John 5:17
Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too, am working.

It may not seem that way as we turn on the news, or pull up the news via the internet. The news is screaming to us disaster, war, human suffering as horrific as we have ever seen or heard. My heart aches for the precious people of Japan and New Zealand, as they have suffered greatly. Next month it will be another nation affected by the throes of what seems to be great injustice. But, who is really behind these natural disasters and wars spinning out of control? Let me say emphatically it is not God. I do believe that because of the fallen world that we live in, we are subject to these intense groanings.

Romans 8:20-22
For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

I believe this passage of scripture is referring to the fall of man recorded in Genesis chapter three. God said to Adam, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’, Cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; and you will eat the plants of the field; by the sweat of your face you will eat bread, till you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

2 Peter 2:13
But according to his promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells

So, the earth is subjected to futility, which to clarify means the earth is useless, vain, and ineffective. Now, I know that sounds ridiculous, but in a fallen world apart from God our labor is useless, vain and ineffective. Now, that makes perfect sense. The earth will be liberated in the end and will be made new, but until then it suffers! We, who are in Christ, suffer also because we live on earth. Our spirits are redeemed and we live a joy filled, blessed life. Yet, we groan in travail waiting for the redemption of our bodies. This too will occur at the second coming of Jesus Christ, for which we have great hope and expectation!

So, how do we handle such tragedy such suffering as we have witnessed this past month. We pray! We diligently bring these precious people before the LORD. I know the heart of the Father is grieved for them. You say, then why doesn’t he do something to prevent it? This also goes back to the fall of man, Adam relinquished the rights of mankind and the earth was turned over to satan.

Luke 4:5-7
The devil led him (Jesus) up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world, and he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So, if you worship me, it will all be yours.”

Let there be no question here of the omniscience and omnipotence of our God, Jesus Christ. He knows the beginning to the end of what is taking place in our World. He is more than able to change the course of history, and I know that he has through the intercessions of the saints. We have many examples of this through the lives of the Prophets, Disciples and Apostles. I believe armies can be re-routed through the prayers being offered up to God. So, our grief and distress over the things happening on a daily basis are best funneled through prayers of intercession. It relieves and brings comfort knowing that God is hearing us and Jesus is also interceding on their behalf.

Isaiah 60:1-5
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up you eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the arm. Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come.

The past few months have been truly amazing times spent in the presence of the LORD. He is visiting His church, the body of Christ. I am not just speaking of the church I attend. He is visiting His church globally and doing several things.

• Purifying her through revelation of hidden sin. Bringing what has been in the darkness into the light. He is not exposing publicly, but as we are before Him in prayer, he is bringing conviction of sin.

• Clothing her with a spirit of humility, and compassion. He is increasing our passion to pray for the church and for the lost nations.

• He is filling us with His Glory! God’s glory is manifested to us through the Spirit of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes for the LORD, who is the Spirit.

He is filling us with his glory which is changing us into the likeness of Jesus. We are becoming more filled with love, humility, compassion, gentleness, goodness, faith. The word says in Isaiah that darkness, thick darkness is covering the earth, but the glory is rising upon us! The Nations will stream to us because of this glory. We have the good news! Jesus is still the answer! Jesus in his church is the answer! Prepare yourself church for the great end-time harvest. People are desperate and fearful because of all the shakings going on in the world. Be ready to receive these who will be coming in. Prepare your heart! That is the word I keep hearing the Spirit saying. These are indeed sorrowful times and wonderful times. Sorrow for the world apart from Christ, wonderful for His church doing the kingdom work!

So, the Father and Jesus are at work to this very day and we also should be about our Father’s work!