Experiencing Victory in Trials – Part 3

CHRISTIAN RESPONSES TO END TIME EVENTS AS THEY OCCUR

As we live in these last days before the return of Jesus Christ we have been told by our Lord Jesus Christ that what people of the world have put their trust in, instead of the God of the Holy Bible, will be shaken so that they have an opportunity to put their trust and faith in our heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, by the Holy Spirit and live a life in the Holy Spirit that pleases God. As we read Matthew 24; Luke 17:28-18:8; 21:5-36 and are made aware of current prophesies, such as “The Perfect Storm” by John Paul Jackson and others too numerous to mention, we see clearly that we are in the beginnings of these end times. What is particularly significant is that within the United States of America, which was established by God’s intervention and has been under God’s favor and blessing for years, many people in recent years have embraced the teachings and philosophies of the world instead of the Bible which has resulted with them coming out from under the Lord’s spiritual covering resulting in moral decay and an increase in evil violence that is prevalent in godless nations around the world. We are the Christians who were born for such a time as this in our nation and we need to be responding in the way God directs us to.

RESPOND IN TRUE REPENTANCE OURSELVES & ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO REPENT AND COME CLOSE TO GOD

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their evil ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” 2 Chronicles 7:14 – God is calling us to walk in the Holy Spirit with clean hearts, clean hands and clean lips (refer to handouts “Have You Forgiven Others And Moved On With God Or Are You Entertaining The Spirit Of Offense With A Victim Mentality?”; “Experiencing Victory In Trials” Issue 2)

When Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, spoke to the crowd on the day of Pentecost we read “Brothers, what shall we do” “Peter replied “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.” “With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”” Acts 2:37-39 “All authority on heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

RESPOND WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY & RESPONSIBILITY NOT ANXIETY AND FEAR

“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, a spirit of love, and a spirit of a sound (disciplined) mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 – Anxiety leads to fear. Those who do not have their faith in God will respond in anxiety and fear as these end time events occur. It is easy for Christians to allow this atmosphere of anxiety and fear to affect us. How do we act differently?

• When we see or hear of events or disasters that occur we need to respond with urgency not complacency as many have in the past – we are to go to prayer with understanding and in the spirit immediately. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (is powerful).” James 5:16b If we are on the spot of the event we are to help and give encouragement, strength, and release our spiritual gifts immediately to bring hope and Holy Spirit life.

• When we are woke up with a heaviness in the middle of the night we are to go to prayer with the understanding and in the spirit and go back to sleep when the Lord fills us with His peace and gives us sleep.

• As we receive warnings in dreams, visions, and words spoken to our spirit we are to pray against evil plots and schemes of the devil; for God to intervene; and for grace and mercy if they are events that God is allowing.

• When people around you speak out in fear with negative words and hopelessness ask the Lord to speak hope and Holy Spirit life from the scriptures through you to turn them towards relationship with the Lord and trust in the Lord. Begin memorizing appropriate scriptures and their accompanying faith declarations so they can be brought forward from your memory at these moments.

RESPOND WITH A PURPOSE OF RESCUING THE PERISHING NOT CONDEMNING THEM

• We are to discern, warn and correct but not judge condemning others to the eternal lake of fire – that judgement is reserved for Jesus Christ. Better words are “What you have believed is in error, but because God loves us He tells us………….”; “Your behavior is putting you in danger of …..but because God loves you God offers a way back to Him. God tells us …….”; I am sharing spiritual truth from God with you because God loves you and I want to see you experience God’s love, peace and joy.” The devil uses accusing, lies and condemnation to bring about hopelessness and fear. We are to speak the truth in love replacing hopelessness with hope in the Lord.