Friends, as you know, the United States is in a perilous time. The US Capital building was desecrated by an angry mob during the certification of the 2020 election results. The fall out from this has sent ripple affects through the security of our lives as Americans. No matter if you lean left or right- these times are heavy times. There is a great divide in America- a painful divide. Brother against brother. Perhaps this is the most difficult part of all.
There is a spiritual battle that is raging- literally raging. The enemy the devil is coming in to divide and conquer families, churches, communities and ethnic groups. There are attacks in relationships and there are attacks in the physical realm. As I have said before, I have received more tough texts and prayer requests from people on a daily basis than ever before. We can know this is to be expected as we near the time that the scriptures point to- the culmination of the ages. Political storms come and go, we have seen it throughout history. However, part of our current situation that has me taking the most notice is the break down of the moral fiber of the church. Rebellion is running rampant. People are willing to give up the truth of God’s word for the word of their favorite Instagram influencer. There is confusion surrounding the most basic parts of our identify and our existence- gender. Sin is running rampant in the church. The great falling away is here. Let’s examine this in scripture.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”
So, in my opinion, what is happening in the physical world- with all of the political unrest and divisiveness and distrust is a reflection of what is happening in the spirit realm. As believers, the way we can battle this personally is through personal repentance, prayer and devoting ourselves to the word and getting alone to hear from God. We overcome by the word of our testimony and the blood of the Lamb. Lift up the name of Jesus! Lift him up! I have to remind myself of this when I start to get overwhelmed. Why is it so awkward to speak his name out loud and worship him? At first it can feel funny, but it really is the most powerful weapon we have- to shine light into the darkness and for the cloud of anxiety to lift.
We can battle for our families- really battle doing spiritual warfare for them in Jesus’ name. In the same way we make our family dinner every night and make sure our kids have their coats on, we can make sure they are covered spiritually and fed.
Also, let us not forget the encouragement from the book of James 1:2-8
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
Children of God who walk through trials walk through with Jesus! We have the victorious son of the Living God with us in the fire. He loves us and will not abandon us. He even wants to speak to us and strengthen us in the trial. This promise in James is that when we walk through trials we will develop what we need – the perseverance and patience we need for life- and we will lack no good thing. Truly, the encouragement I have received after walking through a trial and growing in the Lord has given me hope when I need to pray for a friend in a trial or walk through another trial myself. Derek Prince once said, “What does it mean when the scriptures say that ‘we are more than conquerors through him who loved us’? It means we come out of a trial with more than when we went in.” In the Old Testament, the children of Israel came out of slavery having plundered their captors the Egyptians. I be in the middle of a trial and know that I will come out on the other side with more spiritual strength, experience, maturity, intimacy with God and authority than when I went in. Hallelujah!
You may be wondering, “What’s going to happen next?” or ” How can I know who to trust?” or “What am I supposed to be doing as a Christian?” or “Where is God in all of this?”
As believers, the answer is very clear to me. We are to seek the Lord. Get in his Word and learn that our security is where it has always been- on the rock of Christ Jesus. If we aren’t drawing into the Lord right now, where will we go? What will we do? We need to hear from God more than ever. Spend time with him. Seek him! Also, bring in the harvest!
There are many people seeking for answers. The answer isn’t to talk about your political position. The answer is Jesus. The church needs to get about God’s business and work while it is still day. The early church experienced persecution and the persecution resulted in the spreading of the gospel throughout the Roman world. I am realizing we need to get about the Father’s business. Can you ask the Lord to send you someone who needs to hear the gospel? The world needs Jesus. Where will they find Jesus, if we do not bring him to them?
Revealed Ministries 