Katrina II
Preached on September 11th, 2005 at 11:00AM by Bishop Brian Greene - 00:29:20
Listen to the sermon: Katrina II
by Bishop Brian C. Greene
Joel 2:25-28; Acts 2:14-18
Today marks the fourth anniversary of that tragic event that we refer to as “9-11″ when terrorists flew planes into the World Trade Center Towers, bringing down both towers and eventually killing thousands of people. After that event, people in our country felt in a very real way the vulnerability of life and how fragile it can be. Thus in America, church attendance and the pursuit of God increased in droves. Unfortunately life in our country returned back to its usual qualities of ignoring God and self-centered pursuits.
The number “four” in the Scriptures represents the theme of “Universality.” Meaning, a thing that is to affect everyone! So it’s amazing that four years later, almost to the same date, God has allowed our country to be hit with an even larger catastrophe. And in addition to that, He allows it to be given the name “Katrina.” It’s as if He is using the Verizon Wireless commercial, “Can you hear me now?” For the name “Katrina” means “holy!” The word “holy” means “set apart for God’s use!”
Please note! I am not saying that God sent this storm to kill and destroy the lives of tens of thousands of people. And Lord knows, I am not saying that a loving God would wipe out the lives of thousands of people during the vicious attacks on September 11, 2001. I have a friend who lost her brother during 9-11. We as a congregation have given thousands of dollars to help victims of 9-11 and Katrina. However, we cannot avoid the fact that God does use events such as these to get our attention. And He is using this hurricane in the same manner He used the natural disaster of the Locust Plague in Joel Chapter 1; that is to get the attention of the Nation of Israel.
The question is: What is God saying to us as a nation? Repent! (Joel 1:12-14; 1 Sam. 7:3). Now why does God desire that we repent? Is it to make us feel bad? No, of course not! God desires that we repent because He knows that the result of true, genuine repentance is restoration.
God tells the Nation of Israel that if you follow through with true, genuine repentance, “I’ll give you back what you lost!” (Joel 2:25 NLT).
The question is: What have some of us lost that God desires to get back for us? Things such as our:
- purpose
- possessions (material, family, relationships)
-
principles (character, virtue, self respect)
- passion (hope, need a new lease on life)
In practical terms what are we repenting for in America? Katrina exposed te racial and economic divide in our country. However, there is good news!
God is raising a generation of “Change Agents” (13 to 30 years old) on whom He is pouring His Spirit (Joel 2:28). They are our sons and daughters and they will not tolerate this racial divide. It is God’s will that those who have plenty be a blessing to those who have little. And it is God’s will that Pentecostal Tabernacle be one of those churches.
