Scripture Text: ""And
because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."
Mat 24:12,13 (KJV)
Perilous:
a period of increasing activity, tension, or anxiety, risky,
hazardous, dangerous, chancy, delicate, dicey, dynamite,
exposed, insecure, playing with fire, rugged, shaky,
threatening, ticklish, touch and go, touchy, treacherous,
uncertain, unhealthy, unsafe, unsound, unstable, unsteady,
unsure, vulnerable, wicked
Friend, I have had three phone
calls from people who have met with family or associate
situations that they cannot cope with. Hatred, fear, cussing,
threats... terrible emotions of people dealing with very real, and
very trying situations.
Friend, I
don't know what you're going through today, but I can guarantee you
that it is more than just the "character flaws" of your friend or
family members that your facing.
Oh how I would
like to just have a moment to tell the WORLD to "LISTEN" - because
Jesus is speaking here. He is saying,
"And
because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."
Mat 24:12,13 (KJV)
This is not about your spouse or your child
or your "one-time" best friend, or your boss... it's not even about your
Pastor! Evil is being "let loose" in the world and that iniquity shall
abound or flourish or flow, and because of that the love of many or the
agape (the dearest affection; benevolence; charity) of many will WAX cold.
That means that what was once a love that was steadfast, and immovable,
rock-solid, will become "reactive-based" and filled with vengeance. Now,
don't get me wrong... that happens and has happened for years. In fact, in
many instances, it has seeded such evil that someone is hurt and maybe even
killed. But, those have been isolated cases. Jesus wasn't speaking of
isolated cases - He was speaking here in Matthew 24 of the WORLD as a whole.
Can you imagine the WORLD feeling about you like that one who may have
called your house this morning and threatened you? Can you imagine being
taken is such evil that you would begin to hate everything and everyone and
if you had your choice you would rather be alone than to speak with anyone
or associate with anyone because you stand to deal with ANYONE ANYMORE?
Can you think of any better way for Satan to get full control of your life
and to destroy you than for you to fall into that kind of evil?
Thousands, maybe millions are experiencing
that kind of evil in their lives right now and it is manifesting itself in
several different ways. That's why I am setting aside EVERY SATURDAY to
bring you a devotional message explaining each and every one of these issues
and then I'm going to pray with you to be delivered from it.
Now, I need your prayers too, because I can
tell you that taking this kind of stand against the enemy is going to make
him angry and he is going to fight back with all he's got. Will you please
do that?
I want to start here today by giving you the
scripture that explains exactly what is happening and I am going to break
this down and help you to resist the devil and to stand strong in
the Lord. REMEMBER... Jesus said, "...he that shall endure to the end,
the same shall be saved." Matthew 24:13 (KJV)
Look at 2 Timothy 3:1-5
"This know also, that in the last days
perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves,
covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,
unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false
accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of
God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from
such turn away." 2Ti 3:1-5 (KJV)
Today, I want you to be aware of the fact
that whatever is happening in your life from now on, will carry with it such
intensity that you will be overwhelmed if you do not remain grounded in the
LORD! Jesus is Coming very soon; I believe with all of my heart that it will
be within these next three years and we must guard our hearts and our minds
and keep our spirits fresh in the Lord through the reading of His WORD and
PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT, and Through individual WORSHIP and PRAISE before the
Lord!
For now, let's pray.
Father, these are trying times for so many of
us and we just will not make it through if we do not look to you and begin
living our lives for you and allowing your Holy Spirit to clean us out and
keep us clean. Oh Father, I don't want to fall into that trap that so many
are falling into where they have lost their way and lost their love for You
and for evangelism and for LIFE in general! Father I want to be ALIVE with
the witness of your spirit always inside of me - loving through me and
witnessing to the saving knowledge of the Cross and the BLOOD of Jesus YOUR
COMPLETE SACRIFICE for all who will believe. Come Lord Jesus and fill me
with your Spirit's peace and strength and most of all, Love through Me LORD
JESUS... LOVE THROUGH ME!
Now Father I come to you this morning for
those who do not have that kind of peace and it seems as though their life
is turned upside-down right now. I ask for forgiveness to flow from their
lips and their hearts as they forgive those who wrong them and I pray that
they will know JOY like they have never known simply because they are
learning - along with the rest of us, to in these final days... to Trust In
YOU ALONE!
We don't know how long you will tarry Father,
but we do know that you are coming soon and we have work to do to bring in
our family members and our friends. Give us Peace in our Spirit and
understanding in our minds and Love in our hearts in these last days that we
live for you. In Jesus' Name, Amen.