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Welcome
“You are chosen by God, so give Him your all. Be patient, and the Holy Spirit will change you into a vessel of honour, full of His amazing love and glory. Keep praising and thanking Him for His hand upon your life.”
Stella
Worship
Word
If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.
Matthew 24:22
I was reluctant to write on this text, preferring something more encouraging, and less frightening, but I drew a blank. It seems that before the end, there will be difficult times, so much so that they need to be shortened so that believers will survive it. In the parable of the Sower, Jesus makes the point that those who receive the word with joy but have no root, then, when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
When I had to have a bone and skin graft in my mouth due to a past injury causing problems, I really wasn’t looking forward to it. However, as the date was a few months away, I prepared my mind through prayer and asked others to pray for me which they did [Thank you!]. The result, by the grace of God, I sailed through it.
Recently, I suddenly got nervous about my hip operation having just been given the date of surgery, 28th September. Please pray for me. They have told me I will be awake during the procedure, I don’t like the sound of that. But hopefully I can get prepared in my mind in the next couple of months.
When we really study it, the last days are going to be increasingly difficult times for the believer. Unlike some, I do not believe that Christians will be raptured before the great tribulation; Jesus never promised anyone salvation from troubles, rather salvation through them. Look at the time of Jesus here on earth, what awesome and great days. Look what followed in Acts, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Heaven on earth. It was truly great and very special, but look what went alongside it; Jesus was constantly opposed, persecuted, ridiculed, and that well before He was crucified on the Cross; and so were His disciples. What does it tell us about this broken, fallen world, this present evil age we live in (Gal. 1:4), that the pure spotless Lamb of God came to live amongst us and what did we do, we crucified Him [‘it was my sin that held Him there’].
I have been thinking like this for some time and as you do, you wonder am I right to think like this when many believe we will be taken up before the great tribulation. Just recently, at my surprise birthday party at Bethel, a lady, who I hardly know, gave me a book, written by the respected scholar, R. T. Kendall. He also believes in a great end-time outpouring of the Holy Spirit before Jesus returns but also mentions the bad news: “I’m sorry but this awakening will be accompanied with severe suffering, and in many places there will be unthinkable persecution … some will die as martyrs for the faith.” ……. What to do? The ONE THING WE MUST DO IS PRAY! Pray God’s grace will be sufficient and the days will be shortened.
Quote of the week
“To pray is to mount on eagle’s wings above the clouds and get into the clear heaven where God dwells.”
C. H. Spurgeon
Verse of the week
Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Matt. 26:41
Let’s Pray
Father, strengthen and empower Your people in their hour of need, in Jesus, Amen.