INSTITUTE OF LOVE

Relax, God can be trusted!
Text Box: Part 1 Because you have obeyed My command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. Revelation 3:10 NLT Jesus replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, because many will come in my name, claiming to be the Messiah. They will lead many astray. And wars will break out near and far, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must come, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nations and kingdoms will proclaim war against each other, and there will be earthquakes in many parts of the world, and many famines. But all this will be only the beginning of the horrors to come.” Mark 13:5-8 NLT We are living in a time where the world is being tested, as they try to fix the global problems in their own strength. At the same time, we as the children of God are being protected against the misleading policies and the false hope this world is trying to offer. But we are also being protected against the fear propaganda that is being spread among believers that we need to act now to ensure our survival. On the contrary, I believe, it is actually in the midst of this decaying (economic) world that God wants us to persevere and be the salt and the light of the earth as God is showing Himself through our faith walk how He is supernaturally taking care of us, and thus using His children to ignite a fire of desire for the living God through Jesus Christ in the heart of the lost. Fear tactics in the Church It was with great sadness I saw on a Christian TV channel that a well known preacher was telling the audience how God wanted to give them breakthroughs and blessings in this season of economic downfall by sowing a “promotion” seed of $200 to his ministry and if they didn’t have it, they could put it on their credit card. The next day, a sister who was invited to go to a fairly large church, was confronted with a very aggressive minister begging for money, threatening the congregation that they would be in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure if they did not give. He whipped the congregation, as he spoke so-called “words of knowledge” that a woman working in the real-estate business was to give $5000 and another woman, who was Vice President of a Bank was to give $2000. The minister even had the audacity to say to the people that God would actually punish them the very same night if they didn’t give.  Like the TV preacher I saw, this minister said the familiar words: “I don’t normally do this…” when he continued his deception and fleecing of the people. He said that there were twelve couples in the room that were supposed to give $800. When not many came to the front, he started lowering the amounts all the way down to the twenty-dollar bill the minister knew everyone would at least have in their wallet. What we are supposed to do in this time The Bible teaches us in Hebrews 10:23-25 NLT the following: “Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep His promise. Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of His coming back again is drawing near.” And in another passage it says: “Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that He has promised. For in just a little while, the COMING ONE will come and not delay. And a righteous person will live by faith. But I will have no pleasure in anyone who turns away. But we are not like those who turn their backs on God and seal their fate. We have faith that assures our salvation.” Hebrews 10:35-39 NLT Part 2 “And now, brothers and sisters, let us tell you about the coming again of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered together to meet him. Please don’t be so easily shaken and troubled by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Even if they claim to have a vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us, don’t believe them. Don’t be fooled by what they say. For the day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed – the one who brings destruction. He will exalt himself and defy every god there is and tear down every object of adoration and worship. He will position himself in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God. Don’t you remember that I told you this when I was with you? And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes. For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way.” 2. Thessalonians 2:1-7 NLT The one who is holding back this lawless person, the antichrist, is us, the believers who are filled with the Holy Spirit, in love with Jesus Christ, His Bride, His Church for whom He is coming back. Yes, we are His Bride who did not receive the spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind, which is self-discipline. (2. Timothy 1:7 NLT)  Or, as Jesus said to the Philadelphia Church: “You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me. Look! I will force those who belong to Satan – those liars who say they are Jews (also referring to Christians) but are not – to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that you are the ones I love.” Revelation 3:8-9 NLT. Jesus is implying here, that we cannot do anything in our own little strength but that He is the one, as we trust Him, who will guide us and use us in this dark world for others to see that He is our Lover, Protector, and Provider. In this dark world, Jesus as the true Savior is being more and more excluded and rejected by the society, to the point that the Bible says the following for those who are standing firm in Him: “You will be handed over to the courts and beaten in the synagogues. You will be accused before governors and kings of being My followers. This will be your opportunity to tell them about Me. And the good news must first be preached to every nation. But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry about what to say in your defense. Just say what God tells you to. Then it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” Mark 13:9-11 NLT. In the midst of our trials of being persecuted by this world because of the Gospel, God uses our testimony to reach out with the Good News to the lost. That is why it is so important in this time of the fear propaganda that is circulating among believers, wanting us to run for cover and hide, that we know what the Word says so we can be relaxed and not panic when we hear of all sorts of catastrophes to come. This is an important warning and encouragement: “Watch out, so that you do not loose the price for which we have been working so hard. Be diligent so that you will receive your full reward. For if you wander beyond the teachings of Christ, you will not have fellowship with God. But if you continue in the teaching of Christ, you will have fellowship with both the Father and the Son. If someone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite him into your house or encourage him in any way. Anyone who encourages him becomes a partner in his evil work.” 2. John 8-10 NLT. “With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on everything we taught you both in person and by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father, who loved us and in His special favor gave us everlasting comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and give you strength in every good thing you do and say.” 2. Thessalonians 2:15-17 NLT.   Copyright©2010 Sophia & Edwin Christiaan Text Box: By Edwin Christiaan