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Signs of His Coming
| Bro John Muyala (Bungoma, Kenya)
I
am writing on the above topic in view of
what happened in the city of Nairobi at
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in
September. Nobody expected that fire could
happen in such a place, which should be safer
than most other places anywhere in the
country. ?Upon the earth, distress of nations
with perplexity? (Luke 21:25). We cannot
help but take notice of these words of Jesus
as he answers the question put to him: ?What
signs will there be when these things shall
come to pass?? after he spoke of the day
coming when not one stone of the temple
would be left standing.
The Lord Jesus spoke of many signs which will
foreshadow his return in the last days, but
perhaps never so obvious than today is the
?perplexity? in which the present world finds
itself.
The world is overwhelmed with problems
which even the greatest minds are unable to
solve. Attempts to correct them often result
in additional problems which, in turn, prompt
even more. One has only to examine the
dilemmas in the world today to realise the
perplexing situations which exist. Here is just
a sample list of the most perplexing of these
problems in no particular order: World over-
population; global poverty, national debt,
homelessness. Environmental issues: illegal
drug use, AIDS/HIV, refugees, alcoholism,
nuclear uncertainty, natural disasters, defor-
estation. Global warming, clean water,
alternative energy; morality, terrorism,
corruption, gangs, prison overload, health
and social issues. Malnutrition, world unrest,
arms trade ? and there are many, many
more.
If this doesn?t describe our present world as
being in ?distress of nations with perplexity?
(Luke 21:25), your comprehension is seriously
flawed in not being able to see the forest for
the trees. These world problems are so
obvious today and will only get worse, with
no human solutions as the next verse (v26)
says: ?Men?s hearts failing them for fear, and
looking after those things which are coming
on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall
be shaken?.
Yet there is a solution which God has
provided in His mercy through His word, as
the words of the Lord Jesus tell us: ?And then
shall they see the son of man coming in a
cloud with power and great glory: And when
these things begin to come to pass, then look
up, and lift up your heads for your redemp-
tion draweth nigh? (v27). We can count on
God?s word to fulfil all that he has spoken:
?Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my
words shall not pass away? (Luke 21:33).
Being Fervent in Prayer
| Bro David & Sis Jacklyne Wanjala (Chwele, Kenya)
T
here is no question of the importance of
fervour in prayer; it is spoken of time and
again in the pages of scripture in such a way
that we are left in no doubt that without it
prayer will not be heard. Fervour is the
centre of sincerity and distinguishes between
real desire for godliness and mere Christian
etiquette. There are, however, many things
which pass for fervour which are roundly
condemned by God and which must be
strictly avoided if we would not join the ranks
of the hypocrites.
Prayer is the heart?s expression of something
that is already known to God in much more
detail than we can ever hope to describe or
know ourselves. Fervour is stirring of the
heart and often stilling the tongue. This was
used in heathen prayer (Matthew 6:7; 1 Kings
18:26) with a mistaken idea that ?much
speaking? would produce an answer. To make
a request without being deeply moved to do
so is not to pray, and to repeat such a request
in that way is vain repetition. A moment?s
reflection will reveal how perilously near to