"And It Shall Be In The Last Days"

"See to it that you are not misled....When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately....Because these are days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled----------- until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." 
Jesus

www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com     (for serious prophetic news)

Sorry for the unabashed claim, but most of the news you receive from the printed and television media, both local and national, is fluff.  An important question is, "Are we informed concerning the great prophetic developments of these 'last days?'"  Are we prepared, so that "when these things are about to take place," we will not be surprised, but  "straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." (?)

For far too many Believers our text has become "distant" even archaic theology.  If you listen to most of the discussions among Believers today, you will pick up the belief that the human race has an indefinite future on this planet which at "best" marginalizes the triumphant return and reign of Jesus Christ.  I don't believe this for a moment.  Our text is the Word of the Word of God Himself, Jesus Christ.  For centuries theologians and would-be theologians have debated the "end-time" things.  But Billy Graham perhaps best summed it up, "History is headed toward a dramatic climax."

And this is not, I repeat, not escapism.  This is obedience to the command of Jesus Christ, "Watch!"  It does not matter if there have been some in Church History who have used this prophetic truth to shirk responsibility, to avoid missions, to avoid the affairs of state, feed the poor, etc.  What matters in these days is that the Lord Jesus has an "army" of the Prepared, people whose very hope and anticipation of His Return are "living stones,..being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood," bearing witness to the Resurrected and Soon Coming King, Jesus, King of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Father, in Jesus' Name, grant me the grace to see Your Prophetic Word being fulfilled----------------------- daily.  Amen.


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Where is His Laws Concerning You Today?

"For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second."  (Hebrews 8:7)

The Holy Spirit then proceeds from our text to tell us of the "fault" in the First Covenant.   It was the location of the laws.  The, "better," of the Second Covenant is that the laws of the Living Triune God are, "into their minds" and "on their hearts."  If Christ's laws are just on my lips and a page, "it profits me nothing."  Laws on lips and a page do not affect my life, my relationship with the Blessed Trinity and humanity.  Laws "into...minds" and "on...hearts" make the "new creation" in Christ Jesus. 

When Jesus poured out His Precious Blood from Gethsemane to Calvary, the New Covenant was sealed in His Blood.  And, my friend, "there is power," yea, Eternal "power in the Blood" of Jesus, the Power to take laws on stone or the printed page and bring you and me into the "faultless" covenant--- "I will put my laws into their minds, and I will write them on their hearts."   

You may have read and heard many things about this "transfer of power" in the Covenants.  Today, choose to pursue the living reality of it.

Father, in Jesus' Name, since your laws are now in my mind and on my heart, I expect to live like it.  Amen.


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So You Want to Pray the Will of God

"In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." 
(Romans 8:26, 27)

For many years now I have been encouraging people to pray Bible prayers.  I remember in one congregation I had resistance from a person because of this.  She thought that was the only kind of praying which I believed had any merit.  Of course not.  But it is by far the greatest praying "with the understanding" we can do.  Why?  Biblical prayers are the will of the Blessed Trinity, the "mind of the Spirit."  When you pray a Bible prayer, you never have to question, "Is this the will of God?" 

For years charismatics have thought that Paul could have been only referring to praying in tongues when he wrote our text.  Not so.  "The Spirit also helps our weakness" in prayer by directing you and me to the Scriptures.  I affirm beyond all doubt that the truth of 1 Cor. 14 still stands.  "Then what am I to do? I will pray with my spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me], but I will also pray [intelligently] with my mind and understanding...."  Praying in tongues nearly became extinct throughout the history of the Church.  It's resurgence has brought renewed power in the Church and witness to the nations.  But never forget the other truth in the mighty duo of prayer------ "Pray [intelligently] with my mind and understanding."  For me, this does not happen when some prayer leader gives "specific" prayer points.  It occurs when I pray the very "God-Breathed" Word Himself.
Workshop:
If you are battling a little depression or discouragement today, here's a good prayer for you from Psalm 51: "Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."  Are you
being judged unfairly?  How about Psalm 54.  "Save me, O God, by your name; vindicate me by your might."  Are there forces in your household, your work place, your city and nation which are fighting Christ's purposes? Try praying this prayer based on Psalm 10:16:  "Father, in Jesus' Name, drive out those who are trying to usurp Your authority in my household, my work place, my city, and the nation."  Amen.                                                   (Just trying to help)
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News, Commentary:          www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com


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Obedience, The Mark of, "He Saved Us"

"But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us...."  (Titus 3:4, 5a)

The context reveals that "when the kindness of God our Savior...appeared," our "saved" status was marked by a change.  This is the Gospel of Jesus.  He appears; we change.  If I do not change, can I question whether He "appeared?"  This third chapter of Titus reveals the contrast between before Jesus "appeared," and "when...our Savior...appeared."  Verse one gives the command to the "saved" to be "obedient."  Verse three reminds the "saved" that before Jesus "appeared," our life was marked by "disobedience."

I never forget what the Lord Jesus spoke to my heart years ago.  "You have a remarkable way of obeying what you want to obey and not obeying what you don't want to obey."  This is a life of deception.  Check your "obedience" factor today.  It will be a "litmus test" for where you are in "the faith"------------------------------ in Jesus Christ.

Father, in Jesus' Name, may I always allow Your Word to be my guide, my life indicator.  Amen.


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