Apollo 13 was launched into space for a moon landing on April 11, 1970. There were three astronauts onboard, James A. Lovell Jr., Commander, Fred W. Haise Jr., Lunar Module Pilot and John L. Swigert Jr., Command Module Pilot. These men were soon to find out they may never return to earth, but be lost in outer space as problems began to occur with their spacecraft.
The space flight, at first, seemed uneventful. At 55 hours and 55 minutes into the space flight the number 2 oxygen tank blew up causing numerous other problems. The command module’s normal supply of electricity, light and water was lost, and they were about 200,000 miles from Earth. They were now in a crises that no one have ever met with before. HUMAN ERROR with the oxygen tank, in preparation for the flight, would be discovered as the cause for the explosion.
The immediate action was to somehow overcome all the problems and get the astronauts back to earth, which seemed impossible at that time. Mission Control, on earth, immediately began to look for ways to solve all the problems with the spacecraft. They had a simulator on earth just like the spacecraft in outer space. Every second counted as Mission Control worked and tried different methods to solve the problems in space. Finally, some of the major problems were solved by using plastic bags, cardboard and tape. All these materials were carried on board Apollo 13 in space.
Now, they had to slingshot Apollo 13 around the moon and leave its gravity to get back to earth. The BIG problem was that they were not able to use the sophisticated navigation device and locate a star, to know exactly where they were in space. They had to fire the rocket engines at just the right time and the right amount of minutes or they would be, forever, lost in space. Mission Control devised a plan to use visual reference of the SUN to determine when to fire the rockets and shut them down. Mission Control told the Apollo 13 crew to position the spacecraft at a certain attitude, then look out the window to see if they could see the SUN. If it did not work all was lost. Below is the exact transmission transcript from Apollo 13 in outer space.
Lovell: OK. We got it. I think we got it. What diameter was it?
Haise: Yes. It’s coming back in. Just a second.
Lovell: Yes, yaw’s coming back in. Just about it.
Haise: Yaw is in….
Lovell: What have you got?
Haise: Upper-right corner of the sun….
Lovell: We’ve got it! If we raised our voices, I submit it was justified.
Commander James a Lovell Jr., shouted, “WE’VE GOT IT!” All hope was not lost, they could now see a way out of their situation! Shouts of joy and applause filled Mission Control on earth! The temperature in Apollo 13 was 38 degrees, creating extreme conditions for the crew and equipment. The lack of food and water caused them to loose weight. They could only have 6 ounces of water a day. The rockets were launched at the right time and finally they were back in earths gravity and landed in the Pacific Ocean near Samoa. They got back to earth alive!
CHURCH WE HAVE A PROBLEM
From the above story about Apollo 13 we see they were able to overcome impossible odds and safely arrive back to earth. The church today faces impossible odds, especially in the United States of America. Spiritual things have gotten way off course of the original intent of the Word of God, our Heavenly Father, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. It seems there is no way back to where we are supposed to be. To some, all hope seems lost and they have given up on seeing the church arise in Glory, then bring stability to our nation.
HUMAN ERROR CAUSED THE EXPLOSION OF EVIL
Our human error has caused the problems we now face in the church and in our nation, just like the Apollo 13 explosion. Miscalculations have been made that have allowed evil to triumph. We in the church, have agreed with a fallen society that we have to be politically correct and not call sin evil and confront those who promote false doctrine among us. This was never the case with the Apostle Peter or Apostle Paul. They always confronted evil and expelled those from the church who promoted false doctrine. Jesus Christ came to separate good from evil. This human error has caused an explosion of evil in the church and in our nation. The church has been blown greatly off course.
The salt of the earth has become good for nothing and looks at the world with sorrow, shock and horror as we see evil prevail. Jesus simply told those who did not agree with our Father God, “You are of your father the devil and his lusts shall you do.” He took a whip and went inside the Temple and whipped those who were making a mockery out of the House of God. Jesus did not pat them on the back and say that their sin was forgiven. He confronted Satan and evil men and told them the truth. We must take on the same attitude of Jesus to make the necessary correction to promote the Word of God and over come evil. Failure to do this will assure Satan will win.
THE SIMULATOR OF INTERCESSION
When Apollo 13 had the problem men and women went to work to solve the problem. They worked out every issue in the simulator on earth, knowing if they failed the crew would never return from outer space. The problems seemed insurmountable but each time they knew they had to stand in the GAP for their friends in outer space or they would die. They worked day and night, not resting until a solution was found. The only hope for the church and nation is in intercessory prayer (praying for others problems) in this hour.
***And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint. (Luke 18:1)
***If my people, which are called by my name, shall 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. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
***And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. (Ezekiel 22:30)
SOCIETY OF TAKERS
A selfish church would not obey the above scriptures because it does not fit the ME and MINE factor in society today. We have a society of takers that couldn’t care less how what they want affects the lives of others or causes others harm. I was placed in prison because I had this mentality before I was born again. I didn’t care who I hurt, as long as I got my way and what I wanted. If I did not get what I wanted, there would be hell to pay for someone. I believe you will find this motivation behind the recent shootings. Demonic selfishness drives many in society today and other people do not matter. This ME and MINE mentality is, mostly, the church of today. If you don’t give me what I want or do it my way, I will not come. I will believe what I want and live like I want to and you better tell me that is okay. If it does not agree with the Bible you still better tell me it is all right. Fear has taken over many minsters because they realize that if they preach the Bible they may lose some of the people. The gospel is therefore adapted to fit the selfish, fleshly human desire of takers. This must change for the nation to change.
WE’VE GOT IT! WE CAN SEE THE WAY BACK
Just as this proclamation was shouted on Apollo 13, I will shout it to the church today, “WE’VE GOT IT!” I can see the SON and He is our navigation back to where we need to be. Jesus Christ has made the declaration that will stand throughout eternity!
18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:18-19)
In the intercessory closet of prayer HE will bring us back safely where we need to be!
