Promises That Will Carry You Through Any Crisis - J. LEE GRADY CHARISMA MAGAZINE

4 Promises That Will Carry You Through Any Crisis

Fire in My Bones, by J. Lee Grady — Don't let adversity steal your hope. (iStock photo )

I've spent the past week sitting by my father's bed in a hospital in Georgia. He fell while doing yard work (no 89-year-old man should be trimming weeds) and he hit his head on the concrete walkway behind his house. He has a fractured rib, 12 stitches in the back of his head and two bruises on his brain.

After a week, he still has no idea where he is.

On Monday, he said my name. On Tuesday, when I asked him the name of his church, he answered correctly. But when a nurse asked him who I was, he told her I was his grandson.

We don't know what the next day holds for my dad, or the next month. Hundreds of people are praying for his healing, and there are signs that his motor skills and brain function are slowly coming back online. But whether he pulls out of this and goes back to driving his car, or whether he ends up in months of rehab, or if he dies, I've had to face the reality that we all get old, life is terribly fragile and death is inevitable.

We don't do a good job preparing people for death and dying. I never had a class on it in school. We rarely even talk about it in church until someone has a funeral. It's easy to develop a notion that life goes on and that we will never get old.

Yet the Bible doesn't dance around the topic of death. In Genesis, the word "death," "die" or "died" appear 68 times. It reminds us: "And Adam died," "And Abraham died," "And Isaac died." One entire chapter, Genesis 23, is devoted to the death and burial of Sarah. On and on it goes, like the somber toll of a bell. Death is a cold, dreary specter that is an undeniable part of our existence on this side of eternity.

King David talked about walking "in the valley of the shadow of death" (Ps. 23:4a). He could write those words because he faced life-and-death crisis regularly. Only those who have lost a loved one or cared for a sick person know how tangible that shadow of death really is. It weighs on us like a thick fog. It makes us feel lost and alone.

I have felt that fog this past week. I felt it when I had to restrain my dad from pulling out his IV tube. I felt it when I asked him a simple question and got a blank stare. I felt it when I heard another patient in the hospital scream in pain.

Yet David was sustained in that dark season. He was not overcome. He wrote: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me" (v. 4). We have the promise of His presence no matter what is going on around us.

If you are walking through the valley right now because of a death, an accident, a serious medical condition, a financial crisis, the loss of a job or any other tragedy, stand on God's immovable promises and let His words bring security to your soul. These four promises have meant the most to me during the past seven days:

Nahum 1:7 says, "The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him."

"God is good, all the time," has become a religious cliché. But it is a powerful truth if you let the words sink in. When we walk through dark times we are tempted to doubt God's goodness. Don't let the devil accuse God of abandoning you; run into the Lord's strong arms and let Him remind you of His faithful care.

John 16:33 says, "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

It does not matter what the world throws at you. Jesus said we would face trials and tests, but those words are followed by a comma, not a period. He calls us to face our difficulties with faith. He has already overcome every possible problem we could face. Knowing this will give you supernatural peace.

Philippians 4:6-7 says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

When we face a crisis, our first reaction is to worry. But the antidote to worry is prayer. Share your fears and anxious thoughts with Jesus and let His peace override them. His peace will shield you from the darkness of despair.

John 11:25-26 says, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die." This is the ultimate source of all our joy.

Death is not final when the person who dies is a Christian. Jesus removed the sting of death; it has been swallowed up in Christ's ultimate victory. Don't let death or the threat of death steal your hope.

Let God's promises guide you like signal lights through your dark valley. The future is bright on the other side.

J. Lee Grady is the former editor of Charisma. You can follow him on Twitter at leegrady. He is the author of several books including 10 Lies the Church Tells Women, 10 Lies Men Believe, Fearless Daughters of the Bible and The Holy Spirit Is Not for Sale. You can learn more about his ministry, The Mordecai Project, atthemordecaiproject.org.

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Monday, March 7, 2016

What to Do Until the Storms of Life Blow Over - LEONARD DAVIDSON CHARISMA MAGAZINE

Here's what to do when the storms of life crash in around you.

What to Do Until the Storms of Life Blow Over

Recently I heard a meteorologist on the Weather Channel say something profound—No one knows when, or where the next devastating storm will come. But we do know this; there will be another storm."

Sounds a lot like life, doesn't it?

It has been said that we are either in a storm, coming out of a storm, or about to enter a storm.

Is this just a fatalistic attitude, or is it the reality of living in a fallen world?

Remember what Jesus said? "In the world you will have tribulation." (John 16:33). The Greek word for "tribulation" literally means affliction, trouble, anguish, persecution and burdens.

Paul tells us that Satan is the "prince of the power of the air" (Eph. 2:2) and the ruler of "the cosmic powers over this present darkness ... the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12).

When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, authority and power were given over to Satan.

No wonder we face so many storms in life!

Some of these are: the loss of a child, depression, anxiety, a doctor's unwanted diagnosis, a loveless, lifeless marriage, prodigal children, and financial difficulties. The list goes on and on—from one storm to another.

We too often desperately struggle to find relief and wonder how to survive—mentally, physically, and especially spiritually.

It is interesting to see the statements Jesus precedes, and then follows his "tribulation" statement with—all in the same verse. He begins with "In me you may have peace" (John 16:33). He finishes with "but take heart; I have overcome the world."

Jesus tells us that life will be full of storms. But the storms are sandwiched between His peace and His overcoming power. These are two powerful truths that give us a new perspective on the daily struggles of life.

Perhaps that is what John meant when he declared " ... for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4).

While we live in a fallen world which is for now under the authority of the evil one, Someone greater—all powerful—almighty—everlasting in love—eternal—allows us to run to Him in the midst of the storm, and experience His peace ... and His overcoming power.

King David understood this all too well. At one point, trying to avoid death at the hand of Saul, he found himself hiding in a cave. His words ring true even today—" Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me! For my soul seeks refuge in You; in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until the ruinous storm passes by" (Psalm 57:1, MEV)

"Until the hurricane blows over." I don't know about you, but more than once life has felt like a category 5 hurricane—complete with 155 mph winds, rain blowing sideways and an 18 foot ocean surge with lightning and thunder all around.

During these times—and we all have them—remember that the storm is wedged in between the peace of Jesus ... and His overcoming power.

Take heart. Those two divine, eternal truths won't remove you from the storm—but they will change your perspective and you will overcome.

Prayer Power for the Week of March 6, 2016

This week thank God for His overcoming power and that His peace can sustain and carry you through any storm you have to face. Thank Him that He is faithful to His promise to never ever leave or forsake you. Allow His Spirit to produce His fruit of righteousness in you so that you can continually walk in joy, peace and all the other fruit of the Spirit. Continue to pray for our spiritual and government leaders, for worldwide revival, the expansion of God's kingdom, and the persecuted church. Pray that Israel fulfill God's purpose in this hour. Lift up our military and their families. Pray for the upcoming elections (John 16:33; Gal. 5:22-26; Matt. 9:38).

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