Signs of the end times?
The love of many will grow cold. (Matthew 24:12)
Some will fall away from the faith. (1 Timothy 4:1)
Lovers of themselves. (2 Timothy 3:2)
Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. (2 Timothy 3:4)
We must learn how to move in the end times & continue to be in the will of God.
How to stay safe during the end times?
#1 Love God.
Love God above all. You must put the Lord first above everything.
Put the Lord above your emotions.
Put God above your opinions.
Put Him first above anything in this world.
37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:37-39)
#2 Discern Spirits
There are different types of spirits... wicked, self centered, foolish.
Ahab & Jezebel were both wicked. 30 Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him. (1 Kings 16:30)
20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. (Revelation 2:20-21)
Pharaoh of Egypt during Moses' time was self centered.
1 Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’ ” (Exodus 5:1)
5 Now it was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people; and they said, “Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” (Exodus 14:5)
Pharaoh at first wouldn't let the children of Israel go and God commanded him... but he had to go through plagues in order for him to finally let them go.
When Pharaoh decided to let him go, he realized he shouldn't of let them go, because who would serve them if he let the Israelites go?
Self centered people, want others to serve them.
Solomon operated in foolish wisdom. He had all the wisdom, wealth, wine, women, & world.
But he still disobeyed the Lord.
2 from the nations of whom the Lord had said to the children of Israel, “You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. 4 For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not [a]loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not fully follow the Lord, as did his father David. (1 Kings 11:2-5)
#3 Be watchful and prayerful knowing the seasons
40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:40-41)
This is a time where we must be watchful and prayerful. If you're prayer less, you can't discern the times & seasons.
#4 Choose your friends wisely
33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” (1 Corinthians 15:33)
20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed. (Proverbs 13:20)
6 “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces. (Matthew 7:6)
That's not your circle, that's a cage! You must know the difference between those that are truly assigned to be a destiny helper vs. a destiny devil.
#5 Kingdom Service (serve & do the will of God)
7 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’ 11 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. (Matthew 11:7-12)
There has not been one person that was before John the Baptist that is greater than he from when Jesus was sharing this statement.
& there was so many great people that came before John the Baptist...
Abraham
Moses
Elijah
Solomon
David
But how was John the Baptist greater than all?
There was a few hundred years of silence from the book of Malachi to the new testament in Matthew...
& there was a man that was chosen to make the way for the coming of the Lord, that was John the Baptist.
The one that baptized Jesus and was able to see such a unique moment in all of history.
Yet, this statement is NOT done!
The one that is a servant to the living God is GREATER than John the baptist!
Anyone that decides to be a servant to the Lord is considered greater.
Whoever is the least, is the greatest in the kingdom!
You can learn what it means to be a servant and healthy disciple here.
Watch the full video podcast episode here