Three Responses Concerning Disasters

Three Responses from Disasters              Kelly Durant 

How do you react when you know danger is coming?

The first concept that we will see today is that when God works in the nations he warns his servants before He acts and then it is our responsibility to react.

Prov 22:3

3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. All disasters, even with the worldwide flood when Noah & his family was saved, came with warning and time.       Amos 3:7

7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. For dozens of years, God and even science warns us of impending danger.

Ezek 3:18-19

18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

There were many people who heeded warnings the day of the 911 event. The NY towers even had an earlier attack from a bomb in the basement parking lot, do you remember that in 1992? How many of you read articles about people that felt a strong need to get away that day?

Or to not even go to work? Or even had a flat tire that day?

Don’t get mad at God when you have breakdowns and loose your job. Maybe He is preventing you from a personal disaster!  If we go back to Sodom, Lot was warned to leave before the destruction.

There are many cases where God’s servants got warning ahead of time. I am going to tell you my brothers if you learn something from this Katrina event, if you listen to God’s spirit in the future, and He warns you to go or stay somewhere, then act on it! Dozens of thousands of Hondurans stayed in the city thinking they would get their weekend paycheck but if God pulls on your heart in a similar situation in the future, then just obey get out or do what He tells you! He will supply!

As God’s people we know the whole world is wicked and corrupt, and God’s wrath could fall on just about any city or nation in today’s world, But never be ignorant, never just look at corruption and think it is normal, that was Lot’s wife mistake.

It is our part to make war on sin and decry that there will be a final judgment in the end for all of man’s deeds. But I am certain many Christians, like ourselves, who speak against prostitution, gambling, drugs and crime, felt and knew God’s warning to leave before Katrina. The dilemma is that sometimes a few innocent ones do die in the mix but if God chose to take them with Him, we are not ones to judge that He is unjust. God has a prevailing plan that is beyond our comprehension.

The second concept we will look at today is that human suffering in a crisis should provoke a response from us as Christians to help!

Open to … 1 John 3:17-18

17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

Matt 25:34-40

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Why do you think that we, the Salvation Army has such as massive capacity to provide aid in disasters? It is because our doctrine of holiness is one of Christlikeness, we take action when there are people suffering. All our church programs stop and all our priority goes to them. You can be proud you belong to a church that has serving others a priority because that is not just words, that is true proof we love others.

Do all of you know that Regina and I came into The Salvation Army from disaster relief? Regina and I went to volunteer and to serve people who had been affected by a flood in Albany, GA in 1994.  We knew in our hearts we needed to do something and we went with our four kids and we worked a week in a large warehouse. It was there Capt. Michael Chang told us all about the Salvation Army. He was serving food from the canteen truck and told us all about how we could serve the Lord.  And we were amazed there was a church that did everything how we saw it should be done. That is why we are here! During these times when people donate their time opportunities open to win souls to Christ and to get others on board who want to serve the Lord full time! This is a time when people want to hear about the goodness of the Lord and the goodness of people serving God reflecting His love which gives help and hope. Tell them of His good!

The third concept that these moments of disaster and crisis should be is that we must learn to be close to God, to fear Him and honor Him. He is the one who does all things and He is the one who provides and protects during fearful times. The Lord is our source for comfort and we must comfort ourselves and others during a time of fear! 

Ps 9:20

20 Put them in fear, O LORD,

That the nations may know themselves to be but men.

Ps 25:14

14 The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him,

And He will show them His covenant.

Ps 33:18-19

18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,

On those who hope in His mercy,

19 To deliver their soul from death,

And to keep them alive in famine. 

Ps 34:7

7 The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,

And delivers them.

Ps 34:9-10

9 Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints!

There is no want to those who fear Him.

10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger;

But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. 

Ps 78:53

53 And He led them on safely, so that they did not fear;

But the sea overwhelmed their enemies.

Ps 147:11

11 The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him,

In those who hope in His mercy.

When natural powers destroy, we are intimated to remember we are just men, and we are not God! His power should provoke our fear and our worship!

Three things we have learned:

God warns us of destruction beforehand

God expects us to be merciful and serve the suffering

God wants us to get close to Him

If you want to be close to God, start today!

If you want to help serve the suffering, start today!

If you want to know of future destructions, start listening to God now!

Let’s pray!.