Some of us watchers live in very precarious and dyer situations. Our lives are as broken as our faith is challenged. Our hope is for the Rapture and when it’s deferred, it breaks our heart.
Solomon said it this way, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.” – Proverbs 13:12
Our desire is coming, wait for it, He is coming soon. We watch for the Lord because the Lord command us to do so. He may have even arranged our lives in such a way so that we would be watching for His return with a greater intensity then we would have otherwise if our lives weren’t so bifurcated. Each of us has something wonderful to offer the body of Christ. As believers in Jesus, the Spirit of the Lord lives within us; thus, if we’re in tune with Him, He will give us something good to prophesy about so that others will be encouraged.
“For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.” – 1 Corinthians 14:31,32
The phrase, ‘the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets’ means that whatever flawed human element we bring into the word that we give to others will be reflected in its presentation. If we talk with a lisp, the word presented will have a lisp. If we speak with an accent, that accent will manifest in our utterance. If we are misinformed about a certain thing, it will show up in our words. Sometimes we speak from our lack, other times from our abundance, but always with a flawed perfection that is still being developed by the Lord Himself. We must do our best to encourage others and to be an encouragement as we prophesy. This is what the Lord would have us experience and share. Don’t get discouraged.
But it’s hard not to be discouraged, especially as we see all that we are seeing happening in the world. It would seem that we can’t win in this world, no matter how hard we try. Winning isn’t everything, at least in this life. Being saved by God’s grace through our faith in Jesus is the ultimate goal for any person. We have only so much time in this life to find the Lord; some folks are given more time than others, but everyone is given a chance to find Jesus in some form or fashion.
Paul reminds us, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in (among) them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead (divine nature, deity), so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. – Romans 1:18-22
- If ever there we a passage in the Bible that levels the playing field on sin, as it were, it would be this one. Human history began with people knowing God; and then over time and disobedience, they turned from God’s truth and rejected His way and His laws.
God revealed Himself in and through His creation so people could know there was a God with wisdom to plan, and power to create such beauty. People knew that God is eternal, (vs.20) and not a created Being. God was always; He has always existed. God is the ever present One who is always there; Jehovah Shammah.
The word ‘suppress’ (vs.18) is also translated ‘to hold down.’ Men knew the truth, but they did not allow it to penetrate their lives nor did they live by God’s law. As a result, they trained their offspring to suppress (hold down) God’s truth and over a few generations, they developed an apostate population of sinners who adopted a lifestyle of sin, in spite of God clearly revealing Himself in His creation.
As a result, no man can ever say they never knew, for the truth of God’s existence is written in His creation. Unless they repent, they will be without excuse. People knew God and knew that He was the source of life and creation, but they didn’t want to give God glory or obey Him. They loved His gifts and provision, but they wanted nothing to do with Him or His laws. The result was a closed mind and a darkened heart. People became philosophical in their wisdom, which only revealed their foolishness.
It’s can be easy to be discouraged with all of the distractions in our lives. However, if we keep our eyes on the Lord, He will continue to show us the way. We all get distracted at times, some more than others. If I can encourage you to be faithful to what you know in your heart to be true, trust in the Lord and in His Word, and keep on pressing on in your walk with Jesus. His truth, His glory, and His kingdom will eventually come to full fruition and we will finally be home with all those who love the Lord and long for Him.
Until then, we must be faithful and determined to live a life of righteousness and faith. We must share the good news of the gospel message with any and all whom God brings into our lives. We must not allow ourselves to become discouraged because we see the enemy moving in the earth. We must remember that in this life, we may lose, but in the world to come, we are all winners in Jesus.
I close this blog with this truth, “He is no fool who gives us what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.’ – Jim Elliott
Maranatha!
Encourage Men 