Tag Archive | perilous times

LYING HERE, DECEPTION THERE-HEED THE RIGHT VOICE

Oct27

Every day we draw closer to the day of our LORD’s appearance! When we turn on our electronic devices or listen to the news we can see the forces of darkness encroaching in on our world. Men and women are being used to perpetuate fear, dread and separation among families, friends and communities. The media is collaborating with the oligarchs in trying to push out a constant stream of division and so many are falling for the lies being pushed. BE AFRAID OF YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. BE AFRAID OF ANYONE THAT DIFFERS IN OPINION TO YOU.

It is tragic that even some followers of Christ have accepted this mantra and are allowing fear, an enemy of faith, to govern their actions. Fear is keeping them from reaching out to others and sharing the gospel. It is keeping them from gathering with fellow believers as we have been told to continue to do, even more so as the day of the LORD draws closer.

I pray that we all will take our eyes off of the current agenda and focus on the Creator of the universe. The ONE that is able to keep us through storms, trials and anything else that may come at us. The ONE that is still in control. He has already told us how things end and HE and we win! Though we see leaders of every level of government seemingly pushing the same agenda, worldwide, we do not need to fixate on their plans.

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”~Matthew 10:16 The Holy Spirit will give us the discernment and wisdom to see what is going on if/when we ask Him. He will also equip us to navigate through the mire while retaining our love for others. It is so easy to get caught up in bitterness and anger towards those bringing about the current tyranny worldwide. One only needs to look at Australia to see how the people are being oppressed on every level. Our natural inclination is to say, “LORD where are you? Why aren’t you doing anything to help the people?” However, none of this is catching God off guard. In fact He warned us about what would be coming to this world. He also told us to not be afraid! It is not up to us to deal with those oppressing the people. It is beyond our capabilities. That being said, we need not worry about the instigators getting away with all these things. Jesus told us as much.

Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but WOE TO HIM through whom they do come!~Luke 17:1

When the Son of God says, “Woe to him,” we know they will be dealt with in God’s time. Our job is to continue to speak the truth, love on others, encourage the body of Christ and share the gospel with those we meet. Unapologetically.

So if you are feeling overwhelmed with all you see and hear, turn your eyes back onto the Savior. Ask Him for discernment which you will need to see what is really going on and for the wisdom to walk through it in victory! Let His voice drown out all the fear and division. Titus 2:1-13 tells us how to live while we wait on the appearance of our beautiful King!

As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching.  Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience.

 Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good.  These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children,  to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.

 In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely.  And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching.  Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.

 Slaves must always obey their masters and do their best to please them. They must not talk back  or steal, but must show themselves to be entirely trustworthy and good. Then they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every way.

 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people.  And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God,  while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.

Be blessed!

LYING HERE, DECEPTION THERE-HEED THE RIGHT VOICE

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What is OUR New Normal?

Oct20

There is a prevailing attitude today that if we follow certain instructions our lives will be able to go back to ‘normal’. I suspect there is nothing further from the truth. What the world has considered ‘normal’ is no longer on the agenda for those powers that be who wish to usher in their ‘new normal’. It is likely these same people and organizations will just keep moving the goal posts to include more and more requirements and restrictions. These things are precursors for the coming Tribulation. A way of training the masses to follow the leader that will appear one day. We must do something they have mandated in order to be able to do commerce etc. It should sound familiar if you have read the book of Revelation.

Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth. He had two horns like those of a lamb, but he spoke with the voice of a dragon.  He exercised all the authority of the first beast. And he required all the earth and its people to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed.  He did astounding miracles, even making fire flash down to earth from the sky while everyone was watching.  And with all the miracles he was allowed to perform on behalf of the first beast, he deceived all the people who belong to this world. He ordered the people to make a great statue of the first beast, who was fatally wounded and then came back to life.  He was then permitted to give life to this statue so that it could speak. Then the statue of the beast commanded that anyone refusing to worship it must die.

 He required everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead.  And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name. Wisdom is needed here. Let the one with understanding solve the meaning of the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is 666.~Revelation 13:11-18

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you need to know that the days we are living in are those that Apostle Paul warned us about in his letters to Timothy.

 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:  For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,  traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,  having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!  For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,  always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.  Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith;  but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.~2 Timothy 3:1-9

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.  But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.~2 Timothy 4:3-5

Jesus Himself warned us of these days.

Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you,  for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many.  And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately.  Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.  But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.~Matthew 24:4-8

Does any of this sound familiar? We don’t have to look to far to see just how close we are to the time of His appearance! He is soon going to appear to His church! That is us! Those who love Him and follow Him and are excitedly awaiting His appearance.

We tell you this as it came from the Lord. Those of us who are alive when the Lord comes again will not go ahead of those who have died.  For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a loud call. The head angel will speak with a loud voice. God’s horn will give its sounds. First, those who belong to Christ will come out of their graves to meet the Lord.  Then, those of us who are still living here on earth will be gathered together with them in the clouds. We will meet the Lord in the sky and be with Him forever.  Because of this, comfort each other with these words.~1 Thessalonians 4:15-18

 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,  teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,  looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,  who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

 Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.~Titus 2:11-15

So for those of us awaiting His appearance, we don’t need to rely on our leaders for our life to return to ‘normal’. Our ‘new normal’ has nothing to do with the patterns of this world. Our ‘new normal’ will be spending time in eternity with our beautiful Savior and King, Jesus Christ! It is so important we remember this world is NOT our home. We are to occupy and fulfill the purposes He has for our lives while we are here, but we cannot emotionally or spiritually set up permanent camp here. So please don’t hold on too tight to those things that can easily be taken from you. Hold on to the eternal! Guard your relationship with Christ. Pray for your family and those in your community to come to know Him as Lord and Savior. Serve others and keep looking up.

Blessings!

Time is Too Short to Waste

Jan8

Brothers and sisters in Christ, if there were ever a time to pray that time is now. We see prophecy unfolding before our very eyes. Every day is one step closer to the Great Tribulation. Worldwide countries are implementing more and more rules in order to prepare people for the coming new world order. There is no coincidence this is happening at a time such as this. The Bible warned us these days would come and we are now seeing them on our doorstep. No longer can people ignore the massive changes that have been brought about using the pandemic as a platform for change.

All that being said, the most important thing we can do at this time is pray. Pray for our unsaved loved ones. Pray for our leaders that have allowed themselves to be blinded by greed, power and many other things. Pray for our children and grandchildren. Pray for those in ministry. Pray for wisdom. Pray for discernment. Pray for the body of Christ all over the world.

Along with prayer, we must keep ourselves in the word of God. Daily. There is no replacement for allowing the word of God to feed us spiritually. Less television. Less news. Less activities that will not bring about any growth. We need to be strong in the Lord for the days ahead. We are not to lay in bed with the blankets pulled over our head and wait on Christ’s appearance. We need to be abiding in Christ as we fulfill the purposes He has called us to do.

If you’ve been waiting to share the gospel with someone, share it now. If you’ve felt lead to get involved in some type of ministry that would allow you to serve the Lord, do it now. Stop waiting for things to go back to normal. The future is never going to be the same as our old “normal.”

Run the race that Christ has set before you. Let go of any bitterness or malice. Let go of any unforgiveness. Don’t allow old Slewfoot to distract you with things that will keep you from accomplishing what the Lord has called you to do. Apostle Paul warned us of these days. 2 Timothy chapter 3 was written for days just like this. Take heart and listen to his words to Timothy.

You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times.  For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.  They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good.  They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.  They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

They are the kind who work their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires.  (Such women are forever following new teachings, but they are never able to understand the truth.)  These teachers oppose the truth just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. They have depraved minds and a counterfeit faith.  But they won’t get away with this for long. Someday everyone will recognize what fools they are, just as with Jannes and Jambres.

But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance.  You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it.  Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.  But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.

 But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.  You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.  God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.

Doesn’t this sound familiar? Corruption, deception and evil flourishing? You don’t have to look far to see all of the above. However, I love how Paul finishes here with just how we are to go through the days ahead. Remain faithful to the things you have been taught! Know the Scriptures as they give you wisdom that lead to salvation and they teach us what is true and where we may be going wrong in our lives. The Scriptures correct us and teach us to do what is right and God will use it to prepare and equip His people for every good work. That is the format! That is why it is imperative we stay in the Word of God. Daily.

So as we navigate through 2021 and wait on our Blessed Hope of Christ’s appearance to take us home, pray more. Keep an open line of communication with our Father. Spend time in the Scriptures for all the reasons Paul gave us! Do every good work that God sets before you. Stay about your Father’s business while we wait on His Son to call us home.

Be blessed!