Should Christians Prepare for Difficult Times

[00:00:00] News reports on happenings from around the world, news reports on revival, how Jesus saves and delivers and the move of the Holy Spirit

[00:00:10] News from the nations with Vincent Skinner and guests

[00:00:14] Welcome to the Revival Streams broadcast. My name is Vincent Skinner with World Revival Ministries

[00:00:23] And as you can see our subject is Should Christians Prepare?

[00:00:27] Now, you know, if you look at just what's happening in the world like even right now with the dock workers looking to strike and the food prices going up

[00:00:38] And it's all this impending problems and issues that they always throwing at us. I mean we can see just a hurricane, Helena, that just came through

[00:00:51] All the way from Florida up through the Panhandle into Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and other places and all the flooding that's going on.

[00:01:02] It's a natural disaster and they're looking out into the ocean and they say well you know war is coming.

[00:01:08] Then we look at Matthew 24 where Jesus said look these things would happen. There would be great deception, wars and rumors of wars.

[00:01:17] There would be pestilences, famine and all that. And Jesus did say these things would happen before his return.

[00:01:27] So the question is as believers what should be our stance? What should be our preparedness?

[00:01:35] And I want to throw out two things. The first thing is as believers and as the church, I believe we should always be loving like he's going to come back at any moment.

[00:01:49] His return is imminent. It could be right, it could be a minute from now, second from now. It could be next month.

[00:01:56] It doesn't really matter but as Christians we should love in a way that is constantly prepared for his return when it comes to our personal lives.

[00:02:09] Love holy, live free of sin, live hungry for him and all that. The other thing is this also the Great Commission never changes regardless of what the crisis is that is in the world.

[00:02:21] It doesn't change. Go into all the world and preach the gospel and these signs will follow them that believe and make disciples of the nations. That has not changed.

[00:02:31] It does not matter how difficult things get in the world, the mission of the church has never changed and will never change.

[00:02:40] Even if we get told we are not allowed to do it, it doesn't change the authority of scripture because scripture supersedes all that.

[00:02:49] Alright, so love ready, his imminent return remained faithful to the things that he has commanded us but when it comes to everything else I believe that there is enough evidence in scripture that says love and life that is prepared.

[00:03:07] Live a life that is prepared. In other words live a life that is set up for the long journey. In other words if you are going to live to your old age and die of old age or whatever, love prepared.

[00:03:19] So love ready for his return imminent any moment but when it comes to the things and living in this world we must live prepared for whatever.

[00:03:30] And so yes I do think that we should prepare as a Christian to some degree. I think we don't need to get crazy about it but I think we do need to live prepared for, I mean for example just look at this hurricane that came in.

[00:03:47] I'm sure for some people it is just impossible, it doesn't matter how much you prepared. This is just so crazy and we do want to send our prayers and our love and our support to all those that have been affected by this hurricane and the flooding that follow.

[00:04:08] Our prayers are with you and we see that and we pray for you. We stand with you. You know as Christians and as the church I think difficult times is a great opportunity to preach the gospel because people are desperate but also to be a beacon of light, a place of hope.

[00:04:36] Look as a church we need to step up and do our part when it comes to helping people with food, water, clothes or whatever they need. It's an opportunity for the church to stand strong during difficult times.

[00:04:51] You know we just look at Tennessee, the flooding that's going on there. We know friends and people that have been directly affected by that. North Carolina, the western corner of North Carolina, Asheville flooded.

[00:05:10] I even got reports that our missionary friends, our friends, Christians, churches in Guatemala and Central America were affected by the hurricane. I mean the suffering and the hardship is widespread but thank God the local church is widespread and we need to stand strong and be helpful.

[00:05:33] So should we prepare? Look everybody that I've spoken to over the last number of years even have said look we just feel like things are going to get difficult and we need to prepare. We need to have plans in place and we do need to prepare.

[00:05:50] So is it scriptural to prepare? Is it scriptural to say okay we are going to do some what they call prepping so that number one we personally can make it through the difficult times.

[00:06:02] But as believers and as a church we are always called to be a support and love to our community and to those around us. I mean it says love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.

[00:06:16] So it's a lot of work and people have been feeling for a while difficult times are coming and it's interesting. Some people have prepared some churches have prepared some have not.

[00:06:26] All right so this is not a criticism for those that haven't or even have. It's not we're not saying that.

[00:06:35] All right so let's look at some examples in the Bible that maybe speak into this.

[00:06:41] Matthew chapter 24 verse 15 through 28 Jesus warned people that said look when you see these things coming flee Jerusalem and of course he was talking about the Romans that would come into Jerusalem and to destroy it.

[00:06:57] And they eventually did in 8070 and then finished it off in 8030, 132, 133 to 135.

[00:07:05] But he warned them and said when you see this happening flee to the mountains.

[00:07:10] So there was a warning and a preparation and often look often God does speak to believers to be ready and to be prepared when it comes to what is happening in the world.

[00:07:31] For example like there he says be prepared when you see this happening flee to the mountains.

[00:07:38] Another example is Agabus. Agabus in Acts chapter 11 verse 27 through 28. I want to read this one to you.

[00:07:48] Acts chapter 11 let me just let me just see the show verse 27 through 28.

[00:07:57] And in those days prophets came from Jerusalem to Judea, from Jerusalem to Antioch sorry and then one of them named Agabus stood up and showed by the spirit or indicated by the spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world.

[00:08:17] Which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar and we see Paul the apostle then proceeded to go throughout all to all the churches in the area and collect over the next more or less three years and collected offerings or help from all the local churches.

[00:08:37] That he was going to take back to Jerusalem in response to this prophetic word and warning that the prophet Agabus had in Jerusalem.

[00:08:46] In fact our famous portion of scripture in in 2 Corinthians chapter 9 which we all know that we all know about in the subject of giving has to do with this giving and preparation that Paul was collecting by going to all the churches.

[00:09:05] And that was one incident when he came to them and said are you ready with the offering or the hell that we need to take back to Jerusalem.

[00:09:14] And so we see 2 Corinthians 9 happening and it had to do with that in response to that warning that prophetic word and the response to the coming famine.

[00:09:26] I want you to know that today I believe the church is receiving those warnings.

[00:09:32] I mean wherever I go like I said the church people are sensing it they are sensing man something's happening something's going to happen we need to be ready and they and they are preparing and some some like to say or not.

[00:09:45] But as we see in the days in the book of Acts God did warn and it was he gave that prophetic word and warned of the coming famine and hardship in time for them to respond in preparing to be able to help the Christians or the church in Jerusalem.

[00:10:06] So there we see an example of preparation or preparing in the Bible.

[00:10:14] Of course we cannot look at this subject and not see Joseph.

[00:10:19] You know in the days of Joseph where there were seven years this is found in Genesis.

[00:10:24] Chapter 41 verse 46 through 57 where Joseph prepares grain and wheat and that was during seven years of planting so that they would have food in the seven years of drought or lack.

[00:10:44] And so we see the three examples in the Bible.

[00:10:47] So is there biblical presidents or preparing?

[00:10:51] Yes. Does the Holy Spirit often warn us of coming difficulties?

[00:10:58] Absolutely.

[00:10:59] And I believe that today in this world during this time I believe the Lord is saying to us look love ready I'm coming back soon we all sense it Jesus is coming back but at the same time we also sense this sense that difficult times are coming well we need to prepare so that we can make it through these times.

[00:11:21] Ourselves but also so that we can help those in need around us when things do get difficult.

[00:11:29] Now I want to say this first of all one of the things we need to recognize especially as a church and as a believer is don't go it alone.

[00:11:39] You know in Hebrews chapter 10 verse 25 it says do not forsake the gathering of the saints as some do look when you go through difficult times trust me when difficult times come or crisis comes.

[00:11:57] You don't want to be alone.

[00:11:59] You want to be part of a community and I tell you what the local church is an amazing community to be part of during a difficult time.

[00:12:08] Go to church become part of a community it's important they'll stand together in fact we have friends in a church up in North and sorry in Tennessee right now that when the flooding came in the house of Jesus.

[00:12:21] The American came through there the church has mobilized itself and they're going through and actually doing rescues of the different families and people that are in their church and making sure that they have foods medicine communication or whatever help they do the local church is the answer.

[00:12:38] I think of a friend of mine down in Argentina when the crisis happened there that lasted for three months.

[00:12:46] I mean just like that they woke up one day the banks were closed they had money and no money everything just froze and I asked him I said how did you make it through and he said it was the community relationships within the community of the church that brought us together.

[00:13:04] People who had food brought it and helped those that didn't people who had helped those that hadn't and everybody just came together and that's how we made it through three months of crisis.

[00:13:18] So the first thing I want to say to you is do not go it.

[00:13:24] Do not go it alone.

[00:13:27] Know who that the church is there the body of Christ is there and connect with your family connect with your friends connect with your your neighbors and your local community look it's not a it's not a.

[00:13:40] I don't think it's it's extreme to say prepare at least for two weeks or three days or if you can a month of just natural things such as a way to communicate food water power protection and it's make a plan or do you have a plan if something happens and I think it's OK because I mean look at Joseph.

[00:14:02] He prepared for seven years for seven of when there was plenty.

[00:14:07] Seven years of plenty for seven years of lack.

[00:14:10] Agabus the prophet is a drought coming Paul for two to three years went around to all the churches and got help in preparation of that which was coming in fact think about it wasn't even happening yet and yet they were preparing.

[00:14:23] So yeah prepare for whatever you think you might need for three days two weeks to a month at least I mean have a plan for your family know what your local church is doing and what the plan is there and connect with people around you and remember this.

[00:14:42] Jesus is alive and he's coming back and our God can I mean he's a God of miracles.

[00:14:50] You know I love the statement I expect to marry I anticipate the inevitable supernatural intervention of God.

[00:14:59] I expect a miracle.

[00:15:01] Look God is with you he'll never leave you.

[00:15:05] You'll never forsake you.

[00:15:06] It doesn't matter what we go through.

[00:15:11] He is a God that answers prayers and he watches over us so never forget that that is the number one preparation you can do is your spiritual preparation.

[00:15:20] Your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and all that he is to you and remember that God is not a man that he should lie.

[00:15:28] He watches over his word to perform it.

[00:15:32] Love right.

[00:15:33] That's the number one form of preparation is your spiritual preparation and your relationship with God.

[00:15:40] Now I want to say to you we know of people like we like I said we've heard of the Christians in Guatemala.

[00:15:49] I know of my friends and a church in Tennessee that is doing an amazing work and but the need the need is great.

[00:15:59] And so we just want to be present an opportunity to you to if you want to support that we'll make sure that all the funds that comes from this program goes to them.

[00:16:12] We'll send it to you know in fact I'll even put it this way you can go to vincent skinner.org to my website.

[00:16:18] And click on give and just make a note there.

[00:16:24] Relief or hurricane relief or or crisis help and we'll we'll get it to the people that are necessary that need it and.

[00:16:34] And just feel free to do whatever you can.

[00:16:37] We'd love to be in a position where we can do what we can do.

[00:16:40] Look, you can do that.

[00:16:41] You can either go to my my own website or what I'm going to do is in this in this at the end of this video above or beneath the videos,

[00:16:51] whichever social media platform you're in are putting some links to the church up in in Tennessee.

[00:17:01] Our friends up there and you'll see it there where you can click on it and you can go and help them by giving financially or in whatever way you decide.

[00:17:12] If you want to help us.

[00:17:15] Give and help the Christians in Guatemala who are going through a difficult time as a result of that coming.

[00:17:21] Imagine that we never even thought about them.

[00:17:24] Then go to our website and give there.

[00:17:26] It doesn't matter how you do it will give some links to some churches that we know are helping and you can also give us but just remember if you give us just indicate there.

[00:17:35] This is for relief efforts and what God bless you and remember, you know, once again love like he's coming back today,

[00:17:45] but prepare like like you've got tomorrow and the years to come.

[00:17:51] God bless you and may the Lord Jesus Christ always be with you and remember never lose what lose heart never lose faith.

[00:18:00] God is on your side.

[00:18:02] God bless you.

[00:18:04] If you want to if you've been blessed by ministry and you want to help us go to the nations and preach the gospel,

[00:18:11] the saving healing delivering power of the gospel to the nations and you want to help us partner with us.

[00:18:18] Go to VincentSkinner.org.

[00:18:20] It'll take you to my website and you'll find how you can partner with us there.

[00:18:25] And also if you'd like to download our app, Lookup World Revival Ministries on the app platforms and you can download it and you can.

[00:18:34] It's a great way especially if you have a smart phone to follow us in what we're doing around the world.

[00:18:40] God bless you and for all my friends and partners who pray for us and support us financially.

[00:18:46] We want to say a big God bless you to you and we pray for you always.

[00:18:51] And I just hope you have a wonderful day today in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.