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

Light in the Darkness

 

Darkness can be terrifying, dangerous and even deadly. However, God shines His light out of darkness in order to reveal to the whole world the knowledge of His glory in the presence of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6).

Jesus is the Light of the World (John 8:12). He gave Himself to us, so we can bear witness of God to others. He freely gives Himself to us and makes us the light of the world through His presence within us (Matthew 5:15).

Without Christ in us, the world would be doomed to eternal darkness. However, those souls currently cursed with the darkness are illuminated by God's love and hope in us (Luke 1:67-79). Some of them are intimidated or convicted by this light and reject us because of it.

Others are immune to the variation of light, because they love their darkness so much. They are proud of their dark deeds, applaud others who choose the same path they chose, and make it a habit to rebel against what they consider God's restraints on their life.

We simply need to take the opportunity to share Christ with as many people as will listen to what we have to say. We shine brightly in their dark world; and like a moth, many are attracted by the light of Christ in us.

They want what we have as we exhibit peace in our circumstances, joy in our trials and His rest in this world of unrest. We are not affected by the government or issues in this life, because we are actually citizens of Heaven instead.

We live above the chaos and darkness all around us, with glowing faces and confident lives - reflecting Jesus from within us. He is our strength and our true source of lasting joy.

Prayer:

Father God, through Christ in us, we do not rely on our human achievements, wisdom or strength. Jesus alone is our salvation. He reigns supreme in our life as we follow Your Spirit's direction. Heaven is Your throne and the earth is Your footstool (Isaiah 66:1); yet, You know our thoughts, words and deeds.

You are high and lifted up and Your robe fills the temple (Isaiah 6:1) You are our Exalted One and You hold all the issues of life in Your control (Philippians 4:6-7). You live within each Born Again Believer by Your Spirit and direct every step we take as we commit them to You (Galatians 2:20). 

Thought for the Day:

Jesus is the light of the world, and there is no darkness in Him. - 1 John 1:5

The Most Holy Place

A curtain hung between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle and temple and separated the presence of God from the Israelite priests who served there.

Only the high priest was allowed into the Most Holy Place, and only after a strict regimen of cleansing. Jesus cleanses us from our humanity, so that we may serve the Living God through His divinity within us (Hebrews 9:14).

As Jesus took His last breath on Calvary's cross, the temple curtain split in half from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). Most scholars believe that God orchestrated this torn Temple curtain as an object lesson for us.

It illustrates and signifies the fact that we cannot earn our way to heaven, but we can now enter the presence of God by the blood of Jesus with confidence in our salvation (Hebrews 10:19).

When we accept Jesus as our Savior, He sets His seal of ownership on us and gives us His Spirit as a down payment of our inheritance (2 Corinthians 1:22).

Once we repent of our sins, ask for forgiveness and surrender our will to Him, He moves into our Born Again spirit and resides within us all through our lifetime. He places us in His Body and we work together for His glory.

We are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). Christ lives in us (Colossians 1:27). Our Spirit is the Most Holy Place where God resides. God makes us a holy sanctuary in which He can dwell (Exodus 25:8).

Cleansed from sin by the blood of the perfect Lamb of God (1 Peter 1:19), we are His priests and we shall reign with Him during the Millennium for 1000 years and then serve Him throughout eternity (Revelation 20:6).

Prayer:

Father God, You are our safe haven and our power to deal with temptation and persecution (Psalm 46:1). Even in the most unthinkable and earth shattering circumstances, with our faith in Your faithfulness, we have no reason to fear (Psalm 46:1-3). We consider trails as a time of great joy, because they are an adventure with You (James 1:2).

We stop our stressing and watch You work in our behalf (James 1:2; Psalm 46:10). We are Your children (Romans 8:15). You promise never to leave us or to forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). You are our Mighty God who saves us and abides within us. You celebrate over us with delight. You calm us with Your love. You even rejoice over us with thunderous singing (Zephaniah 3:17).

Thought for the Day:

Our hope in Christ is the sure and steadfast anchor for our soul. – Hebrews 6:19