Are you in the Ark?

Is the Ark in you?

Who is your refuge? Our country may not be the same.

Here are some questions I have been asking the Lord.

What is our position with God as a nation? What can we expect God to do for America?

What is our position with God as individual believers? What can we expect God to do for us?

What should we be doing for God?

Christians can no longer depend upon America for their refuge. It never should have been their refuge! "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust"" (Psalms 91:1,2).

Before you read this message I want to explain how much I love America. My parents were immigrants from Macedonia in the early 1900s. They fled terrorism and war perpetrated by radical Muslims. I grew up with two wonderful people who appreciated America in a very special way. They were thankful for their freedom and U.S. citizenship. It is part of my very being to appreciate our country. However, I feel that God has a message for all of us that love America so much. Perhaps we have trusted too much in American and not enough on God. The past ten or fifteen years have interrupted history with a period of relative peace.

Why did God wipe out Sodom?

""As I live," says the Lord GOD, "neither your sister Sodom nor her daughters have done as you and your daughters have done. " Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. "And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit" (Ezekiel 16:48-50)

God allowed a city named Laish [Lion] to fall.

"So the five men departed and went to Laish. They saw the people who were there, how they dwelt safely, in the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and secure. There were no rulers in the land who might put them to shame for anything. They were far from the Sidonians, and they had no ties with anyone" (Judges 18:7).

"So they said, "Arise, let us go up against them. For we have seen the land, and indeed it is very good. Would you do nothing? Do not hesitate to go, and enter to possess the land. "When you go, you will come to a secure people and a large land. For God has given it into your hands, a place where there is no lack of anything that is on the earth."" (Judges 18:9,10).

"So they took the things Micah had made, and the priest who had belonged to him, and went to Laish, to a people quiet and secure; and they struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire." (Judges 18:27).

If these are examples of God allowing for the destruction of a society, what can you expect God to do for America? Historically America has always helped the poor. Even after WW II, we helped Europe and Japan. We have always given foreign aid. However, as in Sodom, little by little we have drifted away from this in our prosperity. Remember the Lord would not destroy Sodom while there were still, 50, 40, or even 10 righteous people there. Little by little a nation looses its blessing and comes under judgement.

Who or what has been your refuge?

Many Christians and other Americans have compromised and will continue to compromise with the world system, the anti-Christ system, in the end times as prophesied. They have not really made Jesus their provider nor have they made Him their refuge. Their abundance of ease has caused them to think of Christianity as a Sunday sort of thing, or perhaps as a personal prosperity and comfort doctrine. They have no idea about the Kingdom of God in the here and now. They have no idea about making Jesus Lord of all. Their refuge has been America and not the Secret Place of the Most High (Psalm 91).

The night of September 10, 2001, I was meditating on the following Scriptures. I am not proposing that what happened was a literal and final fulfillment of these prophecies, but I believe that it was at least a fraction of it. Perhaps the real Babylon is a spiritual kingdom, which will ultimately fall.

"And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues" (Revelation 18:4).

""standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.' "And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore" (Revelation 18:10,11).

"'For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.' Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance "and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What is like this great city?'" (Revelation 18:17,18).

The days after the tragedy of the World Trade Center bombings I watched so many people with their extremely sad stories on television. I could not help but to weep with them. But I was amazed at the lack of repentance in most of their hearts. That caused to me to ask the Lord some questions. I honestly did not know what I could tell those people if I was the one to comfort them. The sad thing is, if you read Revelation chapters 6-18 where the plagues and sufferings come on the earth, so many people would not turn to God even in their anguish.

"But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk" (Revelation 9:20).

"And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts" (Revelation 9:21).

"And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory" (Revelation 16:9).

"They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds" (Revelation 16:11).

Life may change.

We may have to live our American lives in the future as our Christian brothers and sisters do in China, Africa and other Third World and persecuted countries. How many have practiced for this? How many are ready?

Get into the Ark.

""But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be" (Matthew 24:37). Jesus is our Ark today, but He also put the Ark into your heart if you are a believer. The Ark in your heart will provide for all of your needs, every one of them!

The Holy of Holies and the Ark contain the Manna, the Law, and the Rod of Aaron. The Ark is now in your heart.

We need to see Jesus as the supplier of our character.

The Law of God is in your heart. You are a partaker of the New Covenant as told to Jerimiah in chapter 31. Allow God to change you. You job is to keep a right relationship to Him. Cooperate with the Holy Spirit, take up your cross daily, and repent over every attribute that is unlike the Fruit of the Spirit.

We need to see Jesus as our provider!

Trust in the manna for your provisions.

The primary concern for the compromising Christians and unbelievers will be their material provisions. This is how the anti-Christ system (however that works out) will entrap many. If the capital of this great nation diminishes, if the stock market does not hold up, if jobs become scarce, do you have the spiritual capital stored up that God provides?

Jesus spoke of two opposites to explain spiritual capital.

""Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal" (Matthew 6:19).

""But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33). " Added" is like a dividend being paid on a stock that you own. Dividends come from capital. The manna in your heart, if properly cared for will be your capital. Jesus is our Manna!

Seeking the Kingdom of God is seeking to live on the Word. It is taking care of the poor, and sending or taking the Gospel where God leads you. It is overcoming curses in your life by the blood of the Lamb, the word of your testimony, and not loving your life (soul) to the death.

We need to allow Jesus to reach out through us.

The Rod of Aaron represents the anointed ministry that God has for you personally. It is in your heart if you a born again believer. It will work out if you keep a right relationship to Jesus. In the last days, people will be looking for answers. You should have them.

How did Jesus react when the enemy killed his closest childhood friend?

Jesus retaliated but not with a sword. I believe that American will and should defend herself with "swords." However the real church should retaliate as Jesus did. He fed the poor, healed the sick and performed miracles.

"So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus. When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food." But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." And they said to Him, "We have here only five loaves and two fish." He said, "Bring them here to Me." Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children" (Matthew 14:10-21).

What about overcoming personal afflictions and curses in my life in view of recent events?

Jesus said, "Occupy until I come" (Luke 19:13). The word "occupy" means to do business, or to take a raw material or service and increase its value. I believe that Jesus was referring to overcoming which is indeed taking junk and turning into jewels. The entire Book of Revelation is about overcoming the curse. I believe it is about overcoming the overall curse coming from Adam upon all of mankind in an end time sort of way. However I strongly believe that it is also about you overcoming your curse so that you may install your share of jewels into the New Jerusalem. The Book of Revelation should be taken both ways. We overcome our share of the overall corporate curse upon mankind.

You are safe from even the worse!

Jesus tasted death for you. "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone" (Hebrews 2:9).

"Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads"" (Revelation 7:2,3). Have you been sealed?

Listen. I have desires of seeing America maintain its economic and military superiority. It certainly makes life nice for all of us. That may happen, and if it does that would be wonderful. This warning will not be in vain because Jesus wants you to trust only in Him even if our country goes into unparalleled prosperity. But what if…..?

Tell your friends, believers and non-believers to get into the Ark, and watch the Ark (which is all they need) come into their hearts.

Here is a prayer for repentance.

Perhaps it will be for a friend, an unbeliever, or even you.

"Oh God forgive me in trusting in the strength of anything in place of you, including America. I confess my sin of ___________________________. I want to dwell in the Secret Place of the Most High. You have the full control over my life. I am going to seek first Your Kingdom.

"No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain hope for safety; Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength. Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us, Just as we hope in You" (Psalms 33:16-22).

Prayer for people who have never made Jesus Lord.

Dear God, I confess that I have not trusted in you for my security. Also, I may have only been concerned about my welfare and security here in this life. Now I am more aware Lord, that life is fragile. I am now concerned about the security of eternal life, knowing that at best, this life is short.

Lord Your Word says "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13). I am now seeking You, the real You! Please reveal yourself to me. I want a personal relationship with You. I want to know the truth about You.

Oh God, I believe that Jesus is Your only Son, and that He came to earth as God in human flesh. I believe that He died on the Cross to suffer my penalty for being disconnected from you and for my sin. I believe that Jesus was raised from the dead supernaturally and is still alive. I now ask you to put Your resurrected life in me so that I may have eternal security and live in Heaven with You forever.

Are you in the Ark? Larry Chkoreff Friday, September 14, 2001