by David Brenneman
"And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them." Romans 1:28-32.
"But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these." 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
There's a war going on. One that is right before the eyes of mankind yet isn't being seen.
Someone once said that there always an element of truth in fiction.
"The world isn't run by weapons anymore, or energy, or money. It's run by little ones and zeroes, little bits of data. It's all just electrons."
"There's a war out there, old friend. A world war. And it's not about who's got the most bullets. It's about who controls the information. What we see and hear, how we work, what we think... it's all about the information!"
That was from the 1992 movie "Sneakers".
Much of the movie was the good guys discovering what was right in front of them.
In our world today we are at war and most refuse to see what's right in front of them.
Really? Yes very much really.
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." Ephesians 6:10-20.
What are we told to do?
"for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 3:8.
"Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." 1 Corinthians 16:13-14.
"Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness," Ephesians 6:14.
"Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved." Philippians 4:1.
See a pattern forming here?
In order to stand firm in the Lord you must begin with being in the Word of God. Must be in prayer to your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ in order to know what His will for you is. To know how to answer those who oppose you.
The god of this world has a few years left to 'rule'. That's as much an important statement as the truth that Jesus is going to return to bring home His Bride, the Church.
Biblical truth says that Satan's schemes are going to win over the bulk of humanity. The Church gets raptured and its game on for the next 7 years...his fight against the Word of God escalating through those years as the wrath of God is pouring out on this world. Nothing that Satan will do will prosper. Then at the end of the 7 year Great Tribulation he will be bound and sealed away for 1,000 years. At the end of that time it won't take him long at all to get most of mankind to join him in one last battle that he and everyone loses when all Jesus does is speak a word and ends it all. Doesn't even lift a finger.
This war we are in is very real in our lives. We need to spend less time on frivolous things and more in our learning what it means to be obedient to God's Word and living out lives that point people to Jesus.
The world we live in today is increasingly getting dangerous.
AI is writing news stories that nobody can tell from the truth.
AI is being forcibly pushed into every device we use to interact with the internet and our world.
AI has no conscience nor knows anything about morality or ethics.
It's Satan's pinnacle achievement at 'life' when you put it in perspective.
Things are happening right in front of the world and people don't see where it's headed. Jesus said that while people can see the weather and can discern what kind of day it's going to be yet they don't see nor understand the things of God nor the spiritual forces that are going on around them.
Scripture says that Satan's blinded the minds of the unbelieving. We live in such utter blindness and all those things we read earlier.
Jesus said to be on the alert. When we see these things happening to be prepared. We know not exactly when Jesus is going to return but we ARE to be ready at all times.
At all times. Jesus, in a parable, said that if the strong man had known at what time that the thief was going to break into his home he would have been prepared for it.
Jesus is right at the door of soo many hearts yet people think they have time to let Him in at the last seconds before He turns around to leave because the time of His return being at hand.
The greatest assault on humanity is in the destruction of critical thinking in the last 100 years. By way of medicine that weakens the mind to psychological warfare to twist and pervert the truth of God. You want to conquer the world? Destroy critical thinking and those who promote it. Digitize everything that you can so that you control what people see, what they hear, what they think. That fictional line you read earlier is our world right now.
Jesus IS returning and all the powers of Satan cannot know when nor can they stop it.
We NEED to keep the full armor of God on at all times. Praying unceasingly. Understanding what the will of God for us is in Christ Jesus.
We who are in Christ are supposed to be different from the world not blending in so well that nobody sees a difference.
We are supposed to live lives in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.
Setting our minds on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world.
Being anxious for nothing but by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let our requests be made known to God.
Any of this getting through to you?
My Dear Reader I certainly hope so.
"Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:3-9.
Open up your eyes and see the things that are really happening all around you and all over the world.
Now is not the time to be shrinking away from your faith in Jesus.
Now is definitely the time to be spreading the word that salvation is only through Jesus Christ alone.
Now is the time to truly be a light in the world as we are supposed to be.
Nothing written here is meant to scare anyone. Read on.
"But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." 2 Timothy 4:5.
"But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation." 1 Thessalonians 5:8.
"Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8.
"so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober." 1 Thessalonians 5:6.
Be sober. That is to think clearly with all due diligence. In Christ we are to be sober in our thoughts. Taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ Jesus.
Are you seeking the things that are above and not the things of this world? Are you now more aware of the real world in which you live? Are you now considering pursuing the life in Christ that you were meant to live? Good.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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