The ways of GOD are not the ways of this world, so many of His principles come across as counter intuitive. Like lowering ourselves to the occasion instead of raising ourselves. The scripture says if we humble ourselves before GOD then He will lift us up. When we humble ourselves in acknowledgement that is not by our might, nor by our power, but by His Spirit, then in our weakness He can be glorified. As we look ahead at the new year and beyond, soberness of mind is required and that comes from meditating in the Word of GOD.
I feel like the Holy Spirit corralled me to a block of scripture through communing with different members of the body of Christ. These scriptures spoke to me recently as never before and gave fresh perspective to our calling in the world today. I see the moral deterioration in this world as a call for more light, more truth, more spreading of the full gospel of Christ. Christ in us is the only light in this world. If there is a sense that this world is growing darker, there should also be a response of the Church growing even brighter. That is if you believe in the prophecies of Isaiah, which were affirmed in Christ our Lord. We are the anchor leg of this race. We are the last which have become the first to walk in a glory never seen since the creation of the world. Contrary to the days of old when there was often one man of GOD on the scene like Moses, or Elijah, or Daniel, or Joseph, now through the working of Christ, we are a nation of born again children, each filled with the very Holy Spirit of GOD, after the image of YESHUA HAMASHIACH, the risen Son of the Most High GOD. It is time to press into an abandon to GOD, leaving the affections and trappings of this world for the riches found in the resurrection life of Christ. It is time to step into the greater purposes of His-story by taking His yoke upon us as the Apostle Paul demonstrated.
Satan’s plan to spoil the glory of the Church has been to infiltrate it by spreading tares bearing false doctrines among the wheat. We have seen this in the formation of Roman Catholic church, in the prosperity doctrine, in the formation of denominations, the evangelism of the Watchtower Track Society and the Mormons, and now this liberal gospel movement promoting emotional love, void of spiritual life with no accountability for righteousness. When righteous judgment is denounced, there is no mechanism for filtering out the filthiness of the flesh. When the fear of the Lord is removed there is no restraint for evil.
It is time to take up the yoke of His cross. Christ said if any man will come after Him, then he must daily take up the yoke of the cross and follow Him. I am not calling for some reactionary extreme response but an intentional redeeming of the time by truly studying scripture, interceding for the people of this world, seeking fellowship with the body of Christ, curtailing of time wasted in exposure to vain media as in corrupt movies, YouTube videos, and television series. Also, avoiding seeds of strife by not engaging in contentious chat conversations or consuming disinformation from partisan news outlets. Yes, this calling comes with a cost, but if you will fill up on the opportunities provided by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, you won’t miss any of those things. It is time to stop escaping the challenges before us and face them head on with the support of the body of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. This is our season and our time.
Here are some scriptures written by the Apostle Paul while experiencing persecution and even imprisonment for proclaiming the gospel.
3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In every prayer for all of you, I always pray with joy, 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me. 8God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
12Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have actually served to advance the gospel. 13As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14And most of the brothers, confident in the Lord by my chains, now dare more greatly to speak the word without fear.
15It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16The latter do so in love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. 17The former, however, preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can add to the distress of my chains.
18What then is the issue? Just this: that in every way, whether by false motives or true, Christ is preached. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19because I know that through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, my distress will turn out for my deliverance. 20I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
21For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22But if I go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. So what shall I choose? I do not know. 23I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed. 24But it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
25Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26so that through my coming to you again your exultation in Christ Jesus will resound on account of me.
27Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a clear sign of their destruction but of your salvation, and it is from God. 29For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him, 30since you are encountering the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
1Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose.
In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
(Philippians 1 with Philippians 2:1-2 with Romans 8:37 BSB)
theinscribedheart 
Leave a comment