Witnessing after Crisis
“This is not a Blockbuster Movie: Staggering Numbers in Losses.”The Weather Channel Thursday, October 12
“Explosive Vegetation,” California’s Fire Director.
Multi-million dollar homes have disappeared, thirteen billion dollars in revenue is lost as houses and businesses are left in ruins.
At least 41 people have been confirmed dead in four counties, many of them elderly, some burned to ashes. One victim was 14 years old. (The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office revised its death toll late Friday, from nine fatalities to eight.)
Taken together, the disastrous blazes — more than 20 in all since Sunday, including at least six in Sonoma County — have killed more people than any other California wildfire on record. The death toll is certain to rise as authorities — some accompanied by cadaver dogs — continue to explore the wreckage.
Hundreds are still missing. Statewide, an estimated 5,700 structures have been destroyed, including whole neighborhoods reduced to smoldering rubble. About 90,000 people have been displaced by the fires, officials said Friday.
Likewise, many wine markets worldwide have nothing in return for upfront payments made to 21 wineries from the northern wine country in California. News reports are that some grape vines are burned down to their roots, but the soil is expected to continue to produce new crops.
Wildfires are endangering parts of California’s $2 billion weed industry
California produces over half of the marijuana consumed in the US. The state’s legal cannabis sales totaled approximately $2 billion in 2016 and are expected to reach $5 billion in coming years, according to an analysis by University of California-Davis researchers.
According to the 2016 Sonoma County Crop Report, between 3,000 and 9,000 medical cannabis farmers work in Sonoma County — where the fires hit hard and more than 150 people are missing. Sonoma County revenues from marijuana are unknown but likely total in the hundreds of millions of dollars annually, according to The San Francisco Chronicle. (Leanna Garfield 2 days ago).
As storm wind speeds reach into the 70’s, these airspeeds are just below the airspeed of a category 1 Hurricane. The difference between the Houston, South Florida, and the Caribbean Islands’ disasters is that the California storm is a storm of fire, burning from north and south of the state, an area of 222,000 acres, larger than the size of Chicago.
The world is seeking answers as to what is happening and how did we get here.
First of all, let’s not assume what such events are predicting.
The teachings of Jesus Christ can be summed up as a faithful Servant who is dependable, whose passion is causing an increase in His Master’s household.
NLT Matthew 24:45 A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them.
So, the faithful servant is one in whom his Lord finds great faith and will trust him with greater responsibility.
Pro 27:18 As workers who tend a fig tree are allowed to eat the fruit, so workers who protect their employer’s interests will be rewarded.
Just a few years ago ISIS attacked the locations of the ancient churches of Asia Minor, where many of the old Churches in The Book of Revelations are mentioned. Some thought that these monstrous terrorists’ action who came from the Euphrates River in northern Baghdad, Iraq, (Ancient Babylon) was a significant moment in Biblical history.
Bible students will do well to remember that The Book of Revelation is a book for preparation of the mind and heart against difficult times, then to be strengthened and have the ability to become, what Jesus Christ called “victorious “.
NLT Revelation 2:11 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death. (Rev 2:11 NLT)
3528 νικάω nikao {nik-ah’-o}
Meaning: 1) to conquer 1a) to carry off the victory, come off victorious 1a1) of Christ, victorious over all His foes 1a2) of Christians, that hold fast their faith even unto death against the power of their foes, and temptations and persecutions 1a3) when one is arraigned or goes to law, to win the case, maintain one’s cause
How does one become an overcomer in trusting God to deliver us from our human reasoning, while desperately pursuing the mind of Christ? The world loves winners, but Christ came as a suffering Messiah.
The Complete Jewish Bible: Philippians 2:6 Though he was in the form of God, he did not regard equality with God something to be possessed by force.
7 On the contrary, he emptied himself, in that he took the form of a slave by becoming like human beings are. And when he appeared as a human being,
8 he humbled himself still more by becoming obedient even to death- death on a stake as a criminal!
9 Therefore God raised him to the highest place and gave him the name above every name;
10 that in honor of the name given Yeshua, every knee will bow- in heaven, on earth and under the earth-
(Phi 2:6-10 CJB)
NLT 2 Corinthians 8:9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.
The Complete Jewish Bible: Galatians 2:21 I do not reject God’s gracious gift; for if the way in which one attains righteousness is through legalism, then the Messiah’s death was pointless. (Gal 2:21 CJB)
Trusting in the system of Laws doesn’t save us, but obeying Christ’s Commandments affords us the designation of being in righteous standing with God.
NLT John 15:10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
So, what does it mean when the Bible says, “remain in his love?”
KJV 2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
“constraineth” 4912 συνέχω sunecho {soon-ekh’-o}
Meaning: 1) to hold together 2) to hold together with constraint, to compress 2a) to press together with the hand 2b1) of a besieged city 2b2) of a strait, that forces a ship into a narrow channel 2b3) of a cattle squeeze, that pushing in on each side, forcing the beast into a position where it cannot move so the farmer can administer medication
The Complete Jewish Bible:
CJB 2 Corinthians 5:14 For the Messiah’s love has hold of us, because we are convinced that one man died on behalf of all mankind (which implies that all mankind was already dead),
Mat 20:28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.
NLT Hebrews 12:2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
At the end of the day, be careful of the teaching in the last days. Remember, the kingdom we take sides with is the kingdom that controls us.
NLT 2 Peter 2:19 They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.
Our Lord Jesus taught the differences between the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of the world. And these realms are territorial. When we preach the Kingdom of Christ, we are invoking or summoning the power of His Word. Also, angelic creatures are charged from the Kingdom of God to fight alongside men and women of faith. Standing with Christ, these warrior angels are creating an atmosphere conducive for God to work on the hearts and minds of the people of this world.
Why are we preaching humanistic psychology that only help us to cope with the manifestations of the Devil, when we are supposed to be destroying the manifestations of the Devil? A nation where our homes and families are, and the minds of our children are targeted daily by the enemy could eventually become the spoils of war.
In the Bible where it says: “Jesus could do no mighty works there”, that particular situation only existed because a kingdom of believers didn’t exist at that location.
Yeshua commissioned believers to operate within the Kingdom of Righteousness and to rage war against any advancement from the kingdom of darkness.
The Complete Jewish Bible: Matthew 22:29 Yeshua answered them, “The reason you go astray is that you are ignorant both of the Tanakh (the Word of God) and of the power of God. (Mat 22:29 CJB)
One thing every faithful believer knows is that it doesn’t matter what season we are in; we should always be an example of Jesus Christ’s victory over the kingdom of darkness.
Some may be asking the question: Is Adonai (Lord and God of the messianic community) escorting in the end of the age?
The only thing that is certain is that the community of faithful will need to be ready to have the sole answers for this season and any season to come.
As we observe destruction, both in the main USA and the Caribbean islands, the most important element is the capability of the person of faith to illustrate the peace of God. The only way to introduce the power of the peace of Christ is when it is observed in the believer’s life first.
NLT Philippians 4:7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Phi 4:7 NLT)
NLT Colossians 3:15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. (Col 3:15 NLT)
So then, the nation who honors God, will see peace and prosperity.
(Zec 7:11 “Your ancestors refused to listen to this message. They stubbornly turned away and put their fingers in their ears to keep from hearing.
12 They made their hearts as hard as stone, so they could not hear the instructions or the messages that the LORD of Heaven’s Armies had sent them by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. That is why the LORD of Heaven’s Armies was so angry with them.
13 “Since they refused to listen when I called to them, I would not listen when they called to me, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. (Zec 7:11-13 NLT)