April 28, 2009

Swine Flu Pandemic: A Warning From the Heavens?

Posted by Judi Lynn Lake at 15:04

"We are concerned that this virus could cause a new influenza pandemic. It could be mild in its effect or potentially be severe," Ban told reporters.

"We don't know yet which way it will go but we are concerned that in Mexico most of those who died were young and healthy adults."
—UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

The Swine flu virus that originated in Mexico has crossed the border and reached the United States. "It has pandemic potential," Margaret Chan, the director-general of the World Health Organization, told reporters during a telephone briefing. "It is infecting people."


Chan added, "The situation is evolving quickly." "We do not yet have a complete picture of the epidemiology or the risk, including possible spread beyond the currently affected areas. Nonetheless, in the assessment of WHO this is serious situation that must be watched very carefully."

Is this pandemic or is this a warning from the heavens?

Who knows, but my spirit tells me that nothing is a coincidence and…

it is evident that we are clearly in God-less times and, for believers, the Bible offers us many warnings of things to come. Does not the Bible warn us that earthquakes, famines, pestilences and fearful sights are all signs from heaven?

“And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.” Luke 21:11 (KJV)

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I believe that our present world calls for all believers to join in solidarity to boldly spread His Word. We need not live in fear but, rather, in the conviction that is orchestrated through the Holy Spirit so that we truly experience the “power of His Word.”

In 1 Thessalonians 1:1, 4:5 we read:

Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
“Grace to you and peace…
We know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.”

Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians was the first book of the New Testament to be written. Although the traditions underlying the gospels go back to the time of Jesus, they had yet to be written down in the form in which we read them in the gospels. So, in one sense, the opening words of Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians could be considered the opening words of the New Testament. It is striking that as opening words they tell us something important about the word of God.

After greeting the new converts in Thessalonica (converts made by Paul only a few months earlier) and commending them on their faith, hope and charity (1 Thessalonians 1:2, 3), Paul proceeds to talk about what led to their conversion. The message that he had preached in their midst had not been merely a matter of words but a message with power -- a message anointed by the Holy Spirit -- a message of conviction in those who heard it. Elsewhere, Paul speaks about the signs, wonders and mighty works that accompanied and confirmed his preaching of the gospel (2 Corinthians 12:12), and of a power intrinsic to the word of God; a power capable of calling forth faith. It was this power that brought about the conversion of the Thessalonians.

How do we go about tapping the power of God’s word?

The first step is very simple: we need to read it. Simply acknowledging that the Bible is the word of God is not enough; we must make it a part of ourselves and live it.

The word of God is like a seed sown in a field. The seed may have life within it, but it will only sprout and grow if the proper conditions are present. “But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart and bear fruit with patient endurance.” (Luke 8:15)

The time is now that we must welcome God’s word with eagerness while taking it to heart; we must persevere in the word so that our lives will bear a rich harvest. Then we, and our land, will experience what the Thessalonians experienced as Paul proclaimed “the good news” to them: the power of God operating through His word and the power of the Holy Spirit within us.

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The following video, Power of Your Love, courtesy of You Tube.



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4 comments on "Swine Flu Pandemic: A Warning From the Heavens?"

Jessica said...

Thank you, Judi. I enjoyed your post and gained more knowledge from it. The video is wonderful. My husband heard and stopped what he was doing to watch it, too. Indeed His love has the greatest power!

Carol S. Allen said...

...Last night on Glenn Beck/Fox News..Glenn speculated that the Left wing..:(...Could be blowing the swine flu thing out of proportion...On purpose..(??)....To distract us from the Activities of the Left Wing...and the "annointed one..:(...:(.......And Glenn reminded us..that in 1918...50 MILLION people across the Globe were killed by Spanish Flu...I think...wash your hands alot...and Forget the swine flu....If you're Saved...You're going to Heaven....The Symptoms of swine flu are identical to other flu's...Who's to say if its swine flu or Not...The Greater Danger is that the ACLU and LEFT-Wing Extremists....Are Compromising Our National SECURITY...With their Assinine Stupidity...If they get US All Blown to Pieces..The "swine flu" Will Be OVER...........

Diana M. said...

--"The time is now that we must welcome God’s word with eagerness while taking it to heart; we must persevere in the word so that our lives will bear a rich harvest."--

Amen and Amen, Judi! A really well stated post! I agree with you and Emil about this! The Lord is our armor. If there is a danger, He is our shield, Him and our own God-given common sense. Brava!

mike said...

Great Blog! You have delivered a lot of great content! Easy to read. Easy to Navigate. Two thumbs up.

 

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