"Perilous Times Shall Come"

Scripture Text: "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." Mat 24:12,13 (KJV)

Perilous: a period of increasing activity, tension, or anxiety, risky, hazardous, dangerous, chancy, delicate, dicey, dynamite, exposed, insecure, playing with fire, rugged, shaky, threatening, ticklish, touch and go, touchy, treacherous, uncertain, unhealthy, unsafe, unsound, unstable, unsteady, unsure, vulnerable, wicked  

Friend, I have had three phone calls from people who have met with family or associate situations that they cannot cope with. Hatred, fear, cussing, threats... terrible emotions of people dealing with very real, and very trying situations - and I don't know what you're going through today, but I can guarantee you that it is more than just the "character flaws" of your friend or family members that your facing.

Oh how I would like to just have a moment to tell the WORLD to "LISTEN" - because Jesus is speaking here. He is saying,

"And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." Mat 24:12,13 (KJV)

This is not about your spouse or your child or your one-time" best friend, or your boss... it's not even about your Pastor! Evil is being "let loose" in the world and that iniquity shall abound or flourish or flow, and because of that the love of many or the agape (the dearest affection; benevolence; charity) of many will WAX cold. That means that what was once a love that was steadfast, and immovable, rock-solid, will become "reactive-based" and filled with vengeance. Now, don't get me wrong... that happens and has happened for years. In fact, in many instances, it has seeded such evil that someone becomes hurt and maybe even killed. But, those have been isolated cases. Jesus wasn't speaking of isolated cases - He was speaking here in Matthew 24 of the WORLD as a whole. Can you imagine the WORLD feeling about you like that one who may have called your house this morning and threatened you? Can you imagine being taken is such evil that you would begin to hate everything and everyone and if you had your choice you would rather be alone than to speak with anyone or associate with anyone because you stand to deal with ANYONE ANYMORE?  Can you think of any better way for Satan to get full control of your life and to destroy you - than for you to fall into that kind of evil?

Thousands, maybe millions are experiencing that kind of evil in their lives right now and it is manifesting itself in several different ways. 

But I want to start here today by giving you the scripture that explains exactly what is happening and I am going to break this down and help you to resist the devil and to stand strong in the Lord. REMEMBER... Jesus said, "...he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved." Matthew 24:13 (KJV) 

Look at 2 Timothy 3:1-5

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." 2Ti 3:1-5 (KJV)

Today, I want you to be aware of the fact that whatever is happening in your life from now on, will carry with it such intensity that you will be overwhelmed if you do not remain grounded in the LORD! Jesus is Coming very soon; I believe with all of my heart and we must guard our hearts and our minds and keep our spirits fresh in the Lord through the reading of His WORD and PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT, and through individual WORSHIP and PRAISE before the Lord!

For now, let's pray.

Father, these are trying times for so many of us and we just will not make it through if we do not look to you and begin living our lives for you and allowing your Holy Spirit to clean us out and keep us clean. Oh Father, I don't want to fall into that trap that so many are falling into where they have lost their way and lost their love for You and for evangelism and for LIFE in general! Father I want to be ALIVE with the witness of your spirit always inside of me - living through me and loving through me and witnessing to the saving knowledge of the Cross and the BLOOD of Jesus YOUR COMPLETE SACRIFICE for all who will believe. Come Lord Jesus and fill me with your Spirit's peace and strength and most of all, Love through Me LORD JESUS... LOVE THROUGH ME!

Now Father I come to you this morning for those who do not have that kind of peace and it seems as though their life is turned upside-down right now. I ask for forgiveness to flow from their lips and their hearts as they forgive those who wrong them and I pray that they will know JOY like they have never known simply because they are learning - along with the rest of us, to in these final days... Trust In YOU ALONE!

We don't know how long you will tarry Father, but we do know that you are coming soon and we have work to do to bring in our family members and our friends. Give us Peace in our Spirit and understanding in our minds and Love in our hearts in these last days that we live for you. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

 

출처 : http://inthegarden.us/devo2010/itg081110.htm