AN END-TIME DESOLATION?

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Did Jesus really warn that there would be “desolation” near the end of this world, as we know it now?  The answer is YES!

What “desolation” could He possibly mean?  Whatever Jesus meant, we know that it deals with Jerusalem and its surrounding areas.  We also need to realize that Jesus wanted us to “see” or understand its significance.

Jesus’ prophetic words regarding the “desolation” and other end-time events are recorded in Luke 21, Matthew 24, and Mark 13.  The full context of these chapters is significant to an understanding of the meaning of each event Jesus describes.

In Luke 21, Jesus says people will “see Jerusalem compassed with armies” and that this event will serve as an indication that the “desolation” is near.

Luke 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

Have we “seen” this event yet?  Have we been “WATCHING” for it?  Has Jerusalem been surrounded by armies?

The tiny state of Israel is certainly surrounded by its enemies.  Examine the map of Islamic countries around Israel.

http://www.alphanewsdaily.com/Israel%20Islam%20World%20Map%20Crop.gif 

It is reasonable to think that those enemies could arm themselves against Jerusalem in a short period of time if they were to choose to do so.

Many of God’s people are consistent and devoted readers of the Bible.  When we appropriately respond to Jesus’ words, we must also realize the need to be consistent and devoted observers of what is going on in Jerusalem and in the Middle East, because so much of end-time prophecy is related to activities in that geographical area.

In the context of these prophecies found in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus exhorts His disciples to WATCH.  What are we to WATCH?  Surely, we all need to be vigilant and watchful in every aspect of our lives, however, WATCHING the events in Jerusalem and in the surrounding area is the context of these specific prophecies.

In Luke 21:36, Jesus also exhorts us to PRAY.  We would all be wise to heed both of these exhortations (WATCH and PRAY) so that we can “see” and understand.  Praying about what we “WATCH” and “SEE” will help us know the meaning of the signs God gives to us.

Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Let us also remember that God is the One Who reveals prophetic meaning through His Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;).

The Bible also reminds us that no prophecy is to be of our own private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation).

As we move ever closer to the second coming of Jesus Christ, let us all be carefully watching and praying so that we “may be accounted worthy to escape…and to stand before the Son of man.”

THE WORSHIP GOD IS SEEKING

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John 4:23 tells us that God is seeking worshippers.  God wants to be OUR God.  Yes, He IS God, …and He wants to be OUR God!

This is a special, very special, one-of-a-kind relationship that God desires, and we have to be invited (called) to be a part of it.  In fact, we can’t even come to Jesus our Savior without the invitation from the Father. Furthermore, we have no access to the Father except through Jesus Christ.

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Wow!  God’s holy calling is a very distinct and exclusive privilege being offered to mankind.

Thousands of years ago God offered a special relationship to the ancient nation of Israel as He brought them out of Egyptian bondage (a type of the bondage of sin).

Exodus 5:1,3 (1) And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. (3) And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days’ journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the Lord our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.

It is clear from this passage about ancient Israel in Exodus 5 and from many other passages that God was then seeking to be GOD to a people who would be His worshippers.  Today, God is seeking true worshippers, also.

Jesus said so!

John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

Today, we need to understand how precious it is that God is seeking each of us individually and collectively as a Church (the Body of Christ) to worship Him!

God has created mankind purposefully.  And, He is paying an awesome personal price to complete His purpose for us. God is seeking a fulfillment of His purposes for all of us.

  • God is seeking a people that are His, and His alone.
  • God is seeking to be their God.

2 Corinthians 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

  • God is seeking a people to live the righteous way of life He lives. It is a way of life that emphasizes His divine nature.

1 John 3:10(a) In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God….

  • God is seeking a people to look like Him, and to make wise decisions as He does.
  • God is seeking people to be His children.
  • God is seeking a people to have His Spirit to have His nature, and to think like He thinks.

2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

  • God is seeking His children to love Him fully as they love nothing else.
  •  God is seeking those children to love one another deeply because He loves all of His children.

1 John 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

Mark 12:30-31 (30) And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. (31) And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

1 John 3:10, 17 (10) In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. (17) But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

1 John 4:20  If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

  • God is seeking His children to tremble at His Word.

Isaiah 66:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

  • God is seeking children to inherit all things.
  • God is seeking those children to live in an everlasting peace and prosperity.

Revelation 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Isaiah 9:7  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Everlasting Worshippers

And, God is seeking those children (all of them) to worship Him joyfully, purely, and freely both now and forever. He is creating exactly what He is seeking in and through the Body of Jesus Christ, His Church.

All of these things that God is seeking and creating are a part of true worshippers being involved in our on-going participation in True Worship. Creating these worshippers is a momentous, long-term purpose (goal) that God will certainly achieve.

God is patient in achieving His purposes for us. James 5:7 describes His longsuffering as He waits for the precious fruit of the earth (meaning true believers who become His True Worshippers).

James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

God can be very patient, because what He is creating will exist forever.  Worshipping God is not just for the here and now.  Worship is forever!

 

NEW LIFE AND TRUE WORSHIP

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God fervently desires to connect with all of mankind on a permanent basis. God has prepared all that is necessary to attain His desire to fellowship closely with us. God knows our frailties and our weaknesses.
Psalm 103:14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust
Yet, God has opened THE DOOR for us to a relationship with Him. Our going through that Door is the crucial beginning step we must take in a very detailed and vital process God has set in motion to save us. The Almighty God calls us into direct contact to Himself when He draws us to His Son, our Savior and Messiah.
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
It is then and only then that we can enter into true and deep fellowship with the Father through Jesus. He is the ONLY Way.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
After accepting what God offers us through our Savior, we confess Jesus as Savior. We repent of our rebellious and wrong ways of living. We go through baptism and receive God’s Holy Spirit so that we can become new creatures in Christ Jesus. We have a new life. Old things are passed away.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
When we are freed from the bondage of sin, we become true believers and disciples. It is at that time, our entire new life needs to become an act of worship!
As true believers we want to center our lives on God and His worship. Right?
How does this happen? One way to center upon God is by determining that we will always treasure opportunities for worshipping Him. We can proceed by realizing that it is worth our time and effort to examine our views and our “worship” practices on a continuous basis and to make improvements as God leads us to see what needs to be done.
1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.