‘Endtimes’ Faith

Global  mega disasters are abundant and the costs in lives and properties are immense.  Also, laws allowing  abortion, homosexuality, and so forth… are continuing to change the social face of America and the world.  Global economic security is threatened…..at least….changing.  Around the world….religious wars and martyrdom is on the increase. Christians continue to be persecuted and killed.  And some church goers are fearful…forgetting that   ‘…….God rules in the kingdom of men and places over it the basest of men Dan 4:17 .’  All things seen in our world today are either by the purpose or ’letting’ of God.              

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Eph 6:12

 

 But…let’s  be clear about  the enemy.  One must know the enemy to correctly understand the war.  The enemy is not political parties, laws, nor any specific ideology.   His name is Lucifer.  He has always been…and continues to be…under the rule of God.  So why has ‘fear’ taken the place of ‘faith’ with so many believers?  We have forgotten to trust God with His kingdom, His creation, and His sovereignty.  Our salvation is not found in politics…but in the promises of God.   Knowing that God is faithful….fear should not prevail over Faith.        

 Heb 11: 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.                 

  From Adam to  Noah ….from Ararat to Sodom and Gomorrah…from Sodom and Gomorrah to Christ…from Christ to now…societal degeneration has been part of the plight of man on earth…..ALL UNDER THE DIVINE RULE OF SOVERIEGN GOD.   Admidst all the righteousness and the evil….there remains the Kingdom of God(righteous/spiritual)  and the kingdom of men(unrighteous/temporal). Our two-party system of government falls within the ‘kingdom of men.’  While God ordained governments and rulers..Righteousnes dwells only in the Kingdom of God.  Those belonging to the Kingdom of God are citizens, too, within the kingdom of men (in the world but not of the world).  And as citizens of the Kingdom of God …’in the world but not of the world’…we have the authority to live Faith…and not fear.                     

2 ti1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.                    

Acts 27:24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee                    

Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.                    

Heb 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me                    

In the face of such witness from holy scriptures….fear of changing and degenerating times….results in a  lack of trust in the continuing ‘rule’ of the Father within the kingdom of men.  Fear is NOT of God.   As true Christians, we are compelled to have love, trust, peace, hope, kindness, meekness, and FAITH in these changing times. FAITH does not accuse. It WAITS. FAITH does not fight its own battles. It trusts that the ‘battle is the Lord’s.’ FAITH does not judge. It leaves ALL judgement about ALL things to the final judge…the Word. Only He can see within a heart.  Only He knows the heart He has hardened to bring about His divine purpose. Only He can judge intent.  We can’t even know our own heart.  How can we, then, suppose to know the heart of another???  FAITH is content. It does not seek to change the purposes of God in the world. HE ALONE RULES.   HE ALONE IS IN CONTROLL OF PEOPLES AND CIRCUMSTANCES. HE ALONE DECIDES WHO SITS IN THE SEATS OF GOVERNMENTS.                    

Daniel 4:17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.                    

NOW is the day of salvation.  Now is the time for showing Christ to a lost world. Now is the time for loving one another.  Now is the time for gathering the fields white unto harvest. Now is the time for FAITH.  Now is the time for Christians to BE….not just ‘profess.’   Whether the economy is strong or weak….is not a matter of concern for the Christian.                    

Instead of frustrating ourselves concerning the evils of the world, we should do as Noah. We should move with the ‘fear of the Lord’….in  preparing our souls and the souls of our households and neighbors. We should be busy working out our own salvation with fear and trembling.  As Noah, we then condemn the evil in the world by leaving it in the hands of the Most High God.  The battle is the Lord’s. And He will never see defeat. He is above every name. He is Lord of Lords…and King of Kings. He is the heavenly Father. His judgements are just and righteous. He won the war by giving his own body and soul to Death.  In that Death, He neutralized its power over man’s body and soul….for those men who desire Life.    He is the Lamb of God who is the fulness of sacrifice for sin.  The lamb slain in Eden to cover Adam and Eve….and each blood sacrifice on Israel’s altars…..all pointed to the perfect Sacrifice…the Lamb of God.  With so great a Saviour….why would we fear?               

Matt 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?                    

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.