JESUS MESSIAH SAVIOR of the WORLD

“The woman said to Him (JESUS), ‘I know that MESSIAH is coming’ (who is called CHRIST). ‘When He comes, He will tell us all things.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I who speak to you am He.’

And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified…

And many more believed because of His own word.

Then they said to the woman, ‘Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.’” [1]

Oh, that every individual and village would come to the conviction that Jesus is Messiah Savior of the world.

[1] John 4:25-26, 39, 41-42

Not One Stone Left Upon Another

“Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, ‘These things which you see—the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.’ So they asked Him, saying, ‘Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?’” [1]

Below are signs that Jesus described in regards to the last days of the temple’s standing:

“You will be brought before kings and rulers for MY NAME’S SAKE. But it will turn out for you as an OCCASION for TESTIMONY. Therefore, settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I WILL GIVE YOU a MOUTH and WISDOM which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.” [2]

There will be opportunities for them to witness for the Name of Jesus before kings and rulers. He will give them wisdom that their enemies will not be able to resist. This prophecy was fulfilled in Stephen. He spoke with wisdom that the advocates for temple worship could not resist. “And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.” [3]

Stephen offended the leaders of the organized religion by saying of the temple in which they trusted, “The Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: ‘Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the Lord, or what is the place of My rest? Has My hand not made all these things?’ [4]

Stephen was stoned by the religious leaders in 36 AD. Thirty-four years later, the Romans destroyed the temple. They tore it down stone by stone. The early church was not about temples made with human hands. The early church was about a people transformed into the likeness of Christ by the indwelling Holy Spirit presence of God in their lives.

Hatred of Christ and His followers was a sign that the temple was soon to be destroyed. God’s preservation of their souls via the gift of patience, a fruit of the Holy Spirit, was a sign of the time.

“You will be hated by all for MY NAME’S SAKE. But NOT A HAIR of your head shall be lost. By your PATIENCE possess your souls.” [5]

“There will be… distress of nations, with perplexity… men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the SON of MAN coming in a cloud with POWER and GREAT GLORY. Now when these things begin to happen, LOOK UP and LIFT UP your heads, because your REDEMPTION draws near.” [7]

Many worldly people will be overwhelmed to the point of dying from fear. There will be a shake up in the heavenly realms. Then, Jesus will return with power and great glory. This is the time for believers to look up because the day of their redemption has come. Redemption means Christ will receive and reward those who trusted in Him for salvation.

Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. WATCH therefore, and PRAY ALWAYS that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to STAND BEFORE the SON of MAN.” [7]

Another sign of the last days before the Lord returns is the drift of humanity into carousing and drunkenness. People will be more focused on the here and now pleasures, than on the then and eternal blessings of God. Jesus warned us of an unexpected return. It will spring like a trap on those who defied and denied Him. He urges us His followers to keep watch like a watchman who protects the lives of those under his or her care. He urges us to pray always that we will be counted worthy to escape the evil of the last days and to stand before Him.

[1] Luke 21:5-7
[2] Luke 21:12-15
[3] Acts 6:10
[4] Acts 7:48-50
[5] Luke 21:17-19
[6] Luke 21:25-28
[7] Luke 21:34-36

Ready For The Last Day

“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

[So, what should you do in lieu of this?]

Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.” [1]

The people in days of Noah and Lot abandoned God to serve themselves. They were violent. They were prone to kill those who stood between them and their lust.

Noah humbly obeyed God. While the people of his generation were pleasing themselves, he worked for the Lord.

Lot urged his sons-in-law to get out of Sodom because angels of God told him that the city was about to be destroyed. His sons-in-laws mocked him, but he still obeyed God. He turned his back on Sodom and did not look back.

Noah and Lot stayed with God even when their generation abandoned Him.

Jesus advised us to lose our lives in this world so as to gain our lives in the next. He urged us to obey God always.

The Bible ends with these words: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” [2]

“Yes Lord, just as Noah and Lot were saved and kept by Your grace, please be gracious to us. We rely on You and not ourselves for salvation. In Your Name Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen.”

[1] Luke 17:26-30, 33
[2] Revelation 22:21

Repentance Pleases God

“I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” [1]

“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” [2]

“For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart – these, O God, You will not despise.” [3]

May the Lord give us grace to repent of sin and rely on Him to live right.

[1] Luke 15:10
[2] Proverbs 4:23
[3] Psalm 51:16-17