by David Brenneman
"While He was saying these things to them, a synagogue official came and bowed down before Him, and said, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus got up and began to follow him, and so did His disciples. And a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak; for she was saying to herself, “If I only touch His garment, I will get well.” But Jesus turning and seeing her said, “Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.” At once the woman was made well. When Jesus came into the official’s house, and saw the flute-players and the crowd in noisy disorder, He said, “Leave; for the girl has not died, but is asleep.” And they began laughing at Him. But when the crowd had been sent out, He entered and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. This news spread throughout all that land. As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” When He entered the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus *said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They *said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “It shall be done to you according to your faith.” And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them: “See that no one knows about this!” But they went out and spread the news about Him throughout all that land. As they were going out, a mute, demon-possessed man was brought to Him. After the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke; and the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees were saying, “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.” Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He *said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:18-38.
Throughout this passage there's a whole lot of seeing going on by Jesus. What is meant by the title of this post today? The time of His return draws near...
"Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up." 2 Peter 3:3-10.
There IS an appointed time for Jesus to come back. Jesus Himself said so that it was set by the Father’s own authority. Obviously this wasn't revealed to Jesus at that point because of the probability it was conditional on His obedience to the cross.
But rest assured there is such a day coming and my Dear Reader...there's no preparation anyone can do for it other than to come to Christ now while He may be found.
How long shall people be put up with by Jesus? How long will they be allowed to vacillate between two opinions? If He is indeed God, Christ and Savior...then run to Him to be saved! There will be no moment to know, to digest, to contemplate, that the return of Jesus is happening. It will simply happen and be over without any public fanfare. No announcements no instructions nor any such thing.
Jesus saw people as sheep without a shepherd. He saw this world as we can see it today. In need of more workers in His fields. To that end those who are saved ought to be fulfilling their ministry in Christ. There are no true Believers who do not have a Spiritual gift that shouldn't be used to God's glory. We all will be asked to give an account of what we did with what we were given.
This world separates people based, ironically, upon their definitions of protected classes of people...and leaves out the real distinction. Those who are saved in Christ Jesus and those who are not.
“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and *settled accounts with them. The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 25:14-30.
As Jesus said so it shall be.
A time of His return was expected even as Paul, Peter and others wrote the New Testament. We have seen extraordinary things happening in Israel in these recent years. There's nothing left, prophetically, for Jesus to come back other than 1 single thing.
That last person who is to be saved to complete the Church of Jesus Christ.
We await that but the truth is those who are saved should be shining their light in such a way that people see their good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. They are still to be workers in His fields until that day He calls out for all to come home that are saved in Christ. There should be no bench warmers, couch potatoes, those on the sidelines in the work of the Lord.
I do indeed agree with Mike Wingfield of www.ptnews.org that Jesus is standing at the door of Heaven getting ready to call for an end of the workday of the centuries. Calling in all who are and have been in the fields. It's almost time to go home and enter into His rest.
My Dear Reader...be sure of your salvation in Christ Jesus alone for the forgiveness of sins. There is no other name under Heaven by which we must be saved. Jesus must be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life. Otherwise you will be left behind when the call comes from on high. You will be immersed in horrors this world has never known.
"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:8-13.
The harvest is before the eyes of the Believer's of this world just as it was 2,000 plus years ago.
The harvest is about done. The Church is about complete. Are you the missing one?
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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