When looking at the mess that the world is in, it is easy to lose heart. Also, as Christians, it is easy to say it is too hard and just bunker down and wait for Jesus to return. When we read the Bible and understand what God is saying through His Word, we can see that this is actually a time for God's people to stand up and become all He has made us be. To walk with Jesus to reign and rule with Him in the authority we have as sons and daughters of God is what we have been destined to do. This is to encourage you that the birth pains we are seeing are needed and through them, God is releasing the most exciting time in history for His people to live. Now is the time to be shaken, God to grow us up and to walk the authority we have as we grow up as sons and daughters of God.
I pray this is an exciting snapshot of some things that God is doing now and how you can be ready for the return of Jesus. Do not miss out being part of God's family for eternity. Become authentic and real in your relationship with God. Rise up and become all He has made you be and work with Him to bring all creation back under the rule and reign of Jesus. Now is the most exciting time to be alive... Even though it is very challenging!
When we are looking at the state of the world at the moment we can be quite overwhelmed and think "Where is God in all of this? Take heart. God is working. Here are some things I pray will both challenge and encourage you.
1. Jesus will return. This will be when we least expect Him.
As much as we want to know and even spend time guessing when Jesus will return, it will actually be when we least expect Him. This means we cannot let our guard down, but live a life now that will ensure we are ready whenever He comes and are able to truly say we belong to Him.
For you already know quite well that the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly and as a complete surprise. 1 Thessalonians 5:2
2. Before Jesus returns there will be incredible pain... it is compared to the birth pains before childbirth.
As we see the world falling apart and so much evil happening we can ask ourselves and even God if this points to God stepping from His creation or is He preparing it for Jesus' return. These things MUST happen for God's plans to happen on earth. The things happening are the pain that must happen before the glorious day of the return of Jesus. When you are 9 months pregnant and start contractions there is a time of fear and concern but the joy of what will happen as a result of the pain makes it all worth it. (That is what I have seen.... Leah gave birth to Esther so I can only say what I witnessed.. )
4 Jesus answered, “At that time deception will run rampant. So beware that you are not fooled! 5 For many will appear on the scene claiming my authority or saying about themselves, ‘I am God’s Anointed,’ and they will lead many astray.
6 “You will hear of wars nearby and revolutions on every side, with more rumours of wars to come. Don’t panic or give in to your fears, for the breaking apart of the world’s systems is destined to happen. But it won’t yet be the end; it will still be unfolding. Matthew 24:4-6 TPT
3. Some Will Be Ready and Some Will not.
This is something that is quite scary. It has been said that the oil represents the Holy Spirit. We need to ensure that we are filled with the Spirit daily and are prepared and ready for the return of Jesus. Being foolish means we will run out of oil when we most need it. Please make sure that you take seriously your walk with God and do not be lazy or complacent. Be prepared and ready at all times!
“At the time my coming draws near, heaven’s kingdom realm can be compared to ten maidens who took their oil lamps and went outside to meet the bridegroom and his bride. 2–4 Five of them were foolish and ill-prepared, for they took no extra oil for their lamps. Five of them were wise and sensible, for they took flasks of olive oil with their lamps. 5 When the bridegroom didn’t come when they expected, they all grew drowsy and fell asleep. 6 Then suddenly, in the middle of the night, they were awakened by the shout ‘Get up! The bridegroom is here! Come out and have an encounter with him!’[c] 7 So all the girls got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 But the foolish ones were running out of oil, so they said to the five wise ones, ‘Share your oil with us, because our lamps are going out!’
9 “‘We can’t,’ they replied. ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. You’ll have to go and buy some for yourselves!’
10 “While the five girls were out buying oil, the bridegroom appeared. Those who were ready and waiting were escorted inside with him and the wedding party to enjoy the feast. And then the door was locked. 11 Later, the five foolish girls came running up to the door and pleaded, ‘Lord, Lord, let us come in!’
12 “But he called back, ‘Go away! Do I know you? I can assure you, I don’t even know you!’
13 “That is the reason you should always stay awake and be alert because you don’t know the day or hour when the Bridegroom will appear.”Matthew 25:1-13 TPT
4. His (Jesus') Bride (The Church) will be Spotless and Without Blemish
In anticipation of the return of Jesus, we, the bride of Christ will go, and I believe is going now through an intense time of refining and shaking. God is causing us to go through tough times that are causing us to question our faith and deal with sin. Things that we have tried to hide in the past are now being exposed and it is time to become the holy and set apart people God has called us to be.
27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:27 NKJV
5. God is raising mature Sons and Daughters to rule and reign on Earth now.
The process of raising sons and daughters to rule and reign can be painful and very difficult. It requires cutting off everything that has been causing us to act or behave in a way that is contrary to God's way and then taking God's hand as He leads us through situations that are often painful to grow us up so we can not only wear the robe of righteousness but also be given the authority mature sons and daughters are given. We are given trials to mature and grow us to become perfect. I see perfection as becoming the real person God has made us be, without sin and blemish.
2 My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can!3 For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up power within you to endure all things.4 And then as your endurance grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking. James 1:2-4 TPT
When we read Romans 8, we see that all creation is really looking forward to God's children maturing as sons and daughters and being able to walk the earth in the authority He gives us to cause creation to once again start to function as God made it to. Creation is holding its breath waiting for us to be revealed.
19 The entire universe is standing on tiptoe, yearning to see the unveiling of God’sglorious[b]sons and daughters! Romans 8:19
6. God's purpose is for the world to operate as He made it to before sin entered the world.
When we become part of God's family on earth, He makes us entirely new. We are re-created to become without sin and to act and behave as a new creation.
17 Now, if anyone is enfolded into Christ, he has become an entirely new creation. All that is related to the old order has vanished. Behold, everything is fresh and new.2 Corinthians 5:17 TPT
As a new creation, we are called to go out and bring creation to once again be under the rule and reign of Jesus. Through His sons and daughters, He is bringing creation to once again to function as He intended before the Fall under Jesus..
5 And God-Enthroned spoke to me and said, “Consider this! I am making everything to be new and fresh. Write down at once all that I have told you, because each word is trustworthy and dependable.” Revelation 21:5 TPT
7. When He returns, not all who say they are Christians will enter the Kingdom of God
For Christians, there are two passages that we should read and meditate on regularly. The first one is in Revelations and is part of a letter to the church in Laodicea which warns them about not being lukewarm in their faith. If you are hot or cold it is easy to see where you are. If you are lukewarm you can pretend to be in either camp and nobody knows. God is calling us to not just play the "Christian" game but be 100% genuine in our faith. If we are not then we could miss out on the amazing future we have with God in eternity. I do not want God to reject me for eternity!
16 But because you are neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm, I am about to spit you from my mouth. Revelation 3:16 TPT
The second passage talks about God separating people at the end of the age. Many people who think they are Christians are not genuine and will be surprised when Jesus says He never knew them. God is calling us to consider our salvation with honesty and an understanding of the consequences of not getting it right.
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; Philippians 2:12 NKJV
This is the account of God separating genuine from non-genuine believers in the last days. Very sobering! I desire to be a sheep!
31 “When the Son of Man appears in his majestic glory, with all his angels by his side, he will take his seat on his throne of splendor, 32 and all the nations will be gathered together before him.[j] And like a shepherd who separates the sheep from the goats, he will separate all the people. 33 The ‘sheep’ he will put on his right side and the ‘goats’ on his left. 34 Then the King will turn to those on his right and say, ‘You have a special place in my Father’s heart. Come and experience the full inheritance of the kingdom realm that has been destined for you from before the foundation[k] of the world! 35 For when you saw me hungry, you fed me. When you found me thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I had no place to stay, you invited me in, 36 and when I was poorly clothed, you covered me. When I was sick, you tenderly cared for me, and when I was in prison you visited me.’
37 “Then the godly will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty and give you food and something to drink? 38 When did we see you with no place to stay and invite you in? When did we see you poorly clothed and cover you? 39 When did we see you sick and tenderly care for you, or in prison and visit you?’
40 “And the King will answer them, ‘Don’t you know? When you cared for one of the least important of these my little ones, my true brothers and sisters, you demonstrated love for me.’
41 “Then to those on his left the King will say, ‘Leave me! For you are under the curse of eternal fire that has been destined for the devil and all his demons. 42 For when you saw me hungry, you refused to give me food, and when you saw me thirsty, you refused to give me something to drink. 43 I had no place to stay, and you refused to take me in as your guest. When you saw me poorly clothed, you closed your hearts and would not cover me. When you saw that I was sick, you didn’t lift a finger to help me, and when I was imprisoned, you never came to visit me.’
44 “And then those on his left will say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty and not give you food and something to drink? When did we see you homeless, or poorly clothed? When did we see you sick and not help you, or in prison and not visit you?’
45 “Then he will answer them, ‘Don’t you know? When you refused to help one of the least important among these my little ones, my true brothers and sisters, you refused to help and honor me.’ 46 And they will depart from his presence and go into eternal punishment. But the godly and beloved ‘sheep’ will enter into eternal bliss.” Matthew 25: TPT
8. God WILL complete exciting things before Jesus returns.
We read in the New and Old Testament that there are many things that will be done before the return of Jesus. This is just two of them. The creation will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God. This is being completed, now, through followers of Christ who are growing up to walk as sons and daughters of God. He also says in Malachi that the hearts of children will be turned to their fathers. What exciting promises!
14 For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, As the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14 NKJV
6 And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” Malachi 4:6 NKJV
9. Time Captures Sin and Protects Eternity
I read this just recently and it blew me away. An idea is that God created time so sin could be captured and would not destroy or stain eternity. When sin is finally dealt with, God can release us into eternity. Eternity will be better than we ever could imagine. We can endure now because of the amazing future we have where sin will be no more.
Even with all the crazy thing you see on the news God is working. There have been so many major things happening that have not been reported on the general news. There has been a major court case against the makers of vaccines, Trump has ruled that the sex you are born is the one you are known, he has brought the Reserve Bank of America back under the control of the American government, child trafficking is being reduced, evil people are being exposed and in Australia, we have a born again Christian prime minister and a Jewish treasurer. Keep an eye out and keep praying that God will bring all these exciting things to the light.
You were born for such a time as this. Go out and listen to creation cry out in joy as you turn up and cause Creation to operation once again under the rule and reign of Jesus through His sons and daughters. I pray you are one of of them!