Last Days Happening

In the Last Days People Will be Lovers of Themselves

Would you say that we are living in a world full of people who love themselves? In other words, people who put themselves first before God and everyone else? I believe we see that today, even in the churches. People are more concerned with how they look on the outside than how they are on the inside. This consumer age we live in is all about "Me Me Me!!" The tv, radio, internet and magazines are loaded with adverts to lure us into buying the newest thing, and we get sucked in every time.

The majority of people, even professing Christians, wouldn't look twice at a beggar or homeless person on the street, let alone help them. Don't get me wrong, there are lots of good people out there who are compassionate about helping others and putting Christ Jesus first in their lives, but the majority of people are really only interested in themselves. People's lives are so saturated with entertainment today that living a holy life of self denial for Christ is alien to them. Satan has deceived the world into thinking that spending more time watching tv, going to the cinema, playing games, socializing and reading novels than time with God is ok, "as long as you believe".

In the Last Days People Will be Covetous

Instead of seeking after heavenly riches, the majority of people today are seeking for material, worldly riches. We live in an age where people clamor for the latest things, and are always in want of more, whether it be money, cars, houses, clothes or holidays etc. And we have the prosperity gospel as an example of the covetous nature of even professing followers of Christ Jesus. So many people are lured into this false gospel with the promise of material wealth. It's nothing more than IDOLATRY.

Satan is the grand master at diverting people's attention away from God to themselves (and ultimately to Satan himself), and he has succeeded in luring the world into ungodly pleasures and desires.

We Are Living In the Last Days

There are so many signs that tell us we are living in the last days of earth's history. Not only do we have the main Bible signs, and the 6000 year timeline plan of God, we also have the apostle Paul's description of the last days in 2 Timothy 3.

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.'

Would you agree that we are living in "perilous times"? I believe we are. But how can we be in the last days when so many people around the world are living normal happy lives, without a care in the world? ...

Matthew 24:37-39 ...'But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.'

Do you see? The reason so many people are carrying on as normal is because they don't see the signs and they don't know what is about to happen to this world. So they blindly carry on living as if nothing is going to happen, and these people will continue to live normal lives right up until the second coming of Jesus, at which point their lives will come to an abrupt end.

Let's look at 2 Timothy 3:1-5 and compare what Paul says about the last days with where we are today

DIVINE PARTNERSHIP.

Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. PSALMS 41 : 1.

READ : PSALMS 41 : 1 - 3 :

1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.

2 The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.

3 The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

MESSAGE :

When is the link between divine partnership and consideration of the poor? As we may know, divine partnership has to do with partnering with the Almighty God. What is the connection between being in the same business with God and our attitude towards the poor? In our Bible reading for today, we discover that when we remember and help the poor, the Lord will deliver us from trouble. The reason is that the Almighty God watches over the poor and listens to their cry.

When you respond to the cry of the poor, you are responding on behalf of their Maker who will in return replenish your pocket. The Bible says in Proverbs 19 : 17 :

“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.”

Another thing that will happen to someone in divine partnership is that the fellow shall be preserved. The tendency is high and it is common to many cultures that the poor live at the mercy of the rich. In Isaiah 3 : 14, the Bible says :

“The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.”

So, when someone decides to take care of the poor instead of maltreating them, the Lord will preserve the fellow so that he can continue the good work. The one who panthers with God in taking care of the poor earns longevity for himself. The Lord promised in His Word that whoever spares the poor of violence shall live. The Bible says that the poor shall never cease out of the land, therefore, He commanded us to remember the poor and the needy ( Deuteronomy 15 : 4 - 11 ). When we partner with God in taking care of the poor, the Lord will bless us mightily beyond our wildest imagination.

Another blessing which accrues from partnering with God via taking care of the poor, is that the Lord promised to deliver us from the will of our enemies. Every right thinking fellow will do all things possible to keep a dutiful servant alive. Divine healing is the portion of whoever will take it upon himself to care for the poor on behalf of God. The Lord promised to visit the caretakers of the poor on their sick beds if at all they become sick; and when He visits, healing is guaranteed. The Lord also promised to make your bed for you if you will remember the poor and meet him at the point of his or her need. Beloved, there are many ways whereby we can partner with God; caring for the poor is one.

We can learn a lesson from developed countries that take care of the poor. They are more comfortable than those countries which have no plan for the poor in the land. This is a food for thought for developing countries.

ACTION POINT : Draw up a charity plan for the poor around you and prayerfully embark on helping them in your own little way.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : DANIEL 4 : 34 - 6 : 28 AND PSALMS 78 : 17 - 39.

AUTHOR : PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE.

HYMN 3 : DEEPER, DEEPER

Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.

Chorus:
O deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.

Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.

Chorus:

Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.

Chorus:

Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu'ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.

Chorus:

Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow'r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.

THE BELIEVER'S AUTHORITY 2

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:19

Read: Luke 10:17-20

10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

MESSAGE

As it was pointed out yesterday, the power and the authority which Jesus Christ has made available to believers can not be imagined by natural minds. Some people subject themselves to long life bondage because they are looking for power and protection outside Jesus. Hebrews 2:14-15 says:
"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."

One of my spiritual children testified that it was the grace of Jesus Christ that prevented him from entangling himself in occultism. Before he met the Lord, he had determined to join as many secret societies as could be found on earth, to ensure his security. Fortunately for him, he met the Lord and he is now exercising the authority of a believer.

Beloved, the believer's authority is yours if you genuinely accept Jesus Christ. This authority was given to us without measure. Our Lord said He has given to us authority over all the powers of the enemy and that nothing will by any means hurt us. When we rely on this, we will leave our lives in peace even in the midst of a storm. Our Lord Jesus Christ is in the boat, it will not capsize. However, we must use the authority to our advantage. The story was told of a man who inherited magical powers to ward off evil and the spell whoever might want to harm him on a journey which he set for himself. As he started on the journey, he sighted robbers, instead of putting the magic power to use, he started shivering, and cringing. His wife then burst into a song "encouraging" her husband to keep on shivering because that is how he usually shivers to kill hundreds and thousands. The robbers, taking the song to be true of the man, ran away for their lives. And that was how the woman saved the day for her husband. The lesson we should learn from this story is that, though the authority to conquer the devil and his cohorts are available, unless we exercise it in holy boldness, we remain as powerless as though it isn't available. To exercise authority over sickness, demonic oppression, poverty and all unpleasant situations, we need to be believers indeed by being born again through faith in Jesus Christ our Saviour. Also, we need to live according to the Word of God. We must be doers of the Word because it is the authority of the Word that we honour that can help us in the times of trouble.

Action Point:

Begin to exercise faith the Son of the living God, and you will experience the supernatural.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Daniel 3:1-4:33
Psalms 78:9-16

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 12: MY HOPE IS BUILT ON NOTHING LESS

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Chorus:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

2. When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

Chorus:

3. His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

Chorus:

4. When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

DIVINE PARTNERSHIP.

Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. PSALMS 41 : 1.

READ : PSALMS 41 : 1 - 3 :

1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.

2 The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.

3 The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

MESSAGE :

When is the link between divine partnership and consideration of the poor? As we may know, divine partnership has to do with partnering with the Almighty God. What is the connection between being in the same business with God and our attitude towards the poor? In our Bible reading for today, we discover that when we remember and help the poor, the Lord will deliver us from trouble. The reason is that the Almighty God watches over the poor and listens to their cry.

When you respond to the cry of the poor, you are responding on behalf of their Maker who will in return replenish your pocket. The Bible says in Proverbs 19 : 17 :

“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.”

Another thing that will happen to someone in divine partnership is that the fellow shall be preserved. The tendency is high and it is common to many cultures that the poor live at the mercy of the rich. In Isaiah 3 : 14, the Bible says :

“The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.”

So, when someone decides to take care of the poor instead of maltreating them, the Lord will preserve the fellow so that he can continue the good work. The one who panthers with God in taking care of the poor earns longevity for himself. The Lord promised in His Word that whoever spares the poor of violence shall live. The Bible says that the poor shall never cease out of the land, therefore, He commanded us to remember the poor and the needy ( Deuteronomy 15 : 4 - 11 ). When we partner with God in taking care of the poor, the Lord will bless us mightily beyond our wildest imagination.

Another blessing which accrues from partnering with God via taking care of the poor, is that the Lord promised to deliver us from the will of our enemies. Every right thinking fellow will do all things possible to keep a dutiful servant alive. Divine healing is the portion of whoever will take it upon himself to care for the poor on behalf of God. The Lord promised to visit the caretakers of the poor on their sick beds if at all they become sick; and when He visits, healing is guaranteed. The Lord also promised to make your bed for you if you will remember the poor and meet him at the point of his or her need. Beloved, there are many ways whereby we can partner with God; caring for the poor is one.

We can learn a lesson from developed countries that take care of the poor. They are more comfortable than those countries which have no plan for the poor in the land. This is a food for thought for developing countries.

ACTION POINT : Draw up a charity plan for the poor around you and prayerfully embark on helping them in your own little way.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : DANIEL 4 : 34 - 6 : 28 AND PSALMS 78 : 17 - 39.

AUTHOR : PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE.

HYMN 3 : DEEPER, DEEPER

Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.

Chorus:
O deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.

Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.

Chorus:

Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.

Chorus:

Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu'ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.

Chorus:

Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow'r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.

THE BELIEVER'S AUTHORITY 1

Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.- Luke 9:1

Read: Luke 9:1-6

9:1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

9:2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

9:3 And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.

9:4 And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.

9:5 And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.

9:6 And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.

MESSAGE :

A believer's power and authority are two potent legacies that are highly irresistible beyond any man's imagination. However, it is unfortunate that many children of God do not recognize them. This is the reason why the devil batters them on every side. As a result of this ignorance, the victor becomes a victim of circumstances. I pray for someone using this devotional; you will never be a victim of circumstances in Jesus' name.

Power is the ability to perform a function and this is what Jesus Christ has made available to all His genuine disciples.
Authority is more valuable than power because you can have the ability to do something, but if you don't have the authority, you may not be able to. For example, with the power of the gun, you can hunt wildlife in the jungle, but if you are not licensed to hunt and you do, you may be jailed. In John 5:25-27 the Bible says :

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man."

Interestingly, according to today's memory verse, this power and authority to perform have been given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ :

"Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases."

When a (so called) child of God is now caught in situations that are unbecoming of a saint and he then says "it is the work of the devil!" such a believer does not know the authority he has. The power to live above sin is made available through the work of redemption that Jesus Christ wrought at Calvary. The Bible says in 1 John 3:8 :

"He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."

When you come to Jesus Christ and you believe that He came to save you from the power of sin, He will not only forgive you, but will also give you the power to go and sin no more (John 8:11). This is the assurance that we have; that the grace of Jesus Christ will deliver us from the dominion of sin (Romas 6:14).

My prayer is that you will not be beaten by the power of sin in Jesus' name.

PRAYER POINT :
I prophecy to my life: I will no longer be a victim of sin, but a victor in Christ Jesus. Amen.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
Daniel 1-2 ;
Psalms 78:1-8

FAITH LIKE A CHILD'S?

And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3

Read: Matthew 18:1-6

18:1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

18:2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

18:5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

MESSAGE

The child-like faith is what everybody requires, not only to make it to heaven but also to enjoy his or her days on the earth. If we do not believe this because it sounds illogical, we must believe it because Jesus said it.
What is then required of us is to pray for the kind of faith that is comparable with that of a little child. The first thing about a little child is that he is very trusting. In my living room several years ago, there used to be a portrait of a little child looking innocent with the inscription; "No Problem". The faith that will enable us not to see problems but see only God who specialises in solving problems is the best for us.
Another characteristic trait of little children is that they forgive easily. Unlike adults who keep malice, children forgive and forget the wrong done to them almost immediately after it's done. The Bible says in Ephesians 4:32:
"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

Children fulfil this Biblical injunction freely. Children could be very generous with their things except in some unusual occasions. Without knowing the spiritual implication of their actions, children are tender hearted with their peers. This is exactly what God wants from us. In Colossians 3:12-13, the Bible also says:
"Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."

There are many blessings we will access from the throne of God our Father if we can begin to take after children. For example, if we freely forgive those who wrong us like a child will do, our prayers will receive quick answers from God. In Mark 11:25, Jesus Christ said:
"And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."

This instruction that comes from our Lord is simply saying that before we pray, we must first forgive! We can see thee reason many of our prayers are not answered; we refuse to forgive. I pray that a user of this devotional will find grace to forgive and be kind hearted in Jesus' name.

Prayer Point:

Father, please help my faith and transform me to be able to forgive freely and be tender hearted in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Ezekiel 46:19-48:35
Psalms 77:11-20

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 12: MY HOPE IS BUILT ON NOTHING LESS

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Chorus:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

2. When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

Chorus:

3. His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

Chorus:

4. When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.