"IN THE LAST DAYS PERILOUS TIMES SHALL COME"
II Tim. 3:1
It doesn’t take more than five minutes of watching the network news on
television to realize that we live in a time of crisis in this nation and around
the world. What does that mean for us as Believers in Jesus Christ as Lord?
Chinese is a picture language. It uses characters rather than an alphabet to
convey ideas in writing. The Chinese character for "crisis" is the character for
"danger" combined with the character for "opportunity". For Christians, this is
definitely a time of danger and opportunity here in America and around the
world.
This summer as we traveled and ministered in churches across America, we
found a growing separation among churches regardless of size. Some churches are
becoming more and more self-absorbed, hiding behind the four walls of their
buildings afraid of the negative influences of a society that increasingly calls
good evil and evil good. They see the danger posed by liberal groups like the
ACLU and liberal judges who forbid prayer at graduations while demanding we
respect the religious sensibilities and civil rights of Muslim terrorists who
are determined to destroy our civilization. Other churches are giving up the
battle and closing the doors because the few members who remain are unable to
cover the costs of maintaining a church building.
Yet there is another group of churches that look at the same circumstances
and see opportunity for God to work in using them to change the world around
them. What makes the difference? It does not depend on the size of the churches
for all the churches we visited or contacted on this trip were about the same
size – less than 100 people. It does not depend on what denomination or
fellowship the churches belong to or if they are totally independent. So what
makes the difference? It all depends on where you look! In these perilous times,
Jesus tells us exactly where we should look.
"Look up and lift up your heads" Lk.21:28
If we look at the circumstances around us, it is easy to become afraid. But
Jesus tells us to look up and lift up our heads. The only way to survive and
thrive in perilous times is to keep our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher
of our faith. Churches where the pastor and the people are actively seeking the
face of God and are hungering and thirsting for a greater personal intimacy with
Him are churches that are thriving. Lives are being touched and transformed.
Bondages are being broken and prodigals are coming home. Believers are falling
in love with Jesus all over again as God is calling His people to return to
their first love (Rev. 2:4). These are not "mega-churches". They are small
country churches that are being set on fire by God’s love for them and their
love for Him. Looking up is the first step to turning perilous times into times
of opportunity. There is also another place Jesus tells us to look.
"Look on the fields for they are white already to harvest" Jn.
4:35
The second characteristic of a thriving church is a pastor and people who
have felt God’s heartbeat for the lost. Jesus tells us to look out at the fields
full of lost souls who are ready to come to salvation in Him. As Christians, we
have someplace where we can turn in times of crisis. We have a shelter and a
hiding place under the shadow of His wings. But the unsaved have no refuge. They
have no place where they can turn to find peace in times of trouble. For this
reason, perilous times are perfect opportunities for us to share the love of
Jesus Christ with those around us who don’t know Him. Churches that are thriving
are churches that are reaching out to others and bringing the transforming power
of God into the needy world outside their doors.
God is not looking for gifted people. He is looking for available people that
He can use to communicate His love to those who don’t know Him. You don’t need
to know a lot of Scriptures or have a lot of training to be used of God. You
only need to be able to listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and be
willing to share with someone else the difference that Jesus Christ has made in
your life and how He has the answer to the challenge he or she is facing.
How the Holy Spirit leads you will be as unique as you are. You don’t have to
be afraid He will turn you into some phony cartoon character instead of who you
really are. He created you for His glory and He has put within you everything
you need to be an effective witness for Him. Just draw near to Him and make
yourself available. The Holy Spirit will do the rest. Trust Him and watch Him
transform you into the person of God He created you to be. Find true joy in His
presence then experience the joy and deep satisfaction of sharing His love with
others.
In the Philippines
The work is going forward on Mindanao. We have been able to set up a
cooperative for the tribal people that will provide low interest loans to
establish small farms. Then the cooperative will be able to provide a market for
the produce that the families don’t need for themselves. The government is
providing agricultural experts to help the farmers learn how to make the best
use of their land and resources. We have been able to set up four demonstration
farms and starter herds to help teach the tribal people how to grow their own
food and raise farm animals.
New pastors are being trained as Bible school classes are being held in three
different locations across Mindanao. Many new churches have been planted
especially in the South Cotobato area where 16 new churches have been started by
students who have completed their Bible school training.
The ministry suffered a set back in August when our dear friend and brother
in Christ, Doug Lemm, went home to be with the Lord after a year long battle
with lymphoma. Doug was one of our main speakers at our youth camp both last
year and again this year. He will be greatly missed for he had a great love for
God and for the young people of Mindanao. Please keep his wife Beth and their
three children in your prayers. Pray also for our leadership team on Mindanao
that God will enable them to begin to walk in divine health in spite of the
heavy physical demands of the ministry in the mountains.
In Romania
God is continuing to move in Romania since our recent visit. We just received
an email from one of our young people in Timisoara who is in the process of
translating Howard’s book "Seven Things God Wants You to Know" into Romanian.
Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke from Germany who has been used powerfully across
Africa held a one week crusade at the large stadium in Timisoara. Tens of
thousands came to hear the Gospel and experienced the power of God at work. The
crowds shouted for joy as miraculous healings took place before their eyes. We
know this is just the beginning of what God is going to do as Believers begin to
walk in the revival that God is pouring out in response to their prayers. Please
pray with us that this spark will ignite fires of revival all across Eastern
Europe as people are confronted with the reality of God’s love and healing
power.
In You?
Yes, these are perilous times but they are also awesome times to be alive.
God is moving around the world, not just in Romania and the Philippines. He is
touching lives in America as well. He is using ordinary people to do
extraordinary things as He calls a lost and dying world to repent and come back
to Him. God is looking for volunteers, those who will draw near to Him so He can
love a hurting world through them. What about you? Will you see the danger or
the opportunity? We pray that you will be like the Prophet Isaiah who saw the
Lord in all His splendor, heard His heart’s cry for the lost, and responded by
saying, "Lord, here am I. Send me." God bless you.
Howard & Barbara Gard,
Directors
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