A Global Recession

Acts 11:28

Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and shared by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.

Right now in the United States, we are experiencing one of the worst economic crisis since the great depression. There is a water shed of unemployment with power house companies like Macy's, Google, Starbucks shedding thousands of jobs. Just yesterday, a thousand people were standing in line in Miami for 35 job openings for city jobs. America is feeling the squeeze of this financial crisis. But what is even more disturbing is that while we are consumed by our won crisis the whole world is experiencing this global recession.

According to the IMF’s most recent World Economic Outlook published on October 8th, the world economy is “entering a major downturn” in the face of “the most dangerous shock” to rich-country financial markets since the 1930s. The fund expects global growth, measured on the basis of purchasing-power parity (PPP), to come down to 3% in 2009, he slowest pace since 2002 and on the verge of what it considers to be a global recession. (The fund’s definition of global recession takes many factors into account, including the rate of population growth.) Given the scale of the financial freeze, the fund’s forecast looks optimistic. Other forecasters are convinced that a global recession is inevitable. Economists at UBS, for instance, expect global growth of only 2.2% in 2009.

In the book of Acts, the new Christians were beginning to pick up momentum, lives were being saved, people outside the faith were being converted, thousands were coming to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. It was one of the greatest movements of the Christian faith, but in the midst of that great move and awakening, a prophet stood up by the Power of the Holy Spirit and announced a Global Famine.

Here we are in the height of Hope and Change with a New President, breaking the barriers of racism and Hate. Embracing at last the true meaning of our creed that all men are created equal. Millions of people black, white, Latino, Asian, pacific Islanders, Christians, Jews, and Muslims are starting to come together but in the midst of hope and change, there is a global recession. Is there a Prophet amongst us who can stand up and make the pronouncement that our world is in peril?
This is not a time to despair but a time to Pray, a time to evangelize, a time to turn people back to God.

2 Chronicles 7:14 - If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

I like what the early Christians did in their time of Crisis

Acts 11:29 (Amplified Bible)
29 So the disciples resolved to send relief, each according to his individual ability [in proportion as he had prospered], to the brethren who lived in Judea.
During this Global Recession each one of us can do something to bring relief to our area of the world. Wherever you are in the world and you are feeling this recession you need to:

1. Look at your ability. What are you able to do? Each of us has something no matter how small or how large the offering, whether it is your tithe, time, or talent, you have the ability to offer something.

2. Determine. Scripture tells us that we need to make up our minds as to what we are going to give. What happens to many well meaning Christians is that we always get stuck on “I should give something.’ But we never move to Determination. Determination means that you’ve made up your mind, set aside something to help.

3. Send relief to Judea. Judea is an area near you that has been affected. Judea was the area closest to Jerusalem where ministry was going forth to reach the lost. Put your money in an area near you that is helping people through this recession and bringing people to Jesus.

Dear God help us during this Global Crisis to help those who are struggling. There is some ability you’ve given us to bring relief. Whether it’s volunteering, giving our resources, our time, or our talent, show us how to help our piece of the world and bring relief to this Global crisis. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

In Jesus Name.

Amen.