Kingdom Financial Rest

This is the day and this is the hour for the Body of Christ to become financially free from this failing world's system, free from its good and bad economy, and free from its recession and its depression. I want you to know today, as a Christians; you don't have to join up with the recession or the depression of this world's system. First and foremost we must know, understand and always remember when it comes to our financial freedom from this failing world's system, that we are citizens of Heaven and through that citizenship we can live out of the provision of Heaven while we remain on this earth. Ephesians 2:10-19 tells us this very truth. Ephesians 2:19 Therefore you are no longer outsiders (exiles, migrants, and aliens, excluded from the rights of citizens), but you now share citizenship with the saints (God's own people, consecrated and set apart for Himself); and you belong to God's [own] household. AMP When I awakened one morning the Holy Spirit asked me, "Where do you live?" That is a question He wants to ask you today. "Where do you live?" I know you dwell at a residence on this earth but first and foremost as a child of the Most High God through Jesus Christ you are a citizen of Heaven. This scripture plainly just told us that so it is the truth. Like I said, it is of utmost importance that we remember we are citizens of heaven. Why is that so important? Because only thinking and believing you live in this world, this realm means you have to operate financially through its failing system. In Heaven there is THE KINGDOM OF GOD system with its own operation of financial prosperity, divine health, the good life, and righteousness reigning over all. In other words there is perfect harmony with perfect prosperity, perfect peace, and perfect rest. The best part of being born again is that you are now living in this KINGDOM, out of this realm while on this earth where Jesus is the King. He rules in His KINGDOM where prosperity in all areas of life can be experienced. We can see a picture of Jesus' KINGDOM in operation in the earth in Ephesians 2:10 where we can live the good life that is prearranged and made ready for us to live. Actually that morning I just referred to when the Lord asked me where I lived, the Lord told me I was to live in and out of that scripture, Ephesians 2:10 and that is referring to living out of the realm of Heaven. Ephesians 2:10 AMP For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. This is the kind of life Christians are to be living on this earth. This is not a fairy tale but a reality for us in Christ Jesus. Jesus lived in this earth this kind of life out of THE KINGDOM and He did it to show us who would come into THE KINGDOM how to live in THE KINGDOM. THE KINGDOM OF GOD system is in operation in Heaven now and can be in operation now in the lives of every born again Christian whether they know about it or not. Christians can live in this KINGDOM now in the earth and in the full operation of THE KINGDOM on the earth when Jesus is seated on His earthly throne later on. This KINGDOM where we operate out of on this earth is the KINGDOM where Jesus is the King and that is why He is called the King of kings. I hope this Good News stirs you up as much as it does me. This is the best Good News Christians can hear because the only Good News Christians will hear in these times is what is written in the scriptures about them to show them their outcome. This is the same Good News we are supposed to be testifying about and demonstrating to those outside THE KINGDOM. With this kind of lifestyle, living with the operation of THE KINGDOM in our lives starring them in the face we won't have to drag them into church. We won't be able to get rid of them for they will want to hang around to observe its operation. I have an article on my home page called, "The Blessing of The Lord Maketh Rich", that you will want to read along with this article. It explains THE BLESSING in THE KINGDOM and its operation to make you rich. Jesus preached THE KINGDOM everywhere He went. Jesus preached THE KINGDOM to the poor; they didn't have to be poor no more because THE KINGDOM'S operation had come to deliver them. He demonstrated the operation of THE KINGDOM OF GOD by multiplying food, multiplying fish in Peter's boat, retrieving a coin from the fish's mouth and healing all that were sick. Then he told his disciples, as well as us, to go and preach THE KINGDOM. That's the work we are told we are to do in Ephesians 2:10; preaching and demonstrating THE KINGDOM OF GOD's operation. This is the Good News we must preach. So THE KINGDOM OF GOD is here operating in this earth and we can enjoy the benefits of THE KINGDOM and draw on its resources while we are facing challenging situations on this earth. The bible assures us in Proverbs 10:22 that through THE KINGDOM OF GOD we can have abundance in any economy, in any nation in which we live as well as well as any time period: Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the Lord - it makes [truly] rich, and He adds no sorrow with it [neither does toiling increase it]. AMP THE KINGDOM OF GOD operates by faith in its principles. So THE BLESSING being the financial producer of abundance in THE KINGDOM OF GOD operates by our faith in it. THE BLESSING means we don't have to strive to meet our needs or have to rely on our own efforts of working and toiling and striving and working two or three jobs to make a living. This is the same BLESSING Adam had in the Garden of Eden before the fall. This is the same BLESSING Noah and his family experienced, the same BLESSING Abraham and his family experienced. And the best good news you are going to hear today is; Jesus delivered this BLESSING to every Christians no matter where they are in the world today, when He became cursed with every curse so that we could live out of THE BLESSING of Abraham: Galatians 3:13,14,29 Christ purchased our freedom [redeeming us] from the curse (doom) of the Law [and its condemnation] by [Himself] becoming a curse for us, for it is written [in the Scriptures], Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified); 14 To the end that through [their receiving] Christ Jesus, the blessing [promised] to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might [all] receive [the realization of] the promise of the [Holy] Spirit. 29 And if you belong to Christ [are in Him Who is Abraham's Seed], then you are Abraham's offspring and [spiritual] heirs according to promise. AMP When Christians live out of the world's system of finances they are acting as their own god, being their own source of supply, and are always trying to take care of themselves by serving the mammon system Jesus referred to in Matthew 6:24, Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in). AMP Living this way you are always following after money instead of money following you around as a result of THE BLESSING. This is a sorry system, a sorry way to live, and only leads to incredible sorrows. True believers in the Word of God would not knowingly serve mammon but when they worry about their finances and struggle to meet their own needs that is exactly what they are doing. They are binding themselves to this world's system with its sorry results of working harder but getting farther and farther behind. If they do find a way to get ahead, they have to sacrifice spending time with God, sacrifice meditation of the Word, sacrifice serving God, sacrifice family relationships and a lot of time they sacrifice their own good health. In all actuality they will only remain poor. That is what satan wants for that's always the way satan and his system works. Jesus told on satan and his system of operation when He spoke John 10:10, John 10:10 The thief (that's satan and his system) comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy AMP Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil of stealing, killing and destroying and to give us abundant life, to the full until it overflows into others lives. That's THE BLESSING in operation! 1 John 3:8 For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. KJV Jesus' purpose was to deliver this KINGDOM living into our lives on this earth. By now you are probably asking, "How do I get out of this world system?" The answer is simple. We trust God and do what Jesus told us to do in Matthew 6:26-33, Matthew 6:26-33 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. KJV The birds of the air don't sow, reap or gather their food into barns but the Father cares for them and feeds them. We are surely better than the birds of the air. Jesus is also asking us in this scripture, "Why do you worry about what you have in your closet to wear; when the lilies don't work to be arrayed with beauty and your Heavenly Father clothes the grass of the field without any work on the part the grass, will He not clothe for you also?" Jesus continues by asking us, "Can you by worrying even change the size of your stature?" Jesus wants us to see the futility in our worrying and our working for a living to clothe ourselves and to provide for our every need. Did you know that worry, anxiety is faith, faith in something going wrong? Jesus wants us to realize our trust for everything we need should be only in Father God and His promise to provide for us as well as He does for the birds, lilies and the grass. So when we worrying and are anxious we are really doubting God's love for us and His promises like we found in Matthew 6:33. Satan uses worry and anxiety to take you away from Father God, His love for you and also His provision for you. Worry and anxiety only lead to fear and like Job in the Bible can lead to catastrophic things happening in our lives. Jesus had to live in this world and be tempted in all things like as we are yet without sin; sin of worrying and anxiety were included. . Remember this scripture when you are tempted to worry and be anxious over the things you need. Hebrew 4:15-16 For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning. 16 Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]. AMP Now comes the main point of Jesus' message, Matthew 6:32-3232(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. KJV The Gentiles are those outside of Christ and outside of THE KINGDOM OF GOD and have to seek things and have to worry and work that world system to get their food, clothing, shelter, cars, etc. With them there is no adding to them but working for it all. It's THE KINGDOM seekers that have all the things added to them without the toiling and worry. This good news of THE KINGDOM OF GOD is the same good news we are supposed to take the world so they know there is a way out of this world system. Matthew 6:26-33 may seem impractical to natural thinking, "How can I quit worrying about my financial future when the experts are predicting gloom and doom? How can I believe God is going to provide for me when my Father, Mother and Grandparents have taught me to provide for myself?" There's only one way. To enjoy THE BLESSING of THE KINGDOM we have to ignore every voice that contradicts what Jesus said to us in this scripture. We have to admit that our parents and even grandparents were wrong. They were trying to help us but their counsel was not based on the principles of the KINGDOM OF GOD but based rather on the fallen world system. The people who live in the world's system do have to look after themselves and worry about the world's economy. They have to earn their living through toil and sorrow because they are bound to the effects of the Fall of Adam. Genesis 3:17-19 Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread. (NKJV) Before the Fall, God released THE BLESSING on Adam, Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion KJV God gave Adam a worldwide assignment to bless the whole earth and expand the Garden of Eden until it filled the planet. Along with the commission God said to Adam, Genesis 1:29 Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. KJV Adam didn't have to worry and toil to earn anything in the Garden. He just received all the provision God had given him and enjoyed it. Adam was given THE BLESSING, given an assignment, and given all of his provision all at the same time. Everything changed when he lost THE BLESSING through his sin. Adam was now under the curse of toil and sweat for a living so he had to forget his God given mission of expanding the Garden and instead focus on his provision. As believers in Jesus Christ we are no longer under that curse anymore! Paul gives us the Good News in Galatians 3:13,14,29. Galatians 3:13,14,29 Christ purchased our freedom [redeeming us] from the curse (doom) of the Law [and its condemnation] by [Himself] becoming a curse for us, for it is written [in the Scriptures], Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified); 14 To the end that through [their receiving] Christ Jesus, the blessing [promised] to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might [all] receive [the realization of] the promise of the [Holy] Spirit. 29 And if you belong to Christ [are in Him Who is Abraham's Seed], then you are Abraham's offspring and [spiritual] heirs according to promise. AMP Christians are freed from the curse and can now live in THE BLESSING again. So now you maybe asking, "So you are saying to me I don't have to work for a living anymore?" I am not telling you that you don't have to work but rather I am telling you, "YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORK FOR A LIVING." You shouldn't be sweating and toiling to make a living any more than Adam did before the Fall. Your job is not to make money but rather that's the job of THE BLESSING. THE BLESSING, Proverbs 10:22, "It maketh rich" and with no sorrow. The Amplified Bible says, "And neither does toiling increase it." You job now is to seek first the Kingdom of God, get your daily assignment from the Father. He, through THE BLESSING, will pay you far more than you could ever earn out there in the world's workforce. With the assignment He promised you, Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. KJV Psalms 23:1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. KJV 2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation]. AMP No matter how hard you work in this world's system, there is no way you will come close to earning the wealth God promises you with your assignment and comes by THE BLESSING . The only way to receive this wealth is to trust and obey your heavenly Father and then enter into the rest of faith and let THE BLESSING go to work. Most believers don't do this because they can't overcome their strong belief, they must earn their living. The Lord can help us overcome this stronghold in our minds when we meditate the Word of God and scriptures I have placed in this article and stay in fellowship with Him. One such scripture is found in Romans 4:3-4. Romans 4:3-4 For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed in (trusted in) God, and it was credited to his account as righteousness (right living and right standing with God). 4 Now to a laborer, his wages are not counted as a favor or a gift, but as an obligation (something owed to him). AMP This scripture is referring to receiving THE BLESSING and is showing us that any part we earn on our own is not by God's grace. It's either by works or it is by grace we receive anything. Nothing you receive from God will be as a result of your effort or your working for it but it's all by His grace. This scripture shows us we cannot work hard enough to earn our eternal salvation. The scripture also tells us our new birth came only by receiving it by faith through grace, God's healing is a gift received by faith through grace in the healing purchased by the stripes placed on Jesus' back and everything else we receive from Heaven will be by faith in the grace of God. All of it is a gift of grace offered to us to receive by faith So if we didn't earn our salvation or our healing or anything else in THE KINGDOM why would we think we have to earn our prosperity? Leaving the world's system with its mammon mentality and the meeting of our own needs, we can get busy with our Garden of Eden assignment God has for us and begin enjoying THE BLESSING that goes along with the assignment. We then could spend our days doing the will of our Father and being a blessing wherever He sends us. If He sends us somewhere to work at a minimal paying job, we can do it; not to earn a living but because God wants us to take His kingdom into that place of business. You might say, "I can't pay the bills on a minimal salary!" God is not asking you to live on a minimal paying salary; He is asking you to give on it! You can use that minimal salary to financially bless someone. That is investing in the KINGDOM OF GOD and the Bible says that when you do that, here is what is what the scriptures promise and you can expect, 2 Corinthians 9:11 Thus you will be enriched in all things and in every way, so that you can be generous, and [your generosity as it is] administered by us will bring forth thanksgiving to God. AMP A person enriched in all things and in every way isn't a poor man; rather he is a rich man. God wants to do this for you and bless you in all things and in every way, including your finances and He can do it in any economy. He can and will bring supernatural increase in the most unlikely situations. Jesus proved this reality in Luke 5:4. Luke 5:4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon (Peter), Put out into the deep [water], and lower your nets for a haul. AMP It was very unlikely for fish to come to Peter's net in the daytime and it was even more unlikely since Peter and his crew had fished all the night before without catching anything. They had given up and were there cleaning their nets and preparing to go home. Peter was a Jew, a seed of Abraham, and should have had a revelation of THE BLESSING that belonged to him but he didn't. He had a toiling mentality and so he responded to Jesus, Luke 5:5 And Simon (Peter) answered, Master, we toiled all night [exhaustingly] and caught nothing [in our nets]. But on the ground of Your word, I will lower the nets [again]. AMP Peter didn't have a clue that Jesus was about to release a BLESSING on him because he could only think about toiling again, about how much work it would take to clean the nets again. So he reluctantly threw out an old, rotten net; thinking he would haul it back empty and then he wouldn't wash it. Christians need to understand that the toiling mindset blinds us to God's blessing. With the work for a living curse mentality THE BLESSINGS can be right in our face and we will miss getting it. That's what happened to Peter. He threw out the rotten net assuming he was not going to catch anything and when the fish started filling the net, it broke. Since he had left all of his good nets on the shore he had to called to his partners in the other ship to help. Luke 5:7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and take hold with them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. AMP We would call that a miracle but actually it was THE BLESSING in operation. The fish earlier had run from toil but now they started swimming toward THE BLESSING and with THE BLESSING being on Jesus they went to Peter's net filling it up even when the sun was shining. We need to realize as believers that same BLESSING is upon us right now and it will work for us anytime and anywhere we are in the world, just like it did for Peter. The great thing about THE BLESSING is that it doesn't care what the economic conditions are in a country or if there are those predicting a recession; it just keeps on making believers rich and there is no added sorrow with it. Putting our faith in THE BLESSING, getting our daily assignment from our heavenly Father, being cheerful givers; we can stop toiling for a living in that failing world's system that results in not enough and more worry and anxiety. Instead we can be rejoicing and resting in THE KINGDOM'S provision with THE BLESSING working for us all the time. We can then get up rejoicing we are going to our assignment from the Father to bring THE KINGDOM into that place and knowing and expecting THE BLESSING to bring abundance of prosperity to us just like it did for Peter. We are blessed with THE BLESSING and there is no more toil and sorrow for us! Here are some confessions to help you place your faith in THE KINGDOM and THE BLESSING to see them operate in your life. I have more on my blog, http://www.godswordalive.com/blog. I have financial rest because I am a citizen of heaven and live out of THE KINGDOM'S provision. (Ephesians 2:10-19 (AMP); Matthew 6:33 (KJV)) THE KINGDOM OF GOD operates for me on this earth so I don't have to strive to meet my needs and trust in my own efforts of working to make a living. (Luke 17:20-21 (KJV); Matthew 6:33(KJV) I put my faith in THE BLESSING for it is the financial producer of abundance for me in THE KINGDOM OF GOD no matter where I live, no matter the economy and no matter the time. (Proverbs 10:22) THE BLESSING of the Lord makes me rich and there is no toiling on my part to increase it. (Proverbs 10:22) THE BLESSING that was on Adam in the Garden, THE BLESSING that was on Noah and his family, and THE BLESSING that was on Abraham and his family was delivered to me by Jesus when He became a curse for me and released THE BLESSING me. (Genesis 1:28, 9:1, 12:2,3; Galatians 3:13,14,29) Money follows after me as a result of THE BLESSING. (Genesis 13:2,26:13,14)

God and the Lessons of Money

We are at the beginning of the second decade of the new millennium. In the first few years of the new century, we have witnessed some of the greatest accumulations of wealth of all time. The stock market was raging, real estate markets were rising and even after the Internet Stock bubble burst, it seemed that all America continued to sing that old song from the 30's, "We're In The Money". But as time went on, the real estate market as well as the stock market showed themselves to be the Emperor with no clothes. As companies went from having defined benefit pension plans where retirees would know how much they would get when they retired, to defined contribution plans where the employees took on the market risk, what seemed to be a great idea suddenly has become an albatross, a sign of evil and foreboding of bad times ahead. No matter what index you look at, the markets have all dropped beyond anyone's worse expectation. But what is worse is the effect that a loss of 28, 35 or 40% means to people who have no other liquid asset base. The top 1% of the wealthy in America control 33% of all the privately held wealth in the country. The next 19% which consists of professional, managerial and small business owners control 51% of the wealth. That leaves the remaining 80 percent of American workers to share a paltry 16% of the wealth of the nation's economy. That means that salaried and wage employees, while making up the largest portion of the American workforce, have very little control of their own destiny. This is the reason that I have chosen to use the Book of Ecclesiastes for our text today. The timelessness of the Bible speaks to all generations about the realities of life and what is truly important in the larger scheme of things. We twenty-first century Americans can learn something from the ancient Israelites. By using the principles of the Bible as a baseline we can understand how the current situation can be overcome on an individual basis. Because just as in Israel, salvation is made of the individual not of the nation. And like Israel we must learn how to live, what things we can control and what things we can't. In spite of what prosperity preachers teach, the Bible does not say that everyone will be rich. The Smith-Barney brokerage commercials tells the message of what many churchgoers believe about money AND salvation. "We make money the old fashioned way; we EARN it." God's message is quite different than what is said on Wall Street-He provides to those who don't deserve it, giving to them something they have no capacity to earn and gives it to them without expectation of repayment. He has adopted us into his family as joint heirs with all the privileges of being a natural-born child. The Lure of Money Verses 1-. It doesn't matter if you are a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian or Independent, what I am about to say applies equally to all the members of your affiliated party. Most of them are going to bust hell wide open. I don't say that because of what policies one or the other party has tried or is trying to enforce, or what platform they have or what legislative agenda they have tried to enact. The fact is, while I don't know any of them personally, the Bible says that "There is none righteous, no not one. There is none who seek after God." Rom. 3:10 Most of the legislators in both houses of congress are there to get paid. If not while in office, then after. It is little wonder that ordinary American's have little say in what happens in the world. There is no lobby for Ordinary Folk. There are no Senator's who are going to go to work to push for legislation that benefits Average Jane and Joe. But there comes a price for having wealth. The more you have, the more you want. Back in the 60's, reporter asked him how much money is enough. John D. replied, "Just a little bit more." A New York survey of those making over $200,000 per year showed that while they were much better off than most American's, they felt more aware of their relative lack of wealth as compared to those earning more than they. In other words, they had more anxiety due to not earning millions per year than those who earned under $100,000 per year. We think that if we have more money, everything will be alright. If only I could make an extra $5,000, $10,000 per year, we'd be ok. We believe, just like John D. Rockefeller that if we just had a little more, everything would be alright. This is why Solomon says, "There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: A man to whom God Has given riches and wealth and honor, so that he lacks nothing for himself of all he desires; yet God does not give him the power to eat of it, but a foreigner consumes it. This is vanity, and it is an evil affliction." The pursuit of wealth has been the hallmark of the American experiment. Time and time again, those who were willing to risk much have been able to reward themselves and their families with a higher standard of living and the betterment of society. But the Protestant Work Ethic that was instilled by our Puritan forebears that allowed America to become the envy of the world in wealth and prosperity has been corrupted and misplaced. Rather than placing emphasis on an honest day's wage for an honest day's work, and the reality that each person's vocation, no matter how trivial or mundane, had worth in and of itself, we find that those who lead a corporation by elimination of the workforce are the most highly compensated, rather than those whose effort allows the product to be brought to market. The Puritans felt that all work, no matter what it involved, had worth as long as the individual realized that he was doing it as "unto the Lord". Beginning in the Garden of Eden, humans have the need to DO, to cultivate, to work. Now, those who do the least will decide to lower expenses by laying off those who assemble, distribute and sell the items that cause them to be able to be compensated. What has happened? How did the system become corrupt? Simply stated, it was because while most people were not Christian during the time of the Puritans, but they at least held to what was a nominally Christian worldview that viewed God as in control and that all things were under his providence. The Puritans understood that God created everything in the world, everything in the universe and that we are all going the way of all flesh. In other words, no matter how much wealth is accumulated in this life, if you don't have Jesus Christ as savior, there is no amount of money that will get you into heaven, there is not enough money in the world to keep you from going to hell, and that everything in this world is eventually going to pass away. The Rich man in Luke 16:19-31 would have foregone all of his wealth if he could only have a drop of water to be put upon his tongue to quench the torment he felt. But instead of the ease he had in this life, he could only wish that he could send warning to his family of the reality of hell. Now, we are in Post-Christian America, where even churchgoing Christians are likely not to understand the basic principles of Orthodox Christianity, that the saying, "God helps those who help themselves" is not in the Bible, but was a quote from Benjamin Franklin. That wealth is not a symbol of God's blessing, but more often a sign of personal spiritual apathy and a declaration of independence FROM God. In study after study it has been shown that there is an inverse relationship between income and interest in God. In other words, generally speaking the more money you make, the less likely you are to go to church regularly, to pray regularly and to be concerned about God in general. The Love of Money What is it that we are to love? How are we to respond to love when we receive it? Why do people sometimes neglect to look out for the needs of others? God is at the center of each of those questions. In the first place, we are to love God with our whole heart and soul and might. There is to be no one or nor any thing that comes between our relationship with ourselves and our creator, sustainer and redeemer. For unless our relationship with God is in order, our relationship with our families, our neighbors and co-workers cannot be right. But how many people do we know who boast of what earthly possessions they have or their ability to do this or that, or to go here or there. In Paul's first letter to Timothy, he compares the life of godliness to that of seeking money for its own sake. (1Tim 6:6-12)-What Paul is getting across to Timothy is that while there is nothing wrong with wealth in and of itself, far too often wealth, the desire to be wealthy and/or the pursuit of it becomes a snare and trap for those who become enamored by its allure. Wealth is a desire that is difficult to satisfy and it becomes a stumbling block to those who seek to serve Christ. In the Book of Acts, Ananias and Sapphira tried to hold back a portion of what the proceeds of a sale of real estate that they owned from the Apostles to their own destruction. (Acts 5:1-10). It was not that they were wealthy, but that they were attempting to deceive God by declaring that they had given their all, when they only gave a portion. Look, God owns it all anyway. He doesn't need what you have. But if you want the best HE has, you must be willing to turn over control of what you perceive as yours to Him. As Americans, we tend to look at things and feel that we can accomplish anything on our own. But as Jesus said in Luke 12:48, "For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required..." or as is in some translations "much is expected". But far too many of us have been guilty of answering the question that writer Denis Brogan asked in the mid-forties; if God was to be replaced..."What would replace Him? Could anything replace Him but 'Democracy' made into an object of worship, or business or success?" And the business of business is to advance SELF interest. That is, the determination to make money is the overriding principle in the advance of the capitalistic ideal. Michael Douglas as Gordon Gecko in "Wall Street" purring, "Greed is good", is now being transplanted into the real world by Bernie Madoff. Compare the current hand wringing over our current status of the economy with what Jesus said to his disciples in Matt. 6:25-33. "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. "Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But SEEK FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and ALL THESE THINGS shall be added to you." And in that last line is encapsulated the entirety of the desire of the Christian; to seek the righteousness that God graciously gives to his subjects in His Kingdom, the gift that none can work for, earn, buy or deserve. And if we submit to the authority of the only wise God, to whom be honor, glory power and majesty, now and forevermore, we have all our needs cared for. The Labor of Money If we are perfectly honest, not only are we all working for the Lord, ME! We want to be on the throne of our lives, we want to have control of our households and we want control of our pocketbooks and billfolds. In other words, we want a small 'g' god that we can control, one we can dictate our wants, needs and desires to and have the expectation that, like a genie of the magic lamp he will grant us our wishes and the desires of our hearts. Which leads to the following quote; "Show me a person's checkbook, and I show you what is important to them." Your spending habits tell more about you and your personality and desire than anything else. Today, when you get home, I want you to do something for me. Take your check book, online bank statements or just the receipts for the past three months. Go back and look at how much you spent on YOU, how much you spent on your Family and then how much you spent on GOD. Then break that down into percentages to see what is important to you. Now, when I say what you spent on God, I don't only mean what you put into the offering plate, although that's important. I also mean what you spent on developing your relationship with God. You know, music, cd's, books, movies, dvd's, magazines. Anything that would enhance and strengthen your connection, knowledge and love of God. Then, how much time did you spend in the last month at work. 40, 50, 60 hours? And what were your earnings for that time. Then how much of your time was spent with your family? And how much of that time was spent in meaningful communication? Then how much of the rest of the time was spent with God? Counting church services. And of that time, how much was spent in "meaningful communication"? Someday, when I'm ready I'm going to write an essay that may turn into a book. It's about my cousin who died this January. I already have the title for it; it's called "Buddha and the Cross". You see Artie was what I and the family called him, but for 26 years that he was on the Michigan State Police, he was known as Buddha. Now, long story short, Buddha was a profane, drunken, womanizing poor excuse for a human being. But at the same time, he was a caring, devoted father, loving son and kind police officer who would help others and think of them before thinking of himself. After he died, his wife asked me to speak at his funeral. And, as my mentor, best friend and Father-in-law once told me, "You can't preach anyone into heaven or hell. That is all in God's hands." As I stood and began to speak to his brothers, his wife, daughters, friends and former co-workers, I spoke what I know to be the truth from the Bible. Artie could make you as mad as anything, but he could also make you break out in the biggest smile and heartiest laugh. He could try your patience and he would take the best care of you. He would get on your last nerve, but he would go out of his way to do something good for you. He knew that he was a sinner; he knew that he deserved punishment. But he also knew that Jesus died for him. And I leave all the answers to all the questions anyone ever has about his fate in the Hands of God, who came to seek and save the lost, to provide a way of salvation not for the righteous, but for sinners. What does that have to do with the labor of money? Let me tell you. In Isaiah 55, the Lord says, "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." "Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to me. Hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you-the sure mercies of David. "Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways' says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." God is not a man that He should lie. Consider yourself. Consider your life. Consider what money cannot buy and seek the Lord while he may be found. Rev. Adrian Powell is an ordained minister in the Church of God (Anderson, IN). He is an experienced church planter, pastor, speaker and seminar resource, having served and ministered in churches in the Midwest, Eastern and Southern United States. A strong expositional speaker, Adrian is called to bring the Church the "Whole Counsel of God" in the areas of Evangelism, Apologetics, Grace, Christ and Culture, Unity, Reality and Racial Reconciliation and submission to the truth of Scripture. "The Church needs to remain true to the saying, 'Reformed and Always Reforming'". A popular preacher of the Gospel, he has also had articles published in the Columbus Dispatch, Urban Trendsetters and national magazines such as Vital Christianity and Purpose Magazine. A bi-vocational minister, he has over 15 years experience in the Financial Services industry. He is a member of the Society of Financial Services Professionals, the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, has received his Fraternal Insurance Counsellor designation from the National Association of Fraternal Insurance Counsellors and is currently seeking the Charter Life Underwriter (CLU) from the American College. He is also available to speak in chuches on Biblical Economics, Stewardship and Finances, The Truth About Tithing and Real Prosperity. For questions about speaking schedules and availability, contact him at revadpowell@gmail.com. His website for Biblical Finances is [http://www.adrian4yourmoney.com].

Creation And The Second Coming Of Christ - Lesson 3

Back to Babel Next to Jerusalem, Babylon is the most frequently recorded city in the Bible, beginning at Babel. Jerusalem, the Holy City, is where the redeemed will dwell forever, to be made new. Babylon is the opposite: "the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth." (Revelation 17:5.) After the fall of the Babylonian empire, the city was destroyed but has been inhabited to some extent and was in reconstruction under Saddam Hussein. In Revelation, John is shown the city: "that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth"... "clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones and pearls." Revelation 17:18; 18:16. But it will be destroyed utterly by fire, and shall be found no more at all. Hussein's plans were to restore the symbol of the Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnez'zar. His ultimate dream was to unite all Arabs under himself as the new Emperor of the entire Muslim world. None of his plans were successful. Babylon is still there, 55 miles south of Baghdad, and substantially complete. After the destruction of the Russian and Moslem states coalition against Israel, there will be a power vacuum in the Middle East. Oil will still be immensely valuable to developed nations. Western Europe (the E.U.) is the predicted power bloc. Some have called it the Revived Roman Empire. All western nations have a Roman style legal system, some form of representative democracy, military, and governmental institutions. This has been extended to the colonies of those nations such as Australia and America. The implication is that the Antichrist will become leader of the configuration of nations and appropriate the rebuilt city of Babylon for his capital. This is the central location of the global empire he assumes control over: finance, transportation, communication, and political power. This would be the predicted "one world government". This will last for 3 and 1/2 years. Any needed construction can be done quickly, and set up to be the center of wealth, commerce, power, propaganda, ungodliness, and immorality. The Beast (named in Daniel and Revelation) that man of sin... The son of perdition, may be alive today, waiting for the proper time. He will be possessed by satan to rule this totally materialistic and ungodly empire. The new age movement is part of this. It includes belief in evolution and a utopian "one world government", as well as occult religion and philosophy. It is all based on evolutionary humanism. This movement teaches people to become one with universal consciousness, to be as gods, deciders of their own destinies, to believe in evolved humanity. It will also lead people to follow the charismatic leader of the world - the Anti-Christ who would lead the world into one world utopian global government and religion. The movement also includes such cults as witchcraft, astrology, spiritism, satanism, worship of Gaia the earth mother, and scientists that believe in alien intelligence. All reject a Creator God, the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, His Sacrificial Death for sin, His resurrection and ascension to the right hand of God. Though they claim ideals of the brotherhood of man and universal love, they seem to hold great animosity toward those backward fundamentalist Christians, who are so "intolerant". These cults include Masons, Christian Science, Unity, Mormons, Unitarian, Scientology, and Trans. Meditation. There are at least 100 others. "Mystery Babylon the Great", an abomination, was more than just the city. It included idolatry, and immoral practices, such as illicit sexual behavior. These originated in the city of Babel, established and ruled by Nimrod. This was the source of all false religions and their accompanying evil practices. The pantheons of gods and goddesses of Greece, Rome, Egypt, Judea, and the Norse were similar to those of ancient Babylon. These "deities" are the personifications of heavenly bodies (sun, moon, constellations) as well as forces of nature. All this has been and continues to be counter to the true worship of God Almighty. They also fostered many sinful, harmful, destructive practices. These included great exploitation, slavery, abortion, promiscuity, and drug use. Zechariah predicts the return of the world's commerce to Babylon, and that it will happen in a short time. Mystery Babylon is described as clothed in great wealth, but drunk with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus (Revelation 17:4,6). The end is the demand of the Anti-Christ to be worshipped as a god. "And they worshipped the Dragon which gave power to the Beast." (Revelation 13:4.) Revelation 18 describes the total destruction of the city of Babylon; it took place in one hour. It happens near the end of the great tribulation. Many will mourn. There will be the most powerful earthquake in history (Revelation 16:18,19), but the end will not be yet. "The kings of the earth and the whole world" will be gathered together in the great plain in Israel called Armageddon (Revelation 16:16). David's Final Week Daniel chapter 9: seventy weeks (seventy sevens) are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city...from the going forth of the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem unto Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for Himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary: and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war, desolations are determined (verses 24-26). There were to be 490 years till the return of the Jews to Israel, and 483 years from the command of Artaxerxes to rebuild Jerusalem (in 446 B.C.) to the coming of Messiah the prince. The calculated time was about 30 A.D., and Jesus was at the age of 33 years old when the triumphal entry took place. One week later He was "cut off" but not for Himself. The people of the prince yet to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary, fulfilled in 70 A.D., for the destruction of the Temple, and 135 A.D. for the city. The Jews were dispersed among many nations, and wars and desolation are determined until the end. In the final week (7 years), the ruler that shall come shall confirm a covenant with many nations for one week (7 years): in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation...(Daniel 9:27). The treaty with the coming ruler (the Anti-Christ) will allow the Jews to rebuild their Temple on the original sacred site and reestablish the ancient Jewish worship of Jehovah. The 7 year treaty will be broken in the middle, canceling the holy worship of God. The Muslim influence has been eliminated. The treaty is with the power bloc of Western Europe. The treaty will be broken for the abominations to the uttermost extent. The ruler will demand the worship of himself - a giant statue in the temple of God. Those who refuse shall be executed. This will be the ultimate blasphemy or desolation by the man of sin, the son of perdition. His claim that he is god and must be worshipped as god. (II Thessalonians 2:3,4.) Jesus confirmed this in Matthew 24:15,16,21. Verse 22 says of the last 3 and 1/2 years of the Great Tribulation: "Except those days be shortened, there should no flesh be saved." Daniel 7:25 describes it in this way: "And he shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time, times, and the dividing of time." The ministry of the Two Witnesses is 1260 days (3 and 1/2 years of 360 days each) in Revelation 11:3; they then will be killed by the Beast, then the next 3 and 1/2 years, both adding up to the 7 years of Daniel's 70th week. The first 3 and 1/2 years are described in Revelation 6-9; the second 3 and 1/2 years in Revelation 16-19. In between Revelation 10-15 gives the total view from beginning of creation, to the eternal state. It has been estimated that the time of creation to the calling of Abraham was 2,000 years, God dealing with all men, after Babel with all nations. The second period of 2,000 years, God dealt specifically with Israel. Both groups rebelled against the Creator. God sent prophets to call them back to God, but they were not successful. After the rejection of Christ, God turned from the nations to call out a people for His Name (Acts 15:14), the Church of true believers in the Savior. This has been going on for almost 2,000 years. In the midpoint of the first period, there was a great prophet, Enoch, who preached against the great wickedness of his day, and of the coming judgment (Jude 14,15). In the midpoint of the second period of 2,000 years, a great prophet, Elijah, who prophesied against the wickedness of Israel. Both of these prophets were taken to heaven without dying, the only two (Genesis 5:23,24; II Kings 2:11). God always has a purpose in all that He does. He planned to send them back to complete their ministries. Malachi 4:56 - "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: and he shall turn the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." In Matthew 17:11, Jesus said, "Elias truly shall come first, and restore all things." The Baptist recognized that He came in the spirit and power of Elijah but was not an incarnation of Elijah. (Luke 1:17; John 1:21.) Revelation 11:3 - "I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy 1,260 days. Enoch to the Gentiles, Elijah to Israel. This will continue until they are killed by the Beast. These two witnesses will call down judgments upon the earth: plagues, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, hail, fire, meteorites, great darkness. Finally demons from the pit are loosed. All are to warn men to flee from the wrath to come. The witnesses will be blamed while it is God's wrath coming upon the earth. Even while suffering is poured upon the earth, most people will not repent or turn from their wicked, sinful ways (Revelation 9:20,21). Those who do repent will be cruelly persecuted by the others. The 144,000 Jewish witnesses (Revelation 7:4-8) will proclaim their testimony after the Two Witnesses are gone, thus preparing the whole nation of Israel to receive Christ at His Second Coming. There will be a great multitude of all nations, kindreds, people and tongues that will come out of the great tribulation (Revelation 7:9,14). When the two witnesses are slain (Enoch and Elijah), their bodies will be left in the street. After 3 and 1/2 days they will be raised from the dead and taken to heaven in plain sight (Revelation 11:9,12). At the beginning of the 7 year treaty, the ruler called the Beast will allow the Jews to rebuild their temple and reinstate their worship of Jehovah. There is a group of Orthodox Jews that have been making preparations for this. When the decision is made, it will be completed quickly. After the initial 3 and 1/2 years, the Beast will break the treaty, and claim to be God as the abomination of desolation in the temple. Then begins the persecution and execution of Christians, Jews, and any others that refuse to worship the image of the beast. Revelation 12 describes the great red dragon (the rebel against God in the beginning) about to attack the woman who was about to give birth to a man-child. This is the Genesis prophecy of the conflict between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. The conflict between the Christ and the Beast. The dragon and his angels are not victorious and are permanently cast out from further access to heaven (Revelation 12:7,8). The false prophet will issue a decree that the Beast must be worshipped by everyone. There will be a giant image of the best set up in the Temple. He would have power to give life to the image and power that as many that would not worship the image would be put to death (Revelation 13:15). Technology will advance to the degree that it will be known who follows and who deviates from the required actions. No dissent will be allowed. This is required to buy and sell (Revelation 13:17). There will be great wonders shown, though they be lying wonders (Matthew 24:24). Deceiving into believing that he controls the world. All those whose names are not written into the Lamb's Book of Life will be fooled (Revelation 13:8). But not all will agree to receive the mark of the beast. Those that come through the Great Tribulation without the mark shall hunger no more neither thirst for God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes (Revelation 7:14,16,17). The woman in the wilderness. She fled to a place prepared by God, where she should survive for 3 and 1/2 years and be hid from the serpent (Revelation 12:614). The woman is the nation of Israel who gave birth to Christ. Believers will have to flee quickly when the Anti-Christ demands worship. Jesus gave advice in Matthew 24:16-18 for them to flee to the mountains when this sign of the Great Tribulation began. They will be preserved for the 3 and 1/2 years of the Great Tribulation. Some will survive this tribulation, and be ready to follow Christ after His return in glory at the coming Battle of Armageddon.

End Time Events (Jesus Christ - Coming for His Church)

Since every prophecy that has been fulfilled in the past, was literally fulfilled in every detailed as the Bible recorded the Word of God, we today can have complete confidence in the prophecies that have not yet been fulfilled. According to the plan and program of God for this earth and man, we are living in the end times, only eight things are yet to happen before this earth's history is closed and eternity is ushered in with new heavens and a new earth. The first one may occur at any moment for it is undated. Event Number One is the personal return of the Lord of the universe Jesus Christ, from Heaven according to His Promise. Our Saviour Who lived, died, rose and ascended into Heaven more than nineteen hundred years ago. John 14:1-3 Jesus says: 1. "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." In the last promise in the Bible, Jesus repeats this: Revelation 22:20 - "Surely I come quickly." The Apostle Paul teaches in I Thessalonians 4:16,17 - "The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: so shall we ever be with the Lord." All believers (the dead raised, the living changed) will be taken up out of this world, to meet the Lord in the air. This first event is called the Translation of the Church, or the Rapture. Event Number Two will immediately follow. It is called the day of Jacob's trouble, God's day of Wrath, or the Great Tribulation. It will be 7 years of the greatest trouble and turmoil the world has ever known. Jesus described it in Matthew 24:21 - "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no nor ever shall be." There will be war, destruction, violence, and famine, earthquakes, and terror; a time so terrible that only the intervention of God will prevent man from completely destroying himself. Jesus said: "And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved..." (Matthew 24:22.) At the end of this tribulation all the nations of the world will be gathered for the battle in the Middle East to attack the land of Israel and destroy the city of Jerusalem. Then Event Number Three takes place at the Battle of Armageddon when these armies will be crushed and defeated by the sudden appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ with His armies of saints, descending from Heaven to the Mount of Olives. This is clearly portrayed in Revelation chapters 6-19. This public return of Jesus Christ is the Fourth Event, ending man's rebellion. Revelation 19 describes it (11,14,16): "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True... And the armies which were in heaven followed him... And he hath in his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords." Zechariah also prophesied this event in 14:3,4,9 - "Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against these nations... And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives... And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one." This is the Second Coming of the Lord to be distinguished from the Rapture of the Church to meet the Lord in the air before the Tribulation. Jesus comes to the earth at the close of the Tribulation to defeat the armies of Satan which had come up against Israel. Jesus in Matthew 24:29,30 said: "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." Event Number Five is the setting up of the Messianic Kingdom upon earth. After the Battle of Armageddon the Devil is cast into the bottomless pit, and Jesus establishes the Millennial or 1,000 year Kingdom of Righteousness. Israel will be the center of the nations with the promises made to Abraham literally fulfilled. The capital of the world will be Jerusalem. Peace and prosperity will be worldwide. Even the animal kingdom will be at peace. All hatred and strife, all want, sickness and disease will be unknown. The Gospel will be preached to all men. The earth will be converted into fruitfulness for all mankind. The prayer that is so often prayed that Jesus taught His disciples: "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven," will finally be answered and will last for 1,000 years. To finally prove the utter depravity of human nature, there will be a brief time of rebellion in spite of all the peace and blessing of that kingdom. Satan is released from the pit and finds great numbers ready to rebel against Christ and His righteous rule. This rebellion will be quickly destroyed and Satan is cast into the lake of fire, forever. Revelation 20:7-9 describes this Sixth Event: "And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth...To gather them together to battle... ...And fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them." Event number Seven will wind up God's program for this world: The Final Judgment of the wicked before the Great White Throne. The righteous dead had been raised at the Rapture and judged according to works for reward at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Revelation 20:5 tells us: "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished..." Verses 11,12,15. "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it... And I saw the dead...and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." With Number 7, God's Judgments are completed. Only one other even is left. We have considered briefly these seven. 1. The Translation or Rapture of the Church. 2. The Great Tribulation. 3. The Battle of Armageddon. 4. The Second Coming of Christ. 5. The Millennial Kingdom. 6. Satan's Last Rebellion. 7. The Last Judgment. Event Number 8 is the number of new things - after the Judgment - God will usher in eternity, never-ending perfection. Revelation 21:1,5 - "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away... And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new..." Peter speaks of this purifying of the earth by fire, sin will be forever removed from all of creation. We will dwell in communion and fellowship with the saints, and with God in Christ, forever. Revelation 21:4 - "And God shall wipe away all tears...and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain..." Truly this must be what Paul thought of as he wrote: "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18.) Truly it is when we consider the greatness of God and the tremendous plan of the ages that is written in The Holy Scriptures that our daily lives are put into perspective. We spend a great deal of time thinking of what to have for dinner, making arrangements for our leisure, our entertainment. We work hard to acquire money and the things needed for our security here and now. We are proud of our accomplishments and our possessions, and yet we desire more. And are we content and satisfied? Not often. This is human nature. And these things can all be good if done in the ways God planned and if kept in their proper relationship to God. This Christ came to show us. Because we are sinners, we could not do what He did, He had to die to pay the price for our sins. His sacrifice was accepted and He was raised to the Right Hand of the Father on High. There He intercedes with the Father for us. He sent the Holy Spirit to give us the strength and power to live in the world and to live unto God. God's plan is on schedule, the program is on time. We are to be mindful of the things of God and put them in first place in our thoughts. Let us keep in mind the wise council of James the brother of our Lord in his epistle, 4:13-15 - "13. Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow, we shall go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.' 14. Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. 15. Instead, you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that.' " The habit of thinking that the next day will be pretty much like the day before is a trap and a lie. Certainly our hope must not lie in this and such selfish worldly concerns. Our main responsibility is to be faithful to Jesus Christ who holds the universe together and is Lord of the future as well as the present and the past. We must be witnesses to the Gospel of God's Grace and share our faith in what Christ has done for us and our hope in what He is going to do shortly. Just before His ascension into Heaven to be seated at the right hand of God, Jesus replied to His Apostles' questions about the time of coming events. He said in Acts 1:7-8 - "It is not for you to know the times or seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." In answering, Jesus doesn't disagree about the event of prophecy the apostles asked about - only the time of that event. It is our responsibility as His people to read about His future plans since they include us. We are to study prophecy and know what God has in store for us and for the world. This is our hope and our warning to others. We are not to set dates and times, and become lazy or lose touch with reality. The second half of Jesus' reply was a promise, a command, and a prophecy which has been fulfilled. We as believers have inherited the faith which these witnesses spread in the first century. Jesus' words show what our relationship to prophecy should always be - it should, by the Holy Spirit, give us power to be witnesses to Jesus Christ where ever we might be. Prophecy can break the hold the pleasures of worldly things so easily get upon us. It can bring before us the majesty, wisdom, power, wrath, and love of God - the unsearchable richness of our Redemption. But this should not lead to idle speculation and wasting of time with theories and date-setting. It should lead our hearts to pray earnestly without ceasing with the Apostle John in Revelation 22:20 - "Even so, come Lord Jesus." And in the meanwhile, get to work in spreading the Gospel - When you have so many opportunities to speak a word of faith; pray to God that He will give you boldness to speak by the power of the Holy Spirit that they may be saved. Let us all go together, with not one missing.