We may not know the exact day and timing of events and seasons
prophesied in the Bible, but if we search it out, we'll see that there
is a definite order to these events.
For example, we should be
able to tell, by reading Old Testament prophecies (Is 9, 53), that the
Savior must first be born, then redemption through His blood comes. That
sounds immensely simple, but it's God's order of things. We can look
back and see that it would have been impossible for there to be any
other order to these events, even though no one knew the exact timing of
Jesus birth or death on the cross before it happened.
It's the
same way with end times events. We don't know the exact timing of the
events, but a hearty look into the book of Revelation, Matthew, Daniel
and 1st & 2nd Thessalonians shows us the order in which these events
are to take place. If carefully studied, Scripture reveals 'order'
words such as; after this, then, but first, immediately after, at that
time, and until then. These little words have immense meaning in the
bigger scheme of God's end times plan!
If we pay attention to
these words, it will keep us from having a haphazard and scattered view
of end times events. We don't want to be looking for the 'mark of the
beast' to come on people when the order of events calls for many other
things to take place first (ie: the antichrist sets himself up in the
temple in Jerusalem as God (2 Thess 2, Matt 24, Dan 8)).
Scripture gives us great indication that the temple in Jerusalem must be
restored or rebuilt before the antichrist can set himself up in it as
God, and THEN he will give the mark of the beast. We tend to focus on
the mark being given (Rev 13), but the called-for events which are to
take place in the mean time must come first; God is orderly (1 Cor
14:33). That is not to say that things can't happen very quickly, but it
is to our benefit to be good students of the Word and base our faith on
that alone! This will keep our focus on God and keep us from grasping
at straws to prove a doctrine that includes only bits and pieces of the
Truth, but it will also keep us out of the panic and fear mode.
Technological advances often inspire our imaginations; we can envision
how some of the end times events might be played out through the use of
them. But it's important that we don't excuse something beneficial,
which might even be a blessing from God, because we are afraid that the
enemy might also use them for his purposes. If that were the case, we'd
stay away from the internet, TV and media entirely. This concept is
especially true when it comes to the mark of the beast! The Bible tells
us that those on the earth at that time will have to make a conscious
decision to either accept or refuse it, knowing exactly what's
happening. There will be no question as to what it is or that it's
coming directly from the antichrist; it won't be hidden in any venue
other than that of serving the antichrist, and the mark will be easily
discernible (Rev 13, 14). The antichrist will use it to starve and
deprive the people of God, but the Bible clearly forewarns that this
will happen.
If we are people of the Word, diligently seeking
God's Truth and order of events, it will keep us from being fearful in
these tumultuous times. And although we may not know every detail of
God's end time plan, or exactly how it's played out, God's Word has
given us enough information to understand the order of events, which
should bring peace to our hearts while waiting and praying for His
perfect will to come to pass!
Resolving issues in a Biblical manner!
I am finding, more and more, that the best solution to disagreements is
to NOT let them fester! Prayer is essential, but so is going face to
face with people, with all the grace you can muster. In a time when
people seem to feel justified in letting others 'have it,' we can choose
to be those who let them have grace!
Hit agitations,
frustrations, disagreements and discord head on: not to confront and
prove oneself right, but to bring peace and accord. Get things out in
the open, and fill every square inch of the air you breath with God's
grace as you do it. In this process, we often find that there are things
we, ourselves, have unknowingly contributed to a situation or that our
expectations were out of line with the what the other person was able to
bring to the relationship.
If you want people to trust you then
be upright, rational and reasonable when discussing. That doesn't mean
you aren't passionate. Mature, passionate people have control of their
emotions and don't blame others for the way they feel and act.
Consider the way you are feeling; are you stuck on an issue and it's
festering inside of you but you aren't taking it to the person with whom
you are struggling? Very often we are dealing with misunderstandings
but we make people into our enemies by our reasoning; we apply intent to
their words and actions, and make assumptions based on what we see and
feel. Unfortunately, in an effort to get counsel and sort out our
feelings, we often draw others into a 'he said, she said' scenario and
blow the situation out of proportion! This is not God's way of dealing
with others, especially brothers and sisters in Christ.
In fact,
Matthew 18 tells us to do things just the opposite of this: we're to
first go directly to the brother or sister and speak with them. Notice
it doesn't say accuse, degrade or berate them - we are looking for
resolve, not an opportunity to vent! If there is no progress at that
point, take others with you and talk to the person, realizing that
others are there not just for your benefit, but to help sort out the
problem from an impartial, Godly perspective. If that doesn't work, take
it to the church - not as an accusation, but as a concern that cannot
get resolved. At this point you are in God's court on earth, the church.
If there is still no resolve, walk away from the person and give the
situation time and space.
You may not be dealing with a person
who is willing to resolve the problem, but Matthew 18 still gives you
the responsibility to open the door to communication and pour grace on
the fire of disagreement.
Believe it or not, your disagreement
with someone does not mean that God has abandoned them and will never
use them again. And if the process given to us for resolving issues with
another person comes to the point of walking away from the relationship
for a time, that does not mean we're to abandon prayer and self
examination as part of the process of resolving the problem within our
own hearts and minds. If you find that irritation comes up when you
think on the unresolved circumstances, there is more to be done on your
part to resolve it in your heart and forgive. Get back to the drawing
board of prayer and the Word, and grab hold of the mind of Christ for
this situation! There is no justification for holding a grudge and
thinking ill of others - the Bible tells us to do just the opposite (Eph
4:31, Php 2:3).
Likely, most of these circumstances are petty,
and certainly not worth the energy that we pour into them; they are a
distraction from serving God, a tool of the enemy to shift our focus to
minor issues. And even more likely is that the problem either began or
ballooned because of hurts within us which skewed our thoughts and
feelings, causing us to misunderstand others.
In the end, our
motives will reveal themselves: are we looking to reconcile the
situation under God's grace, coming to His solution, or are we looking
to prove ourselves right and justify our feelings?
"Live in
harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the
lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but
give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible,
so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never
avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written,
"Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. Do not be overcome by
evil, but overcome evil with good" (Rom 12:16-19, 21).
In his former life, Paul persecuted Christians. As the person Saul,
he sought out, tormented, imprisoned and even killed the people of God.
So intense and determined was Saul that if he were alive today we
might question his links to terrorists and anti-Christian groups (Acts
9).
But when Saul received Christ, he began to persecute all
things that came between him and the knowledge of his Savior! He took
that same fervor, sanctified it, and used it to pursue God and His purposes!
In Philippians 3 Paul says “I forget what is behind! I stretch myself
toward the things of God, and I strain forward to what lies ahead! I
pursue and press on toward the goal of knowing Christ and accomplishing
God’s will” (paraphrased Php. 3:13-14).
Once saved, Paul shifted
his zeal onto seeking God: everything in his life pushed toward knowing
God and serving Him. Paul’s eyes became single on Christ – He was
Paul’s world!
In Philippians 3:14, when Paul says “I pursue my
goal…” he is actually saying “I persecute all things that come between
myself and knowing God.” The word ‘pursue’ in this passage (some
translations say ‘press on’) is the same word which is translated
‘persecute’ throughout the entire New Testament (Thayer's; KJ Concord.).
To persecute is to pursue forcefully or zealously, to put to flight, to
exterminate or to shut down.
This is what Paul intentionally
did to the things which got in the way of knowing God: he persecuted
them. He wouldn’t let them exist and be a distraction for him. There
were no excuses: they must resolutely be disposed of if they came
between himself and serving God!
This is the kind of intentional
fervor which we must have. We must persecute the things that come
between us and the knowledge of our Savior. We must rid our lives of
the things that keep us from intimately knowing and zealously serving
God!
Ask yourself, what is it that takes my affections and
energy off of seeking and serving God? Then either remove it or
restrain its influence in your life.
Be as Paul, persecute the
unnecessary and distracting things in life which step between you and
God! Make a holy resolve: allow nothing to interfere with your pursuit
of God!
