"God is Speaking . . .
Is Anybody Listening?"

"Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, IF HE CALL THEE, THAT THOU SHALT SAY, SPEAK, LORD; FOR THY SERVANT HEARETH. So Samuel went and lay down in his place". 1 Samuel 3:9 KJV (Capitals are mine for emphasis) ONE ERA IS ENDING, WHILE THE STAGE IS BEING SET TO USHER IN THE NEXT ONE, THE KINGDOM OF GOD In spite of however it may seem, God is far from being silent in the Earth today. In one way or another, He is endeavoring to get His message across. The problem is not that He isn't talking. The truth is that most people are just not listening. On a regular basis, He is sending out His alerts and warnings, known as "signs of the times". Earthquakes in places where they do not usually occur. Tsunamis which rearrange the landscape. Killer storms. Dramatic changes in the weather. The whole planet is groaning, and in birth pangs signaling the fact that one era is ending, while the stage is being set to usher in the next one, the kingdom of God. FREEDOMS WE ONCE TOOK FOR GRANTED ARE BEING BRAZENLY SNATCHED AWAY WITH NO REGARD FOR THE FOUNDATIONS UPON WHICH OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED These are turbulent times. Political upheaval is the order of the day. Politicians promise one thing, and without blinking an eye, do exactly the opposite. Trust in our leaders has been seriously eroded. Freedoms we once took for granted are brazenly being snatched away with no regard for the foundations upon which our Christian faith has been established. Our way of life is being threatened, and if we dare speak up in defense of right principles we are threatened with consequences. WE ARE ON THE VERGE OF ANOTHER EARTH-SHAKING "GREAT AWAKENING" What is God saying? God is still in control, and He is using the forces of Hell and darkness to send out the latest news flash that the manipulations of unredeemed human flesh at its best only produces chaos and confusion. The Almighty is in the process of turning it around at His own pleasure, and for the honor of His name. We are on the verge of another Earth-shaking "Great Awakening". The deeds done in darkness and the ploys hatched in smoked-filled back rooms are being exposed. Explosive revival and the great last day harvest of souls is being birthed. WE CALL IT "ESCAPIST THEOLOGY", AS THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THE CESSPOOL OF WICKEDNESS BEING UNLEASHED UPON THE EARTH Those who wear the label of "prophecy teachers" only research and proclaim the present evil "to prove their point" that we are living in the last days, and Jesus may come at any moment. They perform a service, but tend to believe that things are getting so bad, that the only answer is the rapture. We call it "escapist theology", as they do not know how to deal with the cesspool of wickedness being unleashed upon the Earth. They produce weak Christians. If Jesus does not come soon, their converts will fall by the wayside, as they have not been taught how to be overcomers, and live in victory. This is what the Scripture describes as "the great falling away". REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE DEVIL THROWS AT US, WE DO NOT BECOME WEAKER, BUT STRONGER On the other hand, we teach how to live the overcoming life. Yes, we believe that Jesus is coming again, but we do not hold it out as an escape to get out of the troubles this world is experiencing. We teach change in one's life, and responsible character which emerges victorious no matter what the challenge is. Regardless of what the devil throws at us, we do not become weaker, but stronger. We are learning that stress can build strength, and frustration does not have to cause fear and failure, but can create a foundation of faith and fortitude. GOD DID NOT CAUSE THE DISASTER, BUT HE REMOVED HIS HAND OF PROTECTION On the 19th April, the U.S. President announced that he and his administration would no longer side with Israel in the dispute with the Palestinians, but would support the United Nations in condemning Israel. The next day, the U.S. experienced its worst natural disaster in history with the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. God did not cause the disaster, but He removed His hand of protection. In 2005, then President Bush and Secretary of State Rice urged Israel to give away land to Palestine which God had promised them in the Abrahamic Covenant. Right after that, the U.S. was hit with Hurricane Katrina, which all but destroyed the city of New Orleans. From the book of Genesis on God has said that He would bless those who bless Israel, and curse those who curse Israel. Is God speaking? You decide. The timing of these incidents did not occur by accident. ARE WE GETTING THE RIGHT MESSAGE? NOT JUST BITS AND PIECES, JUMPING TO OUR OWN CONCLUSIONS As God spoke to the lad Samuel, may we develop a sensitivity to hear His voice, and discern what He is saying. Jesus encouraged us to become as a little child in our faith and purity. God is speaking. Are we listening? And, over and above that, are we getting the right message? Not just bits and pieces, jumping to our own conclusions, but are we really hearing what God is saying in these perilous times?