“Are We Ready For This?”

Earlier tonight, Pastor Lankford (a pastor in North Carolina heard of shortwave radio) was discussing a host of topics concerning the times. One issue, however, seems needful to relay as it highlights the importance of continuously examining ourselves. As we grow in the Lord, and the years accumulate, there’s a tendancy to unwittingly consider ourselves to be….well….spiritual. We tend to look at ourselves as having reached a certain level; knowing areas that are in need of growth, and labeling other areas of our life as being mastered. Pastor Lankford mentioned a time when he had to be reminded not to be overly confident in our own perceived spirituality. It happened one day, about ten years ago. He was getting around, when the Lord told him “You’re weak.” Pastor Lankford told how this caught him off guard and unveiled a weakness that he wasn’t aware of.

The example that the Lord gave him was that of John the Baptist. John was a man who was filled with the Holy Ghost from birth. He “knew” that his office was that of one crying in the wilderness who was to announce the coming of Messiah. He saw Jesus and said “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” He baptized Jesus in the river Jordan, saw the heavens opened and witnessed as the Holy Ghost descended in in a bodily shape like a dove upon him. He heard a voice from heaven, saying “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” In short, John witnessed an incredible amount of scriptural fulfilment, with the understanding that Jesus must increase and he (John) must decrease.

Yet despite all of this revelation, when the time of Johns departure was drawing near, he sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus “Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?” Questions arose in his mind and John needed reassurance. This is important today, because some of us may be appointed to glorify the Lord Jesus through the giving of our lives. We are at the door and soon the man of sin will be revealed. We must ensure that our hearts are firmly established. On the page “Posts from other Blogs” there’s a link to a writing by Richard Wurmbrand who discusses this in great detail. (I would link to it here, but I’ve already linked to it several times on different posts.) In it he discusses how seeds of doubt may hide out in times of peace and safety, but when persecution comes, they will lead to betrayal.

There is one thing that should be linked to because we’re at the time when it will soon become relevant.

The Black Bird (war against the christians) This was given to Dimitru Duduman back in 1992 concerning the persecution that would come upon the church. Things which have been bound, will be unleashed as is told in scripture.

Daniel 7:25 “And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.”

Revelation 12:17 “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” 

I wasn’t planning to post tonight as I was coming out here to check on other things. Furthermore, I strive to not submit back to back postings that have an apocalyptic theme. (A self-imposed guideline that has become all but irrelevant.)  This issue, however, is pressing and I fear that none of us fully grasp the dangers of this. Any spiritual abnormalities (?) such as pride, doubtings, carnal-mindedness, and what have you, will spell disaster in the times of trying. I pray that this will cause all of us to get close to Jesus, examine ourselves, and stablish our hearts as the days are unimaginably evil. His grace is sufficient for any trial, and his peace will remain in any storm. One more passage that shows the dangers of highmindedness.

I Samuel 15:17 “When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD annointed thee king over Israel?”

King Saul serves as a reminder of what can happen when obediance is replaced by logic and “look at me” replaces “look to Jesus. Those words “When thou was little in thine own sight” speak volumes. One more thing that bears repeating is the dangers of loving this present world. It will cause one to sell their birthright for a morsel of bread, and receive a mark for continuance in this present “temporal” world. It will cause one to cave in the hour when they must choose between their testimony of Jesus and a position in the theater of atoms. Any one of us may face such a choice in the days ahead, but if our hearts are already seated in heavenly places, Gods grace will be sufficient. May we all remember Stevens discourse and how he saw the heavens opened when his testimony was complete.

Well I’ll be going for now. The December issue of the Last trumpet Newsletter has been posted and can be read at the link provided. I wish to all a blessed thanksgiving and a blessed weekend in Jesus.

I John 5:3-8 “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?  This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.”