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Beginning of Sorrows |
Dear Brethren,
Where are we
today? What is the state of the Church of God? Where are we in
the scheme of things? Some people are happy that things are
going smoothly. Please do not be deceived. These are not the
days to sit back and relax. Are we living in Philadelphian
times, or, are we living in the last days of Laodicea? More
importantly, what is our status, and what should we be doing as
Christians? When asked by His disciples: What would be the
sign of the end? Jesus responded by telling them to be alert
for religious deception, and to take a look at what would be
going on in the world. Jesus’ disciples asked Him, ‘Tell us,
when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy
coming, and of the end of the world?” (Matthew 24:3)
Jesus
answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall
deceive many. 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. For nation shall rise against nation,
and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and
pestilences, earthquakes, and natural disasters in divers
places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” (Matthew
24:4-8)
This is exactly
where we are today – at the beginning of sorrows. There
are very rough days ahead, not only for our nation, but
especially for the people of the Church of God. The tribulation
that is coming on all the world is a God-send for the Church of
God in that it is the final wake-up call to those who’s zeal is
simmering.
Immediately
after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened,
and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall
from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And
then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then
shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the
Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great
glory.” (Matthew 24:29-30)
The Church of
God has gone into a lull – the lull before the storm. The
Church is not as dynamic as it was in the last century. Many
thought that Jesus Christ would have returned by now. Many are
thinking, Why hasn’t Jesus returned – our Lord delays His
coming.” Jesus tells us not to think that way. Jesus said that
as we near the very end-time, religious persecution, family
betrayal, spiritual deception, tribulation and falling away from
the love of God would be the norm, rather than the exception.
When ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even
at the doors.” (Matthew 24:33)
Jesus is not
delaying His return. We, the people of God, need this time to
develop spiritually. God is showing us how to have Godly
relationships with each other in the called out family of God.
At the same time, we realize that this calling is a tremendous
blessing that we are privileged to be a part of. Since it is
God’s intent to call all people in their time order, we must be
especially careful to let our light shine” before those not yet
called. We are not better” than they are; they have not yet
had their minds opened to the perfect plan of God.
We are
witnessing America's last days. If this great nation does not
return to the creator God soon, every good standard defining the
attributes of America will collapse. Without God, no nation can
stand. All who believe in good morals will agree that America
is in a horrendous moral degeneration. As a result of this
disintegration, we will face incredible challenges in the
immediate future undreamt of. Will the complete breakdown come
in a sudden immense crash or an excruciatingly slow but sure
demise? What will be the impact on the members of the Church of
God as society around them unravels?
The brethren in
God’s Church are not that much different from cultures we find
ourselves embedded in. As a result, as the world slides into
oblivion, we find ourselves in a similar decline. We must be
exercising God’s Holy Spirit, so that with the help of God, we
are overcoming the world. We will not receive the approval of
the world, which only loves its own. Nevertheless, we are
commanded to let our light shine.
Jesus said that
we are the light of the world, and He also calls us,
children of light. There are three ways we can react
to those words. Do we get the big-head? Or, do we cringe
because we do not want to be in the limelight? Do we have a
hidden faith, fearful that those in the world will be
disapproving of what we stand for? Could it be that we speak
too softly, seeking to avoid hostility? Are we ashamed for
people to find out how different we are? Or, do we correctly
understand what our duty and responsibility is? All of us have
often experienced how difficult it is to properly take a stand
for Godly principles. Do we boldly proclaim and stand for the
truth? Jesus said, "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of
me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of
him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the
glory of his Father with the holy angels." (Mark 8:38)
We have heard
these words so many times before, but let's try to shed some
light on what it means to, "Let our light shine," in this
end-time environment. God's instructions are these: "Ye are
the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be
hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel,
but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in
the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may
see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in
heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16)
The correct
thing for us to do is to live by the principles Jesus Christ
taught us. We are supposed to exhibit the attributes of true
Christianity – all the more as that day of Christ’s
return approaches. Jesus is the light of the world. As
Christians, we, too, become that light. The clear instruction
to us is this - we have an obligation to cause our light to
shine to a world desperately in need of what we have been
given. God, in us, is the light that is supposed to be seen by
others. It is God's Spirit that shines through us to others.
When Jesus says to us, "Let" your light shine, it means we are
to allow, permit, or cause our Christian example to be seen by
others. Please notice that the light does not shine on us to
brighten us, but it shines in order to glorify our Father, which
is in heaven.
As we approach
the tribulation, we are being given more and more opportunities
to live our Christianity. Even at this moment, God blesses
those who choose to practice and follow His way of life. There
are spiritual principles involved. Spiritual principles work
equally with individuals or nations. History is replete with
instances of national blessings for those countries that look to
God for guidance - the USA is a prime example. "All these
blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt
hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God." (Deuteronomy
28:2)
On the other
hand, catastrophe, disease, natural disaster and destruction
follow those who set out to beat God's system by breaking God's
rules. We have all seen lives ruined by any number of causes.
When people end up with broken lives, every time, the reasons
can be traced back to violations of Godly principles. God's
perfect set of spiritual rules brings about all things good.
Defiance of God's spiritual law brings a breakdown of moral
order. The Bible refers to these results as, blessings and
cursings.”
God lead
America and Great Britain into becoming the greatest and most
powerful nations that have ever existed. But now, America and
Great Britain are experiencing the beginning curses that follow
the rejection of God and His law. "All these curses shall
come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till
thou be destroyed; because thou hearkened not unto the voice of
the Lord thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes
which he commanded thee." (Deuteronomy 28:45)
Now that we, as
a nation, are choosing to set aside the perfect spiritual law,
which is the foundation of society itself, we can absolutely
expect to encounter diminished accomplishment as a people and
a nation. Too many of our leaders and teachers have rejected
God’s way and truth that provide good things. What can we, as a
people and a nation, expect as a result of our rejection of God
and His Ten Commandments? We can anticipate God beginning to
remove the national blessings and the protection He has, thus
far, afforded us because we, as a nation, have rejected His
perfect way.
As society
deteriorates, the people of God will be facing the greatest
challenge of our lives. These are the last days. We will be
called on, more than ever, to come to the aid of our brethren -
not only physical aid, but also spiritual support. It will take
our utmost in spiritual discernment because so many will be
going along with the world. And yet, we of God's Church have a
responsibility to set the highest example in our behavior and
conduct. God has given His people a reprieve to have the time
to "go on to perfection." (Hebrews 6:1) Unless we, the
brethren, learn to lay our lives down for our fellowman, we will
not have a part in the Kingdom of God. In the past, too many in
God’s Church have believed that our faith consists mostly of the
ceremonial observance of rituals, rather than being the living
sacrifices that we must be. Let's not get caught up in the
Godless social and moral disorder that is coming upon the
descendents of Joseph.
The citizens of
this once moral land must come to understand what happens when
God is rejected and abandoned. Our people will learn what
happens when God’s spiritual rules, which are for our good, are
not followed. Unless the people of our country return to God in
business, in education, and in government, our social order will
deteriorate to the point of total breakdown. National defense
will become insignificant, resulting finally in defeat. Our
enemies will walk in and pluck-up our land and the surviving
one-third of the population like a ripe peach.
Let’s
understand that the time of Jacob’s trouble is near.
Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall
send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness,
and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon
thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.” (Deuteronomy
28:48) Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like
it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be
saved out of it.” (Jeremiah 30:7)
Jesus made a
special promise to a number of those end-time brethren who
possess the understanding and practice of brotherly love. He
promised to keep them from the hour of tribulation that would
come upon the entire world. We must maintain that unique
zealous spirit of the Philadelphian era so as to avoid the
tribulation of the final era of the Church. Those caught in the
tribulation will be aware that only a select few were actually
practicing the true Philadelphian spirit of brotherly love.
There will be a people who will be kept from the ravages of the
tribulation that is about to sweep over the earth.
Because
thou hast kept the word of my patience [endurance and
perseverance], I also will keep thee from the hour of
temptation [the tribulation], which shall come upon all
the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”
(Revelation 3:10) Then, in Revelation 12, the woman” refers to
these brethren who were zealously living their Christian faith
in these difficult last days. They will be Divinely preserved
and protected from the "sorrows" that come upon all the world,
for the purpose of being a shining light to those who were less
diligent about their faith, and as a result found themselves
caught up in the great tribulation.
The woman
fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of
God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and
threescore days.” (Revelation 12:6)
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| Sermon: |
"Beginning of Sorrows" |
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| Sermon: |
"Churches of Revelation - Part 1" |
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| Sermon: |
"Churches of Revelation - Part 2" |
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