Friday, January 15, 2010

God’s people are not preparing for the spiritual struggle that is about to take place

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Turn with me in your bibles to the book of first Thessalonians, chapter 5. This chapter tells us something about what is going on in our world right now. It reveals the attitude of most people, whether religious or not, to the sweeping events taking place around us. They don’t know that a great terror is coming upon them, and a great destruction. They think that they are safe because they are protected by the government, or because they go to church every week. They think they will be protected just because they claim the name of Christ. But this is not true. The protection of God only comes when we have Jesus in our hearts, and when He lives our lives for us, overcoming the devil on every point, the consequences be what they may. It requires our cooperation and surrender to His will moment by moment. While God’s church slumbers on; while many of His people watch their bank accounts, their TVs and DVDs, listen to their worldly music, and eat their chicken, fish and who knows what else, the world is marching steadily on toward destruction. (They aren't watching the current events.)* The vengeance of God is about to be poured out, and God’s people are not preparing for the spiritual struggle that is about to take place.

In the 8th volume of Testimonies for the Church page 315 we read, “A storm is coming, relentless in its fury.” Then in the third volume of Selected Messages page 389 we read, “The people must not be left to stumble their way along in darkness, not knowing what is before them, and unprepared for the great issues that are coming.” Tragically, even most of those who claim to be God’s people don’t realize what terrible things are coming upon the world.

I will begin reading the first verse of 1 Thess. 5. “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 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. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, or of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.”

(Excerpt)
By Pastor Hal Mayer


P.S. Bolds, Highlights and Italics added.
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*Omitted on line, but part of CD sermon.
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