Last month we sent you an email about looking for a window of opportunity in the midst of perilous times. Two weeks ago, we sent an email about seeking the Lord because we believe intense persecution is coming against churches and Christian leaders. I also warned that we will no longer see these events taking place only in foreign countries. My exact quote was, “We can see a lot of trouble on the horizon for America, Pennsylvania and Harrisburg. The trouble will no longer be in the news, in some country far away. It will be knocking down your door or a neighbor’s door."
This past weekend, a local pastor, and dear brother and friend of this ministry, was arrested for something that should have been handled by a simple citation in the mail. At worst it should have been a citation hand-delivered by a sheriff.
Instead, to make an example of him; to publicly humiliate him; to make a political and public display of him, this pastor was ARRESTED. This pastor happens to have been very involved in fighting against many racist and controversial political and public policies in Harrisburg. Therefore, to make a point and instill fear in Christians and leaders all over our city, a photographer just so happened to be present so that his arrest could be posted on the front page of the main local newspaper. That, my friends, is called a SETUP! If it wasn't a setup, then why was a photographer there? How did the local newspaper come to know and why did they send a photographer to be at his home at just that moment?
I truly believe that this is just the beginning. After reading the news article, I looked at the comments from the public that were posted beneath the news article and most of them were filled with hatred against pastors, churches and Christians. When I saw this, then I realized that the whole point of the arrest was to stir up the emotions of the community and begin to fan the flames of hatred against God and His people.
Again I say, “It’s time to pray and get ready for the trials and tribulations that are to come.” Very soon, the only way you and I will be able to hear a sermon or any other type of Biblical message will be via internet-based churches. Eventually, this will go away, too. I’ve been sharing these things with you guys for several years now and you are watching it unfold right here in Harrisburg.
I can only continue to encourage you to get your house and home in order. Let’s continue to gather on Sundays for teaching, fellowship and prayer. This simple weekly commitment is going to fortify and prepare us for the new version of America that is being revealed every single day. There really is no such thing as freedom of speech anymore. There really is no such thing as freedom of religion anymore. There is no separation between church and state. The government is now dictating to the church how things are to be done.
This past weekend was a very clear warning to every pastor in Harrisburg, who is seeking to change this city; that they will be arrested for any misdemeanor or mistake that can be found against them; even if it is not a criminal offense. This pastor's error was not a criminal matter at all. Yet, he was arrested like a common criminal. So we have now been forewarned that for pastors and churches, there will be no due process. While drug dealers and slum lords continue to rule our city, a pastor will be the one who goes to jail for failure to meet certain city codes and ordinances.
More and more I see why God has led us to this facility and our current setting where the emphasis is on solid Biblical instruction and learning, instead of all the usual ministry hype and musical entertainment.
Eventually our friend and brother will be vindicated and his name will be cleared, but that’s not what this past weekend was about. This was about "the powers that be" sending a message. This was about drawing the line in the sand. I’m not sure if the church leaders of this city understand that. I believe it’s a signal that it’s time for us to pray and prepare. And that’s what we’re going to do.
I just can’t explain it, but I’m constantly overwhelmed by a strong urgency to pray. One evening, last week, I was just going about our nightly routine to prepare for the next day when I just had to get down on my knees on the side of the bed.
My sleep is filled with prayer and dreams about our nation and world. I don’t mean to come off as some type of prophet of doom and gloom. I honestly don’t know what we’re about to go through. I just know that I have a very strong call to pray.
Absolutely bizarre things are happening in our communities now. Overt racism has risen back to 1960’s - 70’s levels. Gun violence is out of control. Police brutality is horrendous. Meanwhile, hatred is intensifying and growing stronger, everyday, against anyone who claims to be a Christian or a follower of Jesus Christ.
Personally, not necessarily prophetically, I see a day in which we will see terror attacks against churches and various ministries and our government and police forces will do nothing to stop it because they will be in secret approval.
All I know is that God is directing me and Carol to lead you in a very specific strategy of prayer, teaching, and fellowship. Somehow, this simple little strategy will be enough to fortify and prepare our families for the future.
I sincerely believe God is setting the stage for something that will be so profound and powerful that we will all know that HE alone gets the glory. We just need to be willing to be stagehands that He can depend upon to do our part.
We say it all the time at Urban Life: We don’t need to be in the spotlight. God did not call us to be famous. He called us to be faithful. There is never any question about the faithfulness of God towards us. The question is: Will we be faithful to God?
If the day comes, in our lifetime, that we have to decide between faithfulness to God versus imprisonment or death, Carol and I have already decided that we will never turn our back on God.
I urge you to make every effort to spend personal time with God daily. Read from a daily devotional book or a daily Bible verse. Take the time to pray. I mean really pray. I also encourage you to meet with us on Sunday mornings or at least connect with our new Urban Life Daily Postings that are designed to build your faith.
I always hated the times when I was completely unprepared for a serious trial that came into my life. Trials seem to always come when I had not been attending church very much. I had not been reading my Bible very much. And I certainly had not been praying very much.
When the trials came, I would scramble to get back into fellowship with God and the church community; struggling to build my faith in the midst of a crisis. Trial moments are not the best times to try to build your faith. Trials will test whatever level of faith you already have.
At some point, we all have to stop living like that. We have to get prepared BEFORE the crisis moments. The Proverbs state that a wise man sees trouble coming and starts getting ready for it. We can see a lot of trouble on the horizon for America, Pennsylvania and Harrisburg. The trouble will no longer be in the news, in some country far away. It will be knocking down your door or a neighbor’s door. There will be gunfire in your children’s school. There will be disaster in your family tree.
I’m not speaking negative confessions. This is a prophetic warning. It’s the kind of warning that Jeremiah gave Israel, but hardly anyone believed him because others were prophesying about prosperity.
We will no longer be able to get away with the immature patterns of the past; back when we quoted a few scriptures and screamed out a prayer and God bailed us out. I believe the bailout prayers are coming to an end. Now is the time to seek the Lord, while He may be found.
