Are You Ready?

by Christopher S. Esty on November 25, 2009

“And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:7-8 NKJV)

The End of Darkness is Coming

If you want what God wants for you then don’t run away from what He puts before you. The problem that I see with a lot of people these days is that they don’t measure their experience in Christ aright; they don’t count the cost. Instead, they call what they assume to be the best for themselves the will of God while not really taking time to listen to the Holy Spirit. Thus they don’t give what they’re going through to Jesus Christ, but act according to the dictates of their own feelings instead, leaning on their own understanding while embracing evil; they think that they’ve turned to God, but they are really running away from Him.

When will God’s people rise up as a Church and command demonic forces to flee from their presence? The stain of sin is virtually on the surface of everything these days; and rather than letting God remove it people lap it up like dogs returning to their own vomit. Many say that they have it all together with God, that they’re all set; but they are neither cold nor hot. They think that they are rich and have need of nothing, and do not know that they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. They think that they’re walking with Jesus; but what they’re really doing is playing the harlot with the devil instead.  They even go so far as to try to make a messiah out of desires that are not in alignment with what God wants for them. Of course, they don’t know that they’re doing this, but they reveal that they are doing it whenever they assume that God doesn’t care about them–because they haven’t gotten all that they wanted out of life.

Listen, did Jesus ever promise that life in this world would be rosy, or that there would be no trials for those who believe in Him?  He never said that.  In fact, the Bible makes it very clear that “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12 NKJV)  So why think of it as though something strange were happening to you if you find yourself going through hardship?  It is to be expected.  God’s people will go through a time of trouble before Jesus returns; and now is the time to learn to depend on Him more and more, because it will get much worse before it gets better.

Does this message cut at your heart? If it does, then how could that be when I haven’t mentioned any names? Could it be that God is calling you to higher ground? Could it be that He is commanding you to remove your shoes as He did with Moses?

There isn’t much time left; we are literally standing on the knife’s edge of eternity. Time is too short to play games; it’s time to get serious about God; it’s time to stand in line and pledge our allegiance to Jesus Christ; and if need be, we must be ready to shed our blood for His glory. No, I’m not talking about going out and committing acts of violence against the enemy that would result in putting our lives in peril. Those who do that will not prevail.

“He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.” (Revelation 13:10 NKJV)

“Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” (Revelation 14:12 NKJV)

It is not the will of God for us to be violent, but rather to be peacemakers.  Therefore, let’s hit the devil where it really hurts: by keeping the commandments of God and sharing the faith of Jesus Christ we will overcome the world; and no weapon formed against us will prosper! The enemy will seek to destroy us on every level; but he will not prevail. For though he may take our lives from us, he will never be able to pluck us out of the hand of Jesus!

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” (John 10:27-29 KJV)

“do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28 NKJV)

“Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed hi,; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”(Romans 12:19-21 NKJV)

Indeed the KING of kings and LORD of lords is coming soon!  Are you ready?

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