BUT AS FOR YOU
There is no doubt that we are living in troubling times. This is especially true for those of us who love Jesus and are called according to His purpose.
Every day we see more and more abominations and mocking of God, His Word, and His people.
Evil has run amuck. The evil one has misguided many.
His goal is to discredit the Gospel of Jesus and to steal our joy by getting us to focus on the cares of this world just as Jesus said he would.
THE SOLUTION!
“So we look NOT at the things which are seen, but at the unseen things; for the visible things are temporary and change, but the invisible things are everlasting and do not change.”
(2Corinthians4:18)
I have heard from many of you who are shocked and dismayed, sad and worried. DON’T BE!! Instead, focus on the Love of Jesus. He died for us so that His joy and gladness would be in us, and our gladness would be complete and overflowing. Focus on the Words and Love of Jesus. Wrap yourself in the One who was and is and is to come.
(John 15:11)
If you are worried or anxious, memorize Matthew 6:25-34, and speak it aloud several times each day until your anxiety and fears leave. Remember these directions from Jesus:
“DO NOT LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED, NEITHER BE AFRAID! YOU BELIEVE IN GOD; BELIEVE ALSO IN ME!”
(John 14:1)
WHAT CAN WE DO?
TEACH AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN ABOUT THE UNQUALIFIED, UNCOMPROMISED, ETERNAL LOVE OF JESUS FOR THEM, PERSONALLY. When people receive the love that Jesus has for them, they can love themselves and then others, and the world will change. Love will overcome evil.
We must be strong in the Lord and the power of HIS MIGHT and the power that Jesus gave us. We have the same power dwelling in us that raised Jesus from the dead, which is the greatest power that exists (BELIEF). Remember that no weapon forged against you can or will prosper.
(Ephesians 1:19-21, Ephesians 6:10, Isaiah 5:17)
Jesus prophesied what we are now witnessing.
“Jesus answered them. Be careful that no one misleads you. Many will come in My name saying I am the Messiah, and they will lead many astray.
(i.e., politicians, entertainers, sports stars, and any who exalt their beliefs above the truth of the Gospel of Jesus)
A former television star has exalted herself above God and proclaimed to her millions of spiritually immature followers that “there are many ways to heaven.”
By believing this, they deny the deity of Jesus, offend Holy Spirit, and condemn themselves for eternity. They directly disagree with Jesus, who declared: “I AM THE WAY, AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE, AND NO MAN COMES TO THE FATHER BUT BY ME!“
(John 14:6)
And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; SEE THAT YOU ARE NOT FRIGHTENED OR TROUBLED, FOR THIS MUST TAKE PLACE!, but the end is not yet.
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in place after place; ALL THIS IS BUT THE BEGINNING OF BIRTH PANGS.
Then they will hand you over to suffer affliction and tribulation and put you to death, and all nations will hate you for My name’s sake.
This is happening today in China and other places. We are seeing raging anti-christian persecution and God mockers in every part of our society here in the U.S. today, especially in the entertainment and news industries, and professional sports, politics, and the marketing world.
And then many will be offended and repelled and begin to distrust and desert Him whom they ought to trust and obey and will stumble and fall away and betray and pursue one another with hatred.
And many false prophets will rise up, deceive, and lead many in error.
(I am thinking of one of the most famous preachers in the world who has made a fortune and lives in a thirty-five million dollar mansion. Who, when asked if Jesus was the only way, declared that He was not sure.)
And the love of the great body of people will grow cold because of the multiplied lawlessness and iniquity. But he who endures will be saved.”
(Matthew 24:2-13)
Holy Spirit also prophesied the things that we are seeing today through God’s special messenger with a special message, Paul:
“But understand this in the last days, dangerous times of great stress and trouble will come, difficult days that will be hard to bear, for people will be lovers of self narcissistic, self-focused, lovers of money led by greed, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, and profane. They will be unloving, devoid of natural human affection, calloused and inhumane, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, empty of self-control, immoral, brutal, haters of good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of sensual pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of religion, but denying, its power for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith.”
SOUND FAMILIAR?
Avoid such people and keep far away from them. For among them are those who worm their way into homes and captivate morally weak and spiritually-dwarfed women weighed down by the burden of their sins, easily swayed by various impulses, always learning and listening to anybody who will teach them, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
(Understand this scripture is not a condemnation of all women! It is a warning to those that Holy Spirit just described.)
Just as Jannes and Jambres, the court magicians of Egypt, opposed Moses, these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved minds, unqualified and worthless as teachers regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their meaningless nonsense and ignorance will become obvious to everyone, as was that of Jannes and Jambres.
Now you have diligently followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, steadfastness, persecutions, and sufferings—such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and Lystra; what persecutions I endured, but the Lord rescued me from them all! Indeed, all who delight in pursuing righteousness and are determined to live godly lives in Jesus will be hunted and persecuted because of their faith.
‘But evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
BUT AS FOR YOU, continue in the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced, holding tightly to the truths, knowing from whom you learned them, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings which can give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Jesus surrendering your entire self to Him and having absolute confidence in His wisdom, power, and goodness.’
(2 Timothy 3)
Don’t freak out!! Jesus and Holy Spirit told us that what is happening today must happen. Rejoice that Jesus will return shortly and take us to Himself. Hallelujah!! Remember that this life no matter how long or short we live is nothing but a wisp of smoke. Our eternal life with Jesus is forever and ever.
Maranatha! Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!
x.
