O ur L ord told us that among the disturbances which would pre cede His return would be earth quakes. There are many of them today which are not just physical and found recorded on siesmographs. There are political, social, moral, and religious earthquakes convulsing the world. Crime, violence, lawlessness, anarchy, blood-shed, perversion, riots, wars and rumors of wars, cause every con tinent to tremble in world upheaval. Unfortunately, most of the earth quakes that are shaking the world to day are not the work of God. Satan is the prince of this age. Many of these convulsions are the mystery of law lessness working up to its climax through the antichrist. We had a major earthquake in 1917 when Communism started an upheav al. It has kept the world in turmoil ever since. Lawlessness has made streets no longer safe. Humanity has gone sex crazy with perversion eating like a cancer. Science has had its own revolution making men so self-suffi cient that they have sought to give God H is “walking papers.” The church, too, is in the midst of an earthquake. Recently one of our lead ing magazines carried an article on the coming church of the future. Thank the Lord I won’t live to see it. The ecumenical movement heads steadfastly toward a colossal world church. We need the power that shook the world 20 centuries ago. The apostolic age has the answer to the atomic age. The only way to meet this demonstra tion (this demonstration of demons) is with a demonstration of the Holy Spirit in power. The Gospel really started with two earthquakes. When the Saviour died on Calvary’s cross (Matt. 27:51) and when He rose from the dead (Matt. 28:2). He died for our sins and rose again for our justi
fication. I believe those were literal earthquakes. God invaded history vis iting the earth through His only be gotten Son. This was the greatest double event the world has ever known. The Gospel started with earth quakes and so did the Church. The fourth chapter of Acts illustrates that. You see, God is in the earthshak ing business. These early Christians were in partnership with the Lord. Instead of shrinking in fear, they asked for more of the very thing that got them into trouble the first time. This was boldness. We are at the crossroads today. Shall we let the hostility of satan snare us into becoming diplomats on good terms with the world? The early Christians stirred up the devil. Our best endeavors today are usually met by a polite “yawn.” The liquor busi ness hardly knows we are in town because too many church members make it, sell it, buy it and drink it. We need to stop passing resolutions and begin promoting “revolutions” such as did the apostles. They had prayer meetings which ended in earthquakes. The only time some churches shake today is when they have a dance in the recreation build ing. If the emphasis were put on re creation instead of recreation, what a difference would be made. The salt of God's people needs to be shaken out of its smug compla cency into the carcass of a putrifying society. We are not going to have a spiritual earthquake in the world until we have one in the Church. When the Gospel hurts the devil’s business, trouble always starts. When Paul’s preaching in Ephesus turned people from idols to the Lord, the image makers started an uproar. It always happens that way. There is something wrong when the Church 5
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker