Outlasting the Last Days

"Where there is no revelation (or prophetic vision), the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the law." [1]

As I hear of humanity passing laws that "liberate" people from being restrained by God's Word, I think of times in Biblical history and of post-biblical history when other generations did the same. It never ended well. In fact, it is a work of the devil to convince people to overthrow God's authority in their lives.

A falling away from faith in God precedes the appearance of son of perdition. The son of perdition (destruction) opposes God. He convinces others to completely reject the Bible and to follow him instead of Christ.

"Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day (the Day of Christ) will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." [2]

What should we do?

We need to preach the Gospel. We need to hold regular weekly prayer meetings. We need to pray for the eyes of unbelievers to be opened to the truth of God. Without revelation, people cast off restraint.

"Holy Spirit empower us to present Christ to the lost in a language and in a mannerism that they will receive Him."

Finally,

"...Stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle." [3]

And here's a blessing...

"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work." [4]

Also, keep in mind... "the Lord will consume (the anti-Christ) with the breath of His mouth and destroy (him) with the brightness of His coming." [5]

[1] Proverbs 29:18 NKJV
[2] 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 NKJV
[3] 2 Thessalonians 2:15 NKJV
[4] 2 Thessalonians 2:16 NKJV
[5] 2 Thessalonians 2:8 NKJV

The Greatest Riches

“Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he (Moses) looked to the reward.” [1]

There came a point in the life of Moses, when, by the grace of God, he preferred being insulted for his faith in God over owning the treasures of Egypt. What? Egypt was the wealthiest nation on earth. How could he esteem insults for Christ more so than the treasures of Egypt?

GRACE

God gave Moses grace to serve unhappy and oppressed slaves. God gave him grace to have good-will towards them. By relying on the power and guidance of God, Moses freed the Israelites from serving the fleshly desires of Egyptians.

God gave Moses grace to bring them to His holy mountain to serve Him. [2] God wanted these former expendables to enjoy a special relationship with Him. They would be His special treasure above all people on the earth. [3]

The Israelites liked the liberation part, but not so much the part of closeness with God. Closeness with God requires loving God more than the world. God got the people out of Egypt. That was the easy part. Now, He needed to get Egypt out of them.

I found myself identifying with the Psalmist as he prayed, “I have become as a wonder to many, but You are my strong refuge. Let my mouth be filled with Your praise and with Your glory all the day. Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails.” [4]

Thanks to the grace I have in Christ Jesus, I am a treasured possession of God. AND Christ is my treasure. I don’t have much to offer Him in return for all His benefits to me. I am currently morphing into a senior citizen. But guess what, that is okay. God does not cast us off when we become old. He does not forsake us when our earthly value wither. No, God draws near to us. In fact, Moses was over 80 years old when God used him to lead the slaves out of Egypt. So, I am depending on God during my senior years to do great things for those around me. Rather than lamenting or complaining, I am depending on God more.

PRAISE… to my Lord Jesus… “Let my mouth be filled with Your praise and with Your glory all the day.” [5]

[1] Hebrews 11:26
[2] Exodus 3:12
[3] Exodus 19:5
[4] Psalm 71:7-9
[5] Psalm 71:8

Deliverance From Disasters

Major hurricanes hit Hong Kong and Texas this week…

“Let not the floodwater overflow me, nor let the deep swallow me up; and let not the pit shut its mouth on me.” [1]

“No one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, and no one has power in the day of death.” [2]

I praise the Lord for delivering my Hong Kong and Texas friends from disasters. Not one lost his or her life.

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation! Selah Our God is the God of salvation; and to GOD the Lord belong escapes from death.” [3]

“We are… those who believe to the saving of the soul.” [4]

[1] Psalm 69:15
[2] Ecclesiastes 8:8
[3] Psalm 68:19-20
[4] Hebrews 10:39

Pouring out My Heart to God

Pouring out my heart to God

Lifting my hands to Him

He hears

He answers

I praise Him

“Hear my cry, O God;

Attend to my prayer.

From the end of the earth I will cry to You,

When my heart is overwhelmed;

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For You have been a shelter for me,

A strong tower from the enemy.” [1]

“Truly my soul silently waits for God;

From Him comes my salvation.

He only is my rock and my salvation;

He is my defense;

I shall not be greatly moved.

My soul, wait silently for God alone,

For my expectation is from Him.

He only is my rock and my salvation;

He is my defense;

I shall not be moved.

In God is my salvation and my glory;

The rock of my strength,

And my refuge, is in God.

Trust in Him at all times, you people;

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us. Selah” [2]

“Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,

My lips shall praise You.

Thus, I will bless You while I live;

I will lift up my hands in Your name.” [3]

[1] Psalm 61:1-3

[2] Psalm 62:1-2, 5-8

[3] Psalm 63:3-4

I Will Call Upon God

“As for me, I will call upon God,

And the Lord shall save me.

Evening and morning and at noon

I will pray, and cry aloud,

And He shall hear my voice.

Cast your burden on the Lord,

And He shall sustain you;

He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” [1]

“Whenever I am afraid,

I will trust in You.

You number my wanderings;

Put my tears into Your bottle;

Are they not in Your book?

In God (I will praise His Word),

In the Lord (I will praise His Word).” [2]

“The Lord will perfect that which concerns me…” [3]

[1] Psalm 55:16-17, 22

[2] Psalm 56:3, 8, 10

[3] Psalm 138:8

Praising & Serving The Lord

“Whoso offers praise glorifies Me, and to him that orders his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God.” [1]

“By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honor, and life.” [2]

“God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” [3]

[1] Psalm 50:23

[2] Proverbs 22:4

[3] Hebrews 6:10

Make Me Your Messenger

“Yet if there is an angel at their side, a MESSENGER, one out of a thousand, SENT to TELL THEM HOW to BE UPRIGHT, and HE IS GRACIOUS to that person and SAYS to GOD, ‘SPARE THEM FROM going down to THE PIT; I have found A RANSOM for them—let their flesh BE RENEWED like a child’s; let them BE RESTORED as in the days of their youth’—then THAT PERSON CAN PRAY TO GOD and FIND FAVOR with HIM, THEY WILL SEE GOD'S FACE AND SHOUT FOR JOY; HE WILL RESTORE them TO FULL WELL-BEING.

And THEY WILL GO TO OTHERS AND SAY, ‘I HAVE SINNED, I have PERVERTED WHAT IS RIGHT, but I DID NOT GET WHAT I DESERVED. GOD HAS DELIVERED ME FROM going down to THE PIT, and I SHALL live to ENJOY the LIGHT of LIFE.’” (Job 33:23-28)

I praise GOD for sending people to me to tell me to BELIEVE in JESUS CHRIST! Now, I am SAVED from my SIN and from the PIT. “Now, Lord, please make me Your MESSENGER to others.”

WE SEE JESUS

“WE SEE JESUS,

Who was made a little lower than the angels...

For the suffering of death,

CROWNED with GLORY and HONOR;

That HE by the GRACE of GOD...

Should taste death for every man.”

WE SEE JESUS...

“For it became HIM,

FOR WHOM are ALL THINGS,

And BY WHOM are ALL THINGS,

In BRINGING MANY SONS unto GLORY,

To make the CAPTAIN OF their SALVATION...

Perfect through suffering.

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers...

Of flesh and blood,

HE also HIMSELF LIKEWISE took part of the same;

That through death HE might DESTROY him...

That had the power of death,

That is, the devil;

And DELIVER them...

Who through fear of death...

Were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Wherefore IN ALL THINGS...

It befit HIM...

To be made like unto HIS BROTHERS,

That HE might be a merciful and faithful high priest...

In things pertaining to God,

To make RECONCILIATION FOR the SIN...

Of the PEOPLE.

For in that HE Himself has suffered being tempted,

HE IS ABLE to HELP them that are tempted.”

Hebrews 2:9-10, 14-15, 17-18

How’s Your Spiritual Climate

If you observe the people that you live among saying or acting in the following manner, “What is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto Him?” [1] Then, you are in a spiritually dark climate.

In a spiritually bright climate people enjoy serving and honoring the Father and His Son Jesus Christ because they have received the blessed Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit empowers us to worship God and fills us with ample faith to speak to God. He reminds us that God is our Creator and He sustains the entire universe. When we pray to Him in the Name of His Son Jesus, He does more than we ask or imagine. [2]

We rely on air conditioners to cool hot air and heaters to heat cold air. Let us rely on GOD ALMIGHTY the CREATOR of the universe to transform the spiritual climate in which we live.

“Father, we pray in the Name of Your Son Jesus, please grace those who are sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, to see Your great light. Please brighten the spiritual climate of those around us by the light of Your glorious presence. Graciously, help that one we have been praying for to open up to You. And may that one become two, and those two become four, and so on, and so on, until the climate around us changes from spiritually dark to spiritually bright.”

[1] Job 21:15
[2] See Ephesians 3:20

Soul-safe in Christ’s Care

“Unto You, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.” [1]

The soul-safe place is in Christ’s care.

“For Your Name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.” [2]

Iniquity is a terrible sin. Iniquity is an inequality continuously happening in a relationship. One person is complaining all the time and treating the other poorly, while the other is sacrificing and treating the other with great value. We, humans, tend to demand much from God, but give Him only heartache in return. And what does God ask of us? He expects us to love mercy, be fair with one another and to walk with Him in humble way. [3] God’s two great rules of thumb are to love Him and to love people. Our Lord showed us how to love God and others in the Gospels. Praise God for pardoning our iniquity. Praise Him for giving us His Holy Spirit to help us walk as He walked… loving others more than ourselves.

“One thing have I desired of the Lord, which will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple.” [4]

I cannot think of any better gift than to see JESUS and then, be welcomed by Him into heaven forever. As the Psalmist said…

“I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” [5]

Therefore, let us…

“Wait on the LORD:
Be of GOOD COURAGE,
And HE shall STRENGTHEN YOUR HEART:
Wait, I say, on the LORD.” [6]

[1] Psalm 25:1
[2] Psalm 25:11
[3] Micah 6:8

[4] Psalm 27:4

[5] Psalm 27:13
[6] Psalm 27:14

Blessed to be Forgiven by God

Let us embrace the blessing of God’s forgiveness... the blessing of having a conscience free from past guilt...

“’Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.’” [1]

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” [2]

“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.” [3]

“I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ And You FORGAVE the iniquity of my sin. Selah” [4]

“You [God] have cast all my sins behind Your back.” [5]

“Thank You Heavenly Father for sending Your Son to be our Savior from sin and for forgiving all our sins.”

[1] Isaiah 1:18
[2] 1 John 1:8-9
[3] Psalm 32:1
[4] Psalm 32:5
[5] Isaiah 38:17

A Charge to Keep – A Crown to Receive

“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:

Preach the word!
Be ready in season and out of season.
Convince,
Rebuke,
Exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching.
Be watchful in all things,
Endure afflictions,
Do the work of an evangelist,
Fulfill your ministry.

Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

2 Timothy 4:1-2, 5, 8

Countering the Terrible Times of the Last Days

“Mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” [1]

What do you do with the evil dangerous people of these last days? The Bible says to have nothing to do with them. Spend time in God’s Word instead. “As for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of… the Holy Scriptures are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” [2]

Another way to counter the terrible times of the last days is to be committed to giving thanks to the Lord…

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever. To Him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. Who by His understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever. Who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever. Who made the great lights—His love endures forever. The sun to govern the day, His love endures forever. The moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever.”

[1] 2 Timothy 3:1-5
[2] 2 Timothy 3:14-17
[3] Psalm 136:1, 4-9

GOD & JOB

Have you heard of Job? The Bible says that he “was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.” [1]

Job had ten children and 11,000 animals. He was the greatest of all the people of the East. [2]

The devil wanted to destroy Job’s good relationship with God, so he sought permission from God to takeaway all Job’s blessings. He told God, “Stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” So, God gave Satan permission to touch Job’s possessions but not his person. [3]

Satan’s agents, the Sabeans, stole Job’s 500 oxen and 500 donkeys, and slew their caregivers. [4]

He made fire fall from heaven and burned up Job’s 7,000 sheep and their caregivers. [5]

Satan’s agents, the Chaldeans, stole Job’s 3,000 camels, and killed their caregivers. [6]

Satan caused a great wind to destroy Job’s oldest son’s house. All ten of his children died that day. [7]

What did Job do after this? He fell to the ground and worshiped God. He said: “’Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.’ In all this Job, did not sin nor charge God with wrong.” [8]

Then, Satan asked God to touch Job’s bone and his flesh so that Job would “Surely curse You (God) to Your face!” The Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.” “So, Satan struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.” [9]

“In all this, Job did not sin with his lips.” [10] Job loved God even after Satan stole his possessions and his health.

The next test was the greatest challenge to Job’s relationship with God. His three friends began to pit God’s integrity against Job’s. Job defended his behavior towards God. This dialogue between Job and his three friends continues for 30 chapters. Then, a young man jumps in on conversation. He talks for six chapters. Finally, God speaks for four chapters. He reminds Job that He is God and that He is the Creator, Preserver and Governor of all things. Job repented of questioning God’s integrity. The Lord told Job’s three friends that they did not speak right about Him as Job did. He commanded them to offer a sacrifice and to ask Job to pray for them. They obeyed the Lord. [11]

We can never out-give God. Whatever we sacrifice for Him, He always gives us more in return. “The Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed. the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” [12]

I have observed this pattern during my life, and so have others. Usually, after times of great trials comes seasons of great blessings.

“The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning.” [13]

Job ended up with 22,000 animals, ten children, and he saw his children’s children unto the fourth generation. He lived 140 years. [14]

“Blessed be the Name of the Lord!”

[1] Job 1:1
[2] Job 1:2-3
[3] Job 1:10-12
[4] Job 1:14-15
[5] Job 1:16
[6] Job 1:17
[7] Job 1:18-19
[8] Job 1:20-22
[9] Job 2:4-7
[10] Job 2:10
[11] Job 42:1-8
[12] Job 42:10
[13] Job 42:12
[14] Job 42:12-17

The SPIRIT of GRACE and of SUPPLICATIONS

“And I will POUR upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the SPIRIT of GRACE and of SUPPLICATIONS: and they shall look upon ME whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for HIM, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for HIM, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.” [1]

The SPIRIT of GRACE and of SUPPLICATIONS leads us to see JESUS! Especially to see Him in His sufferings for our sins and for our salvation.

For example, in the early months of 1997, my family of six was living on the fifth floor of a school in Guangzhou City, China. We experienced many trials. From overwhelming heat and humidity to swarms of mosquitos that had to be fought off by burning smoking coils of repellent and sleeping under mosquito nets. Sometimes our meal rice that smelled so good to a hungry tummy tasted horrible to a sensitive pallet because of tiny particles of sand in it. Sometimes the choice vegetable served to us by the school “chef” was celery floating in oil. Then, there was the always the not-so-hidden clues that the government was surveilling us.

Amidst this lifestyle fraught with difficulties, the Holy Spirit led us to divine moments of rapture as we listened to songs of the Savior who suffered on a cruel cross to save us and the world from sin. I had a cassette player and scores of cassettes with songs to celebrate the love of God demonstrated to us by His Son. These songs were our oasis in the dry desert. Songs like: “There is a Fountain Filled with Blood” (William Cowper); “At the Cross” (Isaac Watts); “Jesus Paid it All” (Elvina M. Hall); “Whiter than Snow” (James Nicholson); “The Love of God” (Frederick M. Lehman); and “What a Friend we have in Jesus” (Joseph M. Scrivener).

I did not always know how to pray but the Holy Spirit did. As the Scripture says, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” [2]

“Look on ME . . . whom they have pierced.’ Look at the only begotten Son of God suffering for us! See His pierced hands and feet! Pierced for our sin. Look at Him with hymns! Look at Him with prayers! Look at Him with praise! Look at Him and tell others what you see!

The angel told John, “For it is the SPIRIT of prophecy who bears testimony to JESUS.” [3] “The Holy Spirit is truly ‘God the Evangelist,’ drawing sinners into fellowship with Christ. Knowledge of Christ and fellowship with Him is what the Holy Spirit’s ministry is all about. His ministry leads us to see our need of Christ so that we embrace Him in faith and love.” [4]

“Yes, Heavenly Father, may the Spirit of grace and supplications work in and through us to bring us and others close to Christ. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.”

[1] Zechariah 12:10
[2] Romans 8:26
[3] Revelation 19:10
[4] J.I. Packer: The Holy Spirit and Salvation