Teaching The Truth

"But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." (1 Peter 4:7) "People naturally pray when they suppose that the end of all things is coming." (Barnes' Notes) Do you sense that the "end of all things" is near? Peter said that these times call for a commitment to prayer. Paul seemed to add that such times call for a super-intensity of prayer. Such intensity is needed in order to avert the evil coming against the Church today. God has promised to "pour out the spirit of grace and supplication" upon His people in order to enable them to reach that end. As a believer in Jesus, receive the Holy Spirit!

"...Then the proposition...is self-evident: it is God that giveth power to get wealth, and to God the wealthy man must account for the manner in which he has expended the riches which God has given him." (Adam Clarke) Abraham, Isaac, and Job experienced firsthand the - "blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it." They never allowed their wealth to cause them to forget God... become exalted in themselves...be lifted up in pride regarding their fellow man... become enamored with it...trust in it...or be deceived by it. On the contrary, they allowed their wealth to draw them into a closer walk with God. And that is His will for you as well!

"How strange it is that people professing Christianity can suppose that with a worldly spirit, worldly companions, and their lives governed by worldly maxims, they can be in the favor of God, or ever get to the kingdom of heaven! When the world gets into the Church, the Church becomes a painted sepulchre; its spiritual vitality being extinct." (Adam Clarke) You are either a "Friend of God" or a "friend of the world." You cannot be both. In being a "friend of the world," you are actually a "friend of Satan" - since he is the one who holds the evil world system in his grip. This message is a WAKE-UP CALL to determine whose friend you really are!

There are activities in our lives in which we all are involved that we do with our whole heart. The question is - Do they involve the Lord Jesus Christ or are they in pursuit of the world and its goods? Let's be real here! Just how many Christians are following hard after God with all of their hearts? Are you one of them? The Scriptures repeatedly mention the words - "with my whole heart" - in the context of going after God. In your Christian walk, is this the manner in which you approach Him on a daily basis?

"Divine light always breaks in, when all seems darkness..." (Barnes' Notes) God is promising you a wonderful change in your life, condition, or circumstances. He is promising you a complete turnaround. That which was meant to destroy you is actually advancing you in His cause and working for His glory. When all seems ready to sink into the thickest "night," that's when He brings forth His "light." Your change is coming! Receive it by faith!

"Whoever or whatever controls a person's mind ultimately has the power to dictate the affairs and outcomes of that person's life. Thus, if a person allows his mind to be doused with panic or fear, he is putting fear in charge of his life." (Rick Renner) You have a choice! You can allow fear to grip your mind for what lies ahead. Or you can saturate your mind with God's Word. It is against the "mind of Christ" that you have a troubled heart - even in troublesome times.

"This is the age of the Enchanted Ground. He that can go through this age and not sleep, must have something more than mortal about him. God must be with him, keeping him awake. You cannot be long in the sporific air of this particular period of time, without feeling that in spiritual things you grow lax, for it is a lax age - lax in doctrine, lax in principle, lax in morals, lax in everything - and only God can come in and help the Pilgrim to keep awake in this Enchanted Ground." (Biblical Illustrator) "The end of all things is at hand." "The coming of the Lord draws nigh." "It is high time to awake out of sleep." Wake up! And though the world grows dark - very dark - "Christ shall give you light."

"Perhaps a fear of neighboring peoples encouraged the Jews to focus on the priority of re-establishing their relationship with God. Restoring worship of God might ward off danger, because God's presence would protect the people." (The Preacher's Commentary) God responds actively to altar activity. He is drawn to the altar. He is attracted to the altar. He is moved by the altar. It is a "magnet" for His presence and glory. Hence, He is saying to His people - "Build Me an altar."

Throughout the Scriptures, the "name of the LORD" represents His person, authority, and character. Hence, it should always be pronounced with a joyful reverence - and never "taken in vain." If you learn to make God and His name your praise, then you will have no problem making God and His Name your trust - especially when facing dire situations or intense warfare with your enemy - Satan. The Holy Spirit is calling the Church to a higher level in their "walk" - "walking in the name of the LORD" - which means "walking" in the supernatural, miraculous, and power of the Holy Spirit. Are you resolved to obey?

Who shall? Can anything? Can anyone put a difference between Christ's love and the saint of God? Paul prayed that the Ephesian believers would know the power in the Love of Christ - how it gives them access into being filled with the fullness of God. Jude admonished the believers to "keep themselves" in the "love of God" - especially in the Last Days. There is POWER in the "love of Christ." Satan and the world throw things at you in order to conquer you. But the "love of Christ" turns it around and makes you "more than a conqueror." Paul was a persuaded man. What about you?