These words of Jesus announced the closing of one dispensation, or time period, and the opening of another. The law of Moses was now fulfilled, and the good news of Jesus Christ was here. God had come as a man and He would pay the price for all of man's sin, and "whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life". God has shown incredible grace and mercy to a sinful and rebellious creation, paving the way for all who believe on Jesus as Lord and Savior.
But just as that period of time was fulfilled, this period of infinite grace is rapidly coming to an end. Just as God closed the door to the ark that would save Noah and his family, God will close the door to salvation. One day, maybe soon, the last person will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and the invitation will be withdrawn and no one else will be let in. WHAT A SOBERING THOUGHT! Have you ever pondered the notion that God could have closed that door before you and I were born again? It should frighten us and at the same time fill our hearts with resounding praise for our Father's grace and longsuffering!
Time. What is time? In its scientific definition it is the measurement of motion. But Spiritually, it is a sacred and precious commodity that even in Christian circles is being poured out on ourselves. Let us ask ourselves this piercing question: Is there anything we spend less time on than alone time in prayer with our Lord? Well time is running out. Watch the news and see Israel making pacts with its neighbors. See pestilence sweeping whole continents. Although 250,000 Africans die every month from AIDS, malaria is the number one killer. Watch the world try and create peace by the fallen cunning of man's mind. Watch a Christian president represent democracy as the new gospel. Watch the evangelical world solicit funds and promise a slot machine return. Watch pseudo-Biblical scholars teach that the New Testament hints at another chance for dead sinners. Watch as slick salesmen market a new and appealing gospel that induces a self-aggrandizing response that resembles more of a multi-level sales force than a separated, crucified, and blood washed body.
Look at Rev.6:8. God says there will be a pale horse, ridden by Death, followed by Hell. Now look at the power that was given to him. This Arch-demon will cover the earth killing with the sword, hunger, death, and the beasts. We are covered with violence, both with war and violence among all peoples. Thousands of our brothers and sisters in Adam will die today of hunger. Death will visit millions, both in and out of the womb, but I draw your attention to the last phrase in the verse, "with the beasts of the earth". Look how many deaths are related to animals. AIDS(monkeys) - Malaria(mosquitoes) - Madcow(cows) - and many bacteria. And now we are being told that if the bird-flu ever spreads it could be a world wide pestilence.
Although there is coming a period of time on this earth that will be, according to Jesus Himself, more horrible than ever has or will be, the dark events are beginning in embryonic form to unfold now. Not just demons, not just arch-demons, not just principalities, not just powers, not just rulers of darkness, not just spiritual wickedness in high places, but Lucifer himself is beginning to personally take charge of these last days. The apostle John revealed that," (The)Antichrist shall come, even now are there MANY antichrists, where we know that it is the last time".
Brothers and sisters in Christ, we are in a war. Not a physical war, not moral vs. immoral; not conservative vs. liberal; not Christian vs. Muslim; not an American war; not Iraq, Iran, or any other country, it is a vicious war, unseen by human eyes, and the pathology of this war is infinitely more savage than all the wars of human history combined. It is a war that will see THE Antichrist make his appearance and deceive THE ENTIRE WORLD(except for a very few). This is a war that began in heaven between God Almighty and Satan himself, and its conclusion has begun. The end of this war is coming, but it will get far worse before it is over.
What is our place in this war? Paul says,"We do not war after the flesh: for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds". No guns, knives, missiles, bullets, tanks, or any manmade instrument of war can be used in this war. The name of Jesus; the Blood of Christ; The Word of God; and most importantly PRAYER. We must drop to our knees, not just figuratively, but literally in warfare praying. God is beginning to raise up a remnant of believers that are now in Spiritual bootcamp. They are separating from this world and seeking to be used of God both here on earth and in the Spirit. Believe it or not, the "in the Spirit" part is the most difficult.
The time is now. We are living in the very last days and we must not waste the time that our Heavenly Father has granted us. The souls of men hang in the balance, and unless there is a great revival in the church millions will be lost that might have been reached. And there will be no chance for revival if there is no revival of prayer. I encourage you, whoever you may be, ask God to start a revival of prayer in your own life. At this point it is counter-productive to look at others, we are all "captured" by the culture and we need God's power to escape. Not until then will the world see the glory of God revealed through His church. There is inherent power in the truth, but there is also added power in a Spirit filled vessel as he or she spreads the truth. And this is never to draw attention to ourselves in any way for we must never hold men's personages in admiration. We must continually and deeply keep our focus on the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, for in Him we live and move and have our being. And if the entire world falls away from the truth let us not be moved from serving Him who IS the Truth!
PRAY - PRAY - PRAY Try rising 1/2 hour earlier in the morning specifically to pray and let the Lord start in you and me a revival of prayer that will be used of the Spirit of God to draw a host of believers to follow.
May Jesus Christ our Lord be praised !
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4 comments:
May your call to prayer reach beyond the written word to draw believers into their prayer closets with renewed urgency. The demons tremble in the darkness at the sight of a saint bowed in prayer... And may the Lord come quickly to gather the remnant who were chosen to be His before the creation of the world...and may He find us waiting faithfully... clothed triumphantly...in His grace!
Time is short. The signs of the times are all around us. Only those with eyes to see and ears to hear are aware though. I have noticed over the last several weeks how bold the emergents and other liberals are becoming. They speak their lies as if they have authority. Have you noticed? Where do you suppose that boldness is coming from? I have also noticed this, (I heard Leonard Ravenhill say this, but I have noticed it as well) the moving of God seems to be within His remnant in America and in the Lost in China, the far East, the Near East, the Mid-East. But, in America it is with the Remnant who are in spiritual bootcamp. Oh Lord, draw us into the truth!
In Christ
Mike Ratliff
Rev. Rick, thank you for this post. When I truly and literally think about those evil things, for some reason, I'm not scared. I don't even tremble at that thought. I know without a doubt that the Almighty God in the name of Jesus Christ will win this war. He HAS and ALWAYS will defeat Satan.
What a fantastic post... I too, have felt that the times of the Gentiles is approaching the end.
The dispensation of Grace is coming to an end.
The Aposatacy is here.
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