Crisis and Re-Creation

I would have to agree with much of what was said in Robert Holme's recent prophetic message. ( http://www.stormharvest.com.au/ )
For at least 20 years, as I've traveled in several developing nations, I've felt that a massive, global redistribution of wealth was inevitable and it would bring a huge change in lifestyle to Americans. Just as Israel lost sight of her destiny to be "light to the Gentiles" and a blessing to many nations, the United States has lost sight of who God called us to be in terms of blessing and influence in the world. Certainly we have made mistakes, but in general, we once used our position of favor and abundance to protect the weak and bring freedom to the oppressed (think of WWII and also our opposition to such demonic leaders as Mao and Stalin who murdered tens of millions of their own citizens). But we became worshippers of false gods, just as Israel did, and lost our moral right to stand for what is good and true. The eastern world of Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims mock us and despise us for our moral depravity and our uncontrolled spending on our own lusts and materialism. Mr. Holmes' facts on our national debt point to our slavery to the flesh and the bondage we have put ourselves in. (10.6 TRILLION and rising!) Some may say it is war spending that has put us into this debt, but that's not true. It pales in comparison to the money we spend on entertainment and "stuff".. I've watched at the ports of Hong Kong and Shanghai while massive ship after ship is loaded DAILY with MILLIONS of containers of consumer goods - all headed for the USA. It's just "stuff"! And now we owe the world. Literally! But we also owe an answer for how we have stewarded the wealth we have been blessed with. (We could feed the world with one weekend's movie box office receipts.)

Things WILL change whether we like it or not! My sister owns a factory in China where wages have tripled in the past two years. Masses of people have internet access, cell phones and T.V. The world has shrunk and there are no secrets. They know the score now!! They are simply NOT going to work for $5 a day, live in a miserable hovel and wonder how they are going to keep their children alive when they KNOW they are slaving all day to make sneakers for someone who spends $5 a day at Starbucks! And that's China, where the masses have benefitted from a huge improvement in their standard of living. The women who sew in Indonesia (where a LOT of our clothing comes from) and pick tea in India (so we can sip our gourmet chai) work long, back-breaking hours for $1 a day. We should not be surprised that most of the world hates us and thinks it's high time things change.

Having said that, I am VERY aware that Americans can be incredibly generous and have given more to improve the health and development of impoverished nations than any other nation. Sadly, this generosity often never reaches the common people who need it because of the corruption and evil that exists in their own countries. Millions of tons of food donated to famine areas never get past the docks because corrupt officials and their thugs with machine guns would rather see the food rot than distributed if they cannot line their own pockets. In Mozambique, my brother Rolland once watched a World Hunger Relief ship loaded with millions of tons of donated food turn around and sail away from the Maputo harbor during the devastating flood & famine there because this charity organization could not pay the US$100,000 bribe being demanded at the dock. This has happened a hundred times over. I'm convinced that world hunger is totally unnecessary. God has created a bountiful earth that produces more than enough food to feed the world, but it is the evil in men's heart that keeps things so out of balance. The amount of food we destroy in the U.S. each year to keep up prices would feed all the hungry in the world!

But back to us Americans - our giving, as a PERCENTAGE of our spending, is still quite small in comparison to the generosity of the poor that I have witnessed in every developing nation I have been in. The poor will share their last meal with you. We give out of our excess and know little of sacrificial giving. In 2 Cor. 8, Paul commends the Macedonians because they were so completely given over to God and had so excelled in the "grace of giving." The fact the Paul refers to their giving as a "grace" three times tells us that their ability to respond this way was because God supernaturally enabled them. His grace changed their heart! Think about this verse. "Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity." I believe, in the coming days of great financial shift, this is where God is calling his people. We will need to give ourselves to God as the Macedonians did, and rely upon his grace. And as we walk controlled by the spirit and not our flesh and our fear, we can know that our God is faithful; we WILL receive the grace we need. And according to his SUPERNATURAL power, we will experience this incredible and very odd pairing of opposites - severe trial/overflowing joy - extreme poverty/rich generosity. It will make no sense to the natural mind! Why are God's people joyful and generous when the circumstances say we should be consumed with our trials and poverty? We will have an opportunity to shine and be a great witness once again - IF we will repent, turn from our gods of self-indulgence (HUGE demonic principality in this country!) and be a Bride that seeks to demonstrate the heart of a lavishly generous and loving God.

The carnal mind will want to close the hand, hoard, and cut back giving out of fear and an instinctive desire to be self-preserving. Followers of Jesus will "give themselves to God" and walk by grace. Followers of Jesus will reflect the richness of our Father's grace and His giving nature. And hey, we may even be DELIVERED from our dependence on entertainment and stuff for our happiness!! Wouldn't that be a miracle! And instead, we might learn to walk in the JOY that comes from His presence and being one with Him, His heart, and His purposes. The Bride still has an incredible destiny to fulfill and the Bride continues to pray, "your Kingdom come!" -- as in "righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."

Much love,
Linda

"Seriously and frequently meditate on the account that men are to give of using their wealth. We are not lords of our riches, but stewards; and a steward must give an account of his stewardship." William Gouge, "Of Well-using Abundance" (sermon, 1655)