Wednesday, April 15, 2020

"Night is almost over..." - Romans 13:12-14 (CEV)


The World, as we know it with its evil and corrupted ways, is about to come to an end as we presently know it as we enter the final time before Jesus’s return and His righteousness will reign. 

This is a time in history that has been anticipated for centuries, and it now falls upon our generation to prepare ourselves.

What does this mean?  
It means that every generation from the time of Jesus up to our time has been eagerly awaiting the return of the Lord.

“But our homeland is in heaven, and we are waiting for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from heaven. By his power to rule all things, he will change our humble bodies and make them like his own glorious body.” 
Philippians 3:20-21 (NCV)

How do we know that this is the last generation?  
There have been unprecedented outpourings of God’s Spirit in places that no one could have ever imagined, like China and Iran, to name a few.  These outpourings have been in areas of persecution from hostile governments.  When Jesus’s testimony could not be preached or taught, Jesus appears in the form of dreams and visions directly to people.

 ‘This is what I will do in the last days—I will pour out my Spirit on everybody and cause your sons and daughters to prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men will experience dreams from God.’ 
Acts 2:17 (TPT)

Presently worldwide, as we speak during this Coronavirus pandemic (even though the effects of the virus are tragic by the loss of life), God is drawing people to Himself in ways that were thought to be impossible or improbable only a few short months ago.  More people are connecting to Church services and meetings online than ever before. People are looking for hope! 

Families now have the opportunity to relate to each other with no distractions from outside influence if mandated social distancing orders are adhered to.

The Church prayed for revival!  
Sometimes what we pray for does not take the form that we imagine it to be because we typically base our expectations on past experiences.  Revival may be happening among us in ways we may not recognize at first blush if people are connecting to each other and with God’s people (the Church) exponentially, then maybe, just maybe, God is on the move.

The whole creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into their own. The World of creation cannot as yet see reality, not because it chooses to be blind, but because in God’s purpose it has been so limited—yet it has been given hope. And the hope is that in the end the whole of created life will be rescued from the tyranny of change and decay, and have its share in that magnificent liberty which can only belong to the children of God! 
Romans 8:19-22 (PHILLIPS)

How do we prepare? 
Preparation is receiving Jesus as our Lord and then allowing the Holy Spirit to flow through our lives to conform us to become more like Him in everything we usually do. It is changing our perspective that our God is bigger than every circumstance or obstacle, and He can meet us where we are.  

The other thing is letting others know that Jesus loves them too, and there is so much that can be formed in our lives, which will stand the test of time that we all go through.  These times of testing are called “trials by fire,” which prove if what is in our lives will last for eternity or not or be consumed by the flames of testing.  

The testing is a testing of love, not harsh testing like a test-dummy where we crash into walls or anything like that; it is like a bridegroom testing the boundaries of his love for his bride.  The testing is always personal and relational, for it is preparing us for what is coming.

“ In my opinion whatever we may have to go through now is less than nothing compared with the magnificent future God has planned for us.” 
Romans 8:18 (PHILLIPS)

What are we preparing for?  
Jesus is coming back to receive His bride (which is His Church) who has been eagerly awaiting His return.  She adorns herself with beauty (which is Christ Himself). The reason that the biblical definition of marriage is two becoming one flesh is apparent here.  We are being prepared so that we will be like Him. The marriage of Jesus and His bride will be a celebration of our oneness in Christ.

The Scripture says, “So a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will become one body.” That secret is very important—I am talking about Christ and the Church. 
Ephesians 5:31-32 (NCV)

What is the end game?  
The final destination of our Christian life is for us to be one (united with Jesus) so that He is ruling and reigning in our lives.  
Our ultimate destiny is that we would rule and reign with Him on the earth.  

We are called many things, The Bride, Children, and Sons & Daughters; one thing is shared among all of these descriptions is that they are all relational, Jesus wants us to be in relationship with Him on an intimately personal level.

This teaching is true:
If we died with him, we will also live with him.
If we accept suffering, we will also rule with him.
If we say we don’t know him, he will say he doesn’t know us.
If we are not faithful, he will still be faithful,
because he must be true to who he is.
2 Timothy 2:11-13 (NCV)

Be Blessed;
Stephen Barnett

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