Japan Earthquake + Tsunami

[MelodyC]

Jesus taught his disciples to pray for God's will to be done on the earth, as in heaven.(Matt 6:9, 10) This "will" involves making known "the good news of the kingdom", which educates individuals that earthquakes are part of the features of Jesus invisible "presence". Prayer in this regard is appropriate, that these ones come to know and understand that God is not the cause of earthquakes, but that "great earthquakes" (Luke 21:10,11) are evidence of Jesus enthronement into kingdom power (Rev 6:2-4) and a critical time period that we are personally living in Jesus (invisible) "presence", or the "last days".(2 Pet 3: 3, 4)

Have the churches given even an inkling of the real meaning of all the events that are happening, such as the 9.0 earthquake in northeastern Japan ? I can say for a certainty no. Jesus used a specific Greek word sy·ni´e·mi (lemma, G4920) that literally means "to mentally put the pieces together" regarding the kingdom six times at Matthew 13.(Matt 13:13, 14, 15, 19, 23, 51) The churches have failed to ' piece together ' the features that Jesus gave at Matthew 24 about his invisible "presence" and the kingdom that involves earthquakes.(Matt 24:4-14)

Though some feel that we are living in the "last days", these have not been taught by the churches nor studied of their own accord in order to explain it. These cannot tie all the different features that Jesus gave into a single heading of Jesus "promised presence" that the apostle Peter spoke of.at 2 Peter 3:3, 4, saying: "For you know this first, that in the last days there will come ridiculers with their ridicule, proceeding according to their own desires and saying: “Where is this promised presence of his ? Why, from the day our forefathers fell asleep [in death], all things are continuing exactly as from creation’s beginning.”

Jesus said that the features that he outlined at Matthew 24 (also Mark 13 and Luke 21), would lead up to "the end" of this wicked "system of things."(Matt 24:14) Are you personally engaged in telling individuals about Jesus invisible "presence", that he has been enthroned in kingdom power ?(Rev 6:2) Have you "put the pieces together" to understand why things are happening ?

It is right to pray for the well-being of the Japanese, but especially to gain "accurate knowledge", for the apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians: "And this is what I continue praying, that your love may abound yet more and more with accurate knowledge and full discernment; that you may make sure of the more important things, so that you may be flawless and not be stumbling others up to the day of Christ, and may be filled with righteous fruit, which is through Jesus Christ, to God’s glory and praise."(Phil 1:9-11)

Paul prayed for the Philippians who were doing God's will, that their "love may abound yet more and more with accurate knowledge and full discernment." Paul had went to Macedonia for the purpose of making known the "good news of the kingdom" and as a result, some of the city of Philippi had accepted the "truth", such as Lydia.(Acts 16:14, 15)

The country of Japan is in dire straits after the earthquake and devastating tsunami. What would Jesus do if he were on the earth again ? He showed genuine love, but was not known as a "miracle worker", rather as "teacher".(Matt 8:19, 9:11) At Luke 13, there were two incidents where loss of life occurred, one in which Pontius Pilate killed some Jews because thousands of Jews protested his use of money from the temple treasury to build an aqueduct to bring water into Jerusalem.(Luke 13:1) Or of another local tragedy, that may have been associated with the aqueduct construction, whereby 18 people died when the tower of Siloam fell on them.

How did Jesus respond to these two tragedies ? He said: "Do you imagine that these Gal·i·le´ans were proved worse sinners than all other Gal·i·le´ans because they have suffered these things? No, indeed, I tell you; but, unless you repent, you will all likewise be destroyed. Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Si·lo´am fell, thereby killing them, do you imagine that they were proved greater debtors than all other men inhabiting Jerusalem? No, indeed, I tell you; but, unless you repent, you will all be destroyed in the same way.”(Luke 13:2-5)

Jesus taught people the "truth" about God's kingdom, saying that even some of the individuals were considered "greater debtors" upon which the tower of Siloam fell or perhaps good in God's eyes, were still not pleasing to God, but needed "to repent." It is proper to pray that the Japanese (and I might add that my wife is Japanese) gain "accurate knowledge and full discernment", for the apostle Paul wrote that God's "will is that all sorts of men should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth."(1 Tim 2:4) This is all that will be said by me on this.

You have a lot of knowledge but not shown me or others here a little respect.

I had asked you not to come back here and argue or debate because this is a prayer request thread, but you ignored that.

Being a Christian is more than just having head knowledge but being a person who knows how to treat others. I haven't seen you demonstrate that to us here in this prayer thread.

Showing Respect or Love towards your brothers and sisters in Christ is not an optional extra.

I had asked you to start your own thread elsewhere that would have been respectful.

I have asked if you would at least join in praying in your own way that you felt comfortable in doing. Using words and phrases that suited what you believed and prayed for the Japenese people. You did not do this.

I am hurt by your lack of compassion or your ability to do a least TWO thing that would have been helpful in this forum community.

Instead you choose to once again debate that you are correct. I am not in agreement with all you have said by the way. Some of it has merit and some is just harsh criticism.

MT 9:10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and `sinners'?"

MT 9:12 On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: `I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

MT 12:3 He answered, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread--which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. 5 Or haven't you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent? 6 I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. 7 If you had known what these words mean, `I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."

MT 12:9 Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, 10 and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"

MT 12:11 He said to them, "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."

MT 12:13 Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.

Jesus was perfect but did not always follow the letter of the Law because the Law did not bring people to salvation. The Grace of God through Jesus death brought us salvation. The law is only able to show us what is Sin. The Blood of Christ is given to us even though we did not deserve it. For all who would repent and receive can become Children of God. We do not earn it or have to be good enough for it.

You understand the law but do you understand about mercy and compassion and doing good to others?

It is Sinners who are in need of Salvation.