As a believer in Jesus Christ, I’ve learned to find the smallest of blessings in the things that God provides for us each and every day. One wouldn’t think that gourds are a blessing but I do. As you look at this photograph, look at the beautiful colors! As Summer comes to an end, we see the Fall foliage and crops pop with their exquisite beauty! I pray this 30-day devotional (written in 2007) will help you to concentrate on God’s creation and see how we can learn about Him through it all.
Are you a Christian ready for the Master to use? Do you allow yourself to be used of Him? So many are aching and in need of a tender touch or kind word in today’s world. This is a two-week devotional originally written 2008 in hopes that a Christian would come across it and find it helpful!
There are times when a believer needs to sit by the still waters and be encouraged by God’s Word. The words of life are found in the Scriptures. This devotional was originally done in 2006 and deals with various issues of life. I wrote it to be a blessing for a friend of mine with a chronic illness. Every person needs someone in their life to walk beside them in time of need. Just as we need that Balm of Gilead to heal our wounds, we need the spiritual Balm of Gilead to heal us spiritually.
My prayer is that you will be encouraged.
This devotional was done in December 2007. My desire was to concentrate on God’s word and to help others have that same desire! This is a 28-day devotional strictly dealing with the Bible as God’s Word and how no church doctrine or man’s word can supersede what God hath said.
This is a 60-day devotional collaborated with Brother Jerry Bouey. I began posting in May 2007. Not only are some of the numbers of the Bible covered, but we also had other ideas come to mind as we wrote. I pray you will enjoy this one! I always am amazed at how the Lord reveals Himself through the numbers in the Bible.
lease take time to visit Brother Jerry’s site at Home of the Real McCoy
Written in October 2006
Don’t look for a way out of this marriage. But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. (1Co 7:12)
And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. (1Co 7:13)
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:10)
Ask the Lord to reveal to you how HE wants you to act so He can complete His task through your current situation.
Rest in this … God is at work in your dh’s life as He promised.
Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you. (Hab 1:5)
The word sanctify means “set apart.” Your husband will receive extra opportunities to witness God’s grace and mercy. Another reason to stay married to your dear husband is for the children. This same verse says children living with a Christian parent are holy rather than unclean. Therefore, remember that your presence in their lives is of great influence.
You need to be salt and light in your home. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. (Mat 5:13)
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (Mat 5:14)
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. (Mat 5:15)
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Mat 5:16)
Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; (1Pe 3:1)
While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. (1Pe 3:2)
Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: (2Co 3:2)
Your life may be the only Bible your dear husband or children will ever read.
Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; (Phi 1:27)
(1) Dear husband may notice something in your life (an attitude or behavior that glorifies the Lord) and he’ll tell you how much he appreciates you. At this moment, remind him that this was not the way you were before coming to Christ. Explain to him how much better your marriage would be if you could share these changes together.
(2) Wait until your dear husband is struggling with the emptiness in his life or is experiencing difficulty in a relationship with another person. Remind him that you once felt the same way, and this is why you surrendered your life to Christ.
A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it! (Pro 15:23)
The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. (Isa 50:4)
He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me. (Luk 10:16)
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2Co 4:4)
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (Luk 23:34)
Therefore, give your dear husband a little consideration based on your knowledge of his lost condition. Give him some space and patience, and pray that God will open his eyes.
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (Luk 10:19)
Pray without ceasing. (1Th 5:17)
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. (Psa 27:14)
Kate Plourde
April 21, 2006
Note from Kate: Before you read Mr. Yusko’s study, let me clarify the Pre-Tribulation viewpoint. Post and Mid Tribulation proponents claim that the Pre-Trib theory was only recently “invented,” however, please note the year that Pseudo-Ephraim wrote this Pre-Trib statement in about 300 AD:
All the saints and elect of God are gathered together before the tribulation, which is to come, and are taken to the Lord, in order that they may not see at any time the confusion which overwhelms the world because of our sins.
-Pseudo-Ephraem (c. 374-627)
Now on with Bro. Yusko’s study:
Start with Dan 9
– This lays the foundation for all Bible prophecy
– If a person understands the 70 weeks prophecy they will not be confused with all the wrong views of prophecy “out there”.
– We will cover the 70 week prophecy and see where the rapture fits in.
Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
**Note: notice that the 70 weeks are ‘determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city’. This is the Jewish people of Israel and Jerusalem. (not the Church)
Notice that 70 Weeks of years (490 years) are determined upon the people of Israel accomplish these 5 goals:
– finish the transgression (between God and Israel)
– to make an end of sins
– to make reconciliation for iniquity
– to bring in everlasting righteousness
– to seal up the vision and prophecy
– to anoint the most Holy (The Lord Jesus in the Millennial Kingdom)
All this has NOT yet been fulfilled. It will yet be fulfilled upon the nation of Israel just like Daniel was told.
25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
These verses are talking about the 7 weeks and 62 weeks of years which add up to 69 weeks.
Verse 26… at the end of the 69th week the Messiah will be cut off.
27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
Points to consider:
– The prophetic 70 weeks stopped at the rejection and death of the Lord Jesus Christ, The Messiah.
– That occurred after 69 weeks or 483 years.
– There is a gap between the 69th and 70th week. Unknown to Daniel but known to us today
– The church began at Pentecost where the Holy Spirit infilled believers. Believers became the body and bride with the Lord Jesus as the head.
– God has been using the Church (invisible body of Christ) during this gap as the salt of the earth and the restrainer of evil. The antichrist cannot rise to power with the church in the world.
– After the rapture the restrainer of evil is removed and the antichrist rises to power and Israel enters their 70th week. This time is also referred to as the time of Jacobs trouble or the Tribulation period. The restrainer is the Holy Spirit working in and through the Church.
– The Holy Spirit is omnipresent and cannot be removed. The Church is not and will be removed at the rapture.
– The existence of the church in the world prevents the 70th week from beginning. If the antichrist cannot rise to power the 70th week cannot begin.
WHAT IS THE RAPTURE?
What exactly is the rapture and what does the Bible say about it?
Most Christians have heard the term and the unsaved don’t know what a Christian is talking about.
Here are the foundational verses in the Bible that describe the rapture:
1 Thessalonians 4
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
What is the rapture? The answer is this: It is a description of an event that will occur when God removes His Church supernaturally from the earth. Christians will literally disappear as they are called up to the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. There will be one generation living on earth that will not know physical death but will be instantly translated into the very presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. At the rapture each Christian will be transformed and receive their eternal resurrection body.
Lets look a bit more closely at the Scriptures previously quoted about the rapture starting with 1 Thess 4:
1 Thess 4
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
This verse is by the “word of the Lord”. The event of the rapture is a fact and it is coming by the authority of the Word of the Lord.
Next, we are told that there will be some Christians alive when the Lord Jesus returns at the rapture. This verse also mentions Christians that are asleep or who have previously died.
This hints at a great reunion at the rapture. Those living will meet their Christian loved ones and friends who have previously died.
There is also an order to the rapture where God will honor the dead in Christ first. The order is this:
1) first the dead in Christ are resurrected
2) second those who are alive on earth are resurrected.
The Lord is very detailed. The rapture will occur very fast. In just a fraction of a second, it will be over. Yet the Lord will order those who will be raptured/resurrected first and second. This shows the amazing precision of the Lord as He exercises His almighty power.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Here we are told that the dead in Christ will be given their eternal resurrection bodies first. Remember the order of events hinted at in verse 15 First the dead in Christ then secondly the living.
We are also told that the Lord Jesus will come Himself and will give a shout – a command: possibly ‘come up hither’ see Rev 4. The rapture occurs as a result of a command from the Lord.
17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
We are told that Christians still alive will be given their resurrection body as well in the rapture. All the raptured Christians (alive and previously dead) will meet in the air in the clouds. There Christians will meet the Lord Jesus and have a great reunion with each other.
This verse also uses the term “caught up” when referring to the living Christians in the rapture. What does ‘caught up’ mean? It literally means to be caught up, to snatch out, or to seize. God will use His almighty power in the rapture!
Here is another thought to consider. Some may say that the word ‘rapture’ is not found in the Bible therefore, it cannot be true. Consider this, the word ‘Bible’ and the word ‘Trinity’ is not found in the Bible either. However, the concepts certainly are found in the Bible. The rapture describes a Biblical event. The concept of the rapture is found in the Bible even though the actual word ‘rapture’ is not. In verse 17 above the rapture is described by the words “caught up”. A person would be correct by calling this Biblical event the catching up of the Church. However, the term rapture is shorter and it describes the same concept.
In the rapture, the Lord Jesus will not set foot on earth but will rather call Christians up to Himself in the clouds to meet Him there. This can be contrasted with His second coming when the Lord will set foot on earth at the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. At that time everyone saved and lost will see Him return. However, at the rapture, only blood bought Spirit reborn saved Christians will see the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds. As a result, we clearly have two separate events
1) The rapture when Jesus meets the Church in the air and takes them to heaven and
2) The Second Coming which occurs at the battle of Armageddon. At the battle of Armageddon, the Lord Jesus comes back to earth at the mount of Olives in Jerusalem and sets up His Kingdom.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
-This teaching of the rapture is a comfort to God’s people
– comfort in trials of all kinds
– comfort with the death of loved ones
Next, lets look at the rapture in 1 Cor 15:
1 Corinthians 15
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1 Corinthians 15
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
The rapture is a mystery that God through the Apostle Paul has revealed.
The next question is: What is a mystery? Well a mystery is a new truth. Something not previously known or revealed. Further thoughts on the mystery of the rapture are:
– Could the mystery be the second coming of Jesus? No as the disciples and Christians already knew that Jesus would return again. Look at Acts 1:9-11 where the Lord Jesus is taken to heaven. The Lord will return in like manner, bodily, physically. His Second coming is nothing new.
– Could the mystery be the general resurrection of all believers? No! God had already revealed that: See Daniel 12:2, Heb 11:17-19 Job 19:25-27. It was general knowledge that there would be a general resurrection of the righteous and the damned.
So then what is the mystery, the new truth that God through Paul is revealing? Verse 51 tells what the mystery is. ‘We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed’.
1) We shall not all sleep. This means there is a generation of believers that will not die physically but will go straight to heaven. That is certainly new and unrevealed information!
Here is an interesting point….. What does sleep mean? Why did the Lord Jesus and His disciples use the term sleep as opposed to dead? Well the word sleep in their culture also included the fact that the dead person had a future. Death is not a final thing but there is a glorious future for the believer after physical death.
2) we shall all be changed. This literally means we shall be transformed. All born again, blood bought Christians will be given a new body. It will be a resurrected body of flesh and bones. The believer will have a heavenly body just like the Lord Jesus had after His resurrection.
So to sum up verse 51…. what is the mystery? The mystery is that there is one generation that will not die physical death but will be instantly transformed into their resurrection body as they meet the Lord in the clouds at the rapture. What a glorious way to go to heaven!
If you had a choice, which way would you prefer to go to heaven?…by death or rapture? What a glorious new truth and a blessed hope!
Lets look at another aspect of the rapture: How long will the rapture take?
Verse 52 answers this question:
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
How long will the rapture take? The rapture will be just a moment or a twinkling of an eye. How long is a moment or a twinkling of an eye? It will be so quick that the time frame cannot be humanly divided. The rapture will be instant in a small fraction of a second! For example take 1 second and divide it up into 1000 tiny sections of time. The rapture will be faster that 1 of those small sections of time! Remember the precision of the rapture.
RAISED and CHANGED
The dead = raised
We the living = changed
We are given new resurrection bodies suited for heaven
A body just like the Lord Jesus had after His resurrection.
Therefore: rapture is joy and a hope.
– new body (no sickness, pain, death)
– Forever with the Lord and see Him face to face to face!
Lets read further:
1 Corinthians 15
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
Our new bodies will be eternal, incorruptible, and glorious! This is compared to our current mortal and corruptible bodies prone to sickness, pain, and death.
Death will be no more. This is what that statement “Death is swallowed up in victory” means.
The rapture is a blessed hope and the rapture is going to occur soon!
WHO WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE RAPTURE?
The answer is simple. Only those who have trusted/accepted the Lord Jesus as their Lord and Saviour will be a part of the rapture. In this world there are only two types of people: SAVED or LOST. Which category do you fit in? Only the saved people will be going up in the rapture.
John 3
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Notice that only those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus are saved.
All others are lost and will die in their sins and perish forever in the lake of fire. The rapture is only for saved people who have their sins washed in the blood of the Lord Jesus. Saved people have trusted in the Lord Jesus alone for salvation!
So, all saved people will be included in the rapture. The lost will be left behind to go through the terrible reign of the antichrist and all the judgments of God found in the book of Revelation.
Only requirement for the rapture is salvation. All saved people will be raptured
1 John 1
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
– Look at the word … all
– what does all mean
– how many sins were future when the Lord Jesus died
Rom 4
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
– this talks of imputed righteousness
– The Lord Jesus bore our sin on the cross – we have imputed righteousness.
– we all stand before God because of the merits of the Lord Jesus
WATCH AND BE READY! NO ONE KNOWS THE DAY OR THE HOUR
The Bible speaks of an unknown time when the Lord Jesus will return. Many will be found asleep and caught by surprise. These people thought the Lord would delay His coming and got distracted with the things of the world such as: the quest for wealth and money, love of entertainment, and other worldly pursuits. The end result is the sudden return of the Lord Jesus!
Here are some verses that describe the unknown time of the return of the Lord Jesus:
Matthew 24
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
– datesetter warning
– fancy date model, plug in stuff out comes a date (always wrong)
37 But as the days of Noe [were], so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
– rapture will be on a routine day
– the battle of armageddon will not be routine after the 7 seals 7 trumpets and 7 bowls of God’s wrath are poured out upon the earth.
down to verse 42
42 WATCH THEREFORE: FOR YE KNOW NOT WHAT HOUR YOUR LORD DOTH COME.
43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
– watch and be ready
– do not be caught sleeping with eyes on worldly affairs, affections, or treasures
– like the arrival of a thief
This command to watch and be ready is repeated again and again. The Lord does not want His people to be caught by surprise. Therefore, God’s people are warned to watch and be ready.
Matthew 25
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Mark 13
31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
32 But of that day and [that] hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
34 [For the Son of man is] as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, WATCH.
v36 another warning not to be found sleeping
Here is another point that the Lord reveals in the below verses.
Luke 12
36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
37 Blessed [are] those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find [them] so, blessed are those servants.
39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
40 BE YE THEREFORE READY ALSO: FOR THE SON OF MAN COMETH AT AN HOUR WHEN YE THINK NOT.
Notice verse 40. The Lord warns that He will come at a time when He is not expected. This means life will be routine when the rapture occurs.
The Lord will not come in the midst of a nuclear war when things are falling apart and massive numbers of people are dying.
Instead, the Lord will return on a routine day. People will get up after a night’s sleep and get ready for the activities of that day. They may work, buy, sell, marry or whatever. Others will still be sleeping in the middle of the night! Life will be normal and routine. The strong warning from the Lord is to watch and be ready because on such a day He will suddenly return to rapture home His people.
– Verse 37 above says “Blessed” are those servants who are ready and watching when the Lord suddenly returns. This means that not everyone will be sleeping and caught up with worldly pursuits. Some of God’s people will be wide awake and watching for the return of their Lord.
To those people the Lord says: Blessed!
A CROWN FOR WATCHING FOR THE RAPTURE
– after the rapture — resurrection and great renuion
– bema reward judgment (not for sins – the blood covers that)
– crowns are one such reward
Paul speaking…
2 Tim 4
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
The above verse states that everyone who watches, waits, and loves His appearing will receive a crown of righteousness. This is a great blessing from the Lord! All that is required to receive this crown is for Christians to watch, wait, and look forward to the return of the Lord Jesus.
– I want everyone to get that crown at the bema judgment!
SEE THE DAY COMING!
Below is another unique promise in the Bible.
1 Thessalonians 5
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
– verse 4 where we are told that that day (the return of the Lord) should not overtake us like a thief. Here is what it means. Even though we cannot know the exact day, we can see the day coming. As we look at Bible prophecy and world events we can see the final prophecies getting ready to be fulfilled. This means the rapture must be very close!
Christians have great incentive to stay awake and watch for the return of the Lord because Christians can see the setups of the end time Bible prophecies. All this points to the nearness of the rapture. Therefore, watch and be ready!
1 Peter 4
7 BUT THE END OF ALL THINGS IS AT HAND: be ye therefore sober, and WATCH UNTO PRAYER.
CONCLUSION
We covered:
– basics of the rapture including Dan 9
– how long will it take
– who will be included in the rapture
– the exhortation to watch and be ready because the rapture will occur suddenly and unexpectedly.
THE RAPTURE IS OUR BLESSED HOPE
Titus 2
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
The rapture is a blessed hope to the Christian. Watching for and expecting the rapture is a blessed hope that encourages a person to stay close to the Lord.
A person watching daily for the rapture will go on with life but be constantly looking for the return of the Lord each day. This blessed hope also has a purifying effect. A person will not get caught up in worldliness or wrong things if he thinks His Lord could come back at any moment.
This message covers the blessing for a Christian who will be found by the Lord watching when the rapture occurs.
The Lord calls that person, “blessed”! I would say it is a good personal goal for ones life! Make it your hearts goal and desire to be ready and watching when the rapture occurs. This way you will not be caught by surprise when the rapture occurs in the very near future!
Rev 22
20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Closing…
Prov 14
34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
The time is short! Feel free to post this on web pages, to mail it to people, print it, publically teach it, or to send it into email newsgroups on the internet. This means it may be freely posted, printed, or transmitted in any way. Use it for the glory of the Lord!
Get the message out! Judgment is coming and it has already started! It is long past time to repent and get right with God! The Lord Jesus (second person of the Trinity and God in human flesh) is the Only Saviour. Come to Him today before it is too late for you!
An in-depth look at the Rapture!
By Alan Yusko
– feel free to copy, print, or to use this sermon outline as a sermon message.
Written in April 2008
Backsliding – we’ve all heard the term and some Christians are even in this state as I’m writing this. The term is not used in the New Testament but is found in Jeremiah:
Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return. ~Jeremiah 8:5
According to Noah Webster, the word perpetual means:
1. Never ceasing; continuing forever in future time; destined to be eternal; as a perpetual covenant; a perpetual statute
Notice Jeremiah uses the terms perpetual, holding fast to deceit, refusing to return. The born-again Christian who is stirred by the still small voice of the Holy Spirit, will be under conviction when he/she sins against God. It is when we quench the Holy Spirit that we find ourselves in a state such as this. We all go through a dry spell from time to time. But when one is in this state all the time, it is very dangerous. We blaspheme the Word of God with our actions.
A Christian will either be moving forward for the Lord as he submits himself to God’s will for his life, or he will be standing still or moving backwards. Standing still can be just as bad as going in reverse, my friend. Neither one of these produces anything positive for the Lord. A believer who is stirred in his spirit by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit cannot stand still and will not go backward. He will move forward as he submits to the hand of the Potter. The stagnant believer, as well as the one who is going back to his old ways, is submitting to the work of the devil in his life.
~James 4:7-10 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (7) Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. ( 8 ) Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. (9) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (10)
The reason we get this is way is because we have strayed from God – we have not submitted ourselves totally to His will for our lives. That is why the devil can “have his way” in our lives. Verse 7 says that if we submit to God and resist the devil’s tactics in our lives, he (the devil) will flee from us. James was writing to believers and, therefore, he is not talking about being demon possessed here. The devil can influence us with distractions – he can cause the lust of our flesh to work against us. The devil can even use God’s work to distract us. If we are all consumed with doing the Lord’s work yet leaving our spiritual life aside, it is a distraction and it is keeping us away from our First Love!
Notice verse 8: Many quote the first part of this verse but they fail to quote the rest, which is what we must do to draw nigh to a Holy God: Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
So what do you do to get out of this rutt?
~Rev 2:4-5 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. (4) Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. (5)
Return to the joy of your salvation day. Remember when you were in the Word every chance you got and you obeyed the voice of God when He told you to repent from a certain sin? Get back into the Word – obey His voice. As you start your new plan, don’t over schedule your time in the Word to the point where you will fail. Some people have the right intentions and spend 2-3 hours in the Word right from the git go. Although this is admirable, it may not be what is needed right here and now to keep you motivated and continuing to move forward. The devil will see your intentions and will cause all kinds of distractions to come your way. Instead, until you have re-established your habit, keep your time in the Word manageable. Schedule it like any appointment in your life. A scheduled appointment is more likely to be kept than to face the day with a list of things to do and no rhyme nor reason in its timing.
It’s O.K. to say no to too many commitments. After all, we don’t have to do everything that we are asked to do. Saying no is not that bad Look over what things you have committed to. See if some can be eliminated. If you’re in a quandry as to which one to eliminate, ask your husband or a spiritual adviser and get their opinion. A wife’s primary role in life is the Lord – right after that, she is to be a helpmeet to her husband. Then next on her list is to be a good mother. Church activities, ladies meetings, etc. must not take priority over these. When we have our priorities in order, everything else falls into place. If you must say no, simply say, “I would love to do this, however, I will have to say no at this time.” Simple – to the point – and usually no one pushes for a better answer after they hear no.
Don’t delay – don’t procrastinate – don’t give up! You’re under conviction for a reason and that is because of the Holy Spirit’s work in your heart. Once you are back in the Word, being nourished by the Spirit and heeding His convictions, you will see this discouragement melt away!
(Job 23:10) But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
I’ve seen study after study and devotion after devotion on this verse. But until you personally experience a series of trials in your own life, and experience this verse, you really can’t fully appreciate what others are trying to explain. So it was for me! Although I was greatly blessed by reading those studies, I have to admit that it wasn’t until recently that I have fully appreciated Job 23:10! For those of you who do not know, I have two sons. Aaron just joined the U.S. Army and is at Basic Combat Training in Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. Adam is a U.S. Marine and is wrapping up his MOS training in Coronado, CA. My husband and I recently sold our house and downsized to a two-bedroom apartment! We were planning our retirement and were scheduled to leave Virginia after May 1st. That is, until we found out a couple of weeks ago that John has been diagnosed with cancer. Radiation, chemo, surgery and follow-up treatments are what lie in store. I truly praise the Lord that at least I have my sons and my husband! I have not suffered as Job suffered, that is for sure! But I can surely sympathize with him and understand his account so much more as I go through these trials.
It is the first part of the verse that spoke to my heart, actually. The Lord knows the way that I take! This brings me much comfort knowing that my Shepherd knows my way. He has seen the future and knows the results of all that is going on in my life! My Creator, who has numbered the very hairs on my head, knows me intimately and cares for me. No matter how discouraged I may get, I can turn to the Word and the Lord gives me something that encourages my heart! (Psa 61:2) From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Our Heavenly Father hears our pleas of despair and comes to our rescue! (Psa 18:6) In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. Thank You, Lord! I glorify Your Name on high!
Job’s reputation has followed him through the ages because he was able to claim this verse in the Bible. Even to this day, we hear the phrase “He has the patience of Job.” The trials that this man suffered are unbelievable, aren’t they? Job was attacked on every side by ole slew foot! The devil attacked Job’s character, he attacked Job’s belongings (cattle, etc.), he attacked Job’s servants, he attacked Job’s family, and he attacked Job’s own body! There is no one, that I know of personally, who has been through each of these in his life time – let alone within just a few weeks! I have learned that the Lord never gives us more than we can bear! With each burden, he provides us encouragement along the way. It is up to us to search out that encouragement! The Word should be our main source of encouragement! The title of my blog shows who that Source is: (Psa 121:1) [A Song of degrees.] I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. (Psa 121:2) My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
I also noticed that Job did not get to the point where he cursed the day he was born until after his friends came to “comfort” him! The devil kept attacking him and saw that he could not succeed so he sent along people he could “use” to accomplish his goal – discouragement. Where do you sit today, my friend? Are you one in need of encouragement or are you to be used of God to do the encouraging? Are you the type of friend that Job had? As I searched my heart, I realized that although I was experiencing trials of my own, there are many out there who are going through things that make mine look like child’s play! What kind of friend am I to those dear ones who are suffering?
If you are one who is experiencing trials today, do you surround yourself with whiners, complainers and nay sayers? It is these types of friends who will drag you down spiritually. Surround yourself with people who love the Lord, will pray for you and are there to lend an ear just in case you need one. Turn to your spiritual mentors who will not allow you to wallow in self-pity but will help you out of the pit of despair. You cannot expect someone who cannot swim to rescue you from drowning! Therefore, do not turn to those Christians who will nurture your discouragement instead of lifting you up in the Lord.
I don’t know why the Lord laid this on my heart today. Maybe I will need this down the road – or maybe you are going through a similar trial and need to be encouraged! With that said, won’t you say as Job did, (Job 23:10) But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
What is a friend? I think we can all think of one special person (not our husbands) who we can say is a very dear and close friend. I think of my dear friend, Vicky, who lives in my home town in Maine. Not only were we best friends all our lives, but our mothers were best friends also. We were always together. The Lord used Vicky to lead me to Him! What a wonderful friend she is and she is also my sister in Christ as well as my spiritual mother.
I think before we can look at the verses which talk about what a friend should be to YOU, let’s look at what God’s Word says about what kind of a friend WE should be. Proverbs 18:24 “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” The Lord tells us that before we can have friends to call our own (I’m not talking about acquaintances here), we must FIRST be friendly. Why do you think God threw this verse in here? The ball is in our court here. We have to be the initiator of friendships. Don’t wait for someone to come to you … go to them.
I remember when we switched churches and how I dreaded the thought of starting over in getting to know a new group of ladies. I’m a friendly person but I have to really work at being outgoing and the “first one” to start a conversation. Some women, on the other hand, are extremely shy and would rather die than to start a conversation with new people. Instead, they wait for those others to make the first move. Then you have those ladies who are just naturally friendly and outgoing and can talk to anyone! Which lady are you like? Whichever lady you are like, you must FIRST be friendly, right?
Let’s look on to what God’s Word says about the “qualities” of a friend so that we can learn to be this kind of friend. Firstly, we’re told a friend’s love doesn’t have a time table. Proverbs 17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. God says that you must love your friend at ALL times. You cannot be a “fair weather” friend, can you? You must love this friend at ALL times. I like that little three-letter word, “all”. It’s so small, yet it packs such a punch! You must love your friend whether she has her makeup on or whether she just got out of bed!
You must love her when she’s having good days as well as when she’s having bad days. You must love her and DEFEND her then walk away when others are “having her for lunch” in their gossip session! You must love her when YOU’RE having bad days. She should not just receive your love when you feel like giving it to her. It should be constant and consistent.
Next, God’s Word says that you must be faithful to your friend in spiritual matters as well. Proverbs 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. You should love your friend so much that you will reprove and correct her spiritually when she sins. Of course, you do this with love and it is received with love. If she were to be walking off a cliff, you would stop her right? You should do the same for her spiritually. How you ask? Here’s a good example (one that I have experienced myself). Have you ever heard her dishonor her husband in her conversations with you when he’s not around? You KNOW better and you know that this will not bring God’s blessings upon her when she does this. Do you lovingly correct her with the verses she needs from God’s Word? Or do you let it go because you’re afraid to hurt her? Do you think you’ve helped her by not saying anything? No, what you’ve actually done is leave the door open for God to punish your friend.
Do you want God’s punishment on her? Of course you don’t. That’s why as a true and good friend, you should share with her things even if they will temporarily hurt her or cause her embarrassment. I have been spiritually corrected by two or three women in my life time whom I have respected. I didn’t despise them for their correction but was thankful that they loved me so much to help me and guide me. This is one characteristic of a friend which needs much prayer and forethought before exercising it.
Thirdly, a friend is spiritually wise, which means to be a good friend you must be in the Word and walking with the Lord. Proverbs 27:9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel. A friend gives sound biblical counsel to you when you are in need. At times the Lord works through a dear friend to speak to us. It reminded me of another verse: Proverbs 15:23 “A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!”
A true friend will have words spoken in due season for you. They will be spiritual words that have been thought about and prayed over before speaking. I’ve seen too many times where women have opened their mouths and voice opinions and have only served to hurt the very person they were trying to help. Be sure you know this is what the Lord would have you say. Think before you give counsel. Pray before you give counsel. Look up verses before you give counsel. God will direct you for the benefit of your friend.
Fourthly, you must sharpen your friend’s countenance. Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” How can you sharpen a friend’s countenance? I can think of encouraging words, sweet words (Scriptures) in time of need, rejoicing when she rejoices, weeping when she weeps. The countenance is another word for face. You can see a bright and happy face here if the sharpening has been of the Lord. I see someone whose friend has been encouraging her, uplifting her, rejoicing with her to the point where her countenance is affected. This means that this friend is close to her and knows her very well. Haven’t you ever been down in the dumps only to open your mail and find a sweet card from a dear friend that says exactly what you needed it to say? Didn’t that make your gloomy face change to a smiling one? Your countenance had just been sharpened by this friend! In turn, this is the kind of sharpening you must do to your friend.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of the verses dealing with friends. I picked the qualities of a friend that I enjoy in my dear friend and expounded on those qualities. I’m sure you can all contribute several other verses and qualities that you see in your dear friend as well. Take a moment and meditate on what your dear friend means to you and what you like most about her. Thank God for her in your life and make a commitment to be that kind of friend to her or to someone else that the Lord has laid on your heart.
Now that we have seen what a friend IS … how can we, personally, BE that friend to someone else? This will take work on our part. Anything that we want bad enough, we must work for. As we first saw in the beginning in Prov. 18:24, we must FIRST show ourselves friendly before we can be blessed with a friend such as this. What can we do to teach ourselves to be this kind of friend to others? Let’s read on.
Incorporate your gift(s) from the Lord in nurturing your friendship. What gift(s) has the Lord blessed you with? Are you craftsy? Do you love to write poetry? Do you love to play the piano? Do you love to send cards? Do you love to cook? Do you love to sew? Take this gift that God has blessed you with and use it to bless your friend! I told you earlier that I wasn’t excited about having to get to know another group of ladies. I love to send note cards to folks. So I used this “love” to write to each of the ladies in the church thanking them for welcoming me and my family into their church family. This opened doors with these ladies and it did not take long before we got to know each other better.
Do you see where I’m going with this?
If you love to sew, make your friend(s) a Bible book cover or apron… you know, a “just because” you love her gift. If you love to play the piano, record yourself playing some of her favorite hymns and give her the cassette If you love to cook? Next time you make lasagna or whatever, make a little extra for her and her family. We always seem to wonder what we can do to bless our friend. There are so many ways. Can’t think of anything? Does your friend have children?
Babysitters are so expensive, why not offer your time to her? Watch her
children while she goes out shopping or watch them so she and hubby can have a date. Many times, the BEST gift we can give our friend is our “time”!
Praying is the BEST thing we can do for our friend(s). The BEST thing we
can do for our friend is to lift her needs daily before the Throne. There are always things that we don’t ask God about for ourselves… your friend probably has things she would never ask God about but YOU could ask God on her behalf. Ask her periodically what she needs you to pray about. Ask her to be specific, for example, baby needs new shoes this month or your friend would really like to have material to make a couple of new dresses. Lift your friend up to God frequently and thank God for placing her in your life. Ask Him to show you ways to be a better friend to her. Ask Him to show you what areas He wants to use you in. God loves a willing vessel.
Now … take your abilities of prayer, gifts, & love and get to work at being the best friend you can possibly be.
In closing, your gift of friendship does not need to be limited to just one or two friends. Be a blessing to someone in need. Be a friend to someone who is in need of a friend. I’m sure there is a lady in your church who needs befriending. I’m sure you can think of someone right now that appears lonely. Is there a widow in your church family? Is there a lady whose family lives out-of-state and she’s alone? If you can’t find someone, ask your pastor or your pastor’s wife if they know someone who could use a friend like you.
God bless you as you hone your “friend” skills in light of God’s Word.
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