Transcript - The Watchman’s Cry 166 - Watch & Pray
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Navigating the Chaos -
Finding Strength in these Dark Times - Part 1

Transcript Release - July 1, 2014 - from Audio Program Released - June 20, 2014. (Note some portions of this transcript have been edited and revised for clarity.)

By Nathan Leal

The audio for this program can be found here: Listen Page

Transcript Begins -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello my friends, this is Nathan Leal coming to you from the wilderness of Babylon; and from this location, I must report that the land of America has become the land of want and bitter herbs.

The land of plenty has been reduced to foreclosed parcels of desolation and betrayal. America is feeling the sting of thorns and thistles.

…And her place setting is now broken pottery.
 
It’s happening, folks! Turmoil is the new economy. Chaos is a part of everyday news.

Today I’m going to address these matters head on. Not as a report, but as an assignment to encounter the trials, struggles, and disappointments that many people are now facing.

I need to talk about this because it is not easy out there in the land of want. I myself have faced recent difficulties. But in the storm, I have also been seeking God for resolve and thankfully, in the midst of the struggle; I have been able to find victory.

In previous programs, I have spoken about the invasion of darkness that is enveloping the United States of America as well as many parts of the world. This darkness is like a blinding fog that has made it difficult for many of God’s people to navigate and endure.

As it has arrived over the land, it has affected the lives of people in ways that include attacks of confusion, oppression and sadness.

I have felt it folks!

I am not just a spectator in this. I have also battled it! And in these battles I can see that we are now in a new era. We have entered a new phase, a new chapter, a new cycle in the end time narrative that is presently taking over this country and this world.

So, in this program, I’m going to talk about it. I’m going to address it to help those of you that may be also struggling with it. I know that it is a struggle out there, folks. I know it’s not easy.

Facing the Challenge

Perhaps some of you have not labeled your turmoil in the way that I just labeled it - as darkness or oppression that is coming over the land, but that is what it is, folks.

For many of you who are facing this thing, I want to address the matter and place it on the table. I want to shine a light on it. So I’m going to create programs to bring encouragement, suggestions and tools that we can use to combat this thing in your life. Because, again ladies and gentlemen, we’re there!

…and it’s not going to get any easier.

The person who wants to endure against these type of challenges needs to be able to equip themselves with the right spiritual tools so that they will not succumb to the enemy in the present world climate.

As you know, the news events are growing dark and things are becoming chaotic. The news is frenzied. The world has become frenzied. It is unraveling and lately we are being bombarded with some pretty bizarre news reports!

The World Has Gone Crazy!

At times, I myself have felt a bit overwhelmed as I look at the present developments:

The Ukraine is falling apart. We’ve been watching this thing for the last few months...since February.

The battle has started. Blood is flowing. People are dying...

...and the men of Ukraine...are weeping!

It’s going to continue to unravel until we have full blown war taking place in Ukraine. Then, it’s going to spread to other places.

ISIS - Also, we’re watching the events in Iraq. It’s amazing how fast that thing took off.

I’m noticing that the terrorists that are involved in the present Iraqi demolition are very demonic and bloodthirsty. The atrocities that they are committing are beyond the pale.

They are horrible. It doesn’t stop there because the radical terrorists are dismantling people in Afghanistan as well as in other parts of the world. By the way, these new terrorists have an interesting name don’t they – ISIS!

…ISIS…really! This shows the blatancy of the Illuminati New World Order schemers!

Naming their butchering thugs after the Baal’s wife! It doesn’t get any more obvious than this!

(Note - Baal's wife was known as Semiramus in Babylon and as the false religion spread, her name changed in various regions, i.e - Ashtoreth, Asherah, Isis, Diana, etc.)

We have not seen the last of these terrorists. This is only the beginning folks!

In Kenya, the terrorist group that was responsible for the Westgate Mall massacre, Al-Shabaab, is at it again. They’re butchering innocent civilians in Kenya... including Christians!

The US Invasion

Then we see America is getting invaded from the south.

Illegal aliens are pouring in. But it is not just innocent children who are arriving; the worst of the worst are also entering America unopposed!

The Southern Border has become a gate that has opened wide! The invasion has increased its tempo. Gang members from MS-13 and the cartels from Mexico and Central America are sending gangsters, murderers, and criminals into the United States!

And this is just the beginning!

The thugs are sneaking across as you read this! Attention borders states! Get ready to see these types at your local neighborhood mall!

Arizona, New Mexico and Texas...Prepare! And folks, I'm not kidding! Those of you who live in those states need to be seeking God about the future because this thing is just getting started! The banditos are on their way to loot and wreak havoc in your cities & towns!

They are some of the most brutal gangs on the planet. One of their weapons of choice... the machete! Are you ready?

What Do We Do?

So, ladies and gentlemen, as I look at all of this news, I find it chaotic. It’s madness! I know that if I’m observing the chaos and if I’m feeling somewhat overwhelmed, I can imagine that some of you are also going through the same thing. This is why I need to talk about this matter.

I know that for many of you who are watching this happen, and for those who are trying to navigate these things and stay informed. Some of you may be thinking that it is too much.

So my friends as a Watchman of God, I do not want to ignore this. I need to address it because I do not want to see any of you out there quitting, although the temptation may be there.

For some of you, maybe it’s easier to just turn it off and try to forget. This is a strategy that some of you could attempt, but in the meantime, things around us are still going to deteriorate. The dreaded events will continue to transpire and from this point on, I have to say it, it’s not going to get better folks!

Now please know that I am not reporting this just to bring you down or scare you. I’m just addressing reality. I can sense this thing that has arrived in the atmosphere! I can feel it and discern that it is not our friend. Again, I know that there are many of you that are also struggling with this.

And to make matter worse, some of you, while you’re trying to navigate the chaos, are also finding yourself challenged with hardship. Some of you are experiencing reduced finances. You’ve been a victim of the slowdown, of the economic downtown, of the recession/depression.
 
For some of you, it’s arriving on several fronts...in several categories.

...Some of you are going through difficulties in relationships.
...Some of you are experiencing health challenges.
...Some of you are not where you want to be with God. Some of you are struggling with spiritual matters.

Ladies and gentlemen, I know that it’s not easy. Some of you are facing decisions and choices right now that involve very difficult maneuvers; should you stay where you are or move? Should you stay at your job, quit your job, move finances from here to there? And to top it off, while you’re dealing with all of these personal matters, there is the news that I just mentioned.

So, what is a person supposed to do and how does a person cope with this? Some of you have asked that question, you’ve asked those questions to others or to God. Perhaps you’ve been praying, “God, how am I supposed to do this? How do I cope? How do I sustain myself? How do I endure?”

There may also be others who may be struggling and not doing so well with their spiritual walk.

...Is it you?

Perhaps you are struggling or fearful or perhaps you’re even out of fellowship with God!  You’re not where you want to be.

For some of you, there may even be a temptation to quit!

...Quit trying so hard! Perhaps even give up on your faith! Why? Because you’re being bombarded with thoughts that are too challenging, or oppressive. In your mind, you can hear the flesh telling you that it’s too hard. Why even try?
 
Some of you may be asking - Why does it have to be so hard?

I’m mentioning a lot of different emotional things that could be going on in your lives, but this is where we are.
 
So, how does a person who knows what time it is walk through these things? How are we supposed to conduct ourselves and navigate and think? What do we do?

Where do we get the strength? …The information? …The encouragement? …The comfort?

How are you supposed to find peace in the midst of chaos, my friend?

Good News

That’s what I want to talk about. Because there are many tools that God has provided for us. He has provided these tools so that you will not give up.

He has provided spiritual tools so that you will not be overwhelmed with panic and desperation. Thus, this is our challenge - that we are not overwhelmed with these things.
 
Also, while we’re trying to get a hold of the right tools, we’re also going to have to undo the carnage that is upon our spirit, mind, and emotions.

The enemy wants to bring carnage to you, my friend. The enemy wants to see you mired in despair. He wants you to think that you’re only one flat tire from losing it, from exploding, from throwing your hands up into the air, into delirium.

I know it is not easy out there. There are a lot of people that are overwhelmed with frenzy and fear. And folks, I want to tell you - Jesus knows what you’re going through. He sees you. He sees your struggle. He sees your pain and He loves you and He cares about you.

…And He wants to see you make it.

There may be some of you that would say, “Well, Nathan, if God loves me, then why am I going through this?...These struggles, this trial in my life?”

I’m there with you. I understand that you can have those questions. It is normal to have those questions. It is normal to become discouraged.

Many of God’s holy men and women of Scripture experienced discouragement.  As humans, we will get discouraged. But as Christians, we can also have the victory to make it!

So, the great challenge of life is to be able to still walk through this season in the correct manner and this happens by getting a hold of the proper spiritual tools.

The Tools

There are tools for us, folks!  They are powerful spiritual tools that can help you to survive, endure, and become strengthened during your struggle.

They are tools that can enable you to walk in the correct manner by faith in His strength.
 
But how? That’s the big question. How do we do it? Where do we find it?

And that’s our homework, isn’t it? Learning “the how’s” is what being a Christian is about. Learning “how to do it” is what being a disciple of Jesus is about.

Friends, this world is in a mess right now. As we advance into the future, I want you to know that your struggle can be dealt with and you can find help with encouragement. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, please know that you can find strength.

Some of you may be thinking that this is not possible.

Some of you are really experiencing this darkness in a manner that has exhausted you.

But in a way, this is where we need to get. We need to get tired of the darkness. We need to get tired of our situation.

We need get tired of being backed into a corner or backed into a wall.

So ladies and gentlemen, please know that God desires to be with you in your struggle and through your struggle. He wants to be with you through your challenge. He wants to be with you and help you walk through your obstacle, and through the pain. God wants you to know that you are not alone.

“Well, Nathan, sometimes it feels like I’m alone!”

I know, but what we need to do is slow down, meditate on all of these things and deal with them. Ignoring them will not change the outcome.

There’s an old saying - the definition of insanity is to continue doing the same thing and expect different results. Even in spiritual matters, this holds true because if some of you have been experiencing the chaos and it hasn’t gone away. This may reveal that there are some lifestyle things going on that need to be changed.

If you are participating in things that you know you’re not supposed to be doing, then my friends, things are not going to change for the better automatically. We need to do our part to make things change.

In this program and in future programs, I’m going to talk about how we can do that. I’m going to offer you some tools. I’m going to offer you some encouragement and some suggestions.

I’m going to bring some information from the Word of God. This is going to be a meal that I pray will bless all of you as you listen to it. Ladies and gentlemen, the Holy Spirit of God can touch you.

How? Because the Holy Spirit is the Comforter. He is real!

Christianity is not just some club that a person joins. It is not just information that occurs in the intellectual part of our being.

Christianity is restored life!

Christianity is life, not only in the life to come, but now...in this life!

We can reap the benefits now! This means you my friend!  You can encounter these things. You can encounter restored mental health, restored clarity, restored spiritual health, and restored hope!

Ladies and gentlemen, Jesus cares about you and He loves you.

As I share, we’re not just going to talk about the Bible or verses! Ladies and gentlemen, we are going to make progress with our relationship with Him.

Progress! We all need to make some progress with God! We all need to get stronger with God! Why? So that God can use us in these last days and in these trying times. God wants to use you in His kingdom. You can make a difference in His kingdom.

How? Every one of us is exposed to a certain circle of relationships and friends. And among those people we can make a difference in their lives.

Think about it folks! In addition to the turmoil that we’re going through, we are also surrounded by others who are going through turmoil. So, our job as the people of God and as the ecclesia, the called out ones, or the remnant of God, is to make a difference in their lives.

But first, we have to be strengthened ourselves.

The Foundation

So, I want to start off by addressing some basic things. If you’ve been at this long enough, you know that there are many parts to our relationship with God. There are many parts to Christianity. There are many parts to the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of God is like a building that has a foundation.

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out ... For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.  Hebrews 11:8-10

The foundation is Jesus.

“Behold, I lay in Zion, A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”  1 Peter 2:6

On top of that, we build the house of God with other principles, other precepts. There are a lot of tools in the Kingdom of God, but the most important part is the foundation…which is Jesus!

Spiritual Food for Thought

I want to share something that I hope will give you something to think about in your relationship with God. This is associated with the foundational elements of our walk with Christ.

Now folks, please hear me as I share this. Paul exhorted us to examine ourselves in the faith:

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 2 Corinthians 13:5

…so I present these thoughts to accomplish that.

I think that the term “relationship with Jesus,” is a buzzword that has lost its potency through overuse and in some cases, has diluted the “real” from the “not so real.”

In other words, it seems that for many who call themselves Christians, the term ‘relationship with Jesus,’  is more of a concept than an actual experience or spiritual reality.
 
What do I mean by that?

Having a relationship with Jesus is more than an intellectual achievement or a milestone in our Christian walk... or a title of a pretend religious experience.

Have you ever noticed that Western Christianity has evolved the term into a question that is often used on non-Christians? The question is usually phrased - "Do you have a relationship with Christ?"  – And the question is used in a way that really doesn’t identify the reality of Christ or a reborn soul. 

I have often observed that there are many people, who say that they have a relationship with Jesus, but then when you look at their lives, the two things don’t match; their life does not exhibit the changes that would prove that they have a relationship with Jesus.

“Nathan, what do you mean? What are you talking about?” 

Folks, I’m saying that our relationship with God in its true form is not and cannot be pretend. It cannot be fake! Having a relationship with Jesus should be deeper than an anecdote in a sermon or a popular phrase!

I believe many church goers have heard that term to the point that it has lost its potency and luster.

Having a relationship with Jesus is a very real thing! It involves many of the same ingredients that are necessary in a successful and healthy human relationship.

For example, it is similar to the relationship between a husband and a wife. Those of you that are married, you know that we cannot fake a happy marriage. When a husband and a wife are happy with one another, it did not happen by accident. Being happy in a marriage is an ongoing commitment. It is a day-to-day pledge that requires a number of things.

It requires communication. It requires displaying love for one another, having desire for one another, a want for one another.

It requires that the couple are best friends; that they want to be together, that they talk to each other, that they share everything.

It requires that both parties are selfless with one another and that they are willing to give of everything, including their lives. 

A successful marriage relationship requires a lot of things that in layman’s term…takes work!

And folks, I don’t have to tell you this. Those of you that have been married long enough, you know that it takes work. It takes work every day, not just once a week.

In other words, watch this, folks...

...if a couple said that they are happy and they have a relationship with one another, could they get by with just talking to each other on Sunday?

...or, hearing about one another through a third party? Of course not! That’s absurd!

What am I trying to say? I’m saying that if we are going to endure the turmoil that’s going on in the world right now, then we, number one, at the very basic foundational level, we must have a real relationship with Jesus.

I'm talking to you, my friend! You need to have a healthy sound relationship with Jesus that includes many of the things that a successful marriage includes. This is how it is with God.

So, we cannot say we have a relationship with Jesus if the things I just mentioned are lacking or missing. I mean, really, could we?

If a person's level of communication with Jesus was minimal or missing, or if their ongoing commitment for Jesus was missing, could they really say that they had a relationship with Jesus?

What if they had no desire for Jesus…or love for Him? Could they really say that they have a “relationship” with Him and “know” Him?

“Well, Nathan, you’re putting it into such difficulty. You’re making it harder.”

No, I’m not, folks. This is what true Christianity is. Jesus said, “My sheep know My voice.” (John 10:27)

…They know Him.

If you were to do a word study on the word ‘know’ in the Scriptures. In fact, if you’re taking notes, write that down. There’s some homework right there, folks. Go to the concordance or go to your computer Bible and look at all of the occurrences of the word ‘know’ when it has to do with knowing God. Over and over, we see the pattern, theme, requirement and expectation that knowing God is the benchmark of a relationship with God.

Folks, without knowing God, a person is not and cannot be His child. God wants to know us and we must know Him. It’s a two-way requirement and at the basic level, this is step one.

So let’s all be grownups here. Let’s be honest with ourselves and I have a question I want to ask you. It’s something to pray about.

Here’s the question - How is your relationship with Jesus? How is it? Those things that I just mentioned, are they happening in your life?...Are they not happening?

The once a week thing - is that the only time you talk to Him?... Once a week? …Once every few days? …Once a month?

Here’s another question. For those of you that are married, think about this. If you tried to treat your spouse the same way that you treat Jesus, would they protest? Would they be bothered?

Its a revealing question!

...If you nourished your spouse with the same level of communication, contact, correspondence and attention that you give to Jesus, would they protest?

…Or, would they be happy and pleased? That’s something to think about isn't it?
 
If the answer to those questions are obvious for you. If you know that you are not where you’re supposed to be, if you know that improvement needs to occur, then my friend, the remedy is not impossible. It’s not out of reach. It’s only a sincere prayer time away.

…It is only a session of repentance away!

"Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works..." Revelation 2:5

So, I want to encourage you, if that’s where you are, I’m not here to beat up on you and throw rocks or cast stones.

I just want to encourage you to rise above where you are right now because all of us have had seasons of dryness and isolation from God. But I want to encourage you, repent of the things that should not be in your life.

Seek Him, folks, because He hears the cry of the wounded one and the contrite one, the sincere one and the desperate one. That’s what He’s waiting for.

I know that this is basic stuff right here, but all of us started out with the basics, or at least, we should have. Which, by the way, if what I’m talking about has never been a part of your Christian walk, and you skipped that, and instead, you consider yourself a veteran, folks, we can’t skip it!

There’s no cutting in line and skipping over foundational things with God. All of us must know and understand repentance and salvation because if we don’t, we’re going to be as a foreigner in the Body of Christ. And we are not called to be foreigners with God, but children...

...His children.

...so that we can call Him - Abba Father!

Tomorrow is a new day and if you have been downcast because of the events surrounding us, please know that you can navigate the coming days with strength and God's power to sustain you.

Prayer – Heavenly Father, may our hearts be as those who are Your children, needing your salvation, Your forgiveness, Your comfort, Your peace. Forgive us of our backslidings.

Forgive us of our sins and of the profane things that we have committed and tolerated in our lives. We confess that we have failed and that our fathers have failed

...The land has failed! We need You in these trying times. We repent of our hardened hearts, and our iniquities that have laid waste against your commands. Bring us back God... Draw us back to You and to your Word.

Awaken our hearts and break through the crust that deafens Your still small voice. Show us to be contrite and see sin for what it really is!

Renew us, redeem us, restore us, and wash us with the blood of Jesus. Forgive us of our mess. In Jesus Name - Amen!!

To be continued...

In His service,
Nathan Leal

(End of transcript Part 1 --------- Other Parts Coming Soon) ------

In the next part we will examine the account of Jesus in the Garden on His night of Betrayal

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Our address is Watchman’s Cry, P.O. Box 157, Priest River ID 83856. 

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