Hurricane Harvey a Sign?
Hurricane Harvey a Sign?
The people asked for a sign when they met Jesus even they knew in their hearts that He is the Messiah, the anointed Savior. Today people are still asking for signs even when everything around us declares the glory and majesty of God.
Hurricane Harvey has brought so much flooding of historic proportion to the south of Texas. There are confirmed deaths of up to ten. We thank God it is not even more than that looking at the pictures. We continue to pray for all in Texas who have been displaced and are in shelters. It is hard to describe it or imagine it when it is not you or me experiencing it. May the Lord comfort and strengthen all.
Listen to what Jesus said to those still looking for signs in Matthew 16:
The Pharisees and Sadducees Seek a Sign
16 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; 3 and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites![a] You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet[b] Jonah.” And He left them and departed.
The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees
5 Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. 6 Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”
7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.”
8 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread?[c] 9 Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? 10 Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? 11 How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Those who are “far” you see and the “sad” you see aka Pharisees and Sadducees want a sign or signs. Jesus said, no more signs. The word of God is enough sign that has documented all signs such as Jonah in the belly of a fish for 3 days and the flooding of the earth during Noah’s time. Jesus knew that the people really did not care for the signs but wanted to continue in their unbelief.
It is the same today. Even as Harvey is causing havoc, people after it is all over will go about their normal way of lives pretending nothing happened. We have many disasters to prove it. There was the 9/11 of World Trade Center, the Katrina of New Orleans and the Sandy of New Jersey.
Harvey is not happening because of the sins of the Texans. Contrary to what some may think or say like a professor who lost his job because he believed Texas is being punished for voting for president Trump. People can believe and say stupid stuff but not so for us Jesus disciples and followers.
Christ warned his disciples then and now warning us. “But to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees”.
What is the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees? It is the doctrine of unbelief against every obvious and available evidence of the deity of Jesus. Jesus is God and still God even in the midst of the storms. We must not fall for the devil’s trick of doubting who Jesus is and get sucked into the world’s doctrine of “many other ways”. It sounds good to get along with people especially the politically correct and the tolerant intolerants. They are willing to tolerate you until you state you believe that Jesus is God and that there is no other way to God. He died on the cross for all our sins and no good work can please God except for the work of His death of Jesus on the cross – not even sacrifice to save people in disaster.
It is a day of singing “kum ba ya” and let’s get along and work together especially in times like Harvey. We must get along and be generous in times like these, but we must speak the truth in love. In doing all these good humanitarian work, we must tell people the truth that Jesus is still the only answer and without a trust and faith in Him, there will be perishing that will be eternally greater than Harvey or any other disaster. Hell has no bottom and does not end for those without Jesus. Does that concern you?
Friends, it is a great day to proclaim Jesus especially now that at least people’s eyes are fixed on the horrors of a hurricane. If you died or drowned in Harvey, where would you go – heaven or hell?
May God continue to grant all His mercies and grace and to open spiritual eyes for all to see Jesus Christ and believe. Let’s go and proclaim Christ to all. Let’s engage people, pray for them and ask penetrating questions about eternity. May God help us in doing His will and being His witnesses to all. Amen
The people asked for a sign when they met Jesus even they knew in their hearts that He is the Messiah, the anointed Savior. Today people are still asking for signs even when everything around us declares the glory and majesty of God.
Hurricane Harvey has brought so much flooding of historic proportion to the south of Texas. There are confirmed deaths of up to ten. We thank God it is not even more than that looking at the pictures. We continue to pray for all in Texas who have been displaced and are in shelters. It is hard to describe it or imagine it when it is not you or me experiencing it. May the Lord comfort and strengthen all.
Listen to what Jesus said to those still looking for signs in Matthew 16:
The Pharisees and Sadducees Seek a Sign
16 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; 3 and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites![a] You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet[b] Jonah.” And He left them and departed.
The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees
5 Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. 6 Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”
7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.”
8 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread?[c] 9 Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? 10 Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? 11 How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Those who are “far” you see and the “sad” you see aka Pharisees and Sadducees want a sign or signs. Jesus said, no more signs. The word of God is enough sign that has documented all signs such as Jonah in the belly of a fish for 3 days and the flooding of the earth during Noah’s time. Jesus knew that the people really did not care for the signs but wanted to continue in their unbelief.
It is the same today. Even as Harvey is causing havoc, people after it is all over will go about their normal way of lives pretending nothing happened. We have many disasters to prove it. There was the 9/11 of World Trade Center, the Katrina of New Orleans and the Sandy of New Jersey.
Harvey is not happening because of the sins of the Texans. Contrary to what some may think or say like a professor who lost his job because he believed Texas is being punished for voting for president Trump. People can believe and say stupid stuff but not so for us Jesus disciples and followers.
Christ warned his disciples then and now warning us. “But to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees”.
What is the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees? It is the doctrine of unbelief against every obvious and available evidence of the deity of Jesus. Jesus is God and still God even in the midst of the storms. We must not fall for the devil’s trick of doubting who Jesus is and get sucked into the world’s doctrine of “many other ways”. It sounds good to get along with people especially the politically correct and the tolerant intolerants. They are willing to tolerate you until you state you believe that Jesus is God and that there is no other way to God. He died on the cross for all our sins and no good work can please God except for the work of His death of Jesus on the cross – not even sacrifice to save people in disaster.
It is a day of singing “kum ba ya” and let’s get along and work together especially in times like Harvey. We must get along and be generous in times like these, but we must speak the truth in love. In doing all these good humanitarian work, we must tell people the truth that Jesus is still the only answer and without a trust and faith in Him, there will be perishing that will be eternally greater than Harvey or any other disaster. Hell has no bottom and does not end for those without Jesus. Does that concern you?
Friends, it is a great day to proclaim Jesus especially now that at least people’s eyes are fixed on the horrors of a hurricane. If you died or drowned in Harvey, where would you go – heaven or hell?
May God continue to grant all His mercies and grace and to open spiritual eyes for all to see Jesus Christ and believe. Let’s go and proclaim Christ to all. Let’s engage people, pray for them and ask penetrating questions about eternity. May God help us in doing His will and being His witnesses to all. Amen
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