It looks like we’re in another high watch week as Israel’s will celebrate her 78th birthday as a relatively recent rebirthed nation. There has been a lot of criticism and speculation regarding the ‘high-watchness’ of this week and how it pertains to brother Joshua’s prophetic word regarding the Rapture occurring before May 14th of this year. Regardless, watchers are still anticipating and very much aware of the time and season we are living in.
The doomsayers are also projecting a bleak forecast for the third and fourth quarters of this year due to the Straight of Hormoz debacle and the global effect it’s having on the world’s economies. While what they are saying may be true, I am placing my trust in the Lord and His ability to provide for His own according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19) I want to encourage you brothers (and sisters) to not be afraid or anxious regarding the possible and pending consequences that are quickly and vastly approaching. This is a tactic of the enemy, to upset God’s people in such a way that they may believe that they are the target of this coming judgment; when in reality, they (we) are not.
The sons of Korah sang it this way,
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help (an abundantly available help) in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah 4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle (dwelling places) of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn (in the nick of time). 6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has made desolations in the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah – Psalm 46
Whilc this psalm speaks for itself, I can say that just reading it will calm your spirit and remind you that we are not long for this world and no more made for the tribulation than we are for hell fire and damnation IF we are in Christ. What’s coming to this planet will be as horrific as it is, apocalyptic; but it’s not for the Christian.
David said it this way,
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” 3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. 4 He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler (small shield). 5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, 6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. 8 Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, 10 No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; 11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. 12 In their hands they shall bear (lift) you up, lest you dash (strike) your foot against a stone. 13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. 14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set (exalt) him on high, because he has known My name. 15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.” – Psalm 91
While there is a sermon in this psalm, what I want to emphasize is the fact that because we, as believers in Jesus, ‘have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, our dwelling place, no evil shall befall us, nor shall any plague come near our dwelling.’ While I will agree that bad things do happen to good people at times; however, if they (we) are in Christ, God always makes it good in the end. (Romans 8:28)
We must have faith in God and in His Word. We don’t have all of the answers, which is why we call it living by faith. We do have enough information to make a good decision to remain faithful and committed to the Lord and His promises in His Word. This world and its ways are quickly passing; anyone with half a heart can see that. However, we must still keep moving forward by faith, living for and serving Jesus each day. We could be gone this week, or next, or whenever, but until that glorious day when we are united with Christ and all those who love Him, we have a job to do in the midst of this high watch hoopla.
The former lead singer for the 80’s Christian rock band Petra, Greg X. Volz said, ‘It’s hard to get to it when you just want to go, go, go!’ This was a lyric from a song Living for the Bell on his River is Rising CD. It’s classic, but still just as relevant for every watcher who is still working in that part of the vineyard that the Master has entrusted to them to be working when and until He returns.
If I can summarize this blog into a brief, encouragement blast it would be said this way, We’re in a high watch season. The world is unraveling all around us. We can see the shadow of the tribulation casting it’s ugly and ominous shadow upon the earth. People can feel it, and yet we as believers in Jesus are not to be moved by it IF we are in Christ. The Lord told us that the generation that would see His return would see these things happening first.
“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
– Matthew 24:6-8
- The relevant takeaway here is that we, as believers, are not to be troubled; God has us. Jesus wouldn’t have said, ‘See that you are not troubled,’ if He didn’t think that that we might be and feel troubled. He wants us to trust Him, especially during this pre-tribulation season that we are living in.
“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it (or He) is near—at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.”
– Matthew 24:32-34
- When I read this, I think of a springtime Rapture. It’s a personal thing for me, but it makes sense. Summer is near, the Summer solstice occurs on June 21st. We’re (at the time I wrote this blog) still in the Spring. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a springtime Rapture. Here’s hoping.
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour (day) your Lord is coming.” – Matthew 24:36-42
While it’s true that we can’t know the day or hour of the Lord’s return, however a lot of watchers still try. They like to use converging signs, days, and events to speculate the when of this great unknown. I would caution you on doing this as we won’t know for sure when the Master is returning for us. We have seen a lot of convergences over the past few years; however, those convergences speak of the season of His return, a season that we are clearly living in right now.
Our Lord has called us to be watching as we are to be working and serving Him. I encourage you to be diligent in your watching as you serve the Lord in these last days. Be encouraged my brother (sister) in Christ, the Spirit of the Lord who lives within us longs to be reunited with the Christ in His kingdom. This yearning within us is all part of the ride as our generation has been chosen by God to be alive during this spectacular time in world history. God chose us before the foundation of the world to be born and living at this time; and what an honor it is.
Even if you have something ‘hanging over your head,’ something pending, a pressure point in your life, a sort of ‘bridge is out ahead’ type scenario; or a deadline with a task order that may or may not be met. I encourage you to trust in the Lord; He is so faithful and will rescue you or make a way prior to your arrival at that perilous point. Western Christians tend to think long-term and plan ahead; which is not a bad thing, until it is. We are NOT to worry about tomorrow, but to trust in Jesus today. (Matthew 6:25-34) The hope of a pre-tribulation Rapture is what keeps us going. It’s also a reason why we are mocked and scoffed at so much by certain others. The world calls it escapism, and to a point, I would agree. We are going to be set free (escape) from this world very soon.
I close this blog with the words of Jesus, “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing (dissipation), drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy (have the strength) to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” – Luke 21:34-36
See you soon.
Maranatha!
Encourage Men 