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Pastor Lo sounds an alarm blowing the shofar

Shall a trumpet be blown in the city and the people not be alarmed and afraid? Shall misfortune or evil occur [as punishment] and the Lord has not caused it? Surely the Lord God will do nothing without revealing His secret to His servants the prophets. Amos 3:6, 7 Amp.

Have you heard the news? Jesus is soon to return! That being the case, let’s be ready to go back with Him when He comes. His Word has already told us He’s coming back. Therefore, if you believe it, you should be preparing to meet Him. However, you have to be ready. When He returns, there won’t be any time to get ready. He’s not going to wait any longer. Matthew 24:44 says, “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” It’s time now to get right with God and stay there.
Our world today is at ease. People are doing any and everything they please, and some do it in the name of Jesus. Corrupt governments are in power and getting away with manipulating and abusing their people. Whole nations are being lied to, deceived, and led astray. Religion is turning things upside down instead of right side up. So much stuff is circulating until people have a hard time believing in anything. People want the truth but just when they think they have a grip on it, scandal rips it from them. We have been conditioned to put our hope, our trust, and our confidence in the wrong things, the wrong people. In short, we have been bamboozled and the enemy has done his job well.
OK, so it’s time to get on track, it’s time to come back; it’s time to sound the alarm. People have to awaken to the Truth. We have to stop sleepwalking, stop daydreaming, stop fantasizing, and stop fictionalizing. It’s time to wake up! We have to be roused from our deep pit of ignorant bliss and truly hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying. If we listen carefully, we can hear Him preparing the trumpets to blow. But isn’t God good? Before He does anything, He will always send a warning. This is love and mercy in action. He’s giving us time to repent, time to recover, time to abandon our wicked ways, and time return to Him. Glory! But soon enough, time will run out. We know He’s coming back for a people without spot, wrinkle, or blemish; we know He’s coming back for His Church. Therefore, the Church ought to be ones on guard, sounding the alarm. We, who say we know His voice, who say we have an intimate relationship with Him, we are the ones who should be as John the Baptist was, preparing the way.
In every era, God has had His people sounding an alarm. You know of them and have read about them, how they stood and proclaimed what “Thus saith the Lord” to a people who did not want to hear what they had to say and would soon as persecute or kill them than to listen to them. You know of Noah, who endured ridicule and scorn when he built an ark at God’s instruction; the ark itself being a symbol of the judgment of God being passed down upon the wickedness of the people (c.f. Genesis 6:11—8:22). And you have read about how Lot, when God pronounced judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah, he tried to warn his sons-in-law of the pending doom upon them (Genesis 19:1—25). Perhaps you read where Isaiah was told to, “Cry aloud, spare not. Lift up your voice like a trumpet and declare to My people their transgression and to the house of Jacob their sins!” (Isaiah 58:1). Surely you have read about Ezekiel’s assignment and appointment of watchman (c.f. Ezekiel 2—3). Many others in the Old Testament have sounded the alarm to warn people of God’s pending judgment. The New Testament disciples, John the Baptist, Paul, and many more, also stood sounding an alarm, even Jesus Himself. And so, the task is passed onto whosoever will accept the call.
Someone has to be that watchman, like Ezekiel, when at the word of the Lord will give warning. God has raised up some to do just that. However He does it, via whatever medium He uses, be it radio, television, paper, or word of mouth, receive it whole-heartedly and run with it. People’s lives are at stake. A good watchman is needed on the watch for a good watchman will alert the people to incoming danger, pending judgment and doom, and will show the way to salvation. I have accepted the call and am doing my part to sound the alarm. There are, however, many more slots available for the position. We are told that the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. The news needs to spread throughout the four corners of the world, “JESUS IS SOON TO RETURN…BE READY!”
As a watchman for this time, we should already be sounding the alarm. God has revealed to us what He’s about to do. If one was to follow what is happening in our world today, it can be compared to what God has said in His Word. God changes not; He hates sin and it will be punished. Judgment is on the way, the sword is coming but this is the grace period. God is extending mercy so that people can repent. We have set up corrupt watchmen and they have not done their job. In His mercy, God appointed some who will obey Him and not man. This is the charge of the watchman:
“Son of man, speak to your countrymen and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not take warning and the sword comes and takes his life, his blood will be on his own head. Since he heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning, his blood will be on his own head. If he had taken warning, he would have saved himself. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.’ “ Ezekiel 33:2—6

So now, to those who have been appointed watchmen of the Kingdom, here is what God says,
“…so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself.” Ezekiel 33: 7—9
For those who have taken up the call, sound the alarm we must. There is too much iniquity abounding. In the days of Noah, the wickedness of man was so great in the earth and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually until that it repented the LORD that He had made man on the earth. So what happened, God sent the flood and wiped them out. That’s one way of cleaning house. The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah was so great and their sin so grievous that God said, “I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.” Apparently it was because in the “bargain” that God made with Abraham, if He could find ten righteous people in the land, He would spare them. But what happened? Sodom and Gomorrah was wiped out. This was another way of cleaning house.
In another instance, God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach against it because its wickedness had come up before Him. Jonah refused to sound the alarm in Nineveh and instead ran from his call. You know the story, Jonah ran, God gave chase, caught up with him by way of a “great fish” that swallowed him, and for three days Jonah had time to think about his predicament. He wisely chose to do what God said to do and because of it, the people of Nineveh heard the charges against them, repented, and were saved. This is the outcome God desires from us now. He wants us to cry aloud and spare not. Someone listening will hear and their heart will be pricked and they will turn from their wicked ways and be saved. I mean, after all, that is why Jesus came. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.
But perhaps the people aren’t repenting because they do not understand the sound of the alarm. So let’s go back and find out what it means to sound the alarm and what happens when you do. There were many reasons to sound the trumpets. God instructed the Israelites to sound the trumpets during various festivals. The trumpets were used for the calling of the assembly and for the journeying of the camps. However, Numbers 10:9 gives us the purpose we are looking for, “And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.” There it is! We sound an alarm because we are going to war against an enemy that is oppressing us. Surely you know we are at war even now. Put aside the war on drugs, never mind the war on terrorism, we are in a war for souls, for the harvest, for the Kingdom. Now the Bible says when we go to war and sound an alarm, then we shall be remembered by God and He will save us from our enemies. Glory to God! Who wouldn’t serve a God like that?
But now, are we sounding a distinct call? Do people understand what we’re talking about? Are we giving clear signals? See because, someone sounding the alarm can’t be in the club one day and trying to preach the next. God’s messengers cannot afford to give off mixed signals; there is too much at stake. We can only play one side, there’s no dipping and dabbing, peeping and tipping. That is not going to work in God’s Kingdom. Scripture tells us, “Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air,” 1 Corinthians 14:7—9, NIV. To ensure the correct call is sent out, speak only what God gives you to speak unto the people. Do not try to add anything of yourself or take away anything to soften the blow; give the Word as God gives it to you. Yes, sometimes that is a hard thing to do but obedience is better than sacrifice. Stand your ground and sound the alarm.
Now let’s examine what happens when we sound the alarm and shout unto the Lord. Yes, we know God remembers us and fights for us but check this out…something supernatural also takes place. OK, remember when Gideon came up against the Midianites and Amelekites? At first he started out with 32,000 men only to have the number of them reduced to a mere 300. But what happened? In short, God had given Gideon a divine plan. Here’s what took place:

Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside. “Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, ‘For the LORD and for Gideon.’” Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands. The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!” While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled. When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. Judges 7:16-22
What a victory…read it for yourself. Now consider this, what actually happened at the battle of Jericho? Joshua too was given a divine strategy for defeating the enemy. In short, check out what happened.
And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him. And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city. Joshua 6:4,5, 16

Notice now when the trumpets were blown and the people shouted, God gave them the victory. Miraculous things took place and God was glorified. So, on the one hand, we sound an alarm to alert people to the pending judgment coming. We want to get their attention and call them to arms. People have to be armed against the enemy coming against them because he’s out for keeps. This is an eternal battle and the stakes are high; souls are on the line. Therefore, when you hear the alarm, you know it’s time for action because judgment isn’t far behind. On the other hand, from our standpoint, when you sound the alarm and shout unto the LORD, you know that God has given you the victory. We are called into the battle but God will fight for us. From the standpoint of the other side, when the alarm is sounded and the shouts are heard, chaos and confusion ensues. The enemy doesn’t know what to make of it and will flee from you. At this point, you have opportunity to give chase, destroy, and conquer.
Either way, sound the alarm we must! This is not a time to run and hide. This is the time to stand and fight. God has ensured success and victory for all those who follow after and obey Him. The sounding of the trumpet has much more significance and is a powerful weapon in our arsenal. Let’s use it to save others and ourselves. This is just the tip of the iceberg!

http://www.watchman.org/profiles/spiritual-abuse/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritual_abuse

NIV Bible Luke 11:37—52 notes

Balanced

This title/topic, could be applied to just about any illness, and yes, depression is an illness. There are some, I know, who would say, “Oh, just get over it. Read your Bible and pray.” Well if it were that easy, depression wouldn’t affect as many people as it does. Depression is not completely and adequately being dealt with at times by people who experience it because it, depression, carries this negative connotation attached to it. A person doesn’t want to be dubbed crazy, mental, or a basket case. But understand, depression is a physical condition that affects, and one can even say attacks, a person’s body. Truth be told, just about anyone and everyone can or has experienced depression at some time in their life. Let me also say, just because a person battles with depression, that doesn’t make him or her any less spiritual than anyone else. It does, however, make that person more vulnerable and depending on where that person is spiritually, it will determine the “fight” that will ensue. Yes, your level of spirituality will make the difference as to whether or not you are overcome or are an overcomer. And just like with any other battle, you need people who will pray with you and for you, and not talk about you. But even if they talk, deal with it and handle your business.
For a moment, let us examine the medical side of depression. Understand, I am not a doctor and am in no way diagnosing or prescribing any condition or treatment. What is being shared comes from research available on the web.
Medically, what is depression? “Depression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for short periods.
True clinical depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for weeks or longer.”1
Depression is a chemical imbalance which interferes with your life. If left unchecked, it can render a person helpless, and that is just what the enemy wants; especially if the person has a special anointing and call on their life.
There are different types of depression. Below is a list of a few of them. Keep in mind, it is not a conclusive list and is not given to diagnose any symptoms one may be experiencing but is given as a guide.
Postpartum—affects new mothers
Major depression—characterized by inability to enjoy life and experience pleasure
Dysthymia—recurrent, mild, chronic “low grade” depression
Seasonal affective disorder—depression in the fall or winter when there are frequent overcast or rainy days, stormy weather, and sunlight is limited.
Situational depression—due to stressful situations and circumstances that arise in life such as death of a loved one, loss of job or income, a new marriage, moving to a new location, etc.
Bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression)—characterized by cycling mood changes
*If any of the above types of depression affect you, please first of all, pray about everything, then consult your pastor and/or doctor for additional guidance.*
For some types of depression, medication may be the answer. There are also natural remedies that can help. Remember, before we experienced the advancement of medicine, many things were healed naturally. The Bible tells us that there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiates 1:9). Everything that is made is made from something that already exists. Explore the options and alternatives to medication, many of which has worse side affects than the actual illness. But whatever you do, get some help. You don’t have to face this alone. Often times, the enemy wants you to stay to yourself and keep all those negative feelings bottled up inside. Well, what happens when you bottle something up but on the inside that stuff keeps growing and multiplying? Eventually it bursts open, explode; that’s what can happen to a person who keeps these emotions stopped up. The end result is not good. Either the person hurts someone else, themselves, or commits suicide. Please know, there is help available!
So, what causes depression anyway? Again, this is not all inclusive and is not to be interpreted as a diagnosis but understand there are several factors to consider. The following list is taken from WebMD2.
Abuse. Past physical, sexual, or emotional abuse can cause depression later in life.
Certain medications. For example, some drugs used to treat high blood pressure, such as beta-blockers or reserpine, can increase your risk of depression.
Conflict. Depression may result from personal conflicts or disputes with family members or friends.
Death or a loss. Sadness or grief from the death or loss of a loved one, though natural, can also increase the risk of depression.
Genetics. A family history of depression may increase the risk. It’s thought that depression is passed genetically from one generation to the next. The exact way this happens, though, is not known.
Major events. Even good events such as starting a new job, graduating, or getting married can lead to depression. So can moving, losing a job or income, getting divorced, or retiring.
Other personal problems. Problems such as social isolation due to other mental illnesses or being cast out of a family or social group can lead to depression.
Serious illnesses. Sometimes depression co-exists with a major illness or is a reaction to the illness.
Substance abuse. Nearly 30% of people with substance abuse problems also have major or clinical depression.
OK, so many factors can contribute to depression. No one is immune to it, I mean after all, we are only human, mere mortals made of dirt with flesh and blood. But, and I cannot stress this enough, if any of these things apply to you, pray about it and get help on your side. Talk to someone about what you are feeling. DO NOT keep it bottled up inside.
Do you know depression hurts? Yes, it does. “Depression is a disorder of the body as much as of the mind. Increasingly, there is evidence that depression involves multiple body systems.”3 Depression can cause headaches, stomach problems, muscle and joint pain, increase risk of heart disease, and so much more. Pain in your body can be a sign of depression. Don’t ignore it, don’t overlook it. Not all pain is imaginary. It could be the sign to alert you to what is going on with you and depression.
See, God designed our bodies to work in perfect harmony. When something is off, when something is wrong, signals are sent out. Many times if we pay attention to our bodies we can avoid major medical conditions later on. God can keep all things in balance. If He can keep the Universe in order, how hard would it be for Him to keep our bodies in order, the very ones He fashioned with His own hands? We are complex beings but God knows the intricate, minutest workings of our make-up. He programmed our genetic code and therefore, He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knew some of us would suffer from this thing called depression. But He also knew we could overcome it.
I hear people saying, “Get over it,” like it’s something you can shed like a piece of outer clothing. Some people look down on you if you say you experience depression. Still others would claim that you are not “spiritual” enough because it affects you. Nothing could be farther from the truth. In fact, there were people in the Bible who experienced depression and we quote them on a regular basis. Let us now examine the pages of the Bible and see who these people were and what we can gleam from them.
We’ll start with the most obvious ones, and know that this too is not an all inclusive list.
Job. This man had some serious issues going on. Not only did he lose his income (oxen, sheep, and camels) but he suffered loss of his servants and children. Then his own health began to deteriorate. By the third chapter, Job was done. He cursed the day he was born and wanted to die. But in the end, he trusted in God and was rewarded with double of all he had.
Elijah. A great prophet, a great man of God. After the miraculous showdown on Mount Carmel resulting in the slaughter of 450 prophets of Baal, because of the word of a woman, Jezebel, Elijah fled for his life. Coming to the wilderness outside Beersheba, he too wanted his life to come to an end. He did not eat of his own accord because we are told that three times an angel came to him and told him to rise and eat (cf. 1 Kings 18, 19). But Elijah trusted in God and in the end was taken up to heaven is a fiery chariot.
Judas Iscariot. The betrayal of Jesus was too great for this man, so much so until he took his own life. This is one of the negative examples we don’t want to follow. Nothing comes of suicide except more grief. Trust in Jesus and give Him all your problems.
Jesus makes the difference in your life. With Him, though depression may come upon you, you do not have to stay in that state, you do not have to bear it alone. Below are two others who, though they were very vocal in the Bible, you will have to really take note to their words and actions to even know they too dealt with depression. These next two, many will probably contest that they dealt with depression but let me present my case, then you be the judge.
Paul. Writer of most of the New Testament, this man endured trials and suffering. Yes, he was on a mission and that, along with the grace and strength of God is probably what kept him strong and sane. Paul is a man who having been there, done that, he wrote the book. He tells us, “in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me,” Philippians 4: 11-13. Paul learned to get to this point where when trouble comes, give it to Jesus. I’m sure depression tried to set in on him but once he recognized what it was, he did not stay in that state. This too, is what we must do when depression tries to attack us.
Jesus. WAIT, hold on! I know many will say here no way Jesus suffered from depression. Uh huh, on most accounts, I agree. I do believe though that what He experienced was an expedited form of depression. My evidence is presented as such…
Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning” (Amplified version—italics mine). Jesus, though God, yet a man, experienced what we experience. To be sure, He was under great stress as He was facing eminent death. Yes, that is what He came for but the human side of Him was going through, so much so to the point where He cried, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt,” (Matthew 26:39). And
Though we did not discuss the many symptoms of depression, we do know that stressful situations are often a contributing factor. One thing that happened to Jesus which let’s us know that He was suffering extreme stress is recorded in Luke 22:44. When He was in the garden praying, Luke tells us, “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” This is an actual condition known as hematidrosis. “Around the sweat glands, there are multiple blood vessels in a net-like form.” Under the pressure of great stress the vessels constrict. Then as the anxiety passes “the blood vessels dilate to the point of rupture. The blood goes into the sweat glands.” As the sweat glands are producing a lot of sweat, it pushes the blood to the surface coming out as droplets of blood mixed with sweat.”4
OK, so did Jesus experience an expedited form of depression or no? You be the judge. Bottom line is, no one living on this planet is immune from depression. Many are not predisposed to it but if it has touched your life, understand that even the best of ‘em have had to deal with it, and you can too! We need to abolish the stigma attached to depression so that people can get the help they need. Do not be a victim; that’s what the enemy wants. Instead, be a victor; that’s what God wants and has designed us to be. In every sense of the Word, you are victorious, you are an overcomer! If you, or someone you know, is experiencing depression, don’t give in to it, turn it over to Jesus.
Pray, seek help, and live a prosperous, productive life through Jesus!

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001941/

http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/causes-depression

http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200308/when-depression-hurts

http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-t018.html