What is the kingdom of God?

 Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness!

Matthew 6:33 (AMP)

But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.

I have read this verse umpteen times over the years since my spiritual rebirth in Christ Jesus and I have heard many sermons and teachings about the verse (The Kingdom of God part) as well. Some have been very good and some not so good! But I have always felt in my spirit that they haven’t quite hit the full mark, that there was more spiritual revelation that I needed. What exactly is ‘The Kingdom of God?’ How do I get a fuller revelation? Only through the guidance of the Holy Spirit in my searching of the Bible!

This article is what I believe I have been prompted to write as I’ve searched the scriptures!

What did Jesus say about the Kingdom of God or Heaven?

Jesus began his ministry soon after his water baptism by John the Baptist, His baptism in the Holy Spirit and his affirmation by the Father, and also after his rebuke of Satan during His temptation in the wilderness.

Matthew 3:16-17 (NIV)

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

This is the time that our Lord began to preach and what is so important for us to grasp at this point is just what he began to preach! Let’s have a look at what scripture tell us in this regard.

Matthew 4:17 (AMP)

From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

So, here we have it, Jesus at the very start of His ministry is preaching ‘repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

Now, when we examine the Greek word for ‘kingdom’ in the above passage which is ‘basileia’ (pron. bas-il-i-ah) we see that it’s expanded meaning, besides kingdom, encompasses kingship, sovereignty and the authority rule of God in the world and in the hearts of men!

In this verse (Mt 14:17) Jesus, right at the start of His ministry, is telling the people to turn away from their sinful ways because the kingdom of heaven is near. In saying this He was of course referring to Himself. Jesus is the King of the kingdom of heaven. You can’t call a place a ‘kingdom’ if it doesn’t have a king!

Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords!

1 Timothy 6:15 (NLT)

For,

At just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

Revelation 17:14 (NLT)

Together they will go to war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord of all lords and King of all kings. And his called and chosen and faithful ones will be with him.”

Zechariah 14:9 (NLT)

And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day there will be one Lord—his name alone will be worshiped.

Nobody will enter the Kingdom of God without first repenting of their sins and coming under submission to the King – Jesus! You must be born-again in order to enter the kingdom of Heaven!

The Kingdom of God has only one entrance and that is through the King, through acknowledging that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Saviour and following Him in all His ways in accordance with His word and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Now, let’s return to the first scripture in this article, Matthew 6:33, and examine it more closely and in relationship to Jesus as the Messiah and Saviour of all mankind. I will repeat it here for the sake of expediency!

Matthew 6:33 (AMP)

But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.

When Jesus spoke these words, they formed part of the Sermon on the Mount. If we backtrack to chapter four of Matthew’s gospel, we will see that Jesus had returned victoriously from the temptation in the wilderness and was just starting His ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit! As previously stated, his initial message to the people was, “repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

This was also the time when Jesus called his first disciples. They were four fishermen from Galilee, Peter and his brother Andrew and James and his brother John (Matt 4:18-22).

Along with His initial message of repentance, Jesus also healed the sick and proclaimed the good news of the kingdom.

Matthew 4:23 (NIV)

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

The actions and preaching of Jesus drew crowds of people to Galilee to hear him preach and to see Him heal the sick and to bring deliverance to those that they brought with them. Jesus was preaching to the ‘unsaved’, telling them that the kingdom of God, their Messiah, was in their midst!

So, what was the good news of the kingdom that Jesus was preaching?

It was of course Jesus himself, the Messiah, the Saviour of all mankind! The Kingdom of God is eternal life for those who are in Christ Jesus – those that have repented of their sinful ways from the heart and have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

The Gospel of Luke puts it this way:

Luke 17:20-21 (AMP)

20 Now having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He replied, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed or with a visible display; 21 nor will people say, ‘Look! Here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For the kingdom of God is among you [because of My presence].”

The kingdom of God is with us only because of the presence of Jesus in our lives. If you don’t have Jesus, you don’t have the kingdom of God which is eternal life in Christ Jesus. If you don’t have Jesus, then your only eternal resting place is in Hell where there will be eternal torment!

Those who are born-again of Spirit and water will inherit the kingdom of God! This can only come about by repentance of sin and the acceptance of Jesus as your Lord and Saviour – being born-again! The Apostle John puts it this way:

John 3:3 (NIV)

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.

John 3:5 (NIV)

5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’

In verse 5 above, Jesus speaks of being born of water and of the Spirit – two different births. Let’s look at these two very different births.

A. The Physical Birth
When the Bible refers to man as being ‘born of water’ it is referring to man’s physical birth. When we pop out of our mothers’ wombs not long after her waters have broken. This in no way refers to the waters of Baptism. Water baptism is something completely different and a topic with which I have dealt with in the article on this blog site titled ‘What is the purpose of Water Baptism?’ 

So physical birth is the first birth but the most important birth to all mankind is the second birth which is a spiritual birth.

B. The Spiritual Birth
The spiritual birth is where a person becomes born again. Because it is a spiritual birth it is only, and can only be orchestrated by God, through Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is nothing that we can ever do for ourselves or that anybody else can do for us – not even our parents.

In essence we, as human beings, are first and foremost spiritual beings. After God uniquely created Adam and Eve (Genesis 2), and, in their creation and after He had breathed life into them, he enabled them to procreate by coming together in sexual union. And in this miraculous process, the Spirit of God is interwoven within each human being at the time of conception. Just as God breathed life into Adam so His breath (spirit) is miraculously instilled into each living foetus. It is the Spirit of God that gives us life.

John 6:63 (NIV)

The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.

So, when the Lord tells us to ‘seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness’, He is instructing us to repent of our sinful lives and to accept Him as our Lord and Saviour and pursue and strive after all His ways in obedience to His Word.

Remember Jesus is the Word and thus our knowledge of the Word and our being doers of the Word is also of paramount importance to our entering the kingdom of God in Christ Jesus.

When Jesus says in Matt 6:33 ‘and all these things will be given to you also’, what things was He referring to? They are the things He mentioned in verses 25 – 32, the things that He tells us not to worry about – His provision for our lives! His cure for our worry and anxiety in our daily lives!

Matthew 6:25-32 (AMP)

The Cure for Anxiety

25 “Therefore I tell you, stop being worried or anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted) about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, as to what you will wear. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow [seed] nor reap [the harvest] nor gather [the crops] into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by worrying can add one [hour to [the length of] his life? 28 And why are you worried about clothes? See how the lilies and wildflowers of the field grow; they do not labor nor do they spin [wool to make clothing], 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory and splendor dressed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive and green today and tomorrow is [cut and] thrown [as fuel] into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Therefore do not worry or be anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted), saying, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ 32 For the [pagan] Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; [but do not worry,] for your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

In these verses God is telling us that if we repent of our sin, accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour and live our lives in the Spirit and in accordance with His Word – the Bible, he has everything else covered for us so that we need not worry. He has a solution for all the mistakes we make and for all the trials and tribulations that we will face in our daily lives! When we do this as born again Christians, we are working out our salvation just as the Apostle Paul states in the book of Philippians:

Philippians 2:12-13 (AMP)

12 So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ]. 13 For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.

Psalm 34:19 (NIV)

The righteous person may have many troubles,

but the Lord delivers him from them all.

2 Timothy 4:18

The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Our righteousness is given to us through Jesus. He took our sins upon Himself and paid our debt. We are found to be righteous in the eyes of God only because of the blood of Jesus and our repentance of sin and acceptance of Him as Lord and Saviour of our lives!

2 Corinthians 5:21 (AMP)

He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness].

In all we do as born-again followers of Christ we need to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness in order to remain truly on the path that God has planned for our lives. Everything we do and say should bring glory, honour and praise to Jesus.We should not be doing anything for self-gain and vain ambition.

Philippians 2:3-4 (AMP)

3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves. 4 Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father

I pray in the name of Jesus that by your Spirit you will help me daily to follow in the footsteps of Jesus my Lord and Saviour. Help me and teach me His ways that I may not sin against you. Help me to be a doer of the Word and not just a reader. Bless me, O Lord, that I might be a blessing to others and bring glory to your Name. Thank you, Father, for Jesus the light of my salvation. Amen.

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus, the Name above all names!

What is Holiness?

 “Be holy as I am holy”, says the Lord God Almighty.

What is Holiness for a Christian?

In the verses below we can see that it has always been God’s intention for His people to be holy because He is holy. The Lord tells us to consecrate ourselves and be holy.

To consecrate oneself means to dedicate oneself to a higher purpose, for a Christian today this means our purpose is to dedicate ourselves to God through Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit.

In the Old Testament God instructed the Israelites, His chosen people, to be holy like Him. If we look at the Hebrew word for ‘holy’ we see that it is ‘qadosh’ (Strong’s 6918: pronounced ‘kaw-doshe’) and its meaning is sacred, holy. And its expanded meaning is: separated apart and consecrated to God; separate from human infirmity and sin. The Levitical priests had to be separated in this way with all the ceremonial washings and cleansing before they were allowed to enter God’s presence.

Lev 11:44 (NIV)

I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.

Deuteronomy 23:14 (NIV)

For the Lord your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, so that he will not see among you anything indecent and turn away from you.

The Apostle Peter quoted this scripture (Lev 11:44) in 1 Peter 1:15-16 and thus we know without a shadow of doubt that this instruction still applies to Christians today!

1 Peter 1:15 (NIV)

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

1 Timothy 1:9

He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.

Holiness is a characteristic of who God is, and as such holiness should be of paramount importance to us as believers, because without it we will never see God!

Hebrews 12:14 (NIV)

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Let’s first understand what the word ‘holy’ means from the original Greek text of the New Testament.

Holiness in the verse above is from the Greek word ‘hagiotes’ meaning holiness or sanctity. Hagiotes is derived from the Greek adjective ‘hagios’ which means set apart (for God) for the specific purpose of being holy and sacred.

From this we can safely conclude that God expects us, as Christians, to set ourselves apart to be holy to Him. In fact, Heb 12:14 above states quite emphatically that we won’t see the Lord unless we pursue holiness.

Also, as we endeavour to pursue holiness, we will experience a measure of pain as He chastises us for our own good, through the process of dying to self.

Nevertheless, this chastising process will yield within us the peaceable fruit of holiness and righteousness in Christ Jesus.

Hebrew 12:9-11 (NLT)

9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

In other words, that which is holy belongs to God, and conversely whatever belongs to God is holy. We are sanctified and "set apart for a holy use or purpose" by God, and to find out what our use and purpose is in Christ Jesus we need to live life in the Spirit.

We, as born-again Christians, are now set apart as holy by the cleansing blood of Jesus – we are now a royal priesthood – each and every one of us who are true believers.

1 John 1:7 (AMP)

but if we [really] walk in the Light [that is, live each and every day in conformity with the precepts of God], as He Himself is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another [He with us, and we with Him], and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin [by erasing the stain of sin, keeping us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].

1 Peter 2:9-10 (AMP)

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a [special] people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people [at all], but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

God has selected us to be His children, His sons and daughters and has called us to come out of this world, to be different and separate from the rest of the world. Jesus said,

John 17:14-16 (NIV)

14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

The Christian must live in this present evil world, but his life must be different from the lives of the other people, the unbelievers that are in the world – who are not born-again, who do not know Jesus as Lord and Saviour. In other words, our lives and the way and manner in which we live, must reflect God’s holiness.

If you are a Christian and you still get drunk, that is not holiness!

If you are a Christian and you still swear, that is not holiness!

If you are a Christian and you still gossip, that is not Holiness!

In fact, as a Christian anything you do that is contrary to the Word of God is not holiness and without holiness no one will see the Lord!

Christians should be living their lives in a manner that is worthy of Jesus and in a manner that will bring glory to His Name!

Jesus is the Word – know Jesus and know the Word!

John 1:14 (NIV)

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.

We are in the world, but we are not of the world, we have been separated from the world and from sin by the blood of Jesus!

John 15:19 (NIV)

If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

We, as born again believers in Christ Jesus, must come out from any of this world's ways that are sinful and evil, out from the religious and spiritual "Babylon" that is this whole worldly lifestyle.

Revelation 18:4 (NIV)

4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

“‘Come out of her (the world), my people,’[Jer 51:45)

so that you will not share in her sins,

so that you will not receive any of her plagues;

Making such a distinction and living by it is one of the many ways that God's true servants are different from the rest of the world.

Instead of being immersed in the lawless and sinful ways of the world, we should put our thoughts on better, higher things:

Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

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. 9 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.

This scripture makes is very clear that we should avoid filling our minds with entertainment that is sinful: void of (God’s) love, lustful, sexually illicit or that is filled with murder, hatred, evil and all other such things.

We often justify our sinful actions by saying things like: "It’s only a song — it's only make-believe, it's only a movie, that’s who I am."

On the contrary, the Bible says this:

2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)

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.

We cannot call ourselves Christians and continue to walk in the ways of the world – we must walk in the way of the Spirit (be holy)! Christians need to be different from the rest of this world — to say no to sin, to evil and to wrong things as it is written:

2 Corinthians 7:1 (NLT)

Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.

We will continue to be holy if we live a life of holiness and hold on to the reverent fear of God. That is the way of obedience and conformity with God's ways and His Word. That is living life in the Spirit. When we live life in the Spirit, we will bring glory to Jesus!

God wants a glorious Church without spot or blemish. Jesus gave his life for the Church in order to make her holy. Jesus likened His love for the Church (His bride) as a Christian husband should love his wife:

Ephesians 5:25-27 (AMP)

25 Husbands, love your wives [seek the highest good for her and surround her with a caring, unselfish love], just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify the church, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word [of God], 27 so that [in turn] He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy [set apart for God] and blameless.

Only in Christ Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit are we able to live a holy and righteous life – we have to be born-again!

If you have been reading this article and you are not a born-again Christian and have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Saviour and you sincerely want to from the bottom of your heart, just pray a simple prayer something like this:

Dear Lord Jesus, I bow before you as a sinner. I ask you to come into my heart and be my Lord and Saviour. I repent and turn away from my sinful life and I ask you to lead me on the path of holiness and righteousness from now on and for evermore. Amen!

If you have prayed this prayer, congratulations you are now a born-again Christian and a true son of God in Christ Jesus!

Prayer:
Dear Father God
I pray in Jesus name that you would help me to live a holy life as Jesus did. I pray that you would help me to be a doer of the Word and not just a reader. Lord help me to be holy as you are holy and help me to separate my life from the world and become truly yours. Amen!

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus, the Name above all Names!

Revival starts with the Church!

 

Original Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Throughout the centuries since the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, there have been numerous recordings of Holy Spirit inspired ‘revivals’ or ‘awakenings’ in the world and probably many more that were not recorded, big and small.

When I look at my own life since my spiritual rebirth in May 1988 in the little South Coast town of Mosel Bay in South Africa, I can distinctly see times of ‘revival’ in my own spiritual walk. These personal times of revival may not have had the worldwide impact of a ‘Wesleyan Welsh Revival’ in the 18th Century or a more modern revival like the ‘Toronto Blessing’ or the Brownsville Revival’ both in the 1990’s, but on a personal level they have certainly had a tremendous life-changing impact on me and have inspired and enhanced my personal walk with Jesus.

What is revival and what is its purpose?

Most modern dictionaries today will describe the word revival as something like this:

an improvement in the condition of someone or something, a strengthening of someone or something. The strengthening of the fortunes of someone or something.

Or

an instance of something becoming popular, active, or important again.

God, by the power of His Holy Spirit, has been instigating personal and corporate revivals from the time of creation! He is and wants to be continually and intimately involved in a personal relationship with each and every one of us and He actively pursues this relationship through the power of the Holy Spirit to glorify Jesus. This is why Jesus sent the Comforter to us when he ascended into heaven.

John 16:12-15 (NIV)

12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

Jeremiah 33:3 (AMP)

‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you [and even show you] great and mighty things, [things which have been confined and hidden], which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish.’

Definition of Revival
Ok then, if you want a definition of spiritual revival then I’m going to give you two, one for personal revival and one for corporate revival, here they come, my best shot and I’m pretty sure you will be able to improve on them.

Personal:
Spiritual revival is a sovereign move of God through the power of the Holy Spirit that is designed specifically for an individual believer to be re-energised and restored out of a period of slumber or stagnation that has stalled his/her walk to maturity and servanthood into a righteous and holy personal relationship with Jesus.

Corporate:
Spiritual revival is a sovereign move of God through the power of the Holy Spirit upon His chosen people (the Church) that is designed specifically to draw the lost to salvation and empower his children to witness effectively to the lost in the power of the Holy Spirit being physically evidenced in miracles, signs and wonders, deliverance and healings, to bring glory to His son Jesus.

The corporate definition is what took place at Pentecost (Acts 2) where God poured out his Holy Spirit and many unbelievers came to salvation and the disciples and others began their ministries in the power of the Holy Spirit and the Lord added to the numbers of those being saved daily!

Acts 2:2-4 (KJV)

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:47 (KJV)

Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Now let’s get something straight here, revival is not a new phenomenon and when I say new, I mean it is not just a New Testament or a ‘today’ thing, as the writer of Ecclesiastes says, there is nothing new under the sun!

Ecc 1:9 (KJV)

The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

There is no knew thing under the sun, God is the same yesterday, today and always, He is the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end.

Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Revelation 22:13 (NIV)

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

God knows those who are his. God knows those who will heed His salvation call. He gives us so many chances to respond to His call through the power of the Holy Spirit and to the glory of Jesus!

One of the ways the God has used and still uses and will continue to use is through revival by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the lives of ‘men’ in His Church. It is the Holy Spirit that draws us to Jesus for our salvation. God will continue to bring revival to us, His Church, both corporately and individually. God has done this from the beginning of man’s days, and He will continue to do so until Jesus comes again. It’s all about Jesus, all glory to the Son!

The book of Judges is a prime example of this, God brought revival by the power of the Holy Spirit and through those individuals (the Judges) He brought revival to the nation of Israel. He also did this through some of the Kings and prophets and other individuals like Mordecai and Esther.

God brought revival to individuals and to the Church of the time through the ministry of Jesus. Jesus moved in the power of the Holy Spirit. His very birth was through the power of the Holy Spirit. The miracles, signs and wonders he performed were all done in the power of the Holy Spirit. All these things brought revival to his chosen people.

At the betrayal of Jesus by Judas and when he was arrested, the disciples fled in fear and panic and Peter denied him three times soon thereafter. I guess you could say that they became ‘unrevived’ – this is probably not even a proper word, but I hope you get my meaning in this context.

Matthew 26:33-35 (NIV)

33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”

34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”

35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.

But when it came to the crunch, look what the disciples did!

Matthew 26:56 (NIV)

But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

Now this situation didn’t take God by surprise in any way, remember he is the beginning and the end; nothing is a surprise to Him! He wrote the script for us, and he doesn’t change His mind, what He has ordained will come to pass when we follow His ways and are being led by the Holy Spirit!

OK so here we have a bunch of freaked out and ‘unrevived’ disciples who watch the crucifixion of Jesus and are terrified! Without their leader they decide to give up and go back to their old jobs; let’s go fishing is the general consensus; forgetting everything they’ve been taught and all the miracles they have witnessed.

Yes, I’ve been there and done that! I expect some of you have too. But God brings revival to the disciples through the power of the Holy Spirit and he does the same for us! Look what happens next.

Jesus is resurrected after three days by the power of the Holy Spirit and he appears to the disciples and many others and just before his ascension into heaven, he tells the disciples that he is going to the Father and that he will send them the Comforter (the Holy Spirit) and tells them to go and wait in Jerusalem and they will receive power from on high. He then ascends into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

Now the disciples are still a bit unsure of themselves and are still in a state of ‘unrevival’ but they obey the Lord’s instructions and return to Jerusalem to wait for power from on high, but I don’t think they fully understood what that meant.

When the disciples went back to Jerusalem, they gathered together to pray in one accord in an upper room, together with some other close followers of Jesus.

Acts 1:12-14 (KJV)

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. 13 And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

Ok. So now remember this bit because I’m going to say it big and bold so that you won’t forget:

It is the prayers of the saints (the Church), praying in unity and in one accord that ushers in revival in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Now why do I say this? Well turn with me in your bible to Acts 2. Excuse me! You haven’t got your bible with you? Naughty, naughty! Go and fetch it quickly or switch on your electronic version.

After the upper room prayer meeting, we move on to the day of Pentecost and look what happens now!

Acts 2:1-4 (KJV)

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Here we have it then, REVIVAL, in a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit, a mighty wind and tongues of fire! The very first Pentecostal revival meeting energising, empowering and equipping the saints to step out and minister in the power of the Holy Spirit, performing miracles and signs and wonders and drawing the lost to salvation in Christ Jesus – to His glory!

This was an explosion of new life within the Church which resulted in a blessing to the sick, the possessed, and the lost, this is what revival is all about.

Look around you child of God, look at the news, walk in the streets, society is breaking down fast and getting worse by the day. Rally around my brothers and sisters, gather the saints, sound the trumpet and call out to God, Church. Pray for revival in one accord – the world needs the saints to be revived, the world needs revival, the world needs JESUS, and we need a mighty outpouring of his Holy Spirit upon the Church – a mighty wind and a mighty flame!

The Church should be praying for revival in unity and in one accord. A revival that will not just be a one off occurrence but one of a continual refreshing of the Church. A revival that will not end until He has come again!

Let’s take a quick look at the amazing things that happened in this Holy Spirit inspired revival at Pentecost in bullet form and fired from the gun of the Holy Spirit!

• The disciples and the Church are revived and filled with the Holy Spirit.

• The disciples measure of faith is increased, and they begin to minister in power and boldness.

• Miracles, signs and wonders accompany their ministry.

• Thousands of unbelievers get saved.

• The sick are healed, and demons are cast out, setting people free.

• Paul is converted on the Damascus Road.

• The gospel of salvation is spread to both Jew and Gentile across the known world of the time.

• The infilling of the Holy Spirit is spread to others by the laying on of hands.

• And much, much more!

Right then, I think we have now established what revival is and what its purpose is:

1. It is a sovereign move of God in the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit on His Church to energise, restore and empower the Church to fulfil its destiny – individually and corporately!

Joel 2:28 (NIV)

28 “And afterward,

I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your old men will dream dreams,

your young men will see visions.

29 Even on my servants, both men and women,

I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

2. It restores an individual – such as a returning prodigal son as in Luke 15:11-32 and like the restoration of the Apostle Peter after he had denied the Lord three times!

John 21:15-17 (NIV)

Jesus Reinstates Peter

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

3. It empowers the Church to move in the power of the Holy Spirit performing miracles, signs and wonders.

John 14:12 (NIV)

12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

Acts 4:1:8 (NIV)

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

4. It draws the lost to salvation.

Acts 2:41 (NIV)

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Acts 4:4 (NIV)

But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.

5. It inspires prophecy and the other gifts of the Spirit thus enabling God’s children to hear His voice and to know His will so that the Fruit of the Spirit can be manifest in us and through us!

1 Corinthians 12:31 (AMP)

But earnestly desire and strive for the greater gifts [if acquiring them is going to be your goal].

And yet I will show you a still more excellent way [one of the choicest graces and the highest of them all: unselfish love].

1 Corinthians 14:1 (AMP)

Pursue [this] love [with eagerness, make it your goal], yet earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual gifts [to be used by believers for the benefit of the church], but especially that you may prophesy [to foretell the future, to speak a new message from God to the people].

Prayer:
Heavenly Father
I pray in the name of Jesus that you would fill me with your Holy Spirit and bring revival to my heart and that would empower me to walk on the path that you have planned for my life! I pray too, Lord, that you would pour out your Holy Spirit on your sons and daughters across the world that would spark a revival such as the world has never seen before. A revival that would bring salvation to those that you have chosen. A revival that will continue until you come again. Amen.

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus, the Name above all names!

Jesus - The Rock of my Salvation

 

Psalm 62:1-2

In both the Old and New Testaments reference is made of God and Jesus as being a ‘Rock’. In this article we are going to take a scriptural look at just how significant this reference is to us as born-again Christians in our spiritual walk in Christ Jesus.

Let’s have a look at the Old Testament First!

The first scripture we will examine is this one:

Genesis 49:24 (NLT)

But his bow remained taut,

and his arms were strengthened

by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob,

by the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel.

This scripture forms part of the blessing that Jacob, on his deathbed, pronounced upon his son Joseph, that’s right the one who was sold into slavery by his brothers and after many trials and tribulations ended up as being Prime Minister of Egypt, second only in authority to Pharaoh.

In the above verse we can see that God is referred to in three different ways, the Mighty One, the Shepherd and the Rock. Two of them, Shepherd and Rock, reach across time to the New Testament and speak prophetically of Jesus – our Shepherd and our Rock.

But in this article, we are going to be looking at the word ‘Rock’ in reference to Jesus as the ‘Rock of our Salvation’.

At this stage, dear reader I would like to remind you that our God has always been and always will be a triune Spirit – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

John 10:30 (NIV)

I and the Father are one.

Romans 8:9 (NIV)

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.

I would also like to remind you, dear reader, that The Holy Trinity is the same always, never changing, what the one is, so is the other in essence, nature and character.

Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Right, now that we have that reinforced, let’s return to examining just what God the ‘Rock’ meant to Israel.

We will start by looking at the Hebrew word for rock which is abir (aw-beer – Strong’s 46) and its full meaning in the spiritual sense is: a place of refuge, immovable and an overhanging place of shelter and protection and a safe refuge from everything evil!

King David, in one of his Psalms, shows us how he fully understood the significance of the Lord being his ‘rock’, and we all know that David was a man after God’s own heart!

Psalm 18:2 (AMP)

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and the One who rescues me;

My God, my rock and strength in whom I trust and take refuge;

My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower—my stronghold.

David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and in particular from the hand of Saul from whom God had removed His Spirit.

The Lord rescues us from the enemy and leads through the trials and tribulations of life! When we remain in Him, He remains in us

John 15:4-6 (NKJV)

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 

David was a man that worshipped God from the heart! A man whose life was a fine example of the reality of the Christian walk. He sinned, he fell, and he got back up again many times just like I have, and I suspect just like many of you have who read this article.

David was quick to repent, he kept his eyes on Jesus. He knew that the world would bring its troubles and he knew that in Christ Jesus we are overcomers of the world and our arch enemy, Satan! He knew that his real battle was not against flesh and blood but against the spirits of evil!

David worshipped the Lord in Spirit and in truth! Jesus was the Rock of his salvation – he knew this with all his heart! David was a true worshipper in spirit and in truth.

Psalm 95:1-2 (NIV)

1 Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;

let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving

and extol him with music and song.

John 4:24-25 (NIV)

23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

Moses was another of the great Old Testament men of faith who knew the Rock of his salvation and worshipped God in spirit and in truth. Just look at the next who verses from the song of Moses.

Deuteronomy 32:3-4 (NIV)

3 I will proclaim the name of the Lord.

Oh, praise the greatness of our God!

4 He is the Rock, his works are perfect,

and all his ways are just.

A faithful God who does no wrong,

upright and just is he.

Hannah in 1 Samuel 2, a person just like you and I, was also a woman of great faith that fully understood the God of the Rock of her salvation and worshipped him in spirit and in truth.

1 Samuel 2:1-2 (NIV)

Then Hannah prayed and said:

“My heart rejoices in the Lord;

in the Lord my horn is lifted high.

My mouth boasts over my enemies,

for I delight in your deliverance.

2 “There is no one holy like the Lord;

there is no one besides you;

there is no Rock like our God.

The Israelites in the wilderness were given a classic demonstration of just how majestic and caring the Rock of our Salvation is and were clearly shown that He is able to meet all our needs in any situation no matter how dire they may seem to be! He brings forth rivers of living water both physically and spiritually.

Exodus 17:5-6 (NIV)

5 The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.

Jesus is our Rock and when we believe in him rivers of living water will flow from us in the power of the Holy Spirit.

John 7:38-39 (AMP)

38 He who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Me], as the Scripture has said, ‘From his innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water.’” 39 But He was speaking of the [Holy] Spirit, whom those who believed in Him [as Savior] were to receive afterward. The Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified (raised to honor).

Let’s now have a look at the New Testament!

The Apostle Paul says when he was talking to the Church at Corinth tells us about how God delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt.

Tis is a great depiction of Father, Son and Holy Spirit as one – God as the Rock in the Old Testament and Jesus as our Rock in the New Testament and the spiritual water being the Holy Spirit!

Today we all eat the same spiritual food when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour and become born-again Christians.

When we build our lives on Jesus and continually walk in the Spirit, we build our house on the Rock that can never be shaken and will always sustain and deliver us through the trials of life that will come our way. We have perfect peace when we stand on the immovable and unshakeable Rock of our Salvation – Jesus!

Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

John 16:33 (AMP)

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]

Jesus is also described as the ‘cornerstone’ foundation of Christianity – the brick (rock) that holds everything together. Not only of our salvation and Christian walk but the foundation of everything! This was prophesied by the prophet Isaiah hundreds of years before Christ’s birth and reiterated by the apostle Peter.

Isaiah 28:16 (AMP)

Therefore the Lord God says this,

“Listen carefully, I am laying in Zion a Stone, a tested Stone,

A precious Cornerstone for the [secure] foundation, firmly placed.

He who believes [who trusts in, relies on, and adheres to that Stone] will not be disturbed or give way [in sudden panic].

1 Peter 2:4-7 (NIV

4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,

a chosen and precious cornerstone,

and the one who trusts in him

will never be put to shame.”

And the Apostle Paul tells us that we can lay no other foundation for our salvation and Christian walk than through Jesus Christ! Our salvation lies in no other name but the Name of Jesus! When we build on Jesus the Rock of our Salvation, God dwells in us through His Holy Spirit!

1 Corinthians 3:11 (NIV)

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:20-22 (NLT)

20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.

But just as Jesus is the Rock of Salvation to born-again Christians so is He the rock of offense to all those that refuse to believe in His name!

1 Peter 2:7-8 (AMP)

7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe [in Him as God’s only Son—the Source of salvation]; but for those who disbelieve,

“The [very] stone which the builders rejected

Has become the chief Cornerstone,”

8 and,

“A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”;

for they stumble because they disobey the word [of God], and to this they [who reject Him as Savior] were also appointed.

Romans 9:33 (NIV)

As it is written:

“See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble

and a rock that makes them fall,

and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”[Isaiah 8:14; 28:16]

When we reject Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we become enemies of God and we are then destined to spend eternity in Hell where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Eternal torment and eternal death which is eternal separation from God – from this there is no escape for those that do not believe! If your name is not written in the lamb’s (Jesus’) book of life you will spend eternity in Hell.

James 4:4 (NIV)

You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

Revelation 20:15 (NIV)

Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

There is only one name by which a person can be saved and that is the name of Jesus, the Rock of our Salvation!

Acts 4:11-12 (NIV)

11 Jesus is

“‘the stone you builders rejected,

which has become the cornerstone.’

12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Prayer:
Dear Lord
I pray in the Name of Jesus that you would lead me by your Holy Spirit this day and every day. I pray that you would help me to keep my eyes and my focus on you alone and that you would guard my heart from sinning against you. I thank you that you are the Rock of my Salvation and that you are my provider and my deliverer from the evil one. Bless me this day, Lord, so that I may be a blessing to others and bring glory to your name. Amen!

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus, the Name above all Names!

Remember: Reading this article is no excuse for you reading and studying the Bible foe yourself. I am flawed, the Bible is not.

Are you prepared for the End Times in line with The Word of God?

The End Times, this is a topic that has infatuated both born-again Christians and unbelievers alike for well over 2000 years now, and there are many Old Testament prophecies expound them.

Matthew 28:20 (NLT)

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

In this article we will be looking at what Jesus himself teaches us about the end times.

The writings of the gospels capture the words of Jesus when he was teaching the disciples about the Destruction of the Temple and the Signs of the End times. This can be read in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21.

Throughout the centuries since our Lord’s crucifixion, Christians have been convinced that the End Times is just around the corner. Even today many are convinced that we are living in the End Times right now almost to the point of focusing more on the ‘End Times’ than on Jesus himself. My dear brothers and sisters, this should not be! Nothing should distract us from our personal worship and fellowship with our Saviour.

Are the End Time signs important for Christians to know? Yes, they are!

Do we need to be aware of what is happening around us and across the world? Yes, we do!

But how should we do it?

The best place to find out how is to start with the words of Jesus himself. Let’s examine what our Lord taught on the ‘end of the age’ in Matthew 24. I believe that one of the most important verses on the Signs of the End Times is this one:

Matthew 24:36 (AMP)

“But of that [exact] day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son [in His humanity], but the Father alone.

The Apostle Mark records this as well:

Mark 13:32 (NIV)

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.

So, in the verses above Jesus tells us that no one knows when he will come again, only the Father knows and the end of our time will not happen until Jesus comes again!

There are so many verses in the Bible in which God tells us not to worry or be anxious about anything; this includes not worrying about when the end of the age will come; but I will only mention a few here.

Luke 21:34-35 (NIV)

“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Hebrews 13:6 (NIV)

So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.

What can mere mortals do to me?”[Ps 118:6-7]

Now taking the words of Jesus a little further let’s move on to read what He tells us about being distracted by false prophets and messiahs.

Matthew 24:4-5 (NIV)

4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.

Matthew 24:24-25 (NIV)

24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.

In the two verses above Jesus clearly warns us that in the end times many false prophets and messiahs will appear and will deceive many, even born-again Christians!

But even in all the furor that is going on around us today both in the world and even in the Church, the Lord’s message remains the same ‘do not worry.’ Carry on in your daily walk with him and continue to strengthen your relationship with Him.

In Matthew 24:3 the disciples asked Jesus when would the end of the age come and what would be the signs.

Matthew 24:3 (NIV)

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

This is what the Lord replies, these are the signs we need to look out for. Not so that we can worry or be so consumed by the end times that we forget the focal point of Christianity, which is our worship of Jesus Christ our Lord and saviour, but so that we are aware of what is happening around us so that we can pray accordingly and spiritually prepare ourselves accordingly. Our focus should not be on the end times event, but rather on the one who will sustain us in the end times, yes, Jesus himself, the only one by whose name we can be saved!

• We must not let ourselves be deceived as many false Messiahs will appear – vs 4 & 5.

• We will hear of wars and rumours of war – but don’t be alarmed – vs 6.

• Nation will rise against nation, there will be earthquakes and famines – vs 7.

• These signs are just the beginning - vs 8.

• Many will be persecuted and put to death and will be hated by everyone – vs 9.

• False prophets will appear and deceive many – vs 10.

• Wickedness will increase and the love of most will grow cold – vs 11.

• The false messiahs and prophets will perform great signs and wonders to deceive the Church – vs 24.

• There will be darkness over the world, no sunlight, moonlight or starlight – vs 29.

• The world will be in total sin as in the days of Noah – vs 38 & 39.

The Lord ends off this chapter by telling us that we must all keep watch and be ready at all times.

Matthew 24:42-44 (NIV)

42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 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. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Luke tells us that there will be earthquakes and pestilences:

Luke 21:11 (AMP)

There will be violent earthquakes, and in various places famines and [deadly and devastating] pestilences (plagues, epidemics); and there will be terrible sights and great signs from heaven.

But in all these terrible times the Lord encourages us not to be concerned and gives us this promise:

Luke 21:18-19 (NIV)

18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 Stand firm, and you will win life.

These are the things that Jesus told to the disciples personally and those of them that wrote the gospels and the other books of the Bible also made mention of the end times as well. Let’s have a look at some of these scriptures.

This is what Peter tells us:

1 Peter 4:7 (AMP)

The end and culmination of all things is near. Therefore, be sound-minded and self-controlled for the purpose of prayer [staying balanced and focused on the things of God so that your communication will be clear, reasonable, specific and pleasing to Him.]

In the verse above Peter tells us that in the end times we need to be sound-minded and self-controlled. The Spirit we received from God is not one of fear but of a sound-mind and self-control. We must not be overcome by fear and worry. The Apostle Paul confirms this in the following scripture:

2 Timothy 1:7 (AMP)

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].

Peter also tells us that in the end times many mockers and scoffers will appear. These are already amongst us and have been so for a number of years, prosperity preachers, so called dream interpreters, so called ‘Christian magicians and many more who by their self-motivated action and corruption of scripture are mocking God and leading many astray!

2 Peter 3:3 (NIV)

Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.

And furthermore, in this same chapter, Peter warns us that the Lord will come like a thief in the night, without notice. He exhorts us therefore to live holy and godly lies, entertaining no sin and to make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with him! We need to look forward to the end times and pray for the Lord’s coming.

2 Peter 3:10-14 (NIV)

10 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.

11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 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. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

The Apostle that has the most to say about the end times is Paul – filled with the Holy Spirit. So, let’s take a few of his scriptures and examine them.

In Romans 13 Paul tells us how we (the Church – born-again Christians) should be behaving:

Romans 13:11-14 (AMP)

11 Do this, knowing that this is a critical time. It is already the hour for you to awaken from your sleep [of spiritual complacency]; for our salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed [in Christ]. 12 The night [this present evil age] is almost gone and the day [of Christ’s return] is almost here. So let us fling away the works of darkness and put on the [full] armor of light. 13 Let us conduct ourselves properly and honorably as in the [light of] day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and irresponsibility, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for [nor even think about gratifying] the flesh in regard to its improper desires.

The warnings in the Bible about the end times are there for the Church, each and every born-again Christian, to prepare ourselves for His coming and create an all-consuming doctrine around the event. We are warned so that we can pray and reach out ever more fervently to the lost. But we must ourselves be a lifestyle witness to the lost and be living righteous and holy lives in the Spirit.

In the above scriptures in Romans, Paul gives us some examples of how we should be living and how we shouldn’t be living.

How we should conduct ourselves:

• We should not be complacent in our relationships – with Jesus and with each other – we must be fully committed in all we do.

• We must shed all works of darkness (those things that are contrary to the Word) and put on the armour of light – God is light, in Him there is no darkness.

• We should be clothing ourselves with Jesus Christ – building and strengthening our relationship with Him by being doers of the Word and not just readers.

We should not be:

• Partying and getting drunk.

• Participating in sexual promiscuity of any kind.

• Acting irresponsibly.

• Quarreling amongst ourselves.

• Jealous of each other.

• Adopting the ways of the world.

Paul, in 1 Timothy tells us that in the end times many will grow cold and fall away. Let’s think about that, I believe he is saying that many who call themselves born-again Christians will grow cold in their faith and fall away!

1 Timothy 4:1-2 (AMP)

But the [Holy] Spirit explicitly and unmistakably declares that in later times some will turn away from the faith, paying attention instead to deceitful and seductive spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 [misled] by the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared as with a branding iron [leaving them incapable of ethical functioning],

What is even more interesting in the above two verses is the fact that this is what the Holy Spirit declares and the falling away will be due to demonic activity. Spiritual warfare should be part of our daily prayer lives, especially in the end times. Put on the full armour of God my dear brothers and sisters in Christ – and never take it off. Be prepared to fight in the Spirit. Remember the Lord’s words when he sent out the disciples for the first time: “Cast out demons and heal the sick!”

Our battle is not against flesh and blood!

Ephesians 6:12 (AMP)

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places.

In 2 Timothy Paul tells us very clearly how people will behave and to keep away from them – many in the Church who call themselves Christians will be like this:

2 Timothy 3:1-5 (AMP)

But understand this, that in the last days dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear]. 2 For people will be lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed], boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane, 3 [and they will be] unloving [devoid of natural human affection, calloused and inhumane], irreconcilable, malicious gossips, devoid of self-control [intemperate, immoral], brutal, haters of good, 4 traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of [sensual] pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them.

In 2 Timothy 4 Paul tells us that people, yes people in the Church too, will not want to hear sound doctrine and the truth of the Bible but that they will only want to hear preaching that tickles their ears and makes them feel good and doesn’t challenge them to change to conform to the Word of God. They will follow the teachings of man to support their own deviances from the truth.

2 Timothy 4:3-5

3 For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine and accurate instruction [that challenges them with God’s truth]; but wanting to have their ears tickled [with something pleasing], they will accumulate for themselves [many] teachers [one after another, chosen] to satisfy their own desires and to support the errors they hold, 4 and will turn their ears away from the truth and will wander off into myths and man-made fictions [and will accept the unacceptable]. 5 But as for you, be clear-headed in every situation [stay calm and cool and steady], endure every hardship [without flinching], do the work of an evangelist, fulfill [the duties of] your ministry.

This is happening in many Churches today and this has been so for many years. Stay away from the ‘get rich quick’ teachings of man! There is no better ‘richness’ for Christians than the plain truth of Jesus Christ and him crucified – be imitators of Christ!

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (AMP)

And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming to you the testimony of God [concerning salvation through Christ], I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom [no lofty words of eloquence or of philosophy as a Greek orator might do]; 2 for I made the decision to know nothing [that is, to forego philosophical or theological discussions regarding inconsequential things and opinions while] among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified [and the meaning of His redemptive, substitutionary death and His resurrection]. 3 I came to you in [a state of] weakness and fear and great trembling. 4 And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom [using clever rhetoric], but [they were delivered] in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit [operating through me] and of [His] power [stirring the minds of the listeners and persuading them], 5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom and rhetoric of men, but on the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:11 (AMP)

Imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

There are many other scriptures both in the Old and New Testaments that tell us of the end times and the signs that will precede them. But in this article, I just wanted you, dear reader, to know how the Lord expects you to prepare yourself for His coming even if He doesn’t come in your lifetime. Please teach it to others especially to the ones who are near and dear to you and your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father
I pray in the Name of Jesus that from this day forward that you would fill me with your Holy Spirit and help me to be prepared for your coming, even if you do not appear in my lifetime. Lord by your Spirit help me to discern good from evil and not to succumb to the teachings of false prophets and messiahs. Help me to follow your Word in every way and I pray, Lord, that you would write your Word indelibly in my heart that I will not forget it and will be able to recognise false doctrine. Fill me with your Holy Spirit, I pray. Help my focus to remain on you Lord and help me to bring glory to the Name of Jesus and to be a blessing to this world. Amen.

To Jesus belongs all glory honour and praise!

Jesus, the Name above all names!

Revelation 1:7-8 (NIV)

7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”[Daniel 7:13]

and “every eye will see him,

even those who pierced him”;

and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”[Zechariah 12:10]

So shall it be! Amen.

8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”