Escalation Of Difficult, Hard Times...

ESCALATION --- DIFFICULT TIMES?

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

HARD, DIFFICULT TIMES APPEAR TO BREED DIFFICULT TIMES…

2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 Timothy 3:1 (MSG) Don't be naive. There are difficult times ahead.

2 Timothy 3:1 (NLT) You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times.

We shall know hard, difficult seasons and times. God never promised his people EASY LIFE STYLES. In hard times must learn lift praise and adoration before the throne of God.

*ESCALATION: to increase in extent, volume, number, amount, intensity, to become worse, to make more severe, to become greater or higher, to ACCELERATE, ACCUMULATE.

WE ARE IN A WAR. THE WAR IS GETTING HOT AND HEAVY. THE WEAPONS OF THE FLESH: THE POWER OF THE JAVELIN, THE SPEAR, THE SWORD AND THE FIST WILL FADE AWAY. They will rust, corrode and dull. THE WEAPONS OF THE FLESH ARE NOT ALWAYS THE RIGHT WEAPONS TO USE.

The word of God does the work of God. Faith, hope, and love never fail. PRAYER OPENS DOORS THAT THE ENEMY CAN NOT CLOSE. Prayer closes doors that the enemy can never open. Prayer is never out of season. Let us seek God BOLDLY without wavering.

Ephesians 6:12 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.

2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

2 Corinthians 10:4 (MSG) The tools of our trade aren't for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. 5 We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ.

WE HAVE TWO SWORDS… that’s enough…

Luke 22:38 And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.

Doctor Laura often asked a question: IS THIS THE HILL YOU WANT TO DIE ON? Once a big bulldog would walk down the road and it seems there was this SKUNK that did not care about anything. The skunk would verbally torment the bulldog. Day after day the skunk was mean to the bulldog. One day a bird was standing on the power line and he overheard the skunk mocking the bulldog. The bird yelled at the skunk and said that is very bad how he was treating the bulldog. The skunk just laughed at the bird and continued tormenting the bulldog.

The bird landed near the bulldog and said: CAN’T YOU BEAT THE SKUNK UP? YOU ARE SO STRONG AND WE ADMIRE YOU! The bull dog answered: OF COURSE, I COULD BEAT THE SKUNK UP WITH EASE. YOU MUST UNDERSTAND: IT JUST ISN’T WORTH THE STINK THE SKUNK WOULD RAISE. Let the skunk keep the foul mouth going… it just is not worth the stink.

Matthew 26:52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

2 Corinthians 10:4 (MSG) The tools of our trade aren't for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. 5 We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ

WE SHALL SEE THE ESCALATION OF THE PERSECUTION OF CHURCHES AND CHRISTIANS. THE TV AND COMPUTERS ARE FUELING THE FIRES OF PERSECUTIONS.

Mark 13:13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

KNOW THERE COMES A GREAT ESCALATION OF FALSE TEACHING, FALSE PREACHING THAT TICKLE THE EARS OF THE HEARERS…

2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

2 Timothy 4:3 (MSG) You're going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy.