Typhoon "Ondoy" and its spiritual significance part 1
Posted by Edison Macusi on Sunday, September 27, 2009
Under: Special bulletin
This past two days we saw the great swell of water that flooded Marikina, Rizal, Bulacan and 23 other provinces that could only be described as catastrophic in nature. Typhoons and hurricanes represent one of the most potent forces of nature that could ever bring disaster on earth. With an average of 20 typhoons passing all over the country, there is no doubt that it takes a great faith and patience to truly build something of value and wonder in our country specially in Luzon and parts of Visayas. Mindanao and the lower countries such as Malaysia, Thailand or even Indonesia have rare experience of Typhoons if ever they had. At least for us we understand the severity of typhoons for being the typhoon belt.
Typhoon Ketsana or “Ondoy” will truly go down in history as one of the worst of Typhoons that could have gone over our country. Although Metro Manila and many parts of Luzon have a sewerage systems, the flooding cannot be controlled given the sudden increase of downpour of rains from an average of monthly rain outpouring of 39.2 cm to a 12 hour 42.4 cm level. That was incredible; this is like pouring the water of a broken dam over a town and flooding it in just 3 hours. Who could be prepared for such? Although I have understood that many disasters are coming over Asia because of the earth revolting over sin, the Lord has somehow predetermined some events to happen as His will that cannot be changed.
Even so, I have also known that even if these events do come to pass, because they must be and they are part of the time table of heaven over all the world, we can at least ask the Lord to diminish the impact these disasters can have over our people. Upon seeing how PAG-ASA, NDCC, the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Airforce and other LGUs, ABS-CBN, GMA and other Non-Government organizations have quickly mobilized for help, food distribution, relief and rescue, I find that the impact these havocs could bring could actually be lessened. The discipline, resolve and cooperation of the rescuers such as the civilians and the army could only be described as a remarkable and the determined effort to save what can be saved among the people.
We are thankful for them and forever grateful that we have such dynamic people. In Ephesians 6:18 we are told: “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.” The praying church is the church that also works the most. Think about it for one moment, if those people on the streets and on their roof tops could be touched by the love of the Lord even just for a moment, won’t we do it? Yet this is the impact that our prayer can have when we pray at all times and for all the saints. Prayer can move mountains. Prayer can change the impact of any storm. If only all the time and energy of the different churches would be devoted to this, we know that there is no mountain too high and no problem too big that we cannot surmount.
I thought that one can actually put a mountain into the sea by blasting the rocks and throwing them into the sea load by load using a dump truck. Yet, the Word rebukes us, if you have faith, you can command even a mountain and it will throw itself into the sea. That was not the suggestion of Jesus, that was His promise to everyone who believes in Him. When the storm in Galilee rose up to overthrow and flood their boat, Jesus simply rose up rebuked the wind and sea and spoke where is your faith?
“They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm. And He said to them, “Where is your faith?”
They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?” Luke 8:24-25
Think for one moment how radically our lives would be transformed if we all would focus to pray that the impact of any approaching typhoons or storms would be dissipated over the sea. If the Church would pray like this, it is probable that the impact of those 20 typhoons would be less than the destruction that it can wreck over our country. Although these are forces of nature, death is a powerful tool of the devil and he will try to use everything he can to promote his agenda which is to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). We know that Jesus wants to save lives and this is the reason why we pray that the impact of these forces of nature would be dissipated, lessened or even be stopped through our prayers. The apostle was not appealing that we watch the lives of people be thrown into the sea and then tell them, “see I told you so.” Disasters do not chose anyone and we can do no other except to prepare before hand when we are forewarned. We should even be thankful even of the warnings we are given because these watchmen of the air truly are watching over our lives.
In the Old Testament, watchmen are prophets called by God to actually watch the nation of Israel so that it will not veer from obeying the Lord. God called many prophets even in our nation to watch and pray for their village, towns, churches and even the nation. It is remarkable that the Typhoon did not strike Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Kalinga-Apayao, Abra and Cagayan. These were spared and we thank the saints who must have been praying hard for their provinces over such disasters.
And Paul goes on to say, “with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance.” One reason we need to persevere in prayer is that we are also wrestling over these things and when we do, we must pray until the burden is lifted from our hearts. One of the designations of a prophet in the Old Testament was the “watchman.” It was the watchman’s job to be awake and discerning. It was also the job of the watchman to pray, as we see in such Scriptures as Isaiah 62:6-7 and in Ezekiel 3:17,
On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen; all day and all night
they will never keep silent.
You who remind the LORD, take no rest for yourselves;
And give Him no rest until He establishes and makes Jerusalem a praise
in the earth. Isaiah 62:6-7
“Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me. Ezekiel 3:17
In the military there are camp watchmen such as the MPs these men in uniforms watch over their comrades as they rest and they take turns too to watch over everyone in the camp. The punishment for one who is found sleeping in duty is severe because he can put into jeopardy the lives of everyone especially when there is an attack, disaster or war. This is especially true during the World War II and even in many camps and police headquarters in the country. It was only when the guard on duty was found asleep that the thief came and took all their weapons in their barracks. How many similar situations have happened because of the irresponsibility of the watcher?
We should take this calling to be watchmen for our times with the same seriousness. Some people are called to watch over their church, ministry, city or town or province. Over time, when these are faithful, the Lord promotes them to be even become watchmen over movements and nations. Regardless of whether this is our primary calling in the Lord, or whether we are just called on to do it during rotations, it should be something we take with the utmost seriousness. We will not know until eternity how many of the devil’s attacks worked because those who were called to watch were sleeping. Of course God never sleeps which is why the Psalmist wrote that, Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain (Psalms 127:1b); but He has delegated authority so that He will not intervene unless we ask Him to.
The devil cannot get a shot in while God is not looking, but God will let him hit us if we are being irresponsible. This is one of the ways the Lord matures us so He can trust us with more authority. Because of the degree of destruction that storms hit us yearly, prayer over disasters that these should be lessened and that this become a protocol to churches should be upheld among many ministries. Just as the government too has its own disaster coordinating council, the church should mobilize to do her own because in the coming days, the degree of disaster in our land cannot be borne by the government alone.
I was appalled of the disaster but more encouraged that on the ground and on the air, our people are working together towards a common end, to save and rescue the helpless on their roofs and on the bridges. We cannot expect the other nations to help us in times of crisis, but if they do that is wonderful. But all of us must become the good Samaritan to our neighbors, our suffering people. Thus, as we pray, let us also give what we can to those in need for we do not know next time if we too will be part of those in the schools or in gymnasiums. Let us continue to persevere and work together for the common good of our people. This is praying for all saints, keeping them in love not just places or programs. Therefore, we should always keep our prayers and our ministry, focused on people.
Typhoon Ketsana or “Ondoy” will truly go down in history as one of the worst of Typhoons that could have gone over our country. Although Metro Manila and many parts of Luzon have a sewerage systems, the flooding cannot be controlled given the sudden increase of downpour of rains from an average of monthly rain outpouring of 39.2 cm to a 12 hour 42.4 cm level. That was incredible; this is like pouring the water of a broken dam over a town and flooding it in just 3 hours. Who could be prepared for such? Although I have understood that many disasters are coming over Asia because of the earth revolting over sin, the Lord has somehow predetermined some events to happen as His will that cannot be changed.
Even so, I have also known that even if these events do come to pass, because they must be and they are part of the time table of heaven over all the world, we can at least ask the Lord to diminish the impact these disasters can have over our people. Upon seeing how PAG-ASA, NDCC, the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Airforce and other LGUs, ABS-CBN, GMA and other Non-Government organizations have quickly mobilized for help, food distribution, relief and rescue, I find that the impact these havocs could bring could actually be lessened. The discipline, resolve and cooperation of the rescuers such as the civilians and the army could only be described as a remarkable and the determined effort to save what can be saved among the people.
We are thankful for them and forever grateful that we have such dynamic people. In Ephesians 6:18 we are told: “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.” The praying church is the church that also works the most. Think about it for one moment, if those people on the streets and on their roof tops could be touched by the love of the Lord even just for a moment, won’t we do it? Yet this is the impact that our prayer can have when we pray at all times and for all the saints. Prayer can move mountains. Prayer can change the impact of any storm. If only all the time and energy of the different churches would be devoted to this, we know that there is no mountain too high and no problem too big that we cannot surmount.
I thought that one can actually put a mountain into the sea by blasting the rocks and throwing them into the sea load by load using a dump truck. Yet, the Word rebukes us, if you have faith, you can command even a mountain and it will throw itself into the sea. That was not the suggestion of Jesus, that was His promise to everyone who believes in Him. When the storm in Galilee rose up to overthrow and flood their boat, Jesus simply rose up rebuked the wind and sea and spoke where is your faith?
“They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm. And He said to them, “Where is your faith?”
They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?” Luke 8:24-25
Think for one moment how radically our lives would be transformed if we all would focus to pray that the impact of any approaching typhoons or storms would be dissipated over the sea. If the Church would pray like this, it is probable that the impact of those 20 typhoons would be less than the destruction that it can wreck over our country. Although these are forces of nature, death is a powerful tool of the devil and he will try to use everything he can to promote his agenda which is to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). We know that Jesus wants to save lives and this is the reason why we pray that the impact of these forces of nature would be dissipated, lessened or even be stopped through our prayers. The apostle was not appealing that we watch the lives of people be thrown into the sea and then tell them, “see I told you so.” Disasters do not chose anyone and we can do no other except to prepare before hand when we are forewarned. We should even be thankful even of the warnings we are given because these watchmen of the air truly are watching over our lives.
In the Old Testament, watchmen are prophets called by God to actually watch the nation of Israel so that it will not veer from obeying the Lord. God called many prophets even in our nation to watch and pray for their village, towns, churches and even the nation. It is remarkable that the Typhoon did not strike Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Kalinga-Apayao, Abra and Cagayan. These were spared and we thank the saints who must have been praying hard for their provinces over such disasters.
And Paul goes on to say, “with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance.” One reason we need to persevere in prayer is that we are also wrestling over these things and when we do, we must pray until the burden is lifted from our hearts. One of the designations of a prophet in the Old Testament was the “watchman.” It was the watchman’s job to be awake and discerning. It was also the job of the watchman to pray, as we see in such Scriptures as Isaiah 62:6-7 and in Ezekiel 3:17,
On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen; all day and all night
they will never keep silent.
You who remind the LORD, take no rest for yourselves;
And give Him no rest until He establishes and makes Jerusalem a praise
in the earth. Isaiah 62:6-7
“Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me. Ezekiel 3:17
In the military there are camp watchmen such as the MPs these men in uniforms watch over their comrades as they rest and they take turns too to watch over everyone in the camp. The punishment for one who is found sleeping in duty is severe because he can put into jeopardy the lives of everyone especially when there is an attack, disaster or war. This is especially true during the World War II and even in many camps and police headquarters in the country. It was only when the guard on duty was found asleep that the thief came and took all their weapons in their barracks. How many similar situations have happened because of the irresponsibility of the watcher?
We should take this calling to be watchmen for our times with the same seriousness. Some people are called to watch over their church, ministry, city or town or province. Over time, when these are faithful, the Lord promotes them to be even become watchmen over movements and nations. Regardless of whether this is our primary calling in the Lord, or whether we are just called on to do it during rotations, it should be something we take with the utmost seriousness. We will not know until eternity how many of the devil’s attacks worked because those who were called to watch were sleeping. Of course God never sleeps which is why the Psalmist wrote that, Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain (Psalms 127:1b); but He has delegated authority so that He will not intervene unless we ask Him to.
The devil cannot get a shot in while God is not looking, but God will let him hit us if we are being irresponsible. This is one of the ways the Lord matures us so He can trust us with more authority. Because of the degree of destruction that storms hit us yearly, prayer over disasters that these should be lessened and that this become a protocol to churches should be upheld among many ministries. Just as the government too has its own disaster coordinating council, the church should mobilize to do her own because in the coming days, the degree of disaster in our land cannot be borne by the government alone.
I was appalled of the disaster but more encouraged that on the ground and on the air, our people are working together towards a common end, to save and rescue the helpless on their roofs and on the bridges. We cannot expect the other nations to help us in times of crisis, but if they do that is wonderful. But all of us must become the good Samaritan to our neighbors, our suffering people. Thus, as we pray, let us also give what we can to those in need for we do not know next time if we too will be part of those in the schools or in gymnasiums. Let us continue to persevere and work together for the common good of our people. This is praying for all saints, keeping them in love not just places or programs. Therefore, we should always keep our prayers and our ministry, focused on people.
In : Special bulletin
Tags: typhoon ondoy the praying church and disasters typhoon ketsana watchingmen on the wall
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