WHAT IN THE WORLD IS HAPPENING?

What in the world? 

I know that many of you have been watching the news. You have seen the main stream media come down much harder on the “conservatives” than they did the liberals and those who were literally burning down our country just a couple months ago. Hear me, I by no means condone the actions of those mob driven anarchists this week AND, I cautiously wade into this mess. I have my opinions and have seen and heard the conspiracies and the unfulfilled “prophecies”. What indeed is happening in the world? What is happening in our country? 

The chorus to the song from REM, written in 1980 keeps playing in my head… (I’m sure I could think of better songs… LOL) 

“It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine (time I had some time alone)”

I feel fine… but do I really? How about you? Do you feel fine seeing all that is unfolding in our life time? Set aside the “pandemic” for a min and just think about the civil unrest that was unleashed on our country. Can you imagine how much of the country would be on fire now if President Trump was re-elected? 

Matthew 5:43-45 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

I repeat… “He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous”.

God will use the righteous and the unrighteous to exact HIS will on HIS creation. President Trump is unrighteous, Joe Biden is unrighteous, VP Mike Pence. Great guy! Man of faith…but, none the less, Unrighteous… Kamala Harris? Unrighteous. But Gods will be done… Before I wade in deeper than my boots will allow, let’s look at scripture. It is after all the ultimate authority. So, what do we expect in this world we live in? What is Gods will for HIS creation? 

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

Pretty simple, He desires that we repent and believe. But the prideful human, not only rebels, but rebels to the point of no return, even in Gods eyes. 

Romans 1:28-32 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

Can you see any of this in our country today? It is evident regardless of what political party that you affiliate with. Too many people are rejecting the truth of Gods word, because it is inconvenient and would require them to change their life style. Participating in every form of sin they can attempting to satisfy their needs, but all it will do is make the void bigger, the only thing that fill that void is Jesus. Don’t forget the main thing! Jesus is the only way to eternity in heaven…

John 14:6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

The things of the world, the desires of the flesh only bring a deeper emptiness, dissatisfaction and hopelessness. Eventually, this things will take over and literally destroy them. Bringing death to body, mind and soul. 

Romans 1:28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,

We are seeing this increase exponentially. The Apostle Paul even addressed the fact that “Difficult Times Will Come” in his second letter to Timothy. 

2 Timothy 3:1-5 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

So many people, many that you know, or maybe it’s even you, go through the motions of religion, but have never genuinely trusted in Jesus as Savior. They profess life is about God, guts and guns…guts and guns will only get you so far. Trusting in Jesus is what really matters. When unbelief reigns in someones life, the quiet and deadly sins of pride, greed, lust, un-forgiveness, gossiping so on, naturally flow from their mouths and are evident in their lives. And even though they claim faith in God, Jesus will address it. 

Matthew 7:23 Jesus will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’

And It’s hard for us to comprehend, but the reality is that many people will not make it to heaven. Regardless of political affiliation.

Matthew 7:13-23 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

They are also many false prophets who lead people astray, and we should have nothing to do with them. Look at verse 15 of Matthew 17. 

15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will know them by their fruits.

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’

Again, I will wade in carefully here. I cannot speak to each of the false prophecies that were uttered about President Trump being re-elected. What I will do is caution you to NOT get caught up in mans words. Be discerning. False prophets in the Bible, were stoned to death if the word they spoke did not come to pass. Any time someone says to me that the “prophets” have given a word that I must hear”, I ask, who? Jeremiah, Joshua, Isaiah, or Joel?  We must be very careful in proclaiming that we have a new revelation from God. We hold the revelation from God in the completed bible. Jesus will deal with them as we saw in Matthew 7:19-23. But we need to dismiss them quickly and hold them accountable when we have the ability to do so. What are we to do until taken out of this place for eternity? Occupy until his return… 

Luke 19:12-13 So He said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return. And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back.’

‘Do business with this until I come back.’ Jesus gave a few clues like this one to indicate that He might not return to earth physically for a long time after His ascension. Until He comes again in His glory, we are to continue to faithfully do His work in the power of His Spirit—who is always with us. We are to live life to the best of our ability, with our eyes set heavenward until life as we know it ceases. Either through our death, the rapture of the church or His return. 

(Luke 17:24, John 9:4; 14:16, 17, 26; 16:13, 14).

Luke 21:25-28 The Return of Christ 25 

“There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory. 28 But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

We should live with a constant awareness that the Lord could return at any time keeping us spiritually alert and living productively for the kingdom of God. When our focus is on Christ’s Second Coming, we will not be as concerned with the trivial matters of life but will be motivated to obey Him and will diligently work to tell all people of the salvation He offers.

So, what in the world is happening? Gods WILL is being exacted. 

Isaiah 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.

It is going to be uncomfortable. We may even face true persecution and suffering. But our mission and message as a believer does not change. It does not matter who is on the “throne” in Washington, DC. God is on the throne and in complete control. We are to behave as Holy Spirit filled followers of Christ. Bringing hope to any and everyone God brings across our path. Make sure that your life is in order and surrendered completely to God. We have work to do! Hold steady! And don’t stop praying! 

1 Timothy 2:1-2 A Call to Prayer 

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

May our faith be seen and God be glorified in ALL we do! 

Love ya, Pastor Scott