What then shall we say to a Sovereign God?

Love me and I will set you free, follow me and you will see your lives transformed, believe and you shall live with me in eternity.  What a simple concept this offer given by God to every man and woman.  As practical people, skeptics or even those with a “show me” attitude, this idea is largely un-testable.  For how may any man believe without believing?  That is the elusive quantity of faith, that it cannot be experienced without a personal decision to follow its hopefulness.  That is why Christians, who have chosen to live a visible, audit-able life walked with Jesus are essential to God’s offer of salvation.  Without physical evidence of those willing to live by faith, faith remains in its conceptual, theoretical form.  Therefore each of us, as Christians, serves an essential role/purpose in God’s Plan simply by walking in the light of Jesus.

Could God decide to reveal Himself to every man and woman, removing the veil that shrouds their current understanding?  Absolutely.  Will He choose to enlighten every one to His presence and sovereignty?  Absolutely.  Though these answers are in the affirmative, the component or variable that matters most in life has been extracted from the positive answer, time.  Time does not matter to God for He is outside of its constraining impact, but He uses time to demonstrate His patience, His love and His sovereignty.  God has told each of us what we must know in order to make a belief decision, but each of us has also been granted the time to come to that decision.  That is the nature of love, patience and the consequence of judgment, in that each of us gets to make a personal choice within the impending confines of time.  Many chastise or mock God because of time, misunderstanding that because He has not yet enacted judgment against all wickedness and unbelief, believing falsely that He will continue to hold back His Hand of Sovereign Righteous Judgment.  God’s patience is demonstrative of His Grace and Love for His creation.  We as Christians must have the character to warn those who incorrectly define this patience as an excuse to remain in sin or take a posture of mediocrity, for each of these lead to eternal separation from God.

God has revealed Himself to creation in methods that are indisputable so that each of us has no excuse when choosing to believe or ignore His graceful offer.  Equally every Christian has “no excuse” when choosing to ignore God’s direction and purpose for our lives.  Our judgment will be in giving explanation to Almighty God for our inaction or missed stewardship of the time, talents and power we have been given for His Glory.  Isn’t it amazing that love, time and choice are intertwined.  We cannot love without choice, we cannot demonstrate love without time and we cannot choose to believe without love for God.  A love and a choice that He made outside of time to offer each of us the salvation we crave desperately.  Jesus came into time, accepting the cup of God’s role, choosing to love us more that His own life, fulfilling His part in God’s plan for humanity.  What would have happened to each of us Christians if He had chosen otherwise?  Aren’t you glad that He chose to love us enough to die for all creation in the time that He had here on Earth?

May we as Christians choose not to serve?  Absolutely.  For love requires choice, and each of us must make our own.  The question is not focused upon the quality and efficacy of our excuses, but rather on the quality and the measure of our belief in the  devotion and Love of God.  For He loved us absolutely, we cannot therefore offer any excuse acceptable to dismissing us from  the responsibility of telling every one we know of His Love for the World.  We are simply left with God’s gift of a choice, made in time based on love for they are inseparable.  Will you choose in the timing allotted to serve God’s Love for your life by pointing others to the Salvation found only through belief in Jesus?  Will you walk in the light and truth of Christianity, such that everyone coming in to contact with you shall see the benefits of belief?  Will you show the truth of faith by telling people our time is running short for the night is coming when the opportunity for choice will run out.  What will you say to a Sovereign God when you meet Him?  I hope there will be no need for excuse.  In the Mighty Name of Jesus I pray for your conviction and strength.

Devotion

The Pregnancy, The Purpose and The Person of our devotion.

The word devotion is pregnant with meaning, filled deeply with historical and practical guidance for the Christian life.  Devotion, has been described as a feeling, a pledge, a spiritual duty of fealty and those descriptions don’t even touch upon this word’s implications regarding loyalty, steadfastness and love.  It is a noun that may be used as adjective or utilized describe the rich, strong roots of a man’s dedication to work, family and Father God.  What then are we to think of this word as it passes by our minds in brief inspection?

Think on this.  What is the difference in comparison between commitment and dedication?  Can you effectively describe the veiled nuances that discriminate their use?  Is one used for duty and the other for prayer or are they simply interchangeable in their meaning, tone, use and timing?  How does Christian devotion differ from that of any single man who does not know God?  Does it bother us that each Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, Wicken and agnostic follow their own daily devotions, each believing themselves a bit more worthy after practiced prayer and ritualistic murmur?  What then establishes Christian devotion as unique, resembling none other in its content, shape, practice and purpose?  Why, that uniqueness is found clearly, simply, unmistakably in the “object” of our devotion the Lord Jesus Christ.  For see it is the not the quality, quantity, consistency or content of our devotions, that make them precious but the fact that our God is worthy to be praised.

Why then is God so worthy of our unrequited devotion, our steadfast love, our undiminished dedication to service in the completion of His Will?  Perhaps we may for a moment think on the etymology of its inspiration, where did the word devotion arise?  Some say 12th century, some say 4th, but the Jewish People or those who have studied God’s Word know much better.  Just as God’s Word is filled with seemingly infinite layers of meaning, symbolism and personal conviction, as is customary of the Holy Spirit inspired thought, the Jewish word, Hesed, provides ample content for investigation.  See we often take things for granted in our own lives and miss the opportunity to truly peel back the layers of complexity, even with regard to our children, our spouses and our interactions with the Almighty and His Creation.  Hesed is not one of those words that may not be simply defined in a single word, or even phrase, but it best describes God’s Loyalty to the Jewish People.  It represents a loyalty to someone that has nothing to do with their actions, disobedience, rejection, kindness or dedication.  God has always been loyal to the Jewish Nation, because He committed to do so.  That type of loyalty is not easily described, just as in the word devotion, God’s Love for Israel transcends the simple classification of noun, verb or modifying adjective, it is an action, a thing, a way of living and a complex love.

Why then do we not contemplate God’s Loyalty with such commitment or devotion?  Are we to mimic this loyalty, of course, that is the challenge of God’s Christian, as set forth by Jesus in Matthew 22:34-39 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.  This is the level of devotion to which we have each been called and unconditional devotion to God above all things and to love in the way that He has loved us even when we but sinners.  We should also praise Him for His steadfast loyalty to Israel, even when they openly disobeyed and challenged Him He has never once been unfaithful.  That my friends is devotion.

What then of the purpose for our devotion?

Is devotion a thing to be turned to ritual, calling us to rote prayer,  proclaiming us worthy by works of piety?  Of course not, the devotion we are meant to express may be described in a graph of a line over time.  Imagine the X and Y axis with the horizontal line being a time, running from left to right and the vertical line being level of devotion.  Each man’s devotion, not unlike sanctification may only be a thing measured over time.  Just as God’s Loyalty to the Jews was only visible through steadfast demonstration of the millennia, our loyalty must be demonstrated and grown as a slope of the line, a function over time.  No one may know if a man is loyal unless that man demonstrates that quality over time.  The center line of the graph is Jesus, and after we meet we either increase in devotion stay flat or decrease.  We all hope to be thought as entirely dependable and trustworthy, but each of knows that our lines probably goes up, down then up again all the way until we reach that day when we meet Jesus.  Is devotion a reasonable measure for the character of man?  I think so, perhaps you agree?

Can we remain fully devoted to Jesus Christ the King by standing still in our Christian walk?  Is our any increase of devotion dependent on faith, sanctification and continue walking with the Lord?  If this is established truth then isn’t devotion one of the characteristics that we must attend regularly in our marriages, our work relations, our friendships, prayer and worship?  Can we practically consider that we shall ever resemble God’s Loyalty without intentional focus upon the building blocks of fealty?  Can we make up our minds to be devoted, increase our devotion, build our devotion or is increased devotion similar to forgiving an enemy, so difficult that we must have the Holy Spirit’s assistance to accomplish the task?  I think that devotion is so deep in its meaning, so rare in its importance, so desirous to every Christian man that we should take the steps and know that God is “Loyal” to complete the work that He first began in each of us.

What then makes this task so easy?  It is that the object of our devotion is the Lord Jesus Christ.  Do you know Him?  Do you comprehend to whom you have sworn your undying loyalty?  Ephesians 1:15-23 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.  Are you seeing the hope of His calling, are you seeing the reason for the practicality of your devotion, that Christ deserves our 100% devotion, our very best, our “all”, the last drop of our sweat, blood and treasure,  because that is what He gives us, “always”.  Christ has never sinned against us, yet He gives us unmeasured loyalty, grace and forgiveness because He chooses to do so.  Shouldn’t our “reasonable” act of service to Him first include a dedication, pledge and action plan to remain devoted in our relationships as a visible commitment to reflect His type of devotion.

Praise God in the Mighty, Faithful and merciful name of Jesus Christ the King.

 

Regard

Time for Courage, standing and walking by faith.  Brethren, may the Grace and Peace of the Lord Jesus Christ visit and remain with you this day.  The storm approaches, the cost of Christianity rises in the West, as the enemies of God begin to surround Israel with ill intent.  Have you forsaken prayer or has this time of heightened anxiety brought you more frequently to your knees for saintly intercession?  Are you praying for Israel, daily?  Are you keeping Holy even as God is Holy, remembering and cautiously avoiding spotting by the world?  Have you surrendered to the Gospel and God’s Hand upon you or are you waiting until the last moment to fill your lamp with the oil of the Holy Spirit?  Oh, I see you prefer to play the odds, gamble a bit.  Then, as you are accustomed to the precarious nature of chance and probability,  you won’t be surprised by losing, rather, only by the return of the Master for the faithful.  For it is written that He shall come like a thief in the night, so only the diligent/prepared will be ready for that imminent and unpredictable return.

What do you say about the circumstances in the sphere of Israel?  Are you aware, studied and showing yourself approved as a witness for the Gospel in declaring what the Bible says is being unveiled in the Middle East?  Do you even know the prophecies regarding the wars and battles that involve the nation of Israel?  Does God give them victory and if so what will that victory do for our nation and others?  Do you know that Damascus Syria will become completely uninhabitable?  You didn’t, well then maybe you have some questions to ask of your pastor.  How is Russia’s military move in Syria, right now, so instructive about the time surrounding God’s unfolding plan?  You didn’t think much of it, then perhaps you should be doing some internet searches about what the Bible says regarding Russia’s involvement in God’s plan for Israel?  Maybe its an interesting and realistic topic enough for a church or small group Bible study?  Or maybe you will avoid it choosing to be lulled to sleep or have your ears tickled or feelings stroked by the encouraging, self-help preaching of a polished, business worthy pastor.  These days are evil, guard your hearts do not be led astray by false doctrine and social engineering in the guise of Godly houses of worship.  Remember there are conditions for the “truth setting a person free”.  Don’t just fall for the out of context Bible quoting acceptable to the world.  Know God’s Word.

John 8:32 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.

http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_opinion.php?id=13799  Israel is concerned enough to meet with Putin, doesn’t that raise your curiosity level enough to enter into prayer regarding this issue?

Lord God, forgive my unrepentant heart.  Bring me to a place of true contrition, service and walking by faith.  Father, bring me out of any church who fails to listen to Bible cautions or rebukes regarding departure from sound doctrine and Biblical Truth.  Make me an honest contender for the faith, standing upon Bible Truth where my feet shall never be moved.  Give me lasting faith to withstand these evil days and never turn my head to the right or left while pulling the plow for Christ.  His yoke is light so it is easy for the beast of burden to choose to look away.  Give me that blind faith of old.  Lord I don’t yet know where you are sending me but I am packing my bags, praying and preparing my armor for the trip.  In the voluntary and obedient spirit of Isaiah, I say, “here I am Lord send me”.  For I know that I am inadequate and unworthy of myself, but it is the Blood of Christ that makes me so.  Standing ready, with my lamp filled and my eyes scanning the heavens for signal of your return.  Praise God in Jesus’ Name.

Help them Father

So many lost, so many wandering through the desert unable or unwilling to receive Your Grace, so many looking for evidence where only faith resides.  Leaders recounting their resumes instead of pleading for God’s wisdom.  Followers reluctant, rebellious or impervious to good advice.  A church praying for peace when the Bible says that turmoil approaches and the only peace is found through relationship with Christ.  What then of our enemies?  Are they understood, are they inactive, idle or disinterested, or perhaps is the enemy fielding troops, dispatched for specific reason, armed to steal our joy and purpose?  What is the truth that we want to believe, for we know the Truth of God’s Word, but it apparently does not pique or please our collective perspective?  Which master do we serve?

Passionate and persistent participation in prayer may be the clearest evidence of belief.  If my personal powers of persuasion and protection are impotent where spiritual battle prevails.  Then why must I continue in the folly of unbent knee, hoping for another outcome or simply choosing to remain defeated when victory is readily received?  What is it about the human spirit which causes us to rebel especially to the point where solid wisdom would immediately/permanently relieve our predicament?  Is the original sin that consuming or have even we who have been set free remained deceived, reluctant and wounded beyond salvation?  The condemnations and accusations of a defeated foe should consistently fall upon deaf ears, yet I daily see the tears of saints who continually ponder their own inadequacy.  Our inadequacy is what makes salvation so precious, it is the awesome majesty behind God’s Gracious Gift.  None of us can do it, none of us deserve it, none of us defeated or is capable of defeating God’s enemies.  The completion of Works or victory has nothing to do with us except that we are willing to stand and let God achieve victory using us as conduit.  We are only important because God loves us so much.

I cannot help them but to point them to God, kindly and gently suggest God’s Wisdom through His Word and regularly go to the mat in defense of them by petitioning my Father in prayer.  But isn’t that enough?  Have we been so subtly and effectively convinced that somehow this world and all that is created by God has some mysterious capacity to overwhelm and outdo God?  This world and all that is in it, including God’s fallen creation are subject to the Will and whim of Almighty God.  He rules and no lie or fiction may convince humanity otherwise, unless of course we do not wish that God is Sovereign, or perhaps that we refuse to believe in His Grace and Gospel.  For unbelief is the only sustaining reason by which any man may fear enemy successes.  For in Knowing God we are relieved of all deception and are made peaceful in the knowledge of God’s resounding, unavoidable and rapidly approaching judgment of all whom contend against His command.

I pray for you now, my Brother, Sister, Wife, Father, Mother, Son and Daughter, for that is demonstration of my greatest love for You and My resounding Love for God.  It is my greatest honor that I may humbly approach the King of Everything, I will not forsake that gift, especially when I know it overwhelms all obstacles, enemies and strongholds aligned against us.  Be faithful as God is faithful to us.  Share the Good News of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, so that all might come to a saving Knowledge of the Truth and be saved.  Pray continuously as God has directed and remain in the shelter of His Wings as we approach the calamitous episodes preceding His Glorious Appearing.  In Jesus Holy and Mighty Name, a Name above all others, A name whose simple mentions causes enemies to flee.  Amen.

Not A Member

What has the world to do with the Bride of Christ the King?  When did churches become businesses, tracking assets, fielding staff/employees and paid clergy as the hierarchy of mirrored worldly organizations?  What does a church have to do with conducting business meetings, salary reviews and financial updates where church leaders establish themselves as the authorities for church pursuits?  What is repentance and what is obedience?  What is the practice of the Nicolaitans and why did the Lord Jesus say that He hates those practices in His Epistle of Revelation 2?  If the Lord Jesus took time to speak directly into the lives of His Church, why aren’t Pastors concentrating on the message given us by Christ in this final Epistle of the Bible?

Could it be that they fear loss of authority, challenge to salary or worse yet a need for collective repentance?  I am frustrated by the continual, often and repeated misuse and misunderstanding of 2 Chronicles 7:14 by the churches as a finger pointed externally to those who need repent.  Revival begins in my heart, in my recognition and repentance of sin or disobedience to God, asking forgiveness and healing for my own propensity to wickedness.  I believe that is why we do not see revival in this country, because we are collectively disobedient as the Bride of Christ.  I believe that the Holy Spirit has been quenched in the churches by turning them into businesses, establishing paid clergy to take upon themselves the duty that was meant for all of us.  By giving up the Power of Spirit given us so that we might go and be witnesses to Christ’s Glory in the reaches of the Earth.  By abdicating the responsibility for discipleship to the staff or those obedient few.  I believe that a church unwilling or disobediently refusing to fulfill God’s Commands does not love God and chooses to serve the worldly aspects of self through organized worship and self-designed donation of time, talent and treasure.

http://www.lightsource.com/ministry/refuel-with-rick/articles/who-were-the-nicolaitans-and-what-was-their-doctrine-and-deeds–14510.html

Why do churches all follow the same schedule of events each week, regardless of denomination?  Opening music, opening prayer, announcements, prayer of benediction, pastoral welcome, pastoral preaching, invitation, music, dismissal, fellowship.  Where is the Holy Spirit’s leading in the pulpits of today’s churches?  How do programmed or ritualized/scheduled sermon’s serve the Spirit’s direction?  Why aren’t pastor’s teaching all the men of the church to preach and preparing all parishioners for discipleship?  Why do churches believe that it is necessary to enroll members or exclude Christians from certain “privileges” or church assets, treating believers as investors or club members?  The established church is full of believers in Christ.  Unfortunately it has also been infiltrated by unbelievers seeking spiritualism, fellowship and worldly social inclusion.  Additionally, if we are not practicing, teaching and demanding Spirit filled service or fruitful evidence of salvation then aren’t we as disobedient as any one else?  The time for my repentance is upon me.  I pray that revival begins in my own heart and that small flame ignite the kindling nearby.

Father, teach me to pray, serve and seek you through obedience to my grace given position as a believer.  Have me boldly speak out against ritualism and worldly worship so that people might, like myself see their own adulterated reflection and see the need for repentance and submission.  Father, if my words be true let them strike the heart of believers such that they do not wish to simply silence the messengers but seek you in repentance, truth and service.  Father let me after all leave the outcomes to You, knowing my position is simply to offer up Your Word as sufficient evidence, leaving the chips to fall wherever they may.  Each believers decisions are theirs except where a teacher has withheld, concealed or disobediently not taught Your Truth in its entirety.  Let shepherds beware and leave the 99 to go find the 1, just as their Lord Jesus emulated.  If Pastors are not out spreading the Gospel on the streets then shouldn’t we be asking why?  Are they perhaps better than Christ, outside His Will or just disobedient to His example/leading?  In Jesus name

Every step

Do you ever think about Jesus or the way He thinks of you?  Did you ever have some one to follow whose steps are always true?  In times of trial when the light grows scarce do you squint and run or stand the fight?  Do you have those courageous moments when you know everything is just going to turn out right?  Is reason your spiritual solace where logic rules the day?  Where every emotion pesters until its locked away?  Do fear and greed enforce the need to have each situation turn out right?  Do you ever think about Jesus and that He’s thinking about you tonight?

Are all of your prayers so hopeful, delivered in shaky words and fallen tears?  Do you tell them of your weakness or are they unaware of all those fears?  Do people come to offer or seek the help they desperately need?  Did you ever think about Mary and what it took to watch Him bleed?  Are you critical of what He’s found worthy choosing to work harder for the grade?  Do you ponder all your failures, keeping account of each mistake that’s made?  Is it freedom that you’ve welcomed or are you still yet to be freed?  Do you nurture all that’s growing or look to plant each seed?

I know I’ve spoken grossly my stewardship so slack.  But none of that makes me worry as Jesus has my back.  I walk this road with knowledge of His grace in faith and love.  Standing when my knees wobble with strength from the Lord above.  I wish for you abundance, nothing may you lack.  May His shield of faith surround you as the enemies launch attack.  There is one thing that keeps me going even when the road falls away.  I am assured that He will hear me each and every time I pray.

So I’ll take some time this evening to seek Him and His peace.  And pray that your pain subsides and that your trials cease.  Maybe I’ll take a moment to petition for your increase.  I hope that you’ll consider as Jesus prays tonight.  That He’s standing up for Glory, keeping you in His sight.  He’s praying you’ll be filled with courage to stand up for what is right.  Did you ever stop to wonder that Jesus prays for you?  That He’s kneeling there in Glory over everything we do?  Did you ever follow someone whose every step is true?

The voice like unto a trumpet

They have seen, Father, they have heard Your call.  There will be a great multitude who see and accept the Gospel of Truth.  Even now, though the dust rises and the smoke spreads, we shall not be overcome, for Your Kingdom will prevail, welcoming all who believe to eternity.  Let us show them peace, love, kindness, patience and joy, even in the face of suffering, sharing in that suffering as did our Lord Jesus.  Let us be known for our likeness to God, enjoying our resemblance as a symbol of our Creator’s Love for the Work of His Hands.  Let us buckle down, tighten up, fast, rededicate and pray, interceding for mankind as ambassadors of Christ.  For this is the purpose of our making, to demonstrate His Glory in the moment of our approaching trials.  In that knowledge we may find structure, confidence, resolve and peace, that this is not man’s manipulation but a thing of God’s Sovereign Plan.

Even now the lies, duplicities and stories fray, such that even the faithful in sin question their dedication.  While unbelievers see the elect and wonder if they could perhaps belong.  We are the Family of God, let us demonstrate that manner of love He first demonstrated for our redemption.  Father, so much of this is beyond my abilities to control, sometimes even to tolerate, with my limited mortal tolerances.  But with the indwelling of Your Divine, Holy, Guiding and Faithful Spirit, I can withstand the seven fold increased fires of this crucible.  Walk with me in peace and faith.  Let me understand my freedom from sin and death.  Let me truly comprehend your Grace and tell all who will listen of that enormous, overflowing gift, meant for “ALL” men.  Let them see Jesus Father and know tears of joy, the tears that streaked the faces of each humbled saint.  Give us pause in this moment of Your Approaching Glory.  Let us wait with peace in our hearts and courage stretching the limits of our minds.  Give us faith to stand when it counts.  In Jesus’ Holy, Mighty and Glorious Name.

Walk unshaken

Hearing from God, that small quiet voice, and then trying as hard as you can to complete His calling is absolutely different than trying with all your might to accomplish what you think you should be doing to impress, please or sufficiently appease Him.  Waiting upon God requires Faith, faith built upon trust in Him, even if it means risking/accepting that He will not show up.  Being a slave is an honor, when it means that you are the beloved slave of the King of the Universe and joint heir to His throne.  But being a slave, even voluntarily means that you, as the property of a King, do not get to make the decisions in your own life. Yes, we must exercise discernment when beginning phases of His plan, but that discernment is always married to rightly determining, interpreting and following His Word confirmation against His Word.  As a slave to the Righteous King I do not fire, then ready then aim, then consider the impacts or justification of those actions.  If I am truly walking in God’s Will then I need not doubt or ponder the “righteousness” of my behavior, for that will already have been clearly established.  The process must follow, listening for God’s direction, then searching His Word to determine the appropriate path to take when fulfilling that command.  When acting upon God’s direction, you will by nature always be doing the Right Thing and that Right Thing will never contradict God’s Word.  If there is a mismatch then you should stop until such time the Word and deed agree.

Don’t be led astray.  Remember the enemy seeks to steal, kill and destroy.  That is he wishes to steal your joy and the benefits/rewards of your works done for God’s Kingdom, he seeks to kill your initiative and take or coerce you take your own life and he wishes to destroy every grace that God has given you, including the intimate relationship you have with God.  You must be on guard for those opportunities to remain on the path of righteousness.  Don’t venture from the path even one millionth of one degree for over time you will be led far astray from God’s intentions.  Follow God, keep Him in your vision at all times, do not pay heed to the sirens calling you to lose your way in the chaos that this world “must” face.  Fear, is a wonderful tool to indicate when deception is present.  When you experience inordinate fear this should immediately raise alerts within your head and heart for God did not give us the spirit of fear.  So, if fear is present you may be certain that the enemy is close attempting to influence your footsteps.

Turn to God and speak His Word and the enemy will flee and the deceptive fear diminish or dissolve.  This will leave the discerned path ahead clear to peacefully follow righteousness even in the midst of battle. Holy Father, in the coming days we know as Your Word predicts it will become increasingly more difficult to maintain our footing as the pressure to run, hide or seek shelter mounts.  Let us only seek shelter under the shadow of Your Wings.  Let us keep faith and never waver, standing firmly, with courage, knowing that YOU Fight for us.  Let us not be shaken, even when the ground beneath our feet shifts or even when it disintegrates for You are the Rock of our Salvation and You never change.  This world is facing coming judgment, whether it will admit that fact is simply irrelevant.  For Your Word is Truth.  Let us maintain a gaze upon Your Face that never wavers even momentarily, especially when we face our worst nightmares.  You have said that You will never leave us and that no one may pluck us from Your Hand and in that knowledge, Faith, Hope and Trust we stand untouched by calamity.  Praise You Lord Jesus our King.  Come soon, Amen.

Must happen

Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.  For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.  You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  All these are the beginning of birth pains.

 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.  At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,  and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.  Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,  but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.  Matthew 24:4-14

What more may I say that the Lord Jesus has not already clearly stated?  Please listen and make preparations in your heart and mind to stand in faith and courage.  Who knows the day or the hour but the Father Himself?  Could it be tonight, and if so, are you and your family ready for judgment, tribulation or rapture?  Have you discussed the ramifications of all that God has said must come?  Do they understand war, plague, famines, earthquakes and the loss or terror of men’s love turned cold?  Who will withstand the hate of humanity if not sheltered by the mighty wings of God?

Comforts

Love and pray for those who persecute or do you wrong.  Obey the things written upon your heart and conscience by belief in God and a study of His Word, because God told you this is the right way to live your life.  Keep yourself pure from the tainted and distracting wants of the world.  Live a life that demonstrates an understanding that we cannot save ourselves, that no amount of effort will ever gain entry into heaven, it is a thing solely completed by repentance, belief and faith in the redemptive work upon the cross of Christ.  Build upon the small amount of faith each of us is given to an eventual reliance upon God’s direction, provision and decision via the Holy Spirit.  Deny fear, speak the truth of God’s Word and remember that God alone is in charge of all creation.  Remain vigilant, seek wisdom and avoid prideful miscalculation in conscious understanding that each of us may be led astray when we drop our guard.  Learn to love through relationship with God that teaches each of us how He first loved us unconditionally so that we might love others in like manner.  Remember to keep your eyes upon Jesus so that the path ahead remains clear and well illuminated in full understanding that even a minor deviation may lead us into temptation, frustration and eventual despair.  Live for eternity doing those things in this life indicative of such perspective.  Be assured of God’s Faithfulness, that He will never leave or lie to you.  Remember that humans are not your enemy, that it is the evil and influential spirits behind them which should be your true prayerful contemplation.  Do not forsake the work set before you, pray always, love always, tell others about Jesus and leave the outcomes to God.  Praise His name acknowledging Him and bringing glory to His Name in everything that you do in this life.  Remember How much He loves You and that Jesus is praying for each of us.