Message from Pastor Leo

November 1, 2007

    This week San Diego and Southern California were devastated by wildfires. More than two thousand families have been left homeless, thousands of others have suffered damages, and lives have been lost. It's in times like this that people ask, "Why would a God of love allow such a calamity?"

    The first thing we learn from the Bible is that calamity can come from evil and it can come from The Lord. You know the devil loves to send calamity but, in fact, not all calamity is sent by the devil. "Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?" Amos 3:6

    "Why would a God of love allow or do such a thing?"

    Are you prepared to answer that for your neighbors and friends? Because the answer is really simple: Because He is a God of love, He's allowed the disaster to come. You see, God wants the best for you. And sometimes it's important that we lose all of our earthly possessions so that we can see the importance of family, friends, love, and eternity.

    Why does it take losing everything for us to see how much we really had? I believe it's part of our fallen nature. We can see from the history of mankind as chronicled in the Bible, mankind has moments where he's heavenly and moments when he seems to be the son of the devil.

    I love to read the daily devotional book called "The Daily Light." Look what scriptures were included for Monday night, October 22nd, the night fires began to rage full force: "The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all." Psalm 103:19 The number one most important thing to remember when calamity happens - God is still in control. The devil wants you to panic, but you have to remember, "The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all."

    "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord." Proverbs 16:33 "If there is calamity in a city, will not the Lord have done it?" Amos 3:6 In other words - God doesn't run His world by chance. He is in control so you never have to panic.

    "I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me, that they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is none besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things." Isaiah 45:5-7

    Why?

    "He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants o the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, "What have You done?" Daniel 4:35 So then, what do I do? How do I deal with this calamity?

    Romans 8:31 is a verse you should all have memorized. It says, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" "If God is for us, who can be against us?"

    So when calamity comes, you can't panic. That's exactly what the enemy wants you to do. Instead you've got to remember that God is in control.

    If the doctor says you have cancer, don't panic. God knows about it, and He is in control. If you get laid off after twenty five years of employment, don't panic. God knows about it, and He is in control. If your house burns down and you lose everything, don't panic. God knows about it, and He is in control. God knows about everything. He is for us. He's on our side. And He is in control.

    Satan would like to get us to panic but we understand that all things are simple tools in the Lord's hands. We don't have to panic because our God reigns. That's what the Bible tells us over and over again. If God be for us, who can be against us? And, the Bible says, "He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet." 1 Cor 15:25

    And then Jesus says to you, "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:32

    I want you to be empowered. I want you to be empowered and motivated. Moses urged the people to think about God's word and teach it to their children. Your Bible can sit on the shelf and gather dust or you can make it a vital part of your life by reading it every day. Your heart needs to be fixed on God and find strength in His Word.

    God knows when calamity is going to come, and He's trying to prepare you - to get you ready so you won't panic - so you'll be strong. It's times like this when people see your faith. It's in moments of calamity that the only people who can truly rejoice and sing praise songs are those whose hearts are fixed on God. Everyone else panics. Everyone else gets defeated. Everyone else thinks the worst.

    It's important that we don't panic; that we be rocks. It's important that we be people others can look to and see God strengthening us. It doesn't mean you can't have emotion and you can't mourn in calamity. But you don't mourn as someone with no hope.

    Yes, there has been terrible loss and there will be again. But, one day, all of the losses of the world will be behind us. And until that day on Christ the solid rock I stand … and on His Word.

    Read your Bible. Read it every day.

May The Lord Jesus Christ Be Magnified!

Pastor Leo A. Giovinetti