Instructions For
End Time Mobilization
By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.
JESUS CHRIST
called for soldiers to join His Army. Some were invited to join like Andrew,
Peter, James and John. They forsook their fishing boats and nets. Matthew left
his position as a tax collector and others volunteered and joined the Master as
disciples and Gospel preachers!
Saul of Tarsus, however, was
conscripted. He had no choice as he was called before the foundation of the
world to preach the Gospel to kings and potentates, and to build Christ's
Church in the Gentile world! The Holy Scriptures give us the report of his
conversion and call as God's chief leader, to spread the Gospel of His Son to
the ends of the earth:
“And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings
and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord...And as he journeyed, he came
near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from Heaven:
And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why
persecutest thou Me? “And he said, Who
art Thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am JESUS whom thou persecutest...And he
trembling and astonished, said, What wilt Thou have me to do? And the Lord said
unto him, Arise, and
TO BEAR JESUS' NAME!
The Lord sent Ananias to heal Saul's eyes
that had been blinded by the Light, and to be filled with the Holy Spirit: “But
the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto Me. To bear
My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel. For I will
show him how great things he must suffer for My name's sake.” (Acts 9:15, 16)
In His Great Commission, our Lord pledged
to confirm His Word with signs, wonders and miracles. He promised to send the
blessed Holy Spirit to lead, direct and to oversee the work of God that we do in
His Name.
He stated unequivocally: “All power is
given unto Me in Heaven and in earth. Go ye
therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all
things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo I am with you alway, even unto
the end of the world. Amen.” (Matt. 28: 18-20)
Ever since the beginning of
time our Heavenly Father has been caring for us. There has not been a moment of
time that our Lord has not been cognizant of our existence and been looking
after us! Jesus plainly stated that even the birds of the air are cared for by
Heavenly Father, and we are worth more than they!
“Are
not two sparrows sold for a farthing, and one of them shall not fall to the
ground without your Father. But the very hairs on your head are numbered. Fear
ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Whosoever therefore
shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father
which is in Heaven.” (Matt. 10: 29-32)
GOD GAVE
HIMSELF THROUGH JESUS!
Old
Testament prophets declared the coming of the Messiah hundreds of years before
the birth of Christ. God's Son was incarnated (God in human flesh) to pay the
awful penalty of Adam's sin of high treason against our Heavenly Father,
through His vicarious death for us on the Cross. (Gal. 3: 13) The Bible states: “Surely He hath borne
our sicknesses (heb. khelee) and carried our pains (heb. makob): yet we did
esteem Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. “But He was wounded for our
transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our
peace was upon Him and with His stripes we are healed.
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have
turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of
us all.” (Is. 53: 1-6)
“Seek ye the Lord while He may be found,
call ye upon Him while He is near: Let the wicked forsake his way and the
unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord and He will have
mercy upon him: and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher
than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts higher
than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and
returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and
bud, that it may bring seed to the sower, and bread to the eater.
“So shall My Word be that goeth forth out
of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that
which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (55:
6-11)
Knowing the goodness
of God and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the blood of the everlasting
covenant, the presence of the Holy Spirit and His call upon our lives, here are
some important guidelines to follow.
1.
BEWARE OF MENTAL FATIQUE!
“Let him that is taught in the Word
communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is
not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that
soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to
the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
“And let us not be weary in well doing: but
in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity,
let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of
faith.” (Gal.6: 6-10)
“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ
Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who
commanded to light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give
the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
“But we have this treasure in
earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in
despair; persecuted but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
“Always bearing about in the body the
dying of our Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus might be manifest in our body.
For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the
life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.” (2 Cor. 4:
5-11)
Our Saviour did not offer us a picnic but
a battlefield. He didn't make it easy! St. Paul could have thrown in the towel
and quit, but he did not. We must never even consider stopping to serve God and
glorifying Jesus Christ as Lord of our Lives!
JESUS stated: “Behold, I send you forth as
sheep in the midst of wolves; be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as
doves. But beware of men: For they will deliver you up to their councils, and
they shall scourge you in their synagogues.
“And ye shall be hated of all men for My
Name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. The disciple is
not above his master nor the servant above his lord. If they have called the
master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his
household?” (Matt.10: 16, 17, 22)
Here
is the good news for believers who suffer for Christ: “Whosoever therefore
shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is
in Heaven.” (Matt. 10:32)
All of us can learn something from great
leaders who have experienced good and bad sides in times of war and peace, of
sickness, disease and healing, fear and faith. Sir Winston Churchill was a man
we can learn from!
WINSTON CHURCHILL saved Great Britain from
defeat. In the darkest hour of W.W.11, he stated:
‘WE SHALL
NEVER SURRENDER’:
“We shall fight on the
seas and oceans,
we shall
fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost
may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the
streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I
do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated
and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British
Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the New World,
with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of
the old.”
In another stirring speech
given on October 29, 1941 at Harrow School near London, Winston Churchill,
said: “Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never-in-nothing,
great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour
and good sense. Never yield to force, never yield to the apparently
overwhelming might of the adversary.”
FEAR NOT: PEACE BE UNTO THEE!
Jesus constantly admonished His disciples
as well as those whom He healed with the words: “Fear thou not” and “only
believe”. Here are several of his encouraging words: “And Jesus said unto
Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.” (Luke 5:10); “Fear not,
little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
(Luke 12: 32);
“Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid;
go and tell My brethren that thy go into Galilee, and there shall they see Me.”
(Matt. 28:10)
The words, 'Fear not' are written in the
Holy Bible 366 times. Lutheran Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, who was tortured for
Christ by Soviet Communists for 14 ½ years, stated that God gave us one promise
for each day of the year, including leap year!
Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you, My
Peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your
heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27): “Come unto Me all
ye who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon
you, and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find REST
for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Mat. 11: 28)
2. TIME IS OF THE
ESSENCE!
Time is of the essence. We must use our time wisely because we only
have so much. Time is limited and is running out for all of us. We do not know
how much time we have before it is all used up and life on earth is over. Here
is an old song written by Blanche and Virgil Brock and sung by Slim
Whitman.
Today is mine tomorrow may not come
I may not see the rising of the sun
When evening falls my work may all be done
Today is mine tomorrow may not come
Today is mine to sing a joyful song
Its notes may cheer some wanderer in the throng
His steps may falter while my own are strong
Today is mine to sing a joyful song
Today is mine tomorrow may not come
My race of life may end at set of sun
Shall I then hear the Master say well done
Today is mine tomorrow may not come
Jesus said: “Say not ye, there are yet four
months, and then cometh harvest? Behold,
I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are
white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth
fruit unto life eternal; that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may
rejoice together.” (John 4: 35-37);
“I must work the works of Him that sent Me,
while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work.” (John 9: 4)
On the first resurrection
morning we see the power of God in action: “And behold, there was a great
earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from Heaven and came and rolled
back the stone from the door and sat upon it. His countenance was like
lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did
shake and became as dead men.
“And the angel answered and
said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was
crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place
where the Lord lay.
“And go quickly and tell His disciples that He
is risen from the dead and behold He goeth before you into Galilee; there ye
shall see Him; lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the
sepulchre with fear and great joy: and did run to bring His disciples word.
“And as they went to tell His disciples,
behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held Him by the
feet and worshipped Him. Then said Jesus unto them. Be not afraid; go tell My
brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see Me.” (Matt. 28:
2-10)
COME AND
SEE: GO AND TELL!
It is our duty to
investigate fully the Old Testament prophesies concerning the Messiah and the
Ministry of Jesus of Nazareth in the Gospels, together with His vicarious death
as God's Paschal Lamb and His glorious Resurrection in the Gospels. Once we
believe and experience the amazing truths about Jesus Christ, His saving grace
and healing power, we are ready to be His disciples!
Having been captivated by the
love of Christ's Gospel and indoctrinated by the infallible Word of God and
endued with the power of the Holy Spirit, then nothing is too difficult, too
arduous or too demanding that our Heavenly Father would ask us to lay on His
holy altar or do for His honour and glory!
Speaking to two discouraged disciples on that
first Resurrection morning, Jesus said: “O fools and slow of heart to believe
all that the prophets have spoken, Ought not Christ to have suffered these
things, and to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all the
prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning
Himself.” (Luke 24: 25-27)
After their eyes were opened and they knew
whom the stranger was, they said to one another: “Did not our heart burn within
us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the
Scriptures? (Luke 24:32)
3.
WORKERS TOGETHER WITH CHRIST!
“For we are labourers together with God:
ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. Know ye not that ye are the
temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. And ye are Christ's; and
Christ is God's.” (1 Cor. 3:9,16, 23);
“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ
as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye
reconciled to God. For He hath made Him sin (sin offering) for us, who knew no
sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. We then, as workers
together with Him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in
vain.” (2 Cor. 5: 20, 21: 6: 1)
ST. PAUL lays out the
believer's connection to Jesus Christ: “Having made known unto us the Mystery
of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself:
that in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in
one all things in Christ, both which are in Heaven, and which are on earth;
even in Him:
“In whom also we have obtained an
inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh
all things after the council of His own will: that we should be to the praise
of His glory who first trusted in Christ.
“In whom also ye trusted, after
that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also ye
believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of Promise; which is the earnest
of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the
praise of His glory.” (Eph.1: 9-15)
WE ARE ONE WITH
CHRIST!
We are in Christ and He is in us. We are hidden with Christ
in God. Our salvation is of Christ, through Christ and because of Christ. We
work His miracles only in the Name of Jesus Christ. Praise His holy Name
forever!
“And you hath He quickened, who were dead
in trespasses and sins: wherein in time ye walked according to the course of
this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that
now worketh in the children of disobedience:
“Among whom also we all had our
conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of
the flesh and of the mind: and were by nature the children of wrath, even as
others. But GOD, who is rich in mercy,
for His great love wherewith He loved us,
“Even when we were dead in sins, hath
quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us
up together in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus. That in the ages to come He
might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through
Christ Jesus.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of ourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man
should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good
works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Eph.2:
1-10)
The Bible says: “I am crucified with
Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me: and the life
which I now live I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave
His life for me.” (Gal.2: 20)
“For though He was crucified through
weakness, yet He liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but
we live with Him by the power of God toward you.” (2 Cor.13: 4); “Now unto Him
that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that worketh in me.” (Eph. 3: 20)
4.
THE LABOURERS ARE FEW!
“And Jesus went about all the cites and
village, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom,
and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw
the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted and
were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
“Then saith He unto His
disciples, the harvest is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye
therefore the Lord of the Harvest that He will send forth labourers into His
harvest.” (Matt. 9: 35-38)
“And Jesus came and spake unto them,
saying, All power is given unto Me in Heaven band in earth. Go ye therefore and
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have
commanded you: and. lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”
(Matt. 28: 16-20)
The word alway is a measure of distance and always is a measure of time. He said that He would be with us all
the way, the entire distance, right to the end of our journey until we see Him
face to face!
Again,
our Lord Jesus Christ gave us the Great Commission in a more detailed form:
“And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every
creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that
believeth not shall be damned
“And
these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out
devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if
they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the
sick, and they shall recover.
“So then after the Lord had
spoken unto them, He was received up into Heaven, and sat on the right hand of
God. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them,
and confirming the Word with Signs following. Amen.” (Mark 16: 15-20)
JESUS CHRIST said, “But ye shall receive
power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses
unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the
uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
St. Paul's testified: “Moreover, brethren,
I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have
received, and wherein ye stand: “For I delivered unto you first of all that
which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.
And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the
Scriptures.” (1 Cor 15: 10)
“For we are labourers together with God: ye
are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which
is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and
another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth
thereupon. “For other foundation
can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build
upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stone, wood, hay, stubble; Every
man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it
shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort
it is.
“If any man’s work abide which
he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be
burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth
in you.
“If any man defile the temple
of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye
are. And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.” (1 Cor. 3: 11-17,23)
5.
WE MUST NOT GET COLD SPIRITUALLY!
“Being confident of this very thing, that
He which hath begun a good work in you will, perform it until the day of Jesus
Christ. And this I pray that your love
may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in judgment.
“That ye may approve things that are
excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ. Being filled with the fruits of
righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.”
(Phil. 1: 6, 9-12)
JESUS warned: “And many false prophets
shall rise and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love
of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end shall be saved.
And this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness
unto all nations, and shall the end come.” (Matt. 24: 11-14)
He admonished: “And they shall say to you,
See here; or, see there; go not after them, nor follow them. For as the
lightning, that lighteneth out of one part out of heaven, shineth unto the
other part under heaven, so shall also the Son of man be in His day. And as it
was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
“They did eat, they drank, they married
wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the
ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.”
“Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot;
they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from
heaven, and destroyed them all.
“Even thus shall it be in the day that the
Son of man is revealed. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and
his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is
in the field let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot's Wife! (Luke 17:
23-32)
According to the Babylonian Talmud published
in 1,000 B.C. Jewish Rabies declared that the first time in history that men
were given in marriage to men, and women were given in marriage to women was
during the days of Noah! That was just before God sent the Flood to destroy man
from the earth, because of their sins!
“And God saw that his heart was only EVIL
continually. And it repenteth Him that He had made man, and it grieved Him at
His heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the
face of the earth; both man and beast, and all the creeping thing and the fowls
of the air; for it repenteth Me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in
the eyes of the Lord.” (Gen. 6: 4-8)
6.
OUR SALVATION IS NEARER NOW!
St. Paul wrote: “And, that, knowing the
time, that, now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation
nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let
us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armour of
light.
“Let us walk honestly as in the day, not
in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantoness, not in strife and
envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make provision for the flesh,
to fulfill the lusts thereof.” (Romans 13: 11-13)
Our Saviour told the parable of the Ten
Virgins, as a warning of ‘falling asleep’ spiritually: “Then shall the Kingdom
of Heaven be likened unto Ten Virgins who went forth to meet the bridegroom.
And five of them were wise and five were foolish.
“They that were foolish took their lamps
and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their
lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
“And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him. Then all
those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the
wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered,
saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and for you: but go ye rather
to them that buy and sell, and buy for your selves.
“And while they went to buy, the
bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage and
the door was SHUT.
“Afterward came also the other virgins,
saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But He answered and said, Verily I say unto
you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour
wherein the Son of man cometh,” (Matt. 25: 1-13);
“And there shall be signs in the sun and
the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with
perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring: Men’s hearts failing them for fear,
and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth for the powers
of the heavens shall be shaken.
“And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and
great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and
lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21: 25-28)
7.
WE MUST WATCH, PRAY, BE ON GUARD!
Five of the Seven Churches which Jesus Christ addressed in
the Book of Revelation were commanded to repent. Only two were commended
because of their devotion to Christ during the most severe testing, trial and
martyrdom!
During St. Paul’s time in Ephesus, the
Church there was considered a model Church.
Thirty years later, Jesus made this powerful statement: “Unto the angel
of the Church of Ephesus write; These things saith He that holdeth the seven
stars in His right hand, Who walketh in the midst of the seven golden
candlesticks:
“Nevertheless, I have some what
against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from
whence thou hast fallen, and REPENT and do the first works; or else I will come
unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of its place, except
thou repent.” (Rev. 2:1, 4,5)
“And another also said, Lord, I will
follow Thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my
house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and
looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 9: 61, 62).
“Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that
sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then
that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise. Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not
unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with
wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” (Eph.5: 14-18)
“Ye are all the children of light, and
the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore,
let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that
sleep in the night; they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us,
who are of the day, be sobre, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and
for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
“For God hath not appointed
us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thes. 5:
5-9). St. Paul declared that believers in Christ need not fear the future
because we have been redeemed through Christ’s vicarious death for us and His
glorious resurrection from the dead. Instead of being condemned for our sins,
we are pardoned!
“For by grace are ye saved through faith:
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works lest any man
should boast.” (Eph. 2: 8,9). The Bible says: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye
were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver and gold, from your vain
conversation (lifestyle) received by tradition from your fathers; but with the
precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
“Who verily was foreordained before the
foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you; Who by
Him do believe in God, that raised Him from the dead, and gave Him glory; that
your faith and hope might be in God.” (1
Peter 1: 18-21)
8.
LET US CLEANSE OURSELVES!
It's time to make a new consecration! Every day we should
talk to God about our spiritual life. It is so easy to crowd Jesus, His Word and
His program out of our agenda; to put Him on the waiting list! Our lives are so
busy that Jesus is very often neglected!
The old painting of Jesus standing outside
knocking on the heart’s door, always carries with it His desire for fellowship!
He wants to be the centre of our lives, not the fifth wheel or spare tire! The
great preachers of years ago, used to greet one another with words like, “Do I
meet you praying?”
St. Peter wrote: “According as His divine
power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness,
through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby
are given to unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye
might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped all the corruption that
is in the world through lust.
“Wherefore, the rather,
brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do
these things, ye shall never fall. For so an entrance shall be ministered unto
you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter
1:3,4,8)
St. Paul stated: “Examine yourselves,
whether ye be in the FAITH; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves,
how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Cor.13: 5)
“For we are labourers together with God: ye
are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which
is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and
another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth
thereupon.
“For other foundation can no man lay than
that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation
gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be
made manifest, for day shall declare it because it shall be revealed by fire;
and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work
abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
“If any man’s work shall be
burned, he shall suffer loss but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire.
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, which temple ye are.” (1 Cor.
3:9-16)
The Bible says: “I beseech you therefore,
brethren, by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,
holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not
conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
(Rom 12: 1,2)
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed
about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and
the sin which doth so easily beset us, let us run with patience the sin which
doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set
before us.
“Looking unto JESUS the author and finisher
(perfecter) of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the
cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of God.” (Heb.
12:1, 2)
9.
PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD!
The Lord never promised us a recreation
field in which to play, but a battlefield in which to fight against the world,
the flesh and the Devil. He said that it would be a battle and that He would
give us the grace, wisdom and the power to win!
Concerning the Ministry, my
precious wife Donna has often said: “It hasn’t always been easy, but it has
been rewarding because God has always been with us. Just to know that many have been helped;
saved, healed and restored through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, makes it all
worthwhile.”
That is the heart of the whole
matter, the reason for our existence and the purpose of the Church and the
preaching of the Gospel! Jesus stated: “For what shall it profit a
man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a
man give in exchange for his soul?
"Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me
and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the
Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the Holy
angels.” (Mark 8:36-38)
He said: “All power is given Me in Heaven
and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
(Matt. 28: 18-20)
The BIBLE says: “Finally, my
brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the
whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the
devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against
spiritual wickedness in high places.
“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour
of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all,
to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having
on the breastplate of righteousness;
“And your feet shod with the preparation
of the gospel of feet” Above all taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall
be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of the Lord. Praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto
with all perseverance and supplication for the saints.” (Eph.6: 10-19)
FOR TIME & FOR ETERNITY!
The Bible states: “And I saw a new heaven and
a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and
there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down
from God out of Heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
“And I heard a great voice out of Heaven
saying, Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them,
and they shall be His people and God Himself shall be with them, and be their
God.
“And God shall wipe away all tears from
their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying,
neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
And He that sat upon the Throne said, “Behold, I make all things new. And He
said unto me, Write, for these words are true and faithful.
“And He said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning
and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water
of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his
God and he shall be My son.
“But the fearful, and
unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers and whoremongers, and sorcerers,
and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth
with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Rev. 21; 1-8). Amen.
Sri Lankans watch as soldiers clear the debris from inside of the damaged St. Anthony’s Church after it was targeted in a series of Islamic State-claimed suicide bombings that killed hundreds of people during Easter Sunday. The niqab covers the whole head apart from the eyes while the burqa features a thin veil across the eye-openings.
