by David Brenneman
“Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation.” Matthew 12:43-45.
"What in the world is going on!?"
"Why do people think that way?"
"Where did they ever get such an idea? That could only end in disaster!"
"Did you see the look on his face? Something certain was going on!"
I read something a long time ago that said something about people not recognizing what Satan's doing and he isn't even trying to hide anymore.
"But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." 2 Timothy 3:13.
It's sometimes a topic of conversation with a few people that I know that it's really interesting that 2,000 years ago people had little difficulty in recognizing demon possession. Today it's so prolific that people can't see who is from who isn't.
Paul warned about evil men and impostors infiltrating the Church.
This too has happened all over the world and again, it goes unnoticed or more sadly, unchallenged. People see them and won't rise up to remove them.
These are the days in which we live. The world is ripe for Jesus to return. All that only remains is the last Believers to come to Christ for salvation to complete the Church.
A prevailing sense even in the professing Church is that witnessing is the other person's job. This ideology prolongs the wait for Jesus to come back.
Everyone who is in Christ represents Christ to the world. Everyone who is in Christ is supposed to be ready to give a reason for the hope that they have within themselves in Jesus.
The world at large refuses to acknowledge not just the prolific spread of demonic activities but refuses to acknowledge the war between good and evil. Between Satan and God. Between sin and righteousness. It takes less than a day, more likely less than an hour, to look across the world news to see the truth that most try to deny.
"Peace and safety!" will be the cry heard around the world right before Jesus returns and that particular cry keeps getting louder.
There's a trigger event coming that's forever going to alter the landscape of mankind.
Jesus returns and takes home all who have rightly called upon His Name unto salvation in Him.
The best Hollywood could ever come up with concerning the global disasters that will happen can't even come close to what that will look like. Millions and millions of vehicles crashing in an instant. Thousands of planes crashing. All because of the millions of Believers leaving this world. A global earthquake of unprecedented proportions. I highly doubt that the Richter scale will be able to go high enough. Then comes the ridiculous recovery process and it will be at this time people the world over will cry out for someone to lead them. The Antichrist will arise to be that person. This is but the beginning my Dear Reader, only the beginning. Soon afterwards all the judgments we read of in the book of Revelation come to be. Nothing is left out. Yes people will still find salvation in Jesus Christ but won't be raptured, in the state of the world, they will be the hunted because they will have refused to worship this world leader. Yes don't miss that part. After this Antichrist rises he will want the worship of mankind as their savior through these times and people WILL give it willingly.
Reading these judgments...1/3rd of mankind dies in a moment. Do the math. That's nearly 3 to 4 billion people dead. Then of that it will see more billions die.
We are indeed seeing the end of what a 'normal' life is like coming to bear upon the world.
Mike Wingfield said in a recent newsletter (www.ptnews.org) that it certainly looks like Jesus is standing at the door of Heaven getting ready to call for His Church to come home.
The focus of the world has shifted to mostly the middle east. That too is significant because that's all that is the only area of the world that matters in the times after the Rapture occurs.
People today give in to all kinds of psychological mumbo-jumbo about how to get their heads on straight. The use of astrology, crystals, etc. And don't realize they are inviting demons to come and give the very result that Jesus said would happen in our opening passage.
Look at the Gospels. Look at the age groups of those recorded who were demon possessed. Look at the orders the 70 were given, the 12 were given. Casting out demons was right there with healing people.
If you are a Believer you are in the thick of battle. Your sin nature isn't going to roll over because of the Spirit within you. Paul admonishes us to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Protect what you have learned and received from the Spirit of God.
I have had the displeasure of shaking hands with a demon possessed person. Probably more than a few that I didn't even know about yet. They are as real a foe as any human beings that openly oppose Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
I try to look to the Spirit when I seek understanding on the irrational erratic behavior I read about. The Spirit of God always knows who is or isn't possessed.
Those in the Church should be fighting the good fight as Paul taught Timothy. Fighting back against thoughts, feelings, emotions, that are contrary to Godly teaching. Fighting back against the subtle attempts Satan's minions try to get us to buy into that will only lead to a slippery slope of compromise.
If people can't see your good works in order to glorify your Father in Heaven, then for certain, for sure, you are doing life all wrong.
If you stick your head in the sand rather than fight for what is right in Christ Jesus you are doing life all wrong.
If you are not in the practice of daily Bible reading or effectual prayer, you are doing life all wrong.
Demons cannot inhabit a Believer but they can get a foothold to keep them from the righteous life that God desires for them. They can keep them from living a life in Christ the way they ought to and even make them be ok with it.
Oh Jesus come quickly. We have indeed been waiting so long.
For those reading this who only now see that they're on the outside looking in. Coming to Christ for salvation isn't complicated or difficult. The Bible says that to everyone it has been given a measure of faith in order to be able to choose Jesus Christ to save them. Grab onto that.
"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.
Oh to see the world that is really the world as God sees it.
Recognize these people around you and in the news? "But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these." 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
Come Jesus Come...
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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