Spiritual Readiness in Times of Disaster Austin Disaster Relief Network

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1 Spiritual Readiness in Times of Disaster Austin Disaster Relief Network Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. Revelations 19:7 (NKJV) I. Purpose of the Training: To cover 7 critical Christian provisions that will empower born again believers with biblical truths in order to help them overcome adversity and trials while developing a spiritual life to advance His kingdom in times of crisis or disaster. II. ADRN s mandate is to equip the church in three areas of Readiness Training: a. Physical Readiness (personal preparedness, family preparedness, neighborhood preparedness Community Emergency Response Team Training (CERT). Acts 11:28-30 Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. b. Emotional Readiness (i.e. Critical Incident Stress Management /CISM training, Chaplaincy, and spiritual trainings): Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. Eph. 6:13-15 (ESV) Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. NKJV c. Spiritual or Biblical Readiness (every ADRN training): Is about becoming mature believers in Christ through our relationship with Him (Song of Solomon 5:15b). It s about being an overcomer through faith in Jesus Christ (1 John 5:4) and applying the provisions and promises He has made available to us, through His grace, to live a successful Christian life. It is also about understanding how to apply these powerful provisions in times of trial, adversity, disaster, trusting Him in faith and knowing how to get back up to stay on the narrow pathway. It is about knowing how to help someone else in time of need and how to release the goodness of God in every situation. Read Luke 11:21, who is the strong man? His legs are pillars of marble set on bases of fine gold. Song of Solomon 5:15b (NKJV) For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Romans 8:29 (NIV) As He is, so are we in this world 1 John 4:17b (NKJV) having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible (seed), through the word of God which lives and abides forever.. 1 Peter 1:23 (NKJV) 1

2 III. Importance of Biblical Readiness: Why should we be biblically ready? Matthew 25: 1-13 Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight a cry was heard: Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him! 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us! 12 But he answered and said, Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you. 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. Matthew 7:24-27 Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall. In both parables, Jesus calls the one who prepared wise and the one who was unprepared foolish. How do we become wise? How do we buy oil? How do we become spiritually prepared? Friends Dream: When storms come, hold up your light, stay in relationship with the body. Testimony: Story of the prepared disaster survivor and the unprepared disaster survivor III. Biblical Readiness, Provision #1 Establish a relationship with Jesus Christ In times of disaster, great or small who do we call first? 911 or 91:1 Psalms 91:1 says He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. One is reactive and the other one is proactive. One depends upon our local authorities and the other one depends upon God. Both are important but one is most important. Question: How do we dwell in the secret place of the Most High? Where is this secret place? Jesus said Abide in Me and I will abide in you, (John 15:4). We can only find this secret place through an abiding/trusting relationship with Jesus Christ. Our communion and relationship with Jesus Christ is the most important part of our readiness! Developing intimacy with Him now and stepping out in faith now is key in building trust, your faith and love for Him. Fortunately, God has opened all communication with born again 2

3 believers through worship and prayer (God inhabits the praises of his people Psalm 22:3). Daily personal worship and prayer are two ways to keep the Holy Spirit in control of your human spirit. It is through faith filled prayers that reshape our expectations! Important Foundational Spiritual Truths to help us legs like pillars of marble 1. Your are the Christ, the Son of the Living God! Is your foundation built on the Rock? Luke 23:26-43, Matt. 16:13-20, Luke 6: Humility total dependency of God (Recommended book, Humility by Andrew Murray) 3. Belief/Faith in Christ: the leaning of your entire personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom and goodness (Amplified Bible). 4. Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil vs. Tree of Life Biblical Definition of Love: If you love Me, keep [a] My commandments. John 14:15 (NKJV) Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it. Song of Solomon 8:7a (NKJV) What does this relationship/communication with God look like? Have you ever been in love before? Did it sound like this? Song of Solomon 1:2-4 (NKJV) The Shulamite - Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for your love is better than wine. Because of the fragrance of your good ointments, Your name is ointment poured forth; Therefore the virgins love you. The Shulamite Draw me away! We will run after you. The Shulamite The king has brought me into his chambers. Daughters of Jerusalem We will be glad and rejoice in you. We will remember your love more than wine. The Shulamite Rightly do they love you. The Heart of a Christian: 8 Beatitudes, Mathew 5:1-11 (NKJV) What does this relationship/communication with God not look like? Hosea 6:6 & Jeremiah 7:22-24 tells us that God is not after our burnt offerings and sacrifices vs. but He desires a relationship with Him and obedience. How do we keep the fire of our love burning strong? Jesus warns us not to become dull or callous in our hearts: Mark 6:51-52 And He went up into the boat with them, and the wind ceased (sank to rest as if exhausted by its own beating). And they were astonished exceedingly [beyond measure], for they failed to consider or understand [the teaching and meaning of the miracle of] the loaves; [in fact] their hearts had grown callous [had become dull and had lost the power of understanding]. What dulls your heart (give testimony)? Take a moment to ask the Holy Spirit and write down what comes to you. Sin conscience vs. God conscience (what we behold, we become): I am dark (in my heart), but lovely (to God), O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon. Do not look upon me, because I am dark (Song 1:5-6) But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Cor. 3:18 (NKJV) 3

4 To focus only on the darkness of our heart and how sinful we are without seeing how lovely we are to God can destroy our confidence before the Lord and cause us to become a shame driven believer. Shame driven believers are sincere in their repentance but emotionally paralyzed in their relationship with Jesus due to shame. This could exasperate in times of crisis causing greater oppression. To consistently grow spiritually and to be strong in the Lord requires that we know that we are lovely to God while we are in the process of discovering the darkness of our heart (God is not surprised about the sin in your heart, even though you might be). We must enter into the enjoyment or delight God feels for each of us in order to be ready for times of trial or tribulation. The best way to find out how He feels about us is to ask the Holy Spirit. Are you in a place where you do not experience the love that is better than wine? Do you have a sincere heart but a closed spirit before God? A closed spirit says, Jesus, I love You but please forgive me and do not reject me. I will never commit this sin again, Do you continually negotiate your relationship with God while in worship? In order to overcome shame, we must understand His affections, thoughts and desires for us to say I am dark, but lovely. I know I sin but You are ravished over me because of the YES in my heart! This is the confidence we need in our lives and especially in times of crisis. It will empower you to run towards God rather than away from Him when you stumble. NOTE: Our primary identity (value/success) is found in who we are in our intimacy with God, which consists of being loved by God and in being a lover of God. To be strong in the Lord in times of disaster, we must be able to say I am loved (by God) and I am a lover (to God / others), therefore, I am successful. I am the rose of Sharon and the lily of the valleys Song of Solomon 2:1 (NKJV) What does God look like in times of Disaster? We must use John 10:10 as our filter. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 (NIV). For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men s lives but to save them. Luke 9:56 (NKJV) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV) Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? says the Lord GOD, and not that he should turn from his ways and live? Ezekiel 18:23 Philip said to Him, Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us. Jesus said to him, Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, Show us the Father? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. John 14:8-11 (NKJV) He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. Colossians 1:15 (NKJV) 4

5 Question #1: Can the devil have Mercy? Love? or Compassion? The answer is NO! So where does the very first flicker of love, mercy or compassion come from in a time of disaster? When an alarm goes off in your head in the middle of the night, wakes you up, gets you out of bed just in time as your foot steps into a foot of water around your bed and you get out of your home just in time? Or when a survivors home is destroyed and a neighbor several blocks away just so happened to have a fully furnished house that his mom lived in who just died two weeks ago and wants you to use it until you are back on your feet for FREE! Where does this kind of love, compassion and mercy come from? The good news is that the very first ounce of love, the first cup of cold water given to you, an emergency worker bringing you relief is the mercy, love and compassion of God! Question #2: Can the devil spare people in a time of disaster? Can he actually be merciful and handpick who will live and die? The bible says without His mercy, we would all be consumed (Lam. 3:22). Unfortunately, we live in a very broken/fallen world where there are disasters, where there are bad people doing bad things because of the sin in this world. The good news is that He is the first responder, the last responder and He never leaves! Without His mercy, truly we would all be consumed but fortunately, His mercy is FRESH every morning! Essentially, ADRN is an expression of His mercy, His love and compassion just as much as a Fireman banging on the door of a house on fire getting people out of bed just in time before the house is consumed. It is of the Lord s mercies that we are not consumed because His compassions fail not Lam. 3:22 (KJV) They (His mercy) are new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness Lam. 3:23 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD s; But the earth He has given to the children of men. Psalm 115:16 (NKJV) What did man do with the earth? Prior to the fall of man.. there was no tornadoes, tsunami s, hurricanes, terrorist, etc.. There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answered and said to them, Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Luke 13:1-5 (NKJV) What does He say about His children? For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) A renewed mind comes from an encounter with God. These encounters should change the way we think about Him. In times of crisis or disaster, we must remember at all times, Jesus is Lord and King of the Universe. We must come to know that He is Lord over the Elements, over Nature, over Physics, over Sickness and Disease, over Gravity and more! Nothing is impossible through faith in Jesus Christ! Testimonies: Special 18-Wheeler, Hospital Debt, Homeless Veteran Video: That s my King by Dr. S.M. Lockridge NOTE: We must remember that every name of God is a solution to overcoming chaos, trials and tribulation. It is part of our readiness to personally know and experience every attribute of God! 5