Are You Tempting God?

For the past 5-6 years I have been writing about what I am calling "The Coming Storm."
Well the storm is now coming towards us and is upon our horizon.
What is interesting is that both heathen and Christian both see hard times coming.
We know from scripture that times are not going to get better, they are going to get worse.

2 Timothy 3:1  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

God's Word has warned us that cataclysmic events will be taking place. War, famine, pestilence and natural disasters.
Have we had these types of events before? Yes we have, but not at the levels we have seen in recent days.
One does not have to be a believer to understand that hard times are coming. The air is so "thick" with this knowledge that you can cut it with a butter knife.
Over the years I have gotten many, many emails and it is interesting, I see two types of Christian.
First there is the Christian that says You do not have faith - God will protect us - He saved Israel with manna, He will do the same for us - Your just an alarmist, chicken little, sky is falling, you need to rely on God.
The second group of folks are those who see the writing on the wall and are doing something about it. They are making physical preparations knowing that hard times are coming.
For those of you who do not know, you can count me in the second group of people.
It is my hope to share with you from scripture why we need to be preparing and why I believe it is our duty as Christians to do so.

Proverbs 22:3  A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

Proverbs 6:6  Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

Proverbs 30:25  The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;

We see example after example where God's people were warned in advance and then prepared themselves and their families.
We see Noah being warned of the rain and floods. He was told to build an ark. He was obedient and God spared his family. Please note that God did not drop an ark out of sky. It took Noah 120 years to build it. All the while he was warning / preaching to the people.
Noah prepared, the storm came, he and his family were sparred. Now God did not just "whisk" them away, they went through the storm in the ark that God told them to prepare and build.
We also see Joseph who was warned that a terrible famine was coming. He was given seven years to prepare.
Now, did Joseph lack faith? Do we view him today as an alarmist? Chicken little? Doom and gloomer?
No we don't in fact he is held in high regard because he acted on the warnings God gave and made proper preparations. Not only did Joseph save Egypt, he saved Israel and many other of the surrounding countries as well those who might have starved to death.
We see Lot and his family, they were warned of impending destruction. Now they did not have time to prepare, in fact they were told to leave now.
In fact Lot went to some of his family and they did not listen to him about the coming destruction.

Genesis 19:13 - 14  For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it. 14  And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

Like many out there, people are not listening. They see what is happening right before their eyes, but like the ostrich, they put their heads in the sand. Because of this, they and their families will become victims of the coming storm.

Genesis 19:15-17  And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.

16  And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

17  And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

We see here even in Lot a certain reluctance, but he still was a righteous man and acted upon God's warning.
We as Christians are called to be aware and to foresee coming dangers and prepare for them in advance while we still have time.
Even the animals know to store up for the winter and hard times. But it is our free will that allows us to see the coming storm and do nothing about it.
Like with Noah, Joseph and Lot, God gives His warning and he expects His people to act on these warnings.

Matthew 24:7  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

Luke 21:10 -11  Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: 11  And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

Friends, often people think that Christ is describing the tribulation, he is not. These things must come to pass prior. We know this by what is given of the very same account from the book of Mark.

Mark 13:7-8  And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. 8  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

These things are just the beginnings of sorrows. We are warned, it is here in black and white, perilous times are coming and in fact are here. Things are going to get worse not better.
Those of us who are bible believing Christians see the writing on the wall. Like Noah, Joseph, Lot and others in scripture, we need to be obedient and act on these warnings.
Folks, I am not the only one out there saying this. The holy spirit is moving in the church. This very same warning is coming from small town churches, pastors being sensitive to the spirit and preaching this from the pulpit. Solid brethren who blog on the internet, same message of warning. I just attended the Future Congress Conference, I had many people come up to me, people I have never known and who have never read my website say almost the exact same thing that I have been preaching for the past 6 years. They see the coming storm and as God's people, we need to prepare.
Even if these people did not raise up a warning, we still see it on TV, in the newspapers, on the internet. As I have stated before, even the heathen sees the warnings and the air is so thick you can cut it with a butter knife.
God is warning His people and we must act.
Look at what we have facing us…

- Earthquakes in CA
- Floods in the mid-west
- Hurricanes
- Bird flu - pandemics - illness & disease
- Financial collapse / Bank Holiday - Bank Day
- Manmade disasters / terrorist attacks
- Wars, revolutions, riots, crime, social unrest

We are sitting upon the cusp of the perfect storm, one that will effect just about everyone in the world.
How can you not see this and sit and do nothing?
Men of God, how can you sit idly by and allow your families health and welfare to be put in danger. Do you know that if you are doing nothing you are worse than the infidel?

1 Timothy 5:8  But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

Some of our parents, our grandparents and specially our great grand parents always kept food and provisions on hand. In fact it was very common to have at least a year's worth on hand. It wasn't till the dawn of the super market and mega store that we have neglected our duties to being good stewards in this area of providing for our family.
Folks like it or not it is prudent of us to at least have 30 days worth of food and critical commodities / necessities on hand to fulfill the needs of our families. And this is the bare minimum.
It is the enemy who has made being a good steward something that is wrong in today's world.

Scripture says…

Isaiah 5:20  Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Today people who are good stewards are hoarders, survivalists, extremists, domestic terrorists, and the list of negatives goes on.
Are You Tempting God?

Matthew 4:6-7  And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

7  Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

We can see clearly that by putting yourself in a dangerous situation and then expecting God to protect or rescue you is tempting God.
Now if it is God's Will and we have been called to put our lives in this situation, then that is a completely different matter.  The outcome in most cases is dying a martyrs death or paying the highest price for the sake of the gospel.
We have been given warnings, we see the writing on the wall, the Holy Spirit is speaking through many the same message all over the land. That message is for God's people to prepare for hard times ahead while we still have the time and ability to do so.
I strongly believe that by refusing to make preparations when God has given advance warnings is not only tempting God by ignoring God‘s warnings, but being disobedient to Him and denying the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Friend, if this is you, you are living a very dangerous life and putting not only yourself, but your families in harm's way due to the consequences of sin and disobedience to God.
God has given us plenty of advance warning. Just in the scriptures alone from Matthew, Luke and Mark alone that I have shared with you should give us heed for concern.
So with all that is going on in the world, the air so thick we can cut it with a knife, shouldn't we be taking God seriously and prepare for these dangers that lie ahead?
Joseph and Noah prepared and saved their families, are we better than them?
Look at it this way.
We have…

- Home owners insurance just in case our home is in danger or destroyed

- Auto insurance in case are car is damaged in a wreck or destroyed

- Health insurance in case we get sick or have a serious illness

- Renters insurance to protect and replace items that might be lost due to fire, theft or other damage

Why do we then shun, put down, disregard, having any sort of food and provision insurance so that our families health and welfare is provided for in times of disaster or upheaval?
You do believe in God's Word don't you?
You take it as absolute truth don't you?
You believe that we are living in the last days don't you?
Then wars, pestilence, natural disasters and the like are coming and in fact are here now.
You see perilous times right here, right now don't you?
Folks, no matter what you believe regarding the rapture and the timing of the rapture we are where we are. No one man has the all seeing all knowing crystal ball telling us exactly when the rapture will take place.
Don't believe me, look at Harold Camping. This was his third time at dating the rapture and guess what, we are still here. He was wrong.
We are told in God's word to trust in the Lord and not lean on our own understanding.
Listen, I stand on the imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ. But I submit myself to Him and His Word.
We are told in scripture that only God knows the day and the hour

Matthew 24:36  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Mark 13:32  But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

So I strongly believe that those who state that we do not have to worry because God is going to rapture us out are in fact tempting God. They are putting themselves and their families in un-needed danger, in turn they are sinning against God.
Now I know by now I am really upsetting people, getting the "he is a pharasee" "being legalistic", " how dare he judge me" thing going on.

Well I am just the messenger folks. What you need to do is ask yourself are you truly submitting to God's Word or are you just "cherry picking" what you want to hear and believe?
Lean not on our own understanding, lean only on God's Word.

Proverbs 22:3  A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

Right there in black and white.
Are you a prudent / wise obedient person or are you a simple / fool disobedient person?
We know the signs, we see what is happening right before our eyes, it is our duty as Christians being obedient to Him to prepare for hard times.  This is a fact in light of God's  Word.
You know what you and your family need. We must be acting on God's council and make preparations for the Coming Storm now, before the storm hits.
Friend, IT IS the act of faith to take God's Word and then act on these warnings so that you and your family can "Survive The Coming Storm."
It IS NOT the act of faith to be tempting God.
It takes God's power working in us and knowing God Word to act on something that we do not know when will hit.

Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Not Only You and Your Family - But Others
Christ tells us in Luke 19:13 to "Occupy Till He Returns"
1 Peter 3:15 tells us…

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Not only should we be making preparations for the health and welfare of ourselves and our family, but we need to also be making preparations to offer charity and help others if we are called upon to do so.
Now am I saying that we need to turn our garage into a soup kitchen?
No, I am not.
But think that if we are able to assist a family in need and help them get over a rough time, don't you think that we will also have the opportunity to share the gospel?
See not only will we be able to share the gospel, we will be able to share the gospel with credibility because we did heed God's warnings when others did not. We saw the writing on the wall with others ignored it.
Now again, I am not talking soup kitchens or anything like that.
But what I am talking about is when the holy spirit moves you to reach out to a family or individual and be of assistance. This is an example of "always be ready."
Scripture says…

Ephesians 4:28  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Where To Start?
One of the best places to start is to find a place where you can store your supplies. See if you have a place for your pantry, it is a lot easier to start.
Next you need to determine what sort of events and situations could possibly effect you and your family.
For example, if you live in California, then you need to be concerned with earthquakes. So prepare.
If you live in Kansas you need to be concerned with tornados.
Knowing and identifying these situations will help you better determine and prepare what you need to do and what supplies / critical commodities you will need to have on hand.
One of the best places to start is by educating yourself. There is a lot of great information out there. You can utilize your local library, the internet as well as people in your church who have been preparing.
Now you can't prepare for every event, even the US Army has the saying "adapt and overcome."
Also, do not buy into the hype that Hollywood has sold us all these years.
No there will not be some massive "zombie attack."
Nor will the world melt down into a mad max nuclear apocalyptic word. Take a look at Japan today. We do not see mutant biker gangs roaming the roads of Tokyo do we?
What I believe that we need to be preparing for is an economic downfall of the US dollar. In turn this will affect many people and in fact it will impact many countries.
There are people out there that say that this will bring on the reign of the antichrist. Could this be true? I could very well come about that way. But again we do not have an all seeing crystal ball. What this could do is bring about another dictator like we saw in WWII and the death of over 6 million Jews and thousands of Christians.
What we need to do is stop leaning upon our own understanding and lean upon God's Word. God's Word tells us to prepare, so we need to be obedient to Him.

Proverbs 22:3  A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

Finally, it does not matter what we have been concerned with. Our job is to do the best that we can do with what God has given us stewardship over. We have a brain to think with and two hands to work with. He has provided for us the tools we need to do the right thing according to His Word.
What we need to do now is to act and stop making excuses while we still have time.
The one thing that will come out of all of this is that you will have a certain peace of mind knowing that you have done all.. and when that evil day comes… you will be able to stand.

Ephesians 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

By Ray Gano

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Survive The Coming Storm By Ray Gano
Insane spending by past and current administrations has led us into staggering debt. Paying back the loans and interest gathered in the attempt to spend our way out of that debt has become impossible.
The demise of the dollar is looming, poised to die in flaming downward spiral. When it hits bottom, this nation will fall into chaos like she has never seen before, plunging into third -world status. Food, gas, and most everything else will become drastically more expensive, coupled with a rise in crime. The "New Normal" for our nation will be upon us as these changes take place.
Hollywood has painted an apocalyptic world, filled with mutant "Mad Max" biker gangs and zombies as this nation's future.
What is sad is that the masses have bought into this false idea.
In this book the author, Ray Gano, takes examples from history as well as from a Christian biblical standpoint showing what you can do to prepare. Is your family prepared to Survive The Coming Storm.
The cost is $20.00 each with shipping and handling included in the price.
If you live outside the US, the cost is $25.00 each, shipping and handling also included..

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Also, consider purchasing two so that you have one to give away as a gift or if you know someone who would benefit from the book.

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