by Glenice Mills
Mark 13:7,8 & 13
"But when you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet.
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles.
These are the beginning of sorrows.
And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved."
These verses are some of the most talked about at this time, particularly as we are seeing some of this coming to pass. We can sit back and go ‘yes these are the days’ and feel quite smug because we know the reason why it is happening. We quickly forget that we are in fact more answerable than those who do not know the Lord. We will have to give an account for how we have led our lives, and whether or not we have been obedient to fulfil ALL the Lord has required of us. The tragedy is many may not or are not ready and prepared for what will truly come to pass. There are tests coming that will challenge us and will see ‘what we are made of’. This sounds a bit harsh but the reality is: we actually don’t know how we will cope when persecution, troubles, trials and tribulations do come. That is the test.
This is a time of actually taking stock of where we are at in the Lord, humbling ourselves and asking Him to show us the areas in our lives that are out of His will, that He is wanting to align with His character and His ways.
Perhaps we should seriously consider the following questions and question where and what needs to change so we will stand strong in the coming days. This will take courage and honesty but the Lord knows where you and I are at right now. He is the only One who can help us in our individual walk with Him. He knows what areas He is wanting to change and adjust in our character and in our life. If we are willing He will do it in yours and my life. All He is looking for is a willing vessel. Are you one?
Is your faith certain and sure? Do you truly believe? If so, will you remain faithful even if it means counting the cost: maybe a martyr’s death?
This is sobering, I know, but if we are truly honest we must examine ourselves. We are in a time of mercy and grace. There is no better time than now to consider these matters. The crux of the matter is: how established is the Lord deep on the inside of you? Will you have the courage to stand or will you bow through fear, or compromise because ‘it is easier’? That is the test? How prepared are you for what is to come?
When something is established it is set, it is sure. The issues around something being established is to do with the heart. When our hearts are stable and fixed on the Lord we will not stumble. Our hearts are established. When we look at what Scripture says it becomes clearer. The Lord establishes our hearts but we also have to learn to have our hearts established. The following Scripture shows He establishes our hearts but first we must be grounded in love for one another and in love for all. This speaks of unity in the body of Christ, forsaking all wrongs, unforgiveness and comparisons and competition.
1 Thessalonians 3:12,13
"And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints."
It is about His holiness and learning to walk in the ways that please Him. We need to stay in close fellowship with the Lord and with each other. There is a reason why the apostles and prophets must arise and be accepted and become an integral part of the body of Christ. It is because we are going to need them!!! We will need them to speak about what is happening and to give us strategies how to live in a world where there is great persecution coming because of increasing lawlessness and the arising of the antichrist. We need not be alarmed about this if we are established in our relationship with the Lord and with ones who will stand with and support us in the coming days.
James 5:8
"You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand."
As the Lord is speaking to us about establishing our hearts, it is about walking in the fruits of the Spirit. These two Scriptures speak about love and patience helping us to be established in our hearts. As we see things happening around and about us that we do not understand it is crucial we have an intimate relationship with the Lord.
Colossians 2:6,7
"As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving."
Are you established in the faith? There is a big difference between knowing about the Lord and knowing the Lord. Can I encourage you to think about this statement. Head knowledge won’t save you when persecutions come. Denominations or denominational doctrines won’t save you. There is only One who saves, the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you walk in the fear of the Lord? Are you quick to repent and put things right, so you do not allow the enemy access into your life because of unforgiveness? It is time to check that we know what it is to be a Christian and to be a true follower of the Lord Jesus Christ and all that it entails. It is not time to be half hearted, sitting on the fence and riding on the coat tails of another’s faith. We must each be able to stand strong in our faith in the Lord knowing He will be with us through whatever trials come our way. It is about holding fast to Him no matter what.
That is being established on the inside, in our hearts.
1 Corinthians 1:20,21
"For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God who has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee."
There will be the great falling away at the end of the age and it is up to us to make sure our faith is grounded on the Word of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are being trained to have inner fortitude to endure because we are going to need it in coming days.
We are the ones who carry the truth. We carry life to an increasingly disheartened and discouraged world. We carry the message of hope. We carry the Holy Spirit with us always and He promises He will never leave us nor forsake us. But do we truly believe this? Do we doubt that He is faithful to come to our aid in our time of need? Are we truly sure that we will be able to endure hardships never seen before? What say it costs us our families, our homes, our livelihoods, even those nearest and dearest to us. Will we make a stand for truth, for what we believe? Do you have the courage to come away from popular opinion and choose to be different because you are a lover of Truth? Maybe we need to ask ourselves: what do we truly believe? We will need to know what we truly believe and what we stand for in the days ahead. How deep are your roots? Are they firmly planted so they can withstand every storm and tossing to and fro of every wind of doctrine that would come and try and assail you? Are you discerning to know what is truth and what is lies? Scripture says many will be deceived in the last days.
Matthew 24:9-13
Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.
And then many will be offended, and will betray one another, and will hate one another.
Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
Thank you Lord that you forewarn us in Scripture of what is ahead and that You desire to train and equip us so we will stand in the difficult days ahead.
Thank you that we carry the message of life, of hope, and that we can hold onto the fact that we will spend eternity with You.
Lord show me the areas in my life that You want to establish on firm foundations so I will not be shaken when adversity strikes. Lord establish Yourself in the depths of my being so I am able to discern the lies from truth so I will not be deceived in the last days. Lord we need You, we need You to convict us where we have strayed from Your ways, and where there are areas in our lives that still need to come under Your Lordship. Thank you for Your grace and mercy at this time and I ask that You show me anything that needs to change in my life so I am prepared for what is ahead.
Lord help me to endure to the end.
In Jesus Name,
Amen!!!
(Prophetic Article given on 23rd March 2011)
