The Holy Spirit witnesses to us concerning the last days, and he tells us what to expect. He tells us the attitude and the spirit that will prevail in the hearts of the wicked.
(2 Timothy 3:1-5 ) KJV “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. [2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] Without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, [4] Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; [5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
He warns us against deception!
Matthew 24:4 KJV “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.”
(Matthew 24:24) KJV “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”
In these Next few verses Jesus tells us the signs we will see in the earth that will indicate his soon return.
(Matthew 24:5-11,13) KJV For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. [6] And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. [7] For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. [8] All these are the beginning of sorrows. [9] Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. [10] And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. [11] And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. [13] But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
I want us to look at one more portion of scripture....
(1 Timothy 4:1-2) KJV “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; [2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;”
If we're not careful we can take all these warnings to be a reason, a justification, and a validation for living very guarded, fearful, and self- preserving lives.
We could misread the instructions and take them to mean that we should be living on the defense, just hoping that somehow we can hold out till Jesus comes...
That’s exactly what the devil wants you to believe.
That's why you have to take all the scriptures and rightly divide them.
The Bible doesn't teach any such thing!
Yes the Bible teaches us very clearly that the world and its spirit, and it's system is Antichrist, and despises God.
But that is no indication that the church is supposed to sulk around, walking on eggshells just hoping and praying we don't make anybody mad.
The reality is that Jesus told us all these things, and the Apostle Paul told us these things by the Holy Ghost, to prepare for this hour. ... Not to escape this hour.
Yes I believe Jesus is coming back. And yes I want him to come back. But I believe that the ministry has failed the church by preparing for an exit, but not preparing us for the battle.
The early church lived in the hope of the imminent return of our Lord, but they also believed it was their job to evangelize the world, and that Jesus would not return until they had finished the job.
That created in them a passion and a drive to preach, teach, cast out devils, heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and raise the dead.
The point is... they were not hiding out, praying for Jesus to come and get them out of the evil world. They were convinced that they were to penetrate their culture with the message of the gospel, and bring the kingdom of God into direct confrontation with the kingdom of darkness.
The early church embraced their mission, and their commission.
Jesus had said... “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned. and these signs shall follow them that believe, in my name shall they cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues, if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them, and they shall lay their hands on the sick and they shall recover.” (Mk 16:15-18)
Jesus said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” (Matthew 28:18-19)
He told them in (Matthew 24:14) “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come.”
Jesus told the parable of ten servants left to carry on the work of their master. in (Luke 19:13) “And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, occupy till I come.”
*The early church knew that they were living in enemy territory, but they believed that they were equipped with superior weapons.
*They believed that the blood of Jesus, the Name of Jesus, and the Power of The Holy Spirit made them more than a match for the evil of their day.
*They earnestly believed that Jesus return would be hastened or hindered based upon their activity. So they went forth in divine zeal and purpose to cover the earth with the gospel of the kingdom.
They were not looking for a soft comfortable pew to sit on, and hold on to and hang out till Jesus came. They were pushing back the forces of darkness. They were preaching and prophesying. They were healing the sick and casting out devils. And they were lifting up the name of Jesus every where they went.
*They actually believed (Jn 4:4) “Ye are of God little children and have overcome them, because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.”
*They actually believed (Jn 5:4) “Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world, and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even your faith.
*They believed that Jesus left them here on planet earth, to carry out a mission, and that he would not return until that mission was completed.
I believe that is something we have lost in this modern day, middle America church....
The church has lost sight of it’s mission, and when we lost sight of our mission, we forfeited the power to carry it out, and we became simply... church attenders, waiting for Jesus to come.
It has produced an un-biblical Christianity, and an un-biblical Christian.
The Bible picture of a New Testament Christian, is of a soldier, fully equipped in full armor, consumed by the fire of God. Walking and living in the power of the Holy Spirit, destroying the works of darkness, and setting captives free.
But what has replaced that is... a lazy lukewarm, self-serving, self-preserving, complacent, comfort seeking saint that doesn’t even resemble a New Testament believer, whose only ambition is to be comfortable till Jesus comes.
I believe we are moving into some very perilous, treacherous, times. But I believe something good is going to come out of this. I believe there is a very strong shaking that is taking place, and is going to get stronger before it’s done. And it’s going to shake off the dead branches. And it’s going to wake up many slumbering saints. And we are going to embrace our mission once again to bring the kingdom of God into manifestation, to win this world for Jesus. And the result will be a fresh baptism of Holy Ghost fire and power!
*How long has it been you have had the Holy Spirit flow through you like a river?
*How long has it been since you spoke in tongues for at least an hour?
*How long has it been since you felt a burden for the lost that brought tears to your eyes?
*How long has it been since you prayed, Lord send me, instead of Lord come and get me?
*How long has it been since you have felt the power of God surging through your being?
If I could possibly do it, I would lay hands on you, and give everyone of you the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. Because I believe the Holy Spirit baptism is not optional equipment. I believe the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the ability to speak in other tongues, is indispensable and critically necessary for the hour we live in.
Let’s quit acting like ostriches with our heads in the sand, and let’s be honest about it... We are at war. There are demonic spirits loose in this nation that we have never had to deal with before. And they are more powerful than before.
We can’t fight New level devils, with an old level anointing, we’ve got to have fresh oil, and more power than we ever had.
We can’t play at church and expect to win in life. We have got to be the church.
We’ve got to get back to...
Pure and simple Bible preaching in Pentecostal power that condemns sin, and justifies righteousness.
We’ve got to get back to...
Repentance.
Holiness.
Sanctification.
Consecration
Prayer and fasting.
We’ve got to get back to seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.
The church used to sing the song, “Hold the fort.”
Well we’ve got to have a new song. We’ve got to have a marching song. This is not time for a holding the fort song.
*This is the time for the army of God to march through the land, with deliverance as their song, and healing in their hands.
*This is the time for going up to the high places, and tearing the devils kingdom down.
*And this is the time for going up to the enemy’s camp and taking back everything he stole.
Now I have told you the negatives of the last days. Now let’s hear the positive...
(Acts 2:17-21) KJV “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: [18] And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: [19] And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke: [20] The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: [21] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
So that’s the long and the short of it. We’ve got the devil raising hell, and the church bringing down the kingdom at the same time, in the last days.
We’ve got hell fire and holy fire raging at the same time.
We’ve got the love of many waxing cold because iniquity is abounding. And we’ve got souls catching a brand new wind of heaven, being ignited with a fresh Baptism of fire. And it’s happening at the same time.
We’ve got demons and angels warring over this nation. Warring for your children and your grandchildren.
I guess the only question is, which side are you going to stand on?
Are you going to stand on the negative side and hang your head and cry and bemoan our terrible fate as though the devils already won. Or, are you going to catch the fire of the Holy Ghost, agree with God and start prophesying and walking in power and authority, and see the greatest revival that this world has ever seen?
These are the last days.
