End Time Events

In 1948, God orchestrated three major signs of the times of His soon return to the earth: Israel was given land and made a nation again, the World Council of Churches was formed, and the European Union organized and started to grow into the Revised Roman Empire.

Most people are not even aware of these three major fulfillments of Biblical prophecy, nor would they even care if they knew about them. They are just too preoccupied with building their own little kingdom in the earth.

The famine of the Word of God being preached, the apathy in people in these later years, and the great falling away of whole generations of children and young adults are three more signs of the close proximity of Christ's return.

We often wonder why our prayers seem to hit the ceiling and bounce back, why God is silent when we seek Him or what is causing our lack of desire to read God's Word.

It could be because we are taking God for granted. We are dull of hearing and lack fervency in our prayers. We stopped seeking Him a long time ago, except when we need a favor or for Him to rescue us from a tight spot in our life.

We find every excuse to stay home from worshipping with the church, and we use the money we earn that belongs to God to pay for our numerous "toys" and vacations every year.

God calls us to make Him a priority in our life and to serve Him with our whole body, soul and spirit as the temple of His Holy Spirit, directed by the Spirit to make a difference in our world for Christ.

Prayer:

Father God, our focus in this life is preoccupied with this world and the affairs of our own personal life. We forget that we are no longer citizens of this world, but we are now strangers and pilgrims here (1 Peter 2:11). We get so wrapped up in our own goals and desires that we fail to see Your will for our individual life.

The urgency we used to feel for the return of Christ to claim His Bride waned. Issues in this world take precedence over our maturity in the spiritual realm. Therefore, we need You to strike a spark in our heart that will catch our soul on fire. Drive us to return to our first love with You; and out of this love, to share the Gospel with anyone willing to listen. 

Thought for the Day:

It is important for us to stop taking God for granted and to start sharing the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone we meet. They may reject us; but we lead them to a crossroad in their life, and they must then make a decision to believe in Jesus as their Savior or to reject Him and condemn their own life to eternity in hell. - John 3:18

Sent Forth by the Spirit

God set the earth in motion and created it for human beings to occupy until He comes (Luke 19:13). He has a plan and purpose for all of this. It is not some random explosion of gas, quirk of fate or a trick by the ethereal cosmos. God is gathering to Himself all those who love Him. When Jesus ascended into Heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us (John 14:26, 16:13). As we await Christ’s return, His Spirit leads us to the areas of life where we are needed most (Acts 13:4).

 

God is the Master Architect and He uses us as living stones to build His earthly Temple (1 Peter 2:4-6). He shows us His will for each moment of our day. He may call you to work in a secular job in order to share the Gospel of Christ with those you come in contact with every day; or He may call you to pastor, evangelize, teach, preach or to start churches (1 Corinthians 12:28). He empowers us all to accomplish His purpose for each of our days (Philippians 2:12-13).

 

Some teach that a parked car cannot be steered; so, we need to be moving for the Spirit to direct us. This is false theology. Christ lives in us by His Spirit (Romans 8:9-11). We wait on God’s direction each morning and walk only by His Spirit throughout the day. We live in the moment without regret over the past or fear of the future. This prevents us from functioning by human effort and producing carnal works for God.

 

It is easy to hear God each moment of the day, if we are in constant communication with Him (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Only the heart that is empty of ambition, pride and rebellion can accomplish the works of God. Large, famous and wealthy are not necessarily signs of God’s blessings (Revelation 3:17). God is love; and those who walk in His love by the direction of His Spirit, live in His will and receive His true and eternal blessings (1 John 4:8).

 

Prayer:

Father God, teach us not to live according to the ways of the world, but by the direction of Your Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:12). You save us by the power of the cross, sanctify us by the power of Christ’s blood, and then conform us to the image of Christ by Your Spirit (Romans 8:29). Create a clean heart in us and help us to abide in Christ and to follow Your Spirit’s guidance every moment of every day in which we live on this earth. We look forward to living with You in glory.

 

Thought for the Day:

If God reveals to you that your self-will, self-centeredness, self-exaltation and self-life are controlling you, do not be afraid to completely surrender to God’s Spirit, because He will conform you to the image of Christ.

 

Why is Jesus Waiting to Return?

(Published in Penned From the Heart - 2011)

Read: 2 Peter 3:4-10

“And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” - 1 John 2:28 (NKJV)

Those in Peter’s day had the same question people do today. When will Christ return? Scoffers like to ridicule faithful Christians about our predictions of this blessed event. Peter answered their question by explaining that time has no relevance for the Lord.

Newton may have discovered the laws of nature, but God set them all into motion. He even set up His calendar of events before the beginning of time (Titus 1:2). God sees the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10), and His Word predicts the damnable results of our human choices.

Therefore, His patience prevents Him from returning until the cup of His wrath is full (Revelation 14:10; Romans 2:5). He is actually unwilling for anyone to suffer the torments of hell forever. Now, when people complain to me that my God does not keep His promises, I remind them that God loves them too much to come too soon.

Prayer:

Lord God, thank You for Your inclusive patience and unfailing grace.
Teach us not to grow weary in doing good, but to look forward to
Your imminent return as we continue telling others about Your eternal love.

Thought for the Day:

God loves us the most when we deserve it the least.