Friday, October 13, 2017
It's been quite a while since I last posted and as I sit in my front porch writing this, fires are burning out of control in California, volcanos are awakening all over the world, Yellowstone is still churning, there are wars and rumors of wars - North Korea and Russia things are heating up, protests are heating up, hurricanes are heating up along with the ocean temp, earthquakes, sink holes, etc. Signs in the stars and the sky. Things are heating up and getting worse all over the world. The birth pains persist, but in our corners of the world, everything still seems quiet and normal. I hope they are.
All the while, God's Remnant is out there.... preaching God's word and showing people the way to salvation while the church sleeps, unaware how close we are to Jesus's return, and unwilling to repent for drifting away. The watchman still warn of the sword coming, yet the church trudges on sleepily, living their lives the way they want to. Some pastors who were once on fire for the Lord, have also fallen asleep, or made a name for themselves instead of living with Christ's name. Those who have fallen asleep are not even aware of how the wolves have stepped in to their pulpit preaching other ways to heaven instead of Christ. This is the great falling away of the church and she must wake up or she will miss Jesus!
For the time has come that judgement must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end of them be that obey not the Gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:17
These are dark days and they are getting darker....
Jesus knew these days were coming. He foretold of them to his disciples over 2000 years ago and after he ascended to his throne in heaven, he told John and Paul what was to come. Gave them vivid visions and revelations. But the one thing Jesus stressed while he was still on earth was to watch and pray.
In Matthew 26, we see Jesus spending his last day with his disciples. They just had dinner and were now in the garden of Gethsemane where the burden of his death was bearing down on Jesus. But he still had a lesson for his disciples...namely Peter. After praying, He came to his disciples who were all sleeping and He said to Peter (who must have just awakened), "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (v41)
Peter was an interesting man. I encourage and challenge you to do a study on him. At the start of the book of John, we meet Peter and his brother Andrew. Andrew was a follower of John the Baptist, but after Jesus came and was baptized, he decided to follow Jesus instead. (There are references to Peter in each of the four gospels also. It gives a picture of who Peter was before and during his walk with Jesus.)
One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and said unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. John 1:40-42
Jesus saw Peter and recognized him...knew who he was. Notice the meaning of Cephas is "a stone". Peter became a great preacher after the ressurrection and ascension of Jesus. Did Jesus see this when He met Peter? I believe He did. In Revelation, we find out that God allowed Jesus to see the vision of our future and He, in turn, showed John so it could be written down for our generation. God warns before He judges.
Peter also was the first stone in the making of the church as we are the last stone in the end of the church. Peter had many failures but God kept Peter near Him, just like He keeps us near Him...purging the sin out of our lives and refining us as gold. And Jesus' warning was prophetic - as He was also speaking to us.
And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. Zechariah 13:9
Jesus talked about the signs to look for in the end times on the Mount of Olives in Matthew 24: 3-31. But we are to watch and pray...watch for the signs and look up for the coming of our Savior. Pray for each other, covering each other with the blood of Jesus, and pray for those around us to have hearts ready for the hearing of the word of God. We are also to keep praying that we are ready and that the Lord would use us however He wants to. Praying God's will the whole way.... It keeps our eyes focused on God and in turn helps us to see over the chaos going on around us so we can see prophecy unfolding. This will help us to see exactly what time it is Biblically.
And don't be afraid of prophecy. The Bible says we aren't supposed to be afraid, but rather rejoice, because we are getting closer to the day when Jesus comes for His bride, the church. Prophecy is a road map of things to come and if you have Jesus this will bring you joy because we will be one step closer to seeing Him face to face.
And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be no troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not near. (Matthew 24:6)
So keep watching and praying Remnant and Watchmen. Don't give up, God is with you. And pray that the rest of the church wakes up and repents. Remember....FOCUS ON THE LORD!
For Further Study - Search the Bible for more.....
Word study - watch and prayThe Life of Peter
Peter's Spiritual Journey
1 Thess 5
