Typhoon "Ondoy" and its spiritual significance part 2
Posted by Edison Macusi on Monday, September 28, 2009
Under: Special bulletin
I was wondering if there were signs to be observed and things that we have overlooked why we have not known before hand the magnitude of the flood that will be coming. If we could have known then we could have prepared very well. This in essence is the conclusion of many of those who were surprised of the flooding that took away millions of pesos of infrastructure damages and more than a hundred lives.
Because we thought that PAGASA forecasts are not worth learning, most of us were caught unawares when there was extreme flooding. But science and tools have kept paced together especially in PAGASA and other newly modernized government agencies. In fact, it was PAGASA that named the typhoon “Ondoy” first when it observed that the low pressure area which the JMA (Japan Meteorological Station) has reported to have weakened as low pressure. Because of their vigilance, on a September 24th Bulletin that they released (access here: http://www.webcitation.org/5k1XDps0C), they warned, The Low Pressure Area East of Luzon has developed into a Tropical Depression and was named "ONDOY". This was necessary to prepare the people before hand but since the storm came and was working at the category of signal number 1, most people knew and understood that a signal number 1 meant only torrential rains and little whistle blowing. This was treacherous.
The flood
The same case happened to the people of Noah during the flood, when Noah called and prophesied that a flood is coming, most of the people casually paid attention to this prophet and though he continued to prophesy and warn the people, none looked at him because the weather was fine and the climate does not show any change everyday. In the midst of their revelry, the flood came and took all of them by surprise. King David wrote, “Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to Thee in a time when Thou mayest be found; Surely in a flood of great waters they shall not reach him” (Psalm 32:6). It was remarkable that many were actually reached by the saving hands of the volunteers, the Armed Forces, the Coast Guards and many other organizations who in many ways have contributed into the resolute salvation and deliverance of those who have been trapped inside their homes.
This was just a small glimpse of what could have occurred as a violent judgment that God poured on the people of Noah. Regardless of this, some are asking if this is a judgment from God. I have asked some of my friends about this and their reply too borders on these, that the flood came as a result of calamitous shaking over our country. My friend Rene and Ophie Tabangin actually relates to us how Chris Reynaldo received a dream from the Lord about a flood that is coming. Because he was unsure of this and do not know what to do about it, he simply kept it to himself and related to our friends.
Living Word
If we backtrack a bit, on September 24th, this was the ninth month in our calendar and this was exactly the date that the verses below speaks to us. As I have been seeking for more word and understanding about what happened, the Lord gave me these verses.
“Do consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month; from the day when the temple of the Lord was founded, consider: 'Is the seed still in the barn?
Even including the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree, it has not borne fruit. Yet from this day on I will bless you.'" Then the word of the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month saying, "Speak to Zerubbabel governor of Judah saying, 'I am going to shake the heavens and the earth.
'And I will overthrow the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow the chariots and their riders, and the horses and their riders will go down, everyone by the sword of another.'
'On that day,' declares the Lord of hosts,' I will take you, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, My servant,' declares the Lord,' and I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you,' "declares the Lord of hosts. Haggai 2:18-23
In the Kingdom of the Lord, every bit of knowledge and wisdom He shares to us are pictures that we need to join with what others are seeing or understanding of what has happened. Even so, it is more precious to have these words of knowledge coming from mature believers and being confirmed in the natural for example, “Ondoy was first raised as a Tropical Storm” by September 24th. The verses above speaks clear, that there will be shaking on the 24th day of the ninth month, God will “shake the heavens and the earth.” The Scriptures cannot be broken this is true and I am against any use of it for mere play of words, but the Scriptures also tell us that it is a Living Word that is active and powerful and discerns every intents of the heart. It speaks of current events, of current situations that is why it is called LIVING WORD.
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Hebrews 4:12-13
If we remove this use of the Word, then we make the statement of the Lord Jesus false that, “man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Here the Lord tells that man should not only take their nourishment for their bodies, but that they should also learn to seek a word that proceeds from His mouth. In other words, we cannot simply live on the revelation of the past, but that we learn to get present direction and guidance from the Lord. Thus, this necessitates that we be on the alert and persevere at all times. We do not know how many lives have been saved because of the person at PAG-ASA who observed the low pressure area turning into a Tropical Storm and raised alert for everyone to see. That makes him a watchman, alert and persevering so that everyone could be forewarned and do something to save their lives and their properties.
Resolution amidst confusion
As the above verses in Haggai 2:18-23 declares, God is shaking us for good. That is to awaken us to our proper roots, which is to do things with the help of the Lord. The Philippines was named as such to prophetically bear the name of a great evangelist so that she will one day do as that great man did-proclaim to the nations His greatness and make them His disciples. This is our greatest call. Because our memories are often clogged and soon we forget how far we have moved away from the Lord, we need to be reminded. Regardless of what many say, let us also remember that the Lord would do us more mercy than judgment (James 2:13) which is the reason why this Tropical Storm did not develop into signal number 3. If “Ondoy” rose up to signal number 3, there could have been more massive destruction and the stench of death could have been everywhere. The name Zerubbabel means “son of confusion” which is the main purpose of the devil in actually causing a massive flow of water or flooding in the aftermath of the typhoon.
But as we have seen in the television and read in many journals, because of the decisive leadership of the different government agencies such as the NDCC, the PAG-ASA, Senators and many other volunteers and specially the media and many actors and actresses, the confusion which the devil sought to bring upon our country was averted. It was actually grace that these different leaders of various backgrounds, and representing different ideologies came together and worked out for the common task, save lives and rescue all that they can. For this reason, it is to my opinion that God was more than willing to release His help and grace of quick recovery upon our nation. This too is prophetic of what the Filipino can do when he stops talking and proceed to do his task, his resolve and determination bears much fruit!
The main purpose
The resolve and determination that I saw in many personalities who helped our countrymen, the cooperation that occurred and the unity of the people all suggest to us that we are nearing into such a time as the promised release of a new type of leadership. These leaders whom God will commission could bring our nation not just into true spiritual liberty but also the freedom that we have been seeking from the bondage of poverty that could lead into countless salvation of souls.
Apart from this, it also tells us that prosperity which many among us crave for, so that we can live above the oppression of lack and inadequacy is near to us when we are unified and working together for the common good of the country.
Let us continue to watch and pray that the Lord will release the same resolve into the Church so that she will move and mobilize to become truly the shining light to the nations that God called us to be. Let us also continue to pray, that our nation will begin to move to her calling; there is a prosperity that will come upon us so that the gospel can be brought into the nations around us. The Philippines will yet walk into her best and when she does, she will give purpose even to other nations which are grouping in the darkness such as Laos, Cambodia, Myanmmar and many others. She is yet to perform her greatest miracles and signs and wonders to turn the unbelievers to His marvelous light.
Because we thought that PAGASA forecasts are not worth learning, most of us were caught unawares when there was extreme flooding. But science and tools have kept paced together especially in PAGASA and other newly modernized government agencies. In fact, it was PAGASA that named the typhoon “Ondoy” first when it observed that the low pressure area which the JMA (Japan Meteorological Station) has reported to have weakened as low pressure. Because of their vigilance, on a September 24th Bulletin that they released (access here: http://www.webcitation.org/5k1XDps0C), they warned, The Low Pressure Area East of Luzon has developed into a Tropical Depression and was named "ONDOY". This was necessary to prepare the people before hand but since the storm came and was working at the category of signal number 1, most people knew and understood that a signal number 1 meant only torrential rains and little whistle blowing. This was treacherous.
The flood
The same case happened to the people of Noah during the flood, when Noah called and prophesied that a flood is coming, most of the people casually paid attention to this prophet and though he continued to prophesy and warn the people, none looked at him because the weather was fine and the climate does not show any change everyday. In the midst of their revelry, the flood came and took all of them by surprise. King David wrote, “Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to Thee in a time when Thou mayest be found; Surely in a flood of great waters they shall not reach him” (Psalm 32:6). It was remarkable that many were actually reached by the saving hands of the volunteers, the Armed Forces, the Coast Guards and many other organizations who in many ways have contributed into the resolute salvation and deliverance of those who have been trapped inside their homes.
This was just a small glimpse of what could have occurred as a violent judgment that God poured on the people of Noah. Regardless of this, some are asking if this is a judgment from God. I have asked some of my friends about this and their reply too borders on these, that the flood came as a result of calamitous shaking over our country. My friend Rene and Ophie Tabangin actually relates to us how Chris Reynaldo received a dream from the Lord about a flood that is coming. Because he was unsure of this and do not know what to do about it, he simply kept it to himself and related to our friends.
Living Word
If we backtrack a bit, on September 24th, this was the ninth month in our calendar and this was exactly the date that the verses below speaks to us. As I have been seeking for more word and understanding about what happened, the Lord gave me these verses.
“Do consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month; from the day when the temple of the Lord was founded, consider: 'Is the seed still in the barn?
Even including the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree, it has not borne fruit. Yet from this day on I will bless you.'" Then the word of the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month saying, "Speak to Zerubbabel governor of Judah saying, 'I am going to shake the heavens and the earth.
'And I will overthrow the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow the chariots and their riders, and the horses and their riders will go down, everyone by the sword of another.'
'On that day,' declares the Lord of hosts,' I will take you, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, My servant,' declares the Lord,' and I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you,' "declares the Lord of hosts. Haggai 2:18-23
In the Kingdom of the Lord, every bit of knowledge and wisdom He shares to us are pictures that we need to join with what others are seeing or understanding of what has happened. Even so, it is more precious to have these words of knowledge coming from mature believers and being confirmed in the natural for example, “Ondoy was first raised as a Tropical Storm” by September 24th. The verses above speaks clear, that there will be shaking on the 24th day of the ninth month, God will “shake the heavens and the earth.” The Scriptures cannot be broken this is true and I am against any use of it for mere play of words, but the Scriptures also tell us that it is a Living Word that is active and powerful and discerns every intents of the heart. It speaks of current events, of current situations that is why it is called LIVING WORD.
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Hebrews 4:12-13
If we remove this use of the Word, then we make the statement of the Lord Jesus false that, “man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Here the Lord tells that man should not only take their nourishment for their bodies, but that they should also learn to seek a word that proceeds from His mouth. In other words, we cannot simply live on the revelation of the past, but that we learn to get present direction and guidance from the Lord. Thus, this necessitates that we be on the alert and persevere at all times. We do not know how many lives have been saved because of the person at PAG-ASA who observed the low pressure area turning into a Tropical Storm and raised alert for everyone to see. That makes him a watchman, alert and persevering so that everyone could be forewarned and do something to save their lives and their properties.
Resolution amidst confusion
As the above verses in Haggai 2:18-23 declares, God is shaking us for good. That is to awaken us to our proper roots, which is to do things with the help of the Lord. The Philippines was named as such to prophetically bear the name of a great evangelist so that she will one day do as that great man did-proclaim to the nations His greatness and make them His disciples. This is our greatest call. Because our memories are often clogged and soon we forget how far we have moved away from the Lord, we need to be reminded. Regardless of what many say, let us also remember that the Lord would do us more mercy than judgment (James 2:13) which is the reason why this Tropical Storm did not develop into signal number 3. If “Ondoy” rose up to signal number 3, there could have been more massive destruction and the stench of death could have been everywhere. The name Zerubbabel means “son of confusion” which is the main purpose of the devil in actually causing a massive flow of water or flooding in the aftermath of the typhoon.
But as we have seen in the television and read in many journals, because of the decisive leadership of the different government agencies such as the NDCC, the PAG-ASA, Senators and many other volunteers and specially the media and many actors and actresses, the confusion which the devil sought to bring upon our country was averted. It was actually grace that these different leaders of various backgrounds, and representing different ideologies came together and worked out for the common task, save lives and rescue all that they can. For this reason, it is to my opinion that God was more than willing to release His help and grace of quick recovery upon our nation. This too is prophetic of what the Filipino can do when he stops talking and proceed to do his task, his resolve and determination bears much fruit!
The main purpose
The resolve and determination that I saw in many personalities who helped our countrymen, the cooperation that occurred and the unity of the people all suggest to us that we are nearing into such a time as the promised release of a new type of leadership. These leaders whom God will commission could bring our nation not just into true spiritual liberty but also the freedom that we have been seeking from the bondage of poverty that could lead into countless salvation of souls.
Apart from this, it also tells us that prosperity which many among us crave for, so that we can live above the oppression of lack and inadequacy is near to us when we are unified and working together for the common good of the country.
Let us continue to watch and pray that the Lord will release the same resolve into the Church so that she will move and mobilize to become truly the shining light to the nations that God called us to be. Let us also continue to pray, that our nation will begin to move to her calling; there is a prosperity that will come upon us so that the gospel can be brought into the nations around us. The Philippines will yet walk into her best and when she does, she will give purpose even to other nations which are grouping in the darkness such as Laos, Cambodia, Myanmmar and many others. She is yet to perform her greatest miracles and signs and wonders to turn the unbelievers to His marvelous light.
In : Special bulletin
Tags: typhoon ondoy typhoon ketsana typhoon and disasters
Our heartbeat is to disciple the youth of this generation and be a prophetic voice that declares the power of God to change men's heart, even the most evil to become the foremost saints of the Lord and take the land for His honor and glory and hasten the appearance of His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Our main purpose is to publish articles, books and preachings that will not only stir the hearts of men to seek the Lord but to equip them so that they will become firebrands of revival and healing wherever they move and set their feet upon. The promise is sure, to them who will give their lives for His utmost purposes, He is able to fill them with His Spirit without measure!
