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April 12, 2004
Using the Lord's discourse in Matthew 24 concerning the signs of the end of
the age, we have examined a few of the conditions that we may expect
to unfold. Again, we are not just studying the signs to know them, we
want to also be prepared for them. If we understand them, we will understand
all that the Lord is allowing in our lives.
To date, we have been viewing the increasing racism and instability, which
is indicated from the Scriptures to increase. To help prepare for these,
we can expect the Lord to allow us to be confronted with tests in these
same areas, with increasing diversity and with continued and dramatic
changes. Our spiritual antennas should be sensitive to situations in
which the Lord is allowing us to be placed, which will require us to
better know those who are different from us. We should seize these opportunities
to grow and be the flexible wineskins which can hold new wine. We should
also be sensitive to the situations that bring about changes in our
lives and determine to likewise take advantage of these opportunities
to grow.
Preparing for Significant Times,
Significant Purposes
We must also keep in mind that the Lord could have taken His authority and
set up His kingdom immediately after His resurrection. The reason He
did not do this was to call forth a people who would rule and reign
with Him, becoming joint heirs and members of the household of God.
This whole church age has been "training for reigning." For this reason
we should not expect our trials to be easy. The principle of Scripture
is the less difficult the preparation, the less significant the purpose.
Because we are coming to the most significant times since the Lord Himself
walked the earth, and He has us here for a reason, we should expect
our training to be hard.
The more difficult the training, the better the preparation. We must understand
that we are not here to have easy, comfortable lives. We are here to
be prepared and to help prepare the earth for the coming kingdom. Of
course the Lord gives us times of rest, and a day in the most difficult
circumstances with the Lord is better than any day without Him. Even
so, we must have in our basic constitution that we, like good soldiers,
are always prepared to endure hardship and trials and make the very
most out of them. We are going to go through them anyway, so why not
make the most of them?
The Door to Resurrection Life
Of course, I am saying all of this to prepare for our next subject, which
is from the next verse of the Lord's discourse concerning the end of
the age, Matthew 24:9:
"Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations on account of My name."
In America if you were "a good Christian" fifty years ago, it brought respect,
trust, and honor. Now it makes one a target for scorn and persecution.
To even have a Bible laying on your desk, or to display the Ten Commandments,
can result in a lawsuit. Those given to immorality and homosexuality
now have more esteem and respect than Christians. Immorality and homosexuality
is studied and promoted in schools, while even the mention of God in
a book may now cause it to be banned. Students can freely curse, using
even the most base and offensive words, but even mentioning God can
have them suspended or expelled. America has quickly and profoundly
turned from its Judeo-Christian roots, as well as its basis for morality
and integrity, to flaunt and embrace almost any form of immorality
and beliefs that deny God and man's responsibility to Him.
I am not trying to justify terrorism in any form, but one of the main reasons
why America and the West are so hated by Muslims is the moral filth
and perversion that we are now exporting all over the world through
our movies and lifestyles. They do not want such on their soil, and
in many ways this is understandable.
The foundations have been laid for a great spiritual awakening in America
and Europe. Even so, we can expect the persecution of Christians to
not only continue, but increase. The Lord is allowing it for our good!
Consider these Scriptures:
Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order
that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father,
so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united
with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in
the likeness of His resurrection (Romans 6:4-5).
The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God,
and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,
if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified
with Him. (Romans 8:17).
For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him; If we endure, we shall
also reign with Him... (II Timothy 2:11-12).
That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship
of His sufferings, being conformed to His death in order that I may
attain to the resurrection from the dead (Philippians 3:10-11).
For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him,
but also to suffer for His sake (Philippians 1:29).
We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting,
because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of
you toward one another grows ever greater; therefore, we ourselves speak
proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith
in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.
This is a plain indication of God's righteous judgment so that you may
be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are
suffering (II Thessalonians 1:3-5).
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;
persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always
carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus
also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being
delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus may
also be manifested in our mortal flesh (II Corinthians 4:8-11).
"Whoever Wishes to Save His Life,
Shall Lose It; Whoever Loses His Life, Shall Find It"
These are just a few of the Scriptures, which make it clear that if we are
to partake of His life, we must also partake of his death. In the first
century some of the people thought that if they would circumcise their
flesh they would be right with God. But as the apostles taught, this
was merely a ritual meant to symbolize that He requires the circumcision
of our hearts. Some today point to the day of their immersion as the
day they died with Jesus and were resurrected. Water baptism is important,
but it too is but a ritual intended to symbolize the commitment to lay
down our lives for Him.
Every ritual of our faith is just that - a ritual that is meant to symbolize
a commitment of which the spiritual reality speaks. Water baptism was
a ritual meant to symbolize a true commitment to lay down our lives
for Him in order that we may also be raised with him. In Christ we must
die in order to live. The Lord Jesus Himself testified:
If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross
and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but
whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it. Matthew 16:24-25
True Christianity is a life of daily sacrifice. True Christians die daily
to their own desires in order to give themselves to the Lord's purposes.
True Christians are also ready to lay down their lives for the sake
of the gospel whenever that may be required. Any other teaching is a
false gospel and an enemy of the cross. Death separates the things that
are natural from the things that are spiritual. To have a resurrection
there must first be a death. If we want to walk in the resurrection
life of Jesus, we must be willing to lay down our lives for Him, and
we must seize every opportunity to do it.
--Rick
Joyner
http://www.morningstarministries.org/
Mpiservice@aol.com
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email: Mpiservice@aol.com
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"The Torch And The Sword"
By Rick Joyner
$12.95 Book |
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The Torch and the Sword continues
the message that began in The Final Quest and continued in
The Call.
It is a call to live the greatest adventure for the most noble
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to live as true knights of the cross, refusing to retreat before
the great darkness of our times. It is for those who will stand
with courage and resolution for truth, righteousness, and justice,
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would come with power in the last days, and who are now awakening
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"A Message To The Glorious
Church Vol. I"
By Rick Joyner
$10.95 Book |
A Verse by Verse Study of Ephesians,
Chapters 1 - 4
The book of Ephesians is the
most clear and expansive message found in the Bible concerning the
glorious purpose of the Church. This verse-by-verse examination
of this powerful Epistle is a wake-up call for those who will lead
a coming revolution and walk in all of the power and glory that
the Church is called to.
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"A Message To The Glorious
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By Rick Joyner
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A Verse by Verse Study
of Ephesians Chapters 5 - 6
The book of Ephesians is the
most clear and expansive message found in the Bible concerning the
glorious purpose of the Church. This verse-by-verse examination
of this powerful Epistle is a wake up call for those who will lead
a coming revolution and walk in all of the power and glory that
the Church is called to.
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"The Chosen Path"
By Deborah Joyner-Johnson
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The Chosen Path is a novel that follows
Zoe from a secure existence to the ultimate adventure. It was written
to impart courage and resolve in those who are faithfully committed
to the highest of callings.
 "Do not read this as fiction
- read it as a call!"
- Rick Joyner
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The
Torch And The Sword
A
Message To The Glorious Church Vol.
I
A
Message To The Glorious Church Vol.
II
