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Imminent Return
–
what if Christ were returning in 30 days?
MP3
This just may be one of the most important questions that could be
asked of a firstfruit Christian these days. Most often in my
ministry I have asked the rhetorical question, "What would your prayer
and Bible study life be like if all of a sudden you were informed that
Christ were returning in just thirty days?" Imagine the adrenalin
that would run through one's veins at such a question. What would
follow would be a renewed sense of urgency and everyone would be on
their knees with your Bibles open. Fact is, we should
always be acting as if Jesus Christ
were returning in 30 days. The application of ourselves in the
Salvation Process should be a fervent one. What does the Bible
have to say about fervency?
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom;
that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also
labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
–Colossians 1:28-29
Note: Paul, a minister of Jesus
Christ, is stating that the entire ministry is preaching a warning and
teaching every man in all wisdom that the ministry might present every
man perfect in Christ Jesus. How does a member of God's church get
to anything close to perfection without a lot of effort and without a
lot of fervency? Notice that Paul regarding this preaching and
teaching says that he works mightily
to this end.
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life;
that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
-2 Timothy 2:4
Note: Soldiers are expected to give
100% to the mission before them. In training, soldiers learn
discipline so that in the heat of battle, their minds are not on personal
affairs. The verse itself says that God does not want a man in the
faith warring within himself over the affairs of this life. The
more we get out of the entanglements of this life, the more fervent we
will be in the Salvation Process. Remember that Satan knows this
and is looking to eat up your TIME in the affairs of this life. He
is the entangler.
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
–James 5:16
Note: "Fervent prayer" availeth
much. Not now-and-again prayer or only when we become afraid or in
need but continued, fervent prayer everyday in the Salvation Process.
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.
–Romans 12:11
Note: Before God, is there anyway to serve
Him but fervently? This fervency does not come from our own power
but from the power of the Holy Spirit itself, the power of Almighty God.
God is merely demanding we exercise that power to the FULL.
Wake up each day with the same urgency you would have had you just been
told that your Lord was returning in just thirty days.
See my Notebook piece, "The Time is Short'
...another perspective" One may want to tell himself that his
Lord is not coming back in thirty days but can he guarantee he will be
around in thirty days? Our life is but a breath and then we are
gone.
Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.
–1 Chronicles 16:11
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is
near. –Isaiah 55:6
See my sermon, "Moment
of Judgment - Are we in the Time of the Ten Virgins"
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