TIME TO RE-FOCUS
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If I was to sum up 2023 in one word I would have to say it would be
“DISBELIEF”
Disbelief for
1. An invasion of Israel – how was it missed in the intelligence community.
2. Millions of illegal immigrants crossing our southern boarders – why does the president just sit back and watch, knowing that our national security is now completely decimated.
3. Russia and its brutal attack on Ukraine is still as fierce as it was a year ago. WHY?
4. Why is there pornography in the libraries of our elementary schools.
5. Why can a child identify as a cat, and you have to be OK with it.
6. Why can a 12 year old get gender altering surgeries or hormone therapy in many cases with out parental consent
7. Why would you send a child to an ivy league school. Its not worth it.
8. Why are so many dying from Fentanyl poisoning?
Can I go on and on.
We are living in an era of shock and unbelief.
John cooper just wrote a book which I just bought for Pastor Trina \The title is Wimpy, Weak and Woke . That is where parts of the church are today.
I had a moment of unbelief on my way back from Sacramento.
I was at Costco ………… - No one helped, not even the Costco employees.
40 years ago every man would of jumped out and helped this older couple out.
I just cannot believe it.
What do you do? Refocus
You go through shock, then anger, depression – then you refocus. You search for the truth.
We also recognize we were deceived somewhere along the line. we make it a point to not be deceived again
When they said there was peace- there really wasn’t
When they said our children were safe – they were not
When they said the Covid shot was a vaccine- we soon found out it wasn’t.
They said de-fund the police you will be safer -we are not.
Should i even mention the political deceptions - I would be here all morning.
It was a deception, and we fell for it.
It is a sign of the times.
It started in the Garden of Eden, and nothing has changed since then.
Adam blamed Eve, Eve said the serpent deceived me.
That serpent can also be translated as traitor.
Some would say your a conspiracy theorist. - I’m not - I’m a Christian who studies the word and prays for discernment and can make some very reliable assertions.
Lets look at some scriptures
3 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
4 And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.
5 “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.
6 “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.
7 “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.
8 “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
9 “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
10 “At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.
11 “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.
12 “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.
13 “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.
14 “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Now I am going to read a few passages from 1 Thess Ch 5 and 2nds Thess ch 2
1 thess 5:3-6
3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief;
5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;
6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.
11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.
16 Rejoice always;
17 pray without ceasing;
18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 thess 5: 19-22
19 Do not quench the Spirit;
20 do not despise prophetic utterances.
21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;
22 abstain from every form of evil.
3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders,
10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.
15 So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.
Please go back and read all three of these chapters, it will get you thinking.
What does the word say?
A. It says you will have False Prophets
The challenge with Prophets is they have to be right or they are false prophets,
Not just in the church, it is politicians, it is media, it is your schools, it is ai.
Don’t take everything as truth when you hear it , do a little research. The finest universities in the nation have been teaching garbage for years. These professors should have been challenged then fired for what they taught as truth.
B. It says you will have Disasters
Be ready for a major increase in Both Human and Natural Disasters. Peace will come globally when the prince of peace arrives for the second time. Thats it.
The nations will roar, China will not stop its quest for global domination, Russia will not stop, Iran wont say - were good lets all live in peace.
Don’t be deceived by a narrative that is demonic and centered in its chief deceiver Satan.
C. A Great Falling Away and Persecution
Be Ready for Persecution; Some Professing Christians Will Fall Away (Matt 24:9-13)
They wont be able to take the pressure of serving God over serving self. Pressure coming from the world and your flesh.
So heart wrenching is this reality that the New Testament writers had to warn Christians about it repeatedly (2 Thess 2:3; 1 Tim 4:1-3; 2 Tim 3:1-9; 2 Pet 3:3; 1 Jn 2:18-19; Rev 13:12-17).
So how do we look to a future that we are unsure of.
I believe it is better to be prepared than not.
You need to be able to
1. Endure
Remember you are called to an endurance race not a sprint.
You are called to go the entire 15 rounds not 2
12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
2. See past the wickedness
a. Even though it is all around you
13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
3. Be Watchful
a. Be always on guard
Do your homework- Be a critical thinker. Research. Don’t be caught in the wrong camp because of ignorance.
Don’t slack off. Even if things seem peaceful at the moment
You might be in the eye of the storm , but as it travels the winds will pick up again.
Be on guard - Just because the last three hurricanes missed you doesn’t mean the 4th one will.
4. Give Support to those that are weak
You of faith help those who have a weak faith
There are some who for many reasons have given up or are close to giving up. Help them out. I have found over many years that being of service to people brings a grat blessing to you. It renews your outlook on life. It gives you hope.
5. Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always);
You know how the story ends. You faith puts you in a secure position. You have a great advantage.
6. Be unceasing in prayer
Prayer changes things.
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;
Pray about everything. Get on the prayer chain, be a prayer warrior when called upon. If you don't pray don't expect anything, when you do pray expect God to hear you and he will move on it.
7. Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].
20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
8. Do not quench the Holy Spirit;
The spirit leads you in all truth, so if you are not listening to Him who are you listening to.
9. Do not despise instruction
Be teachable- so many today are not.
10. Abstain from former evil
Don’t get trapped in the former you - You are a new creation in Christ -walk in it.
11. Be apart of spreading of the Gospel globally
You have two options Give, Go or both.
Close (28:19-20; compare Acts 1:6-11; Rom 11:25-26; 2 Pet 3:9-15).
Its time to turn our disbelief into belief -AMEN
Mark 9:17–25 (NASB95)
17 And one of the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute;
18 and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.”
19 And He answered them and said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!”
20 They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth.
21 And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.
22 “It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!”
23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.”
24 Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”
25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.”
Conclusion
If YOU Can- seriously - If- - The greatest days of your faith are ahead of you!