Jesus declared that near the end of the age, the 'powers in the heavens' , (principalities and powers in the heavenly places), will be shaken. Every king or ruler, and every kingdom, both in the natural and especially the spiritual dimension, who has some dominion and authority over peoples and nations, will undergo a heavenly turbulence.

Jesus said that at the end of the age, the heart's of men and women will literally fail them from fear and expectation of the things coming upon the earth. Many, who have their hope resting only in the here and now, will be overcome with their fears while others will arise in this hour and will overcome their fears through a faith which has been tried and thoroughly tested.

The End of the Religious Revival

A recent news item on a Christian radio station, revealed that the religious revival that had begun immediately after the terrorists attack on the United States on September 11th, was now officially over. The report went on to describe how church attendance, which had sharply increased after September 11th, was now mostly back to normal.

I'm sure this is not the case everywhere, but I assure you that the idea of, 'returning to normal' in the United States, especially in the church, was not the Lord's intention.

The Dream

Shortly after September 11th, God gave me a dream that at least partially, may give us some understanding as to what the Lord desired for the church as a result of the terrorists attacks on the United States.

In the Old Testament book of Job we are reminded that, "God may speak in one way, or another, yet man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, while slumbering on their beds, then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction." (Job 33:14-16) Then in Joel 2:28 and repeated in Acts 2:17, we are reminded that one of the ways God will speak to His people at the end of the age, will be through visions and dreams.

In the dream, I was a member of a sports team that had suffered a tragedy. Something had occurred that had caused some of our fellow team members to loose their lives. I recall feeling saddened and a deep sense of lose for those who had been killed while also having a great anticipation and expectation as to what would come out of all that had happened. We must never forget the foundational truth of Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose". God is not to blame for the actions of wicked men. However He has promised, that if we would pray, and if our love is set on Him, He would use every circumstance of life for our good.

In the dream, the coach of the team, who I believe to have represented the Lord, summoned all of the remaining team members, myself included, to a team meeting in the locker room.

As we gathered around the coach, he began to explain to us what he wanted to occur as a result of the tragedy and loss we had just experienced.

First, the coach looked at us and begin to explain that we, his team, really did not know him, our coach, the way he wanted us to know him.

Although the coach had nothing to do with the tragedy occurring, his intention was that through all that had happened, we would come to know him in a way we had not fully known him and in a way that was absolutely necessary for the challenging days ahead.

God once spoke to His people through Hosea, reminding them that He was not primarily interested in what they could do for Him, nor was He interested in any sudden and temporary increase in their attendance at temple meetings, but that they would increase simply in their knowing Him. "After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight. Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord... For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings... For Israel has forgotten his Maker, and has built temples; " (Hosea 6:2-3, 6; 8:14)

The Apostle Paul probably knew the Lord better than most Christians in his day and in ours. However his greatest desire was still, "that I might know Him..." (Phil. 3:10) It is possible that we can substitute knowing Him, with knowing about Him. In the days to come, just knowing about Him, will not be enough.

Daniel describes that even during the reign of the Anti-Christ and at a time of intense wickedness on the earth, still, a people will arise on the earth who will do 'great exploits'. "Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits." (Daniel 11:32) The times will not define these men and women, but these will define the times.

Secondly, the coach told us that, not only did we not know him the way He wanted us to know him, but that we also did not know ourselves, the way we needed to know ourselves.

Jesus addressed a particular church in the New Testament that has many similarities with the church in our day. This church thought they knew who they were, but were greatly mistaken in their assessment of themselves. Jesus said, "Because you say, 'I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' -and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-" (Rev. 3:17)

The church in Laodicea began to think too highly of themselves. They were not aware how vulnerable, helpless, and desperately needy they really were. The Lord in His mercy, not only convinced the church in Laodicea of their true spiritual state , but offered them one of the greatest promises in the Bible. That promise would be to one day sit with Jesus on His throne if they overcame the spirit of their age.

Again Job, came to a place where he came face to face with the reality of who he was in light of who God was. Recognizing his frailty, Job did the only thing he could do and yet that which was necessary for his survival and recovery. Job repented. "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." (Job 42:5-6) God desires no less from the church in this hour.

Third, the coach told us, that we really did not know that we were indeed a team, and that the hour we were now in demanded we act like it.

All across America you can find signs that boldly declares the phrase, 'United We Stand'. However, not only is it true that united we stand, but it is also equally true that, 'Divided We Fall'. Jesus declared Himself, "And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand." (Mark 3:25) Both America and the church in this hour, desperately needs someone to fill the landscape with the other message as well. We must hear both sides of what Jesus had to say about this subject.

It is indeed sad but nevertheless true that much of the symbolic 'acts of unity' across America after Sept. 11th were exactly that, 'acts of unity'. This is because disaster and tragedy will never create a lasting unity. It's the gospel that brings men and women together. It's only in the message of the cross that true and lasting unity will emerge.

Can you imagine a football team where everyone did what they felt was right for the moment? Obviously that team would have great difficulty scoring. God is shouting to the church in this hour that we are one team and we have only one coach!

Fourth, the coach looked at His team and explained how we had forgotten that we were still a championship team both picked and destined to win the championship.

The Apostle Paul encouraged the church at Corinth with these words, "But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph -as trophies of Christ's victory..." (II Cor. 2:14 Amp.)

Paul was not just predicting victory for the church in it's struggles, but was assuring the church that victory had already been secured through the cross and resurrection of Christ. In other words, we are not just going to win someday, we are already winners. We are the Lord's trophies placed in strategic places for such a time as this that the world may see and know and turn to the King.

To confirm the dream I had, the Lord spoke to me through my 11 year old son's Fall Baseball game which took place a few weeks after September 11. My son, Joshua, was up at the plate with two outs. At least one other player had made it to base before him and was waiting to be hit home.

The opposing pitcher was quickly ahead of my son in the count as he threw the first two pitches for a strike. Joshua had two strikes against him and the prospect of making it to base, much less bringing in the runner on base ahead of him looked pretty slim.

As a dad who loves spending time with his son and is his greatest baseball fan, I was expectantly somewhat nervous. Even though my love for him would certainly not have changed if he struck out, I was hoping that he would not just take the next strike but would somehow make some kind of contact with the approaching pitch. I was just hoping for a base hit, or even a hit and an error by someone on the opposite team. I just wanted to see my son get on base.

Every dad whose son or daughter plays sports knows exactly what I am talking about.

To my utter amazement and shock, my son did something I myself have only dreamed of doing. As the pitcher threw the ball, Joshua not only swung at the ball, but hit the ball out of the ball park over the center field fence. I could not have been any prouder of my son. I must have replayed my son's first ever home run at least a hundred times in my mind over the next several days. I was not only proud, but I was also broke as he, after crossing home plate, immediately reminded me that I had promised to give him a certain amount of money for his first home run.

Shortly after the shock and excitement of that moment, the Lord began to impress upon me about how He wanted to speak to me through what had just occurred. The Lord then spoke to my heart and said that many of His son's and daughter's had hit some singles (in a spiritual sense). Some, He continued, have hit some doubles. A few have even hit some triples. However, in this hour, this 11th hour, many of His son's and daughter's would now clear the fence and hit a home run. As a result, of what many will do in this hour, many others, who would not have made it home, will indeed make it home.

The Harvest

A great harvest is currently on base waiting for the church to get the hit that will bring them home. These are the days of the harvest and this is the time when, "the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits." (Dan. 11:32)

The only thing that will stop us in this hour, is if we quit. ---

harvestnow@earthlink.net

Website: http://MobileSOS.org