In today’s blog, I want to share “A Word, A Song and A Laugh” to encourage you in these perilous times. I missed sending out this blog the last two Wednesdays, so to make up for those missed blogs, I am sending you a longer “Saturday night special” blog! Somehow this seems equivalent. :)
A WORD
“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”
2 Timothy 3:1-5, NKJV
There’s no doubt, we are living in the perilous times of the last days. The Holy Spirit, through Timothy told us these days would come and what they would look like. Does anyone doubt we are there? If so, the question we might be asking is this: “In light of these times, what should we be doing?”
We know what we shouldn’t be doing, right? We shouldn’t be curled up in the fetal position in a dark corner. We shouldn’t be fearful, passive, or operating in angry outbursts. As Christians, we should lift up our heads as our Redeemer draws near and we should do these five things:
Five Things:
Be Strong in Faith and Love.
Declare God’s Word.
Live Your Joyful Life.
Proclaim Jesus.
Speak and Pray Out Your Future.
Be Strong in Faith and Love. As believers, we are people of faith and love. We don’t live in fear. We live by faith. We rest in His love. We trust God and His Word and we walk in His wisdom. In fact, knowing God and His perfect love is what enables us to live a fearless life — and empowers us to love others. God is faithful. Trust Him. Meditate on these Scriptures, receive the reality of God’s love and faithfulness toward you.
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.” 1 Joh 4:18-19
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:7-8
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
Declare God’s Word. While the world has a narrative and it is being proclaimed on every airwave and internet platform; we have a more powerful and authoritative voice backed by heaven. We should be more diligent to use our voice to declare God’s Word — the Name of Jesus, the blood of Jesus and the angels of God — over our lives and sphere of influence. Sometimes Christians can fall into the trap of being passive or fatalistic — with the “whatever will be will be” type of mindset. Some believers assume God is going to do whatever He wants to do whether we believe, pray or speak His Word — but that is not true. The Lord has given us a responsibility to believe and to declare His Word to “frame our world” and to determine the “fruit we will eat.” So, don’t be silent. Don’t be passive. Don’t be fatalistic. Put God’s Word in your mouth and declare it over your life, your church, your community and this world. Sure, the world is getting darker and darker, but it doesn’t have to be dark where you are! In fact, the glory of the Lord can shine on and through you if you will cooperate with God and His Word. Meditate on these verses:
“Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.” Isaiah 60:1
“A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; from the produce of his lips he shall be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:20-21
“And make the Almighty your gold and [the Lord] your precious silver treasure, then you will have delight in the Almighty, and you will lift up your face to God. You will make your prayer to Him, and He will hear you, and you will pay your vows. You shall also decide and decree a thing, and it shall be established for you; and the light [of God’s favor] shall shine upon your ways.” Job 22:25-28, AMP
Live Your Joyful Life: Yes, the world is a crazy place where people call evil things good and where they call good things evil. The Bible told us this would happen, but that doesn’t mean we stop living. This isn’t the time to hunker in a bunker — it’s time to live your life with great joy because you know the King of kings and the Lord of lords and your future is bright!! It’s true, we still have to work, pay bills, raise kids, make meals, love others … and we can do it with joy — not with apathy, anxiety, depression, panic or anger. Being full of joy does not mean you are oblivious or naive to the perilous times, it means you know God and His joy is your strength! Let these verses lift you up to a place of joy!
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials…” James 1:2
“… And be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold.” Nehemiah 8:10
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” Philippians 4:4
Proclaim Jesus: We still have the great commission to “go into all the world to proclaim the gospel!” Time is short, so let’s be busy telling people about Jesus and leading them to faith in Christ — and remember Jesus is with you confirming the words you proclaim!! Use your voice, your social media platform, your texts and tell people Jesus loved them so much He died on a cross to take away their sins — all they need to do is repent, believe and receive Him as Lord. This is no time to debate or speak in circles trying to convince people — just tell them the good news of Jesus and His plan to rescue them from the wages of their sin so that they could have an eternal life with Him and invite them to prayer a salvation prayer with you. The gospel of Jesus is good news! Memorize these passages.
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:9
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30
Speak and Pray Out Your Future: God is the only One who knows what the future holds … and He is on our side! That means, we don’t have to play defense…we can play offense! The best way to play offense is to speak and pray! Pray with your understanding and in the spirit. We can speak and pray out the mystery of our future — according to God’s perfect will. What a divine privilege! When we can’t wrap our heads around these perilous times and what the future, specifically our future, might look like, we can speak and pray in the spirit. The Holy Spirit will help us pray out our future according to His perfect will. Soak up these passages and start talking.
“But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” 1 Corinthians 1:7-13
“For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.” 1 Corinthians 14:2
“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:26-28
I hope you are encouraged and will put these five things into practice as we live in these perilous times.
BLOG BONUS: Today, I’d like to share a video I recorded several years ago titled, “The Future God Has Prepared” This video teaching will give more context to the Scriptures above. I encourage you to listen with your heart and put it into practice. :)
