God’s timing and way.
There is a great ingathering of the harvest of souls right now around the world, and there is a falling away as well. I would like to share with you from Acts 7 and the testimony of Stephen. His message has application for us today, for you today.
God’s Word is unchanging. He sends His Word to heal us, to get us to turn to Him and be saved. Our Lord, in His unbreakable Word, has told us about a great separation taking place:
Luk 3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
Luk 3:17 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
Luk 2:34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
Mat 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
We are now seeing a similar situation in the day in which we live now, we see many comparisons to this chapter of Acts 7.
I was driving on my way home from work a couple of nights ago. It was dark, and then in the distance I saw flashing yellow lights. As I got closer I notice that there were cones place on the road and signs directing cars to move in a different direction that was not part of the regular path of the road. Without those signs to warn me, I could have been in a terrible accident resulting in injury to myself and possibly others.
Do you see the signs that are happening in this dark world and in your country wherever you are?
The world is going crazy. The world is going topsy-turvy. Things that are unnatural are now being called natural. Good is being called evil and evil is being called good.
Isa 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Isa 5:21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
The Lord knows
For the Lord is knows the times and season in His own power, though we may not know perfectly. There are numerous signs all around us just as those yellow flashing lights were on the road to warn me so I might not suffer harm. Read Matthew 24.
Act 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
1Co 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
1Co 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
The day of the coming of the Lord is soon approaching.
Act 7:17 But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,
The time of the promise of the God, the time of the promise of the second coming of Jesus is approaching much sooner than we realize. Many are turning to the Lord today around the world, and at the same time, many are turning away from Him as well and rejecting the message of the gospel, rejecting Jesus who loves them perfectly. We are seeing this Scripture being fulfilled before our eyes as well.
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Act 7:18 Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph. (a picture/type of the arising of antichrist who shall be the final and worst of all)
Act 7:19 The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.
We are seeing a great increase of salvations in the world harvest, even as we see darkness increasing and becoming more and more blatant and without restraint. The world is moving faster and faster toward evil and there is hatred intensifying against the people of God, who belong to Him by faith in Jesus Christ.
Let us return to the Lord
Let us return to the Lord for He is merciful and not willing that any should perish.
Hos 6:1 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
2Co 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
A great separation is taking place, and it is getting clearer and clearer. Consider what God says is evil or good, and what the world says is evil or good. God has never changed and never will. The world is in sin and darkness and heading farther from the Light. Just look at the news.
Isa 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Isa 5:21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
We are seeing this unfolding more and more and more. Therefore, NOW is the time to come to Jesus to be saved. Enter by the narrow road, for wide is the road that leads to destruction, and many there are who enter therein.
Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Rev 18:5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
God has not forgotten, nor is He slow in His response. He wants all to repent and be saved before that final and notable Day of the Lord comes. It shall come suddenly, as the birth pains of a mother with child. And they shall not escape.
1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
The coming of the Lord is drawing ever nearer. Are you ready to meet Him?
God loves you so much, and wants to save you and help you right now! Repent and Turn to Him, call upon Jesus and ask His forgiveness of your sins, and place your trust in Him alone as your Lord and Savior.
Accept Him today, for Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty of all our sins, and He will save to the uttermost those who believe in Him. the Bible says, You must be born again by His Holy Spirit (John 3:3-5, John 1:12-13).
Then walk and talk with God daily, trust and follow Him, read His Word, and fellowship with other disciples of Christ, be in prayer, get baptized in water and in the Holy Spirit. He shall give you power to live in the dark time. Tell others the good news of God’s love and mercy toward them in Jesus.
Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Remember: He shall never leave you nor forsake you, even as we see all through His Word down through history.
God bless you!