WAITING ON THE LORD

Charles Spurgeon - Morning August 23rd

"The voice of weeping shall be no more heard." — Isa_65:19

The glorified weep no more, for all outward causes of grief are gone. There are no broken friendships, nor blighted prospects in heaven. Poverty, famine, peril, persecution, and slander, are unknown there. No pain distresses, no thought of death or bereavement saddens. They weep no more, for they are perfectly sanctified. No "evil heart of unbelief" prompts them to depart from the living God; they are without fault before his throne, and are fully conformed to his image. Well may they cease to mourn who have ceased to sin. They weep no more, because all fear of change is past. They know that they are eternally secure. Sin is shut out, and they are shut in. They dwell within a city which shall never be stormed; they bask in a sun which shall never set; they drink of a river which shall never dry; they pluck fruit from a tree which shall never wither. Countless cycles may revolve, but eternity shall not be exhausted, and while eternity endures, their immortality and blessedness shall co-exist with it. They are for ever with the Lord. They weep no more, because every desire is fulfilled. They cannot wish for anything which they have not in possession. Eye and ear, heart and hand, judgment, imagination, hope, desire, will, all the faculties, are completely satisfied; and imperfect as our present ideas are of the things which God hath prepared for them that love him, yet we know enough, by the revelation of the Spirit, that the saints above are supremely blessed. The joy of Christ, which is an infinite fulness of delight, is in them. They bathe themselves in the bottomless, shoreless sea of infinite beatitude. That same joyful rest remains for us. It may not be far distant. Ere long the weeping willow shall be exchanged for the palm-branch of victory, and sorrow's dewdrops will be transformed into the pearls of everlasting bliss. "Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

REVELATION 6

The Seven Seals

The 6th chapter of the Book of Revelation is one where there are some striking differences in its interpretations. I’ll try to give you the perspective of several writers concerning these seven seals. My own thoughts will merely be my estimation of what the others have said. I’m no expert whatsoever concerning the seals, but like you, I am thirsty to understand this section of Revelation as well as the other chapters, especially as we see the day approaching for the Lord’s return.

Some consider the seals as Divine judgments upon the world. Each one having a purpose, which I believe is to warn the world, and the Church, of what is coming. Some have said that these judgments have already taken place in the times of the early Church. But as we study, I think we will see where they concern us today as well, in things that we are already seeing to a degree, lesser or greater.

I hope that this section, as well as the others, will help you to understand the workings of the Lord better. As I told my wife the other night, “I am learning a lot as I put these short studies together. Some things make sense, while others still leave me scratching my head. Each one of us would do well to do our own study of the Book of Revelation. It is eye opening at the very least. Well, let’s see what we can discover about the seals.

“I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!"(Rev.6:1)

When the first four seals are opened, one of the four living creatures says “Come!”. He seems to be summoning the four horses associated with these first seals. Again, you can sense the majesty of what is going on in Heaven at the time. Some think they are saying “Come” to John, or Jesus at the opening of the first seal as the rider of the white horse.

“I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.” (Rev.6:2)

White is a symbol of purity. The rider is given a crown, which signifies royalty, power, or sovereignty. The bow is a symbol of war.

In the Expositors Bible Commentary, it claims that these riders are symbolic and not actual, and that the first rider is symbolic of Jesus, who is the true and mighty Conqueror. He conquers with the Good News of Salvation, to defeat sin and death for the world.

Many of the other older commentaries seem to agree with this. The Expositors Bible Commentary itself is compiled of information collected between 1976 and 1992, much newer than the others such as John Gill (1700’s), Matthew Henry (latter 1600’s), Albert Barnes (1800’s), among others. But when I checked with the commentaries of John MacArthur, J. Dwight Pentecost, and John F. Walvoord, the more modern day writers, they agree that the rider of the white horse is the Anti-Christ.

The following statement is from bibleref.com

“What does Revelation 6:2 mean?”

“This is the result of Jesus opening the first of seven seals, securing a scroll containing God’s judgment on sin (Revelation 5:1–7). John describes the first horseman as riding a white horse and carrying a bow. He received a crown, and he conquered. Interpreters vary on the identity of this rider.

Some believe this rider is Christ, because he rides a white horse and wears a crown. However, the surrounding context eliminates this possibility. When Christ returns to earth, He does so at the end of the tribulation, not at the beginning, and He introduces a thousand years of peace and security (Revelation 19:11–13; 20:4). Conditions that follow the rider on this white horse are chaotic, not calm.

Some believe the rider is the world leader identified in Revelation 13:1–10, who receives worldwide homage and worship. Others believe he is the king of the North referred to in Daniel 8:23–25, because barbarians to the north of Palestine were feared for their skillful use of the bow. The Daniel reference to “the king of the north (Daniel 11)” is usually interpreted as pointing to the Russian invader (Ezekiel 38:1–9).

The heavy symbolism and poetry of Revelation should inspire caution. Readers should not be dogmatic about the first horseman’s identity, because the Bible does not identify him by name.”

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As you can see, we must be very careful when reading anything other than the written Word of God. The two opinions above vary significantly. I’m not sure why they are so directly opposed to each other, especially on the interpretation of the first horse and its rider. I believe that all these men truly were men of God who interpreted these Scriptures as well as they knew how. And not knowing what resources each of them had for their research adds to the equation also. Some, or all, may have written what they “felt” the Holy Spirit was telling them. I surely can’t fault them. I could not do any better than they did, having the same resources available to them. Many of these men may not have had access to a Strongs Concordance (Published around 1890), or a similar help reference. Each one of us must be very careful about how we interpret Scripture. I have always heard that we should let Scripture interpret Scripture, meaning that we must do exhaustive searches concerning our chosen subject, looking for other passages throughout the Bible that either confirm or deny our original thoughts.

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So, let’s see what these men have to say, and at the same time do our own research until we can make a right decision according to everything that we’ve learned. But all these things must be saturated in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to guide us every step of the way.

Now, the symbolism of the white horse, the bow, and the crown have similar meaning on both sides of this debate concerning Jesus and the Anti-Christ.

As stated above, the white horse stands for purity. The bow for war or conquering. And the crown for royalty, power, and sovereignty.

Again, the older writers claimed that Jesus was the rider on the white horse, coming to proclaim the Gospel to the world, but the newer ones claim that Jesus is the rider on the white horse in Revelation 19:11-13 which states…

“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 

His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 

He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.” (Revelation 19:11-13)

Looking at this passage from Revelation 19, I am personally led to agree with the newer writers, who believe that the rider of the white horse in chapter 6, verse two, is not Jesus, but His imitator, the anti-Christ.

From what I gathered from my reading about verse two, if the newer writers are correct, the white horse symbolizes a conquering military leader. And without an arrow for his bow this conqueror will not use force, or war, to gain the allegiance of the world. This is what we believe the anti-Christ will do. He will come into the world with solutions to many of the world’s problems, including war, famine, etc. (This is after the Rapture of the Church. So this anti-Christ will also have to figure out what happened to all the persons who vanished from the Earth.)

For the first three- and one-half years he will gain the confidence of the world and become king-like (the crown) in the world. He even sets up a peace agreement with Israel since he will be considered their true “messiah.” (J.D. Pentecost) John MacArthur speaks of this rider bringing a false and short-lived peace. And the world will believe that this man is unbeatable, truly the worlds conqueror, winning the world over with his words instead of war…exactly what the world will be looking for.

There will be many who know who the rider really is. These will be those who came to believe that Jesus is the true Lord of lords and King of kings, after their loved ones and others who knew Christ were taken in the Rapture. But others will believe what the world, and maybe the anti-Christ tells them, that perhaps aliens had finally come to Earth and taken what they wanted. I’ve heard some say that they will proclaim that these “aliens” came to cleanse the Earth of those who caused division in the world (Christians, according to them). We can see this happening today, that Christians are being called the divisive ones, causing hate and trouble around the world. I believe this is happening to silence Christians from telling the world the truth which is plainly seen in the Bible. But for now, the “prince of this world” is causing all kinds of evil to pop up and take over wherever they can.

The King James Version of verse 6:2 says…

“And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.”

A.T. Robertson (Word Pictures in the New Testament) wrote this concerning verse two…

“Commentators have been busy identifying the rider of the white horse according to their various theories. “It is tempting to identify him with the Rider on the white horse in Rev_19:11., whose name is ‘the Word of God’” (Swete). Tempting, “but the two riders have nothing in common beyond the white horse.”

C.I. Scofield said that the rider on the white horse in 6:2 is the Beast trying to imitate Christ.

The absence of an arrow, according to some, indicates that instead of a war determining an outcome, a covenant or deal could bring peace. (Sounds kind of like the Abraham Accords that we are seeing right now in the Middle East. And since the Book of Revelation centers around Israel this would make a lot of sense. That could also give you a glimpse as to how close we might really be to these times.)

If these four horses are listed in chronological order, the white horse and its rider will come at the beginning of the seven-year tribulation. This will be a very important time for many who are left behind, as they try to figure out what happened to their loved ones. Once they understand the truth, they will have to determine how far they are willing to go to reunite in Heaven with those who were Raptured. There will be hope, but they will need to cling to it with every inch of their heart and soul.

Next time we’ll look at the second horse and it’s rider…

“And there went out another horse that wasred: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.” (Revelation 6:4)

 SPIRITUAL FOOD

What happens when we haven’t eaten in a while? Without proper nourishment our bodies will lack the nutrients that are needed to sustain it and function at their best. And over time they will become weaker, sometimes to the point of not being able to function at all. Eating the right things can keep a body strong and healthy. We must continually feed on what sustains us.

“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” (Psalm 55:22 NIV)

The same thing goes for our spiritual lives, eating spiritual food. We do that with the spiritual food that can only be found in the Bible. It is in the Word of God that we learn things that will make us and keep us strong in the Lord. This is why Jesus told the Apostle Peter,
"Feed my lambs." "Feed my sheep.” (John 21:15, 17 NIV)

Jesus was telling Peter to teach the world, young and old, about what God did for them through his Son’s death on the cross and then rising from the dead. Peter, and the others were told to spread the good news to all the world so that they could be fed with the bread of life. The followers of Jesus, the lambs and the sheep would need to be fed constantly, just like our bodies. Without this nourishment, our spiritual lives would grow weak and wont function as they should, keeping us from having the life that God wants us to have.

The good news included telling people how to receive God’s gift of Salvation and gain eternal life. But there is more. The good news also provides God’s children with teachings on how to live a victorious life in this world, which would be sorely needed in their battles against the forces of evil in the spiritual realm.

In both the New and Old Testaments, there are treasures of spiritual wisdom and knowledge that will help guide us through this world. The Book of Proverbs is one that can save a person many troubles in their walk with the Lord. In the New Testament, Peter wrote…

“Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2nd Peter 3:17-18 NIV)

Notice that is says “be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless.” What this means, is that we are to stay away from the ways of this world if we truly want to live a life that honors God and will help to keep us from falling back into our old ways. The last verse points out that we should “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” This growth comes by reading and hearing the Word of God.

True growth in spiritual things come from spending time in God’s Word by reading it, studying it, praying about the passages that you’re reading, and meditating on them. You have probably heard this next verse many times, but if you’ve never “fully” understood it perhaps that will change by spending more time in your Bible.

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12 NIV)

Have you ever considered that the Bible you’re reading today truly is alive? It took me a long time to understand what that really meant, but as time went by, and my time in the Word increased, I noticed that God would answer questions for me, by bringing up a piece of Scripture that explained, or led me to the answer I was seeking. It comes like a whisper in one’s ear. These verses might explain it better than I can…

God told Isaiah, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." (Isaiah 30:21 NIV)

Jesus told his disciples how the Holy Spirit would give them words to speak when they were persecuted, “Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 13:11 NIV)

Jesus said something very important in this verse, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27 NIV)

At first glance this verse seems self-explanatory. But I see something here that each Christian, new or old, should take notice of. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice;” How does this verse pertain to you and me? First, Jesus is telling us that we need to look closely at every word that He said in the Bible. (I’m speaking now of the words that He spoke in the New Testament.) But since Jesus is the “Word of God”, we can know that the entire Bible was authored by Him, and that every single passage is of importance to the Christian. The more we know the Bible, the more we will recognize Jesus’ voice as we spend more and more time with Him.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.”
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1-2, 14)

Every word in your Bible was given to the writers through the Holy Spirit. This same Holy Spirit speaks these same words to your mind and heart as you read them. And the more you read them, the more you will understand their meaning when the Holy Spirit reminds you of them.

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26 NIV)

But there is something more. When you and I are reading God’s Word, or praying, or studying, or meditating on the things of God, we can listen for that whisper.

But! If that whisper cannot be found in God’s Word, it may not be from God. As a matter of fact, I would not recommend that newer Christians put any stock in what they may have heard. If it lines up with Scripture “perfectly”, then seek those passages in the Bible to see if there is something there that God may want you to understand better.

But do not seek that whisper, wait on God. If He has something that He wants you to know, it will come.

(I hope that I didn’t make that confusing. But it is truly important that we don’t listen to a voice that isn’t God. I’m sure the devil will try to put thoughts into your head also. That is why I stress the caution about listening for that whisper.)

The Apostle Paul told Timothy, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV)

That passage is a good one for defining Spiritual Food. It tells us that we can “know” that ALL Scripture is God-breathed, therefore it truly is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training God’s children up in the way of righteousness…so that we can be “thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Amen!

“Every good work.” Everything that we do in this world can be done in a way that is God honoring and will help us produce fruit for the Lord. Producing fruit for God is our main goal alongside worshipping Him. But to produce this fruit we must have the right soil to plant in. The Parable of the Sower explains this best…
In Matthew’s account of the parable he writes, “The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.” (Matthew 13:22 NIV)

Mark adds, “the desires for other things.” (Mark 4:19 NIV)

Luke sums it up well writing, “The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.” (Luke 8:14 NIV)

Here are some key take aways from these verses from the parable:
The thorns represent things in our lives that surround us and beg for our attention. You might also call them distractions. These things try to rob us of every opportunity that we have for spending time with God, whether it be at church, times of prayer, or our time reading and studying God’s Word.

The worries of life are also obvious. They can include anything from problems with the family, job, money, or our health. If we’re not careful we can let many more things choke out our time for God, and for ourselves. God wants us to have peace in our lives. He doesn’t want us wrapped up in all the things that the world wants to distract us with.

The deceitfulness of wealth. “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1st Timothy 6:10 NIV)

I think Paul gives the best advice about money and the accumulation of material things…

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13 NIV)

In Luke’s account of the Sower parable, he tells us that all these things will cause us to remain as babes in Christ, instead of maturing. He’s talking about us growing in our walk with the Lord and becoming fruit bearing Christians. When we limit God’s time in our lives, we limit our effectiveness and our growth. We limit the blessings we could have had by choosing a path that is contrary to the one the Lord has mapped out for us.

There are other things that will prevent our growing in Christ. For instance, the television programs we watch, the books we read, and the company that we keep. Paul said, “Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." (1st Corinthians 15:33 NIV)

Becoming a more mature Christian means making the right choices in our day to day lives. And some of those choices can be hard to make. But I believe the Lord will reward those choices, here or in the future. This is where the Holy Spirit’s promptings will help us. He will let us know when something is not profitable to our walk. Paul gives us some good advice in 1st Corinthians…

"Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive.” (1st Corinthians 10:23 NIV 1984)

As Christians we live in the time of God’s grace. This grace covers our lives when we sin inadvertently. Until we join the Lord in Heaven, we will all be susceptible to sins outstretched arms. They will tempt us in every area of our lives…

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1st Corinthians 10:31 NIV)

“Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.” (Proverbs 4:13 NIV)

"Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.” (Psalm 91:14 NIV)

Remember who you are in Christ. You are more than conquerors. Keep your minds on Christ. Paul told the Philippians…

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:4-9 NIV)

“As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.
And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith.
But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.
We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command.
May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance.” (2nd Thessalonians 3:1-5 NIV)

In the above passage it says that “he will strengthen you.” One of the best ways of strengthening us, happens when we apply what His word says about situations that we might face in the world, and then allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us through those times with the very words God spoke in the Bible.

Jesus made a comparison of two kinds of people who would claim to follow Him. One group would apply his teachings, and the others wouldn’t…

"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?
As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like.
They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.
But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete." (Luke 6:46-49 NIV)

If you want to live a more confident, trusting walk with the Lord, learn His teachings. Apply them to every area of your life. Every word in the Bible is there to help you. Learn one teaching today, and another tomorrow, and continue to do so until He calls us to meet Him in the air.

God Bless! 

The Lull Before the Storm

In the dictionary, the word “lull” is described as something that causes one to sleep, rest, relax, or be soothed. It also said that the word lull could describe a temporary pause or decline in activity. It gave a few examples of how the word can be used. They are…

“He was lulled to sleep by her soothing voice.”

“They were lulled into a false sense of security.”

“A temporary calm (lull) before or during a storm.”

(Merriam Webster's Dictionary)

Lull is an interesting word. It is a word that speaks of a brief quietness, or calmness. It can be used as a noun or verb. A lull can represent a period of time. Or it can represent an act of soothing or quieting, or as stated above, “lulling someone into a false sense of security.”

In everyday life a lull is usually harmless. But it can also be used in an ominous sort of way, as in the “calm before the storm.” One thing that struck me as odd, was why Merriam Webster’s would use the example of “were lulled into a false sense of security”? That sounds like a warning to me. A false sense of security? How does a lull lead to a false sense of security?

Above it uses the phrase “to cause to sleep or rest.” Does that mean that someone or something can “cause” us to feel secure when we’re really not? I picture a boulder on the edge of a cliff, just waiting for a nudge from nature, to cause it to drop from the cliff onto something or someone below unexpectedly, causing perhaps a disastrous situation.

But what if the lull is created intentionally, causing someone to sleep or rest, when they should be on guard? I remember a scene from a movie that I saw many years ago, called Red Dawn. If you’ve not seen it, it is about an invasion into the United States. In one of the first scenes, students are seen crowding into the windows at the back of the classroom. All they can see are men parachuting down behind the school. And it wasn’t just one or two of them. It was hundreds of men, soldiers. When the teacher noticed the parachuters he went outside and confronted them. He said something like, “You can’t do that here. This is school property.” He thought maybe they were American soldiers in training. By the time the teacher finished talking the soldiers had gunned him down. Several kids in the classroom were also hit by the gunfire. The United States had been invaded. The country had been lulled into a false sense of security. Eventually much of the country was overthrown. If not for small groups of Americans who had banded together to obstruct the overthrow, the United States would have been no more.

The movie was an eye opener for sure! I’ve never forgotten that movie, one, because it seemed possible that it could really happen someday, here in America. And two, because in my spirit it seemed more than likely that it would. That’s because, like the Americans in the movie, our country has been lulled into a false sense of security.

Could that really happen here? Now? I hate to admit it, but I think so. We’ve become so used to the American routine of hot dogs, baseball, and apple pie, that we wouldn’t even see it coming…until it was too late. I hope that we never see that day, but if you are looking closely at what is happening in the world right now, you know that it might not take much to overthrow our nation, in one way or another. This country has a lot to offer, and other nations would love to have it. But the United States is also a power to be reckoned with. We’ve been known as a peacekeeper nation for a long time because of our military strength, our desire to help peace initiatives all over the world, and the resilience of our people. But many countries don’t want our interference anymore, for one reason or another.

So, what does this have to do with a blog about Christianity? I believe it has everything to do with it. While we are going to church on any given Sunday, and then out for lunch afterwards, there are churches meeting in other countries where the Christians are under the constant threat of suicide bombers and masked gunmen, even while they pray or sing praises to God. Why are we any different? Could those things happen here? Yes, and they already are if you’re paying attention. Churches now have security guards placed in strategic places throughout their buildings, and the congregations themselves are legally carrying weapons just in case. I know some who have already acquired their “Conceal and Carry” licenses for protection everywhere they go, including church.

I guess that I should have said, “So, what does this have to do with Christianity and the American population at large?” The answer would be the same…it has everything to do with it. There is a lull in the world, that I believe we’ve been in for a very long time now. I also believe that its beginnings had something to do with the decline of a Biblical worldview. While we were busy changing the church from being Christ centered to self-centered, the devil snuck in and began to weaken our defenses from top to bottom.

When most people think of the Bible, they think of religion, getting saved, and knowing things about God. First and foremost, the Bible is about God’s plan of Salvation for the world. But the Bible also teaches a Christian how to live in a world that is filled with evil. It gives us warnings of what to look for, and ways to stand up and defeat the evil that stands at every corner.

The Bible also tells us plainly that our battles are not against flesh and blood. They are against the devil and his demons who orchestrate scenarios designed to make us fall. Their mission is not just about destroying us as a God-fearing people, they want to destroy any semblance of godliness in this world, from the least to the greatest in our world. Once they have gained control of the people who rule the nations of the world, then the remnants of Believers in the world will be considered the opposition, and the devil doesn’t want any opposition.

There are many Christians in the United States that believe we can overcome evil and crush it into oblivion by putting godly people into places of authority, from the small-town sheriff all the way to the oval office in Washington. It’s a good and noble idea, but like I’ve said in past writings, can we really put an end to all the evil in the world, from the pickpocket to the masterminds who are behind every form of corruption known to man? Only Jesus has that kind of power.

But He has already outlined His plan for the future in the Bible. The problem is that many don’t even read and study what it says. The only ones who do are the ones we call the remnant, people who live and breathe everything that the Bible says to the best of their human ability, living as much by the Spirit of God as they can in a world suffocated by evil. Others like myself are trying to get people to listen. We’re trying to open their eyes to what the Bible says about the end times that we are now in. The Bible tells us…

“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.

This is why it is said: "Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.” (Ephesians 5:11-17 NIV)

Anyone who calls themselves a Christian must seek to understand what God’s will is in everything. Many only seek to know His will for love, marriage, finding the right job, etc. Worldly types of things. But the Lord also tells us…

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 2:6-10, 3:1-2 NIV)

Why does Paul say that we’re to set our hearts and minds on things above and not on earthly things? It’s because God has told us throughout the Bible, through His prophets, Jesus, and His Apostles, that this world is a temporary one. And I don’t mean that you and I are temporary in this case, I’m talking about the earth itself. God has said that he is going to destroy this one and replace it with a New Earth because of sin, and the decay that it has caused in the world.

As true Believers in Christ we are going to inhabit that New Earth forever. That’s why we’re told to set our minds on things above, where God is today. But one day soon He is going to make his home with us on that New Earth.

I never used to understand all these things. All I knew was to try to be a good person and go to church. I didn’t realize that there was going to be an “eternity” and “a New Earth”. The Apostle Peter truly sums it up well for Believers…

“Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.

Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.

But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” (2ndPeter 3:1-18 NIV)

As you can see, everything here is only temporary. Our true goal and destination is Heaven and the New Earth.

The Bible tells us what is going to happen soon, and that it won’t be good for anyone who is not following Jesus. The Book of Revelation explains that most of the Earth’s population will perish because of the terrible judgments of God during the seven year tribulation, the last seven years of life as we know it today. So why aren’t people who claim to be Christians not warning others? Why are they not praying feverishly for their friends and loved ones who don’t yet know Jesus?

Most Christians that I know do not want to talk about the end times. How can they not? I think the answer is found in this passage from above…

“Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.” (2ndPeter 3:3-7 NIV)

Many people, even Christians, have been lulled to sleep, thinking that they have plenty of time to reach the lost one’s in their lives. From day one a Christian should be wanting to tell others what Jesus did for them on the Cross. There should be a constant urgency in our Spirits to help others find salvation through Jesus Christ before it’s too late. But perhaps the voices of the scoffers have influenced them too.

Have we stopped believing what the Bible says? Jesus said that He is coming soon. (Revelation 22:12, 20 NIV) The Bible says that a day is like a thousand years to God, and that a thousand years are like a day. That being true, and it being 2000 years since His death and resurrection, today would only be the second day since Jesus ascended to Heaven until His Father, our God in Heaven, tells Him “Go, get your bride.” The bride is those of us who have sat all night waiting for Him. We have all probably fallen asleep at some point. But now is the time for all of us to wake up. This is not the time to sleep. We must be like the watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem, sounding our alarms as we see the day, and the enemy approaching. That enemy is marching steadily towards us every day. It’s approaching our schools, our places of employment, our government, and sadly, even our homes. We’ve already slept too long. The “lull” has done its damage. All that is left now, is to look upward and wait for Jesus to rescue us from the coming wrath.

It’s understandable how we could be lulled into thinking that it’s going to be awhile before Jesus comes. It was the same way in the days of Noah, before the flood, people were eating and drinking, not having a care in the world. But is that the Biblical way to wait for Jesus? No. We are told to be watching and waiting just as much as the Christians who first received these commands from Jesus.

So, my question is this. If you believe that you are a Christian, are you doing everything the Bible has commanded you to do?

Most of us claim to read the Bible from time to time and go to church occasionally. But are we concerned about others, including people that we love and care about, going to Hell forever? Are you seeking to understand passages like these…

"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' "But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.' "Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' "But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!' (Luke 13:24-27 NIV)

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (Matthew 7:21-23 NIV)

Do you really know Jesus? Does He truly know you? This you must be sure of. If you’re not, you should pray immediately and ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior and ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit. This is how we are born again. And Jesus said that we cannot enter Heaven if we have not been born again. (John 3:3 NIV)

I’ve been writing about these things for a while now. I could go back to writing about basic teachings in the Bible, but they won’t prepare you for what’s coming should Jesus’ return still be a few years away. This would include severe persecution like we see in Nigeria, and other places around the world. But as many have said, the Rapture of the Church can happen at any time.

The Apostle Paul said that he was “compelled” to tell others about Christ. I too am compelled to tell others that Jesus is coming back soon. And like I said before, if it’s only been two days on God’s calendar…soon could be sooner than you think. It could yet today.

When you see what is going on in the world, you should be able to discern the times that we’re in. You should be able to see that more and more Biblical prophecies are being fulfilled all the time. The one that should have woken up every Christian in the world was when Israel became a nation overnight in 1948. You should be able to see and hopefully understand that what is happening in the world right now is not just the simple progression of time. On God’s timeline we’re about to cross the finish line. It is the end of time according to the Bible.

“The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.”

(1st Peter 4:7)

In a perfect world, as they say, letters like this would not need to be written. But this is not a perfect world, is it? I wish it was. I wish we didn’t have to experience pain. I wish that people didn’t have to die, especially those I love and care about. I wish that no one in the world had to starve to death. I wish… 

But we don’t have to wish. God has promised us a new home, a place where there is no more pain, suffering, crying, or death. But it won’t be here.

Are you alert and sober of mind so that you can pray? Not just today, but every day. It’s time for us to be serious about our faith in God, and His Son Jesus. It’s time to find out what God really requires of us. He doesn’t want to be forgotten and left on a shelf to collect dust. He wants us to know Him. He created you and me because he saw something beautiful in us. He wants to spend eternity with us in a place that He has prepared just for us, those who truly love Him.

Jesus said that his yoke was easy, and the burden light. How is it easy? Because He already did all the work. Someone asked Him…

"What must we do to do the works God requires?" Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." (John 6:28-29 NIV)

Believe.

When we truly believe that Jesus died on the cross to save us, and then rose from the dead three days later to defeat death for us, our hearts and minds should be thankful and wanting to know this Man who died for us. That’s why we pray. From the moment we ask Jesus to be our Savior, if we’ve asked Him in all sincerity, a new life begins, an eternal one. From that moment on we are a blink away from being with Him…forever.

If you are wondering, “Am I truly living for God like I should?”, go to the Lord and pray. He will not turn anyone away who is sincere. Remember, He loves you. He’ll help you with the rest.

God Bless!

UNEXPECTED

“So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

Matthew 24:44 (NIV)

When Jesus was talking to his disciples about the end times and his eventual return, he told them that He would be coming back at a time when they did not expect him. They had asked Him earlier “"Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" (Matthew 24:3)

He gave them some things to look for, but as far as when they would happen, Jesus said, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matthew 24:36)

Our Heavenly Father may have kept it to Himself to make sure that the disciples continued to watch for Jesus’ return, no matter how long it might be. And knowing, that Jesus too, was unsure of the day or hour, future Christians would continue to search for answers to this paramount question, the one that even the Savior of the World did not know the answer to.

And here, 2000 years later, we can understand that for ourselves, as we are continually looking for the signs that Jesus talked about. The disciple’s faith and endurance would be tested greatly then, just as ours has been. Hence our forever question, “When is He coming back for us?” I personally believe that these 11 men expected Jesus to return very soon, possibly within days of His ascension.

Matthew Henry wrote…

“none knows but my Father only. This is one of those secret things which belong to the Lord our God. The uncertainty of the time of Christ's coming, is, to those who are watchful, a savour of life unto life, and makes them more watchful; but to those who are careless, it is a savour of death unto death, and makes them more careless.”

Just before He went up to Heaven, the disciples asked Jesus again…

“Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.”

“After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:6-7, 9-11)

This passage is so important. First, Jesus tells them that it is not for them to know the times or dates. Then, He was taken up before their very eyes. They looked intently up into the sky as He was going. Finally, the angels said to the men, “Jesus…will come back in the same way you have seen him go into Heaven.” If I were one of those disciples, my eyes would constantly be looking up into the skies waiting for the clouds to part.

At some point, a time may have come for all of them to wonder “How much longer?” Their whole lives were now revolving around Jesus. They must have fought doubt many times, until they would remember that day in the room when He showed them the nail marks in his hands, and the place where the spear had pierced his side.

In Matthew Henry’s statement, he said that whoever was not watching for Jesus’ return should be considered “careless”. When I look around today, I think of the phrase “I couldn’t care less.” Being careless when it comes to God and the return of His Son, is a dangerous thing. It can cost you the eternal blessing of living forever. Again, Henry said… but to those who are careless, it is a savour of death unto death, and makes them more careless.”

Many years have passed since that day when Jesus ascended into Heaven, while his followers watched with great expectancy. But since then, many have stopped watching. Some have given up hope that He will return anytime soon. But when they do that, they are forgetting what Jesus said told them. Let’s look at the complete passage from Matthew 24…

"But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 

“Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.” 

"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

Note Jesus’ words in the next verses…

“But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.” 

“But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,' and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of.” (Matthew 24:36-50)

When reading these passages, we must examine ourselves. We need to see where our priorities are. Are we keeping watch and making ourselves ready for Jesus’ return? Or are we being “careless” concerning the things of God? Are we caring more about the things of this world than we are about our Savior? When that day and hour come, will you be living for God, or for the things of this world.

Let me say this…God does want us to enjoy our lives. He wants to see us happy and thriving. But He also wants us to remember where all this goodness comes from…Him. I think that one of the biggest reasons why people don’t follow God is because they feel that He confines their activities, their fun. If they truly knew God, they would know how wrong that thinking is. But it’s not just us, it is God’s enemy Satan, the devil, who tries to corrupt all the good things that God has designed for us. He also tries to make sure that we don’t have time for God. The job, family, leisure time, etc., Satan tries to saturate our lives with time consuming activities that are seemingly good on the outside but exhaust the minutes of our daily lives leaving no time for more, and zero time for God.

But it’s time to wake up from our slumber. We need to start watching again, right now! I don’t believe there is much time at all left. I know I keep saying that, but I’ve not given up on what Jesus commanded us…to keep watching for Him.

It’s going to be very sad for those who were not watching for Jesus when he comes for his church. By church, I mean the men and women who have put their faith in Jesus for eternal life according to what the Bible says. But not everyone who goes to a “church” will be taken when He comes. You must be born again, born in the Spirit from above, from Jesus and God the Father.

The Bible says that a lot of people will be left in tears and terror when they realize that they were left behind at the Rapture of the true believers. Sadly, much of the blame belongs on people that call themselves men of God, who did not tell their churches what Jesus truly required, that His yoke is light and easy, but requires us to change our path in life, away from the world and towards God wholeheartedly. God wants 24/7 believers, not the once or twice a year church goer. He wants people that love God, not ones that go to church like they’re going to work, punching in and out when their time was done every Sunday. True believers should be humbled daily that Jesus died for them like he did, especially when their eternity depends on it.

Above, Jesus said…

“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 

“Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.” 

"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”

Let’s take a closer look at this passage…

“As it was in the days of Noah.” How was it then? People were going about life just like you and I do every day. We eat and drink, we get married, we get engaged, planning for a wonderful life together. We go to work in the fields, the factories, and offices each day as we continue building our families. But one day, when we don’t expect it, the person working right next to us will disappear. It will happen so fast that you won’t even have time to blink. When that happens, you will know that God took them. That will be the Rapture. When you turn on the news you will hear, that thousands, or perhaps millions of people will have disappeared just as your coworker did. That’s how it was in the days of Noah. God warned the people through Noah, but they didn’t listen. Then God shut the ark with Noah and his family inside. Then it started to rain, and water began to fill the holes in the ground. Then the water rose so high that people probably climbed to the highest point they could, hoping to escape the flood that God had sent upon the world. But the flood covered the entire Earth. No one survived except Noah and his family. Noah believed God. He built the ark as God had told him to.

Jesus is our ark. We must believe in what He did on the cross for us, paying the price for our sins, and then 3 days later rising from the dead to give us eternal life, defeating death for you and me. This gift from God is available to anyone who believes. If you have a Bible in your home, you must understand that it is not only an amazing story, but God wrote it to help us connect with Him, through the Holy Scriptures and the Holy Spirit who guarantee’s our salvation once we have accepted Jesus as our Savior and are truly born again.

The account of the flood in Noah’s time is history. It is not a made-up story. If it weren’t for Noah, a man who put his faith in God, none of us would be here. We would not have had the opportunities that we’ve had to enjoy life, nor would we have the hope of eternal life on a New Earth that will be void of any sin. It will truly be a paradise. You may have a penthouse home right now, but it will be a fixer-upper compared to what God has planned for you.

How many will not be ready when Jesus returns? Why won’t they be ready? Will it catch you off guard? 

John Gill wrote, “The Jews say of the coming Messiah…There are three things, they say, which come, “without knowledge” or unthought of, at an unawares; and they are these, the Messiah, anything that is found, and a scorpion.” (Think about that.)

Interesting analogies. It makes me think of someone knocking on the door at 3 a.m. Or like finding a million dollars in a coat you bought at a secondhand store. But the last example, a scorpion, reminds me of fear, horror, impending doom if stung very far from anyone who could help. I wish that no one would have to experience the terror of being left behind, realizing that they are destined to face every kind of evil in a world that is doomed to destruction.

The hardest part for me is knowing people that will probably be left behind because they didn’t take what I said seriously, things that the Bible warns us about. They may give me a nod of acknowledgment, but other than that the subject will probably never be brought up again unless I bring it up. And it’s not as much because they don’t believe it, but that their lives are so distracted by the things of the world. As I’ve said before, I believe that distraction is one of the devils’ main weapons.

Jesus said that he is coming back. And when He does, it will be very sudden, and very unexpected for many. There will be no last-minute warning for believers, or non-believers alike. God has given us ample warnings about life’s end for a long time. Through death, famines, plagues, natural disasters, and wars, He has shown us that this life is temporary. But as these things happen, it seems that most people just go back to their old way of life, making no plans for their eternal future.

There is a story in the New Testament where a man who went to Hell, asks Abraham, in Heaven, to warn the rest of his family, so that they won’t end up where he was. Abraham told him that they wouldn’t believe, even if someone had been raised from the dead. (Luke 16:19-31) It’s the same today.

God’s people live by faith, not sight. (2ndCorinthians 5:7) So, if you’re expecting a wake-up call from God here it is. He is coming soon. The pieces of the end times scenario that is painted in the Book of Revelation, are being put together. A one world government is planning to replace the “old way” of things very soon. A one world religion is also being arranged. Right now, world religions are working to become one universal religion where all people worship the same god. But it won’t be the God of the Bible. The world is also trying to universalize health care. Sounds like a good idea until you realize that those who run it will determine if you get care or not. The same with banking, a one world currency. It looks like it’s going to be a digital one, which will mean that our purchases will be monitored. Many believe this digital currency will also be the forerunner to the mark of the beast described in the Book of Revelation.

The mark will determine who can buy or sell in the world…

“The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 

It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666.” (Revelation 13:15-18)

“A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, they, too, will drink the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name." 

This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.” (Revelation 14:9-12)

The pieces of the Revelation puzzle will begin to quickly come together once the Rapture happens. This is where you will have to learn to live by faith and not sight. Unless God has a second rapture planned to save those who have been born again in the tribulation, many will be forced to take the mark or die for their faith in Jesus by execution.

But even before that happens many on the Earth will die because of the judgments already poured out on the world after the rapture. And many more will die after. Millions upon millions of people will die. That’s why we try to help people understand that they need to ask Jesus to be their Savior, to save them from what is about to come on the world.

If you do get left behind, you need to give your life to Jesus as soon as possible. You must determine to put your complete faith in what God has written about his plan of Salvation and believe it with all your heart. When you’ve noticed that all the people who were raptured were Christians, then you will know that Jesus is your last hope for eternal life.

Eternal life has already begun for many who have died at some point in their life after asking Jesus to be their Savior. When we’re born again it has been guaranteed. When our time is done, either in these last days prior to the great tribulation, or during it, we will pass over to eternal life immediately, quicker than you can blink your eye. Even for those who are executed. One departed saint, who, before he died, told of a vision that he had of the tribulation. In that vision he was placed on the guillotine to die. When the blade had just barely touched his neck…he was in Heaven.

“I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:4)

I personally don’t want to go to Hell. And I surely don’t want to go through the tribulation either. There are many good reasons to ask Jesus to be your Savior, but avoiding these is among the best. If you are left behind, the odds are that you will not live to the end of it, no matter how healthy or strong you are. Among the judgments that will come on the Earth at that time will be 100-pound hailstones falling from the sky. There will be earthquakes like the world has never seen before. There will be creatures that will inflict unbelievers with so much pain that they will want to die but be unable to. Apparently, that means that you would not be able to take your own life to escape this excruciating pain that will last five months.

For those who have already put their faith in Jesus, they have grown in many ways. They’ve come to understand that our God is a God of love. The only ones who will see His wrath are those who refuse to believe in God. And being a God of love, he is patient.

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2nd Peter 3:9)

So, if you’ve stopped watching for Jesus’ return, now is the time to start again. God has been patient with the world, but He has set an appointed time for his Son’s return. The signs that Jesus talked about are happening all the time now, and they are becoming more severe and frequent, just as He said they would, like birth pains.

If you consider yourself a Christian, but you’ve been caught up in the schemes of this world, and taken your eyes off Jesus, start looking again before it’s too late.

"Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'" (Mark 13:35-37)

I’ve stressed this many times, but there are a lot of people that believe they are Christians who aren’t. Being a Christian has very little to do with going to church or being a good person. Being a Christian is about knowing God, and Him knowing you. God is aware of every person in the world, but He only “knows” the ones that seek Him and spend time praying to Him and reading his word on a regular basis. When we come to “know” God, He will be as a good friend that you could call up and tell your problems to. But with God, you merely think of Him and tell him what you’re going through if there is trouble. Or thanking Him for all the ways that He blesses your life, including the small things throughout the day. And I think one of the best things about God, is how, when you grow close to Him, will help you remember things that the Bible says, things that may help you in your time of need.

But God is not like fire insurance, only there when you need Him, or your imaginary get out of Hell free card. He is not a wish granter like some genie in a bottle. God wants to be in your life at all times, during the good and the bad. He called a man named Abraham his friend. That’s what I want to be called, a friend of God.

If Jesus truly is coming back very soon, perhaps within weeks or months, now is the time to make sure that He’ll be coming for you. As I said, there won’t be any warning signs whatsoever. In the blink of an eye, you will either be in Heaven waiting for God to create the New Earth, or you will be in the Great Tribulation wondering how you’re going to survive.

Oh, and there will be people in the world trying to persuade you that something else happened, like the alien story. Sadly, many will believe them. But if you know people that disappeared who were Christians, then your only course of action is to open your Bible and learn as much as you can quickly. The whole Bible is important, but the main things that you must understand immediately are that God created the world, but it was corrupted by the devils' temptations. When sin entered the world, the clock started ticking for humanity. Now the clock is about to run out so that God can create the New Earth, with no devil, which means no sin. And the New Earth is where we will spend eternity. Not a hundred years, not a thousand, but forever. It really is worth taking a chance on Jesus right now.

As for the reading in your Bible, I would recommend the beginning of Genesis, the New Testament, starting with the Gospel of John, the three other gospels Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Then go through the rest of the New Testament. The Book of Revelation will give you an idea of what you’re up against should you be left behind. In the Book of 1st Thessalonians, in chapters 14 and 15, it talks about the rapture of the church, where we will be caught up to meet Jesus in air. As soon as that happens…the tribulation starts. 

I’ll end with the following verse from Revelation 3, it says…

“Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.” (Revelation 3:10)

So, we have two choices. We can either put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ, or we can choose “the trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.”

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.”

(John 3:16-18)

Will you be saved by Jesus?

Pray right now.

Later may be too late

The Spiritual Warrior

“What does a true spiritual warrior look like?”

One of the most popular sermon topics for many years has been the “Armor of God” in Ephesians 6:10-20. Only a few of the verses contain the following armor, but the other verses include some very vital information, which I will try to explain. When we are suited up in this armor, we are given a belt of truth, a breastplate of righteousness, our feet are fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace, we have a shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit which is the Word of God. Let’s begin by looking at the entire passage from Ephesians 6.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” (Eph. 6:10)

Being “strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” means to be rooted in your faith in God. It means to be well versed in the Word, which means reading your Bible on a day-to-day basis, over and over, to the point of almost knowing what the Scripture is going to say before you read it. It means understanding what you’ve read and looking for answers if a question should arise. That can be done by looking for other verses that relate to it. Praying for guidance when reading your Bible is one of the best ways. Ask God what your question is and wait for a simple word or two from another verse to come to you through the Holy Spirit, a piece of Scripture that God wants you to look at. But if that doesn’t happen, I would recommend looking up the important words that you’re stuck on in a concordance. That would also lead you to similar themed verses. For example:

“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation." (Isaiah 12:2)

Both Ephesians 6:10 and Isaiah 12:2 talk about being strong in the Lord. But this is just a quick example, although, it does give us additional information, including the truths that we should “trust and not be afraid” and that “the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense”.

Being strong “in his mighty power” can mean several things. One, you must realize how powerful your prayers to God really are, even if you don’t feel or see anything. God works in ways that we don’t understand. He has angels that watch over us and do His bidding. Two, we must realize what God has done in the past. You must remember that we still have a God that can part the seas, cause water to come from rocks, rain manna and quail from the sky, and even send angels to destroy enemies that look to strong for us. One of my favorite verses is from the Book of Exodus. It says, “The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." (Exodus 14:14) I also like it because it’s easy to remember the chapter and verse numbers 14:14.

If we are not “strong in the Lord and in his mighty power”, the pieces of armor will be weak. We must train ourselves like any other warriors. J.C. Ryle said, “That Bible is read best, which is practiced most!” We must have faith that our armor will protect us, and even help us to fight. But we must prepare. We can’t wait until the day of battle and then hope that our armor holds up. We must “believe” that it will. And remember that God will never leave you nor forsake you. He will be with you in your battles. And with each battle we must remember that its outcome was God’s will, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.” (Eph. 6:11)

“Put on the full armor of God.” Not just a couple parts, but all of it, because we must be ready for whatever the enemy decides to throw at us…the devil’s schemes. The King James Version of the Bible uses the word “wiles” in place of “schemes”. The word “wiles” comes from the Greek word “methodeia”, from which we get the word “method”. In the Greek it means “traveling over, that is, travesty, (trickery): - wile, lie in wait.” If you’re familiar with the Book of Job, it tells of a discussion between God and the devil…

“The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it." (Job 1:7)

To me, this says that Satan travels to and fro, looking for, and watching, who he might attack. He watches us to know what our habits are. He comes to know all our weaknesses, and strengths, deciding best how to trip us up in our walk with the Lord. So, I think it’s important to know that the devil plans his attacks on us. I don’t think they just happen randomly, but they might. This means that we need to practice, prepare, and walk in our armor constantly. To some this might seem extreme, but if you look at the horrible things that are happening all around us, the murderous plots, the random violence, etc. To walk in this world having on the full armor of God, and knowing how to use it, are crucial.

The last part of verse 11 says, “so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Notice the words “take your stand”? This is the first step towards victory in our fight against the devil. We don’t back down, we don’t run. We stand. Any spiritual battle requires using everything that God has given us, which includes our minds, minds that should be renewed in Christ to be successful.

One of the first Christian books that I ever read was “Winning the War Within” by Charles Stanley. Great book! In it, it describes how a great percentage of our battles with the enemy take place within our own minds. This is where temptations and evil thoughts begin to work when the devil begins his “scheme” against us. One of the most important verses that you must know and understand to be successful in your battles is…

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5)

What this means, is that we need to take the thoughts that the devil tries to “plant” into our minds and remove them before they take root. We do this by take that thought captive and measuring it against God’s Word, his instructions throughout the Bible. If it does not line up with Scripture, then it must be tossed and never considered again. Again, this is where knowing what your Bible says “before” an attack occurs that can help extinguish the darts of the enemy quickly, letting us get back to safe ground. One word of caution: do not act until you are positive of what the Bible says concerning each thought that crosses your path.

We must remember that the devil’s purpose is to stop everything about us that is Christian. That includes destroying our witness, our spiritual strength, and especially our faith in God.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Eph. 6:12)

When we are attacked or confronted by someone that seems bent on harming us in some way, whether it be physically or orally, we must stop as quickly as possible and remember that it is not with him or her that your quarrel is with, but with the demons that are trying to do their bidding through them.

But who are these so-called rulers and authorities, the powers of this dark world? What exactly is meant by spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms?

Every person that has ever lived in a fleshly body was created by God. But not all would become children of God. Some became believers in Jesus and followed God’s ways. But others reject God’s ways and are influenced by the devil and his demons. These same demons are the ones you read about in the Gospels that Jesus freed people from, like the man who was possessed by a multitude of these demons, the ones that called themselves Legion.

The ones that we face today are just as fierce, although not all seem that way. Many people walk around today influenced by demons and don’t even realize it. Sadly, most of them are revealed once the demons have completed their work. Many of those are the ones we hear about through the news.

This is one of the main reasons that we need to understand how important God’s armor truly is. We walk around in a world that is filled with the influence of Satan and his minions. So remember, many things in this world are not as they seem. We must be alert and awake Christians, understanding the times, and the warfare that we may have to engage in at some point.

As far the rulers, authorities, and powers of the dark world go, commentators vary in their descriptions. They range from, a type of demon hierarchy, to humans being in elevated positions of government and influence in our world, that are swayed by demonic leadings. I think both types exist. All you need to do is look at many of the governments in the world and see the tyranny that they impose upon their people. In many countries if you speak of beliefs other than the “official” ones of the government you can be put to death.

How about spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms? First, these heavenly realms are not where God lives. They are the atmosphere above and around us. John Gill writes…

“against spiritual wickedness in high places (KJV); or wicked spirits, as the devils are, unclean, proud, lying, deceitful, and malicious; who may be said to be in "high" or "heavenly places"; not in places super celestial, or in the highest heavens, in the third heaven, where God, angels, and saints are; but in the aerial heavens, where the power or posse of devils reside, and where they are above us, over our heads, overlooking us, and watching every advantage against us; and therefore we should have on our armour, and be in a readiness to engage them.”

So, we must remember that we’re in a war with the Devil, not the rest of humanity. Those who are demon led believe they are, and do fight a physical war, but we as new creations in Christ know the truth, we know the war is spiritual.

As we’re reminded again what Paul wrote…

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

This goes back to having God’s power at our disposal, “divine power to demolish strongholds.” Strongholds would be a good subject to study.

“By strong holds are meant, the strong holds of sin and Satan; such as unbelief, pride, hardness of heart, &c. with which the heart of man is walled (so קירות לב, "the walls of the heart", Jer_4:19) against God and Christ, and the Gospel of the grace of God, and by which Satan fortifies himself, and keeps the palace and goods in peace, until the everlasting doors are thrown open, which were bolted and barred; and these walls of defence are pulled down by the King of glory, who enters in, which is usually done by the power of God, in the ministry of the Gospel: so sins are called strong holds, fortresses, and bulwarks.” (John Gills Commentary)

Every battle that a Christian goes through, big or small, is usually a battle against sin in one way or another. Every time we overcome a sinful habit; we are demolishing a stronghold. These are the places where the devil will occasionally come back and try again to trip us up, but we can look at him and say, “I have overcome your temptations through the power and blood of Jesus Christ!” They will usually flee then. But they never give up, so be aware of that.

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Eph. 6:13)

This verse is telling us to be ready, or prepared, for when the day of evil comes. The “day of evil” can be a day of temptation that has come to try your armor. We must always be prepared, especially as the days we live in now are very evil.

Many years ago, it seemed that evil was less prevalent than it is today, at least here in the United States. Society wasn’t constantly rocked like it is today. But today, evil and lawlessness are everywhere. So, we must have our armor on and be ready for battle each day.

The words “stand your ground” are “withstand” in the KJV. It means to “resist”. To me, the word resist sounds like a prolonging of something, in our case that would be a temptation. When we first meet our opponent on the battlefield, he is subtle, offering us seemingly “good things”, when in fact they are the very items designed to make us put down our armor, in essence fall. These are those times when we can almost hear the voices calling out “go for it” “who’s going to know”, etc. And at the same time another voice is saying “would this please the Lord, or displease Him?” With God, we are to aim to be holy as He is holy. When this battle is won God is pleased and we have become stronger. Amen!

If you want a good example of “standing your ground”, look no further than Acts 27, where Paul and his shipmates endured at least fourteen days straight of the enemy’s wrath on the sea…

“But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.

Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.'

So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.” (Acts 27:22-25)

When I first became a Christian, and read Ephesians 6:13, I always wondered about the end of it where is says “and after you have done everything, to stand.” I always saw this as a call for us to “hold our ground” on this victory, not letting ourselves be brought to battle on it again. But John Gill used one word to describe the last word “stand”. He used the word “conqueror”. So, after we have won our battle, look to the Lord in triumph and claim victory in His Name. Even when it looks like we have lost a battle, do not despair. Henry Ward Beecher wrote…

“Through death came everlasting life. Through crucifixion and the tomb came the throne and the palace of the eternal God. Through apparent defeat came victory.”

“So do not be afraid of suffering or defeat. It is through being “struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:9) and through being broken to pieces, and those pieces being torn to shreds, that become people of strength. And it is the endurance of one believer that produces a multitude.”

“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place” (Eph. 6:14)

The belt of truth is the Gospel, the Good News of what Jesus Christ did on the cross for us. Jesus has already won the war for us. We need only to hold fast to the doctrines that He laid down for us in the Gospel of Grace.

Grace is one of the most important words in Christianity. Grace is what tells us that we don’t have to be perfect, we don’t have to be victorious every single battle. None of us will reach perfection until we are with Jesus in our new glorified bodies. But until that time comes, we are victors through God’s grace.

One note about grace: We must be careful of the enemies wording in his temptations. He may even remind us that “it’s okay” because God’s grace is covering us. But we must remember what Paul wrote when he was teaching on what is permissible and what is not…

"I have the right to do anything," you say—but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"—but not everything is constructive.” (1 Corinthians 10:23)

In my version of the Bible, the New International Version (NIV) it says…

“Everything is permissible” – but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible” – but not everything is constructive.”

This is a verse that I keep in the back of my mind to help me discern whether I should engage in something that might not be Biblical, or God honoring. And like Paul says elsewhere…

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)

Our God will not be mocked, so we must do our best to live lives that will please Him. So when temptations come to you that cause you to “pause”, that’s the time to remember who your God is.

The breastplate of righteousness is knowing that you are backed by God. It is knowing that you are a child of God, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, by the King of Kings Jesus Christ. The devil can’t really defeat you; he can only help you to become stronger if you are clothed with this righteousness. Remember to do all in Christ’s name, the name that is above all names, the name by which legions of demons were cast out of two men who had been tormented but then sat in their right minds wanting to follow their Savior.

The devil will try to discredit and berate you because of your past, but just remember that you are not that person anymore. Now you are a new creation. Amen!

“and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” (Eph. 6:15)

This verse follows closely to the prior one in that it speaks of “gospel of peace”. That is the gospel that reconciled you to God. And in Him you have a peace that passes all understanding, a peace that no one can take away from you. In this peace there is also strength. This peace also helps you to stand, because you are mounted on top the Rock which crushes enemies with the Word of His mouth. With this readiness we can contend for the faith. I like what Psalm 91:7 says…

“A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.”

It reminds me of a passage in the Book of Revelation…

“And his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.

On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:13-16)

“In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” (Eph. 6:16)

To me the shield of faith is one of the most important parts of the armor. I would call it the centerpiece. Our faith should be the strongest part of us. No matter how much we have learned, or yet to learn, our faith will see us through. Keep your eyes on Jesus, as they say. No matter what comes at you that shield will protect you all the way to eternity. As I’ve already said, our foe has been defeated. The only thing he can do now is strengthen you, and even your faith. In God’s army there are only conquerors, who go from strength to strength, until that day they join the “armies of heaven”.

Every single arrow aimed at you can be detoured by your shield, no matter how big or small they are. John Gill points out a strategy that soldiers used to use when facing “flaming arrows”, “And there were ways of quenching the fiery darts alluded to; which was done by skins and hides of beasts made wet, or anointed with alum.”

Our shields are anointed by God’s Holy Spirit which reminds us of what the Word says about this or that type of attack on us. Remember, the attacks are usually aimed our weaknesses from the past. But in Christ you have overcome the past.

“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Eph. 6:17)

Our salvation, and the salvation of others, is what the battle is about. Eternal life. We battle on because lives depend on it. Even though we may be saved, we must fight for others, in prayer, in helps, or whatever is needed. When someone asks you why you continue you on, you can tell them that you are fighting for them, hoping for one more chance to show God’s love for them. Eternal life, who wouldn’t want that? We must tell others, even if it’s with our last breath. I always said that if someone pointed a gun at me, I’d like to tell them to ask God for forgiveness if they should pull the trigger, and that He would forgive them. Then hopefully they would, at some point ask God into their lives.

Now, my favorite part of the armor, the sword of the Spirit, “which is the word of God.” Every single trial that I go through in my life has a Bible verse or passage that will help with it. Once you get that verse ingrained into your mind the Holy Spirit will whisper it to you when the time of decision is near. I cannot tell you how many times the sword of the Spirit has bailed me out of trouble. It works side by side with the belt of Truth. Together they give me the right answer. We don’t need to lean on our own wisdom in this world, God give us his freely. And we must remember what Scripture says about that…

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

It really is that easy. We just must be willing to trust God’s Word.

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people.” (Eph. 6:18)

John Gill said this better than I ever could…

“The last weapon is prayer, and takes in all sorts of prayer, mental and vocal, public and private; and every branch of it, as deprecation of evils, petitions for good things, and thanksgiving for mercies: and which should be used always: this stands opposed to such who pray not at all, or who have prayed, but have left it off; or who pray only in distress, and it suggests, that a man should pray as often as he has an opportunity; and particularly, that he should make use of it in times of darkness, desertion, and temptation: and this, when performed aright, is performed "in the Spirit"; with the heart, soul, and spirit engaged in it; it is put up with a true heart, and a right spirit, and without hypocrisy; in a spiritual way, and with fervency, and under the influence, and by the assistance of the Spirit of God.”

We are in the last of the last days. And with each passing day the enemy knows that his time to disrupt our final missions is at hand. His time is almost over, before the Lord takes his church up into Heaven, to be spared the “hour of testing” as Revelation 3:10 words it.

“Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.”

We must be alert, and understand the times that we are in. We can’t afford to be naïve. The enemy is still prowling around looking for who he can “devour”. We need to stay in the Word daily. We need to pray about everything, and everyone. Prayer is powerful, but only if you use it.

Like the words of Gill above, we must pray with a true heart, spiritually, not memorized. It’s simply telling God what concerns you and asking Him to help you.

I have fallen many times as a Christian, too many to count. But the one thing I learned from them was that if I had sought to know God’s Will, through His Word, I probably would not have made many at all, and saved myself a lot of grief. That’s why the Armor of God is so important. It is the difference between success and defeat in our lives. I was going to write the word “failure” instead of defeat, but failure means to give up, to stop trying. My motto through most of my life was “Never give up!” And it goes double for today.

We are in THE battle for eternity. But sadly, most of the world doesn’t even know it, or they refuse to believe it. Therein lies much our battleground. We must find a way share our shield of faith and helmet of Salvation with those who don’t yet understand. If we were to hand them the keys to a brand-new car they would take it, but eternal life is fantasy to them.

We must have our feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. There are many ways you can do that, but one of the most effective is by giving people your testimony.

Before I was saved, I was a very broken man. I made a lot of mistakes. I lost just about everything. But because of those things I was able to reach out to others who were broken. I could honestly say “I know how you feel.”

Whatever your story is, share it! You can do that online, in person, or like I did at a rescue mission. But you must share your story and the story of God’s Grace upon your life.

When you read the Bible look in the Gospels. Look for what Jesus said about His return, how it would come as a surprise, and many would not be ready. But you are ready! It’s time to suit up and tell the world that Jesus wants to save them from what is about to happen in the world. Tell them it’s about faith, simple faith that puts its trust in a Man that went to a cross and died for every sinner that ever lived though He did nothing wrong. He did it out of love. We should do the same. God Bless!

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you that I can come to you with all my cares and worries knowing that you love me unconditionally. Help me to face each new day with Your victory in my heart. Help me to love all those who You put in my path. Help me to seek you with all my heart each day knowing that Your Word is alive and active, and that I can learn something new every time I open Your Word.

Help me to remember Your great Salvation when I face trials of all kinds. Help me to remember Jesus’ words on the cross, “It is finished.” Help me to remember that those words are meant for my own eternal destiny also, because of what You did for me.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen

If you would like to know more, you can find us at theprintedword.net and on Facebook at The Church of the Broken Hearted and Crushed in Spirit

Or you can contact us at:

pastormikemasters@gmail.com

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He’s Coming Soon!

"In all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us" (Rom_8:37).

This is more than victory. This is a triumph so complete that we have not only escaped defeat and destruction, but we have destroyed our enemies and won a spoil so rich and valuable that we can thank God that the battle ever came. How can we be "more than conquerors"? We can get out of the conflict a spiritual discipline that will greatly strengthen our faith and establish our spiritual character. Temptation is necessary to settle and confirm us in the spiritual life. It is like the fire which burns in the colors of mineral painting, or like winds that cause the mighty cedars of the mountain to strike more deeply into the soil. Our spiritual conflicts are among our choicest blessings, and our great adversary is used to train us for his ultimate defeat. The ancient Phrygians had a legend that every time they conquered an enemy the victor absorbed the physical strength of his victim and added so much more to his own strength and valor. So temptation victoriously met doubles our spiritual strength and equipment. It is possible thus not only to defeat our enemy, but to capture him and make him fight in our ranks. The prophet Isaiah speaks of flying on the shoulders of the Philistines (Isa_11:14). These Philistines were their deadly foes, but the figure suggested that they would be enabled not only to conquer the Philistines, but to use them to carry the victors on their shoulders for further triumphs. Just as the wise sailor can use a head wind to carry him forward by tacking and taking advantage of its impelling force; so it is possible for us in our spiritual life through the victorious grace of God to turn to account the things that seem most unfriendly and unfavorable, and to be able to say continually, "The things that were against me have happened to the furtherance of the Gospel." -- Life More Abundantly

A noted scientist observing that "early voyagers fancied that the coral-building animals instinctively built up the great circles of the Atoll Islands to afford themselves protection in the inner parts," has disproved this fancy by showing that the insect builders can only live and thrive fronting the open ocean, and in the highly aerated foam of its resistless billows. So it has been commonly thought that protected ease is the most favorable condition of life, whereas all the noblest and strongest lives prove on the contrary that the endurance of hardship is the making of the men, and the factor that distinguishes between existence and vigorous vitality. Hardship makes character. -- Selected

"Now thanks be unto God Who always leads us forth to triumph with the Anointed One, and Who diffuses by us the fragrance of the knowledge of Him in every place" (2Co_2:14, literal translation).

From Streams In The Desert