Understanding the Times We Live in Part 4

Understanding the times we live in  Part 4 The other side of the coin Romans 11:22a Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: Isaiah 60:2  For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. It important that we are aware of the encroaching darkness and the increasing evil in this world. We need to be aware of what is happening globally and how that the conditions in the earth are becoming more and more conducive to the rise of the Anti Christ. However it is more important that we understand that God is allowing this to happen, both evil and righteousness are maturing in the days in which we are now living. As Charles Dickens said, “it was the best of times it was the worst of times” We truly are experiencing the Tale of two Kingdoms, light and darkness are now on an irrevocable collision course. However we are privileged to know who will win the battle. Daniel 7:18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. I was brought up in an era in the church that held the mentality of “hold the forte for I am coming” this expressed the view that Jesus was coming for a few that would hold the forte, all they had to do was dig in and hold on. The bible makes it clear that we are not to hold the fort; we are to take the kingdom. We are to leave the forte, go out into the world and bring heaven to earth. The encroaching darkness provides the greatest opportunity the church has ever had We are now experiencing the world economy collapsing, a corrupt and evil system is failing, and at the same time God is establishing a heavenly economy and building a whole new world right in the midst of this chaos. The building of this Kingdom is first spiritual and will foreshadow the coming literal Millennium Kingdom of God in this earth. The true people of God will arise and shine in the midst of great darkness. We do not have to fear what is happening around us, we need to rejoice as the kingdoms of this world are being shaken, this is a sign that God is beginning to put the final touches to His kingdom in the earth. Did not the Lord say “I will build my church and the gates of hell will prevail against it” We must place our faith and hope in the Lords kingdom which cannot be shaken. This generation of Christians, are the most privileged in the history of the church, we are the ones who will win the final battle and bring in the Kingdom of God on earth. Become lean and loving Much of the present standard of living has been built upon credit, borrowing from the future, and the future has caught up with us. It is time to streamline our lives; get rid of the clutter our lives. We need to arrange our lives in such a way that we are free to move in God at any time. Many have become slaves to materialism, things we don’t need clutter our homes and lives and take up out time. We need to determine in God what is important in our lives and get rid of that which hinders us walking in it. Become lean and efficient, we have to discern the difference between that which is good in our lives and that which is necessary. The slavery of debt You need to get out of debt as quickly as you can even if this involves selling off some of your assets and don’t incur more debt. Understand the credit card trap, I know for many credit cards are necessary especially if you travel a lot, however always maintain a credit balance on your credit cards which will enable you to use them without getting into debt, and avoid impulse buying. Ecclesiastes 4:8 warns us that “the eye is never satisfied with riches”. Where did the money go? This question is often asked during an economic meltdown. What happed to all the money? Recently billions of dollars in value were wiped of the stock market worldwide. Many Banks become virtually bankrupt overnight how could this happen. The basis of this recent collapse in the money markets was caused by very bad management, greed, and lending money that did not exist. Currency was once backed by gold, for instance for every dollar note printed there had to be dollars worth of Gold deposited in treasury vaults. This insured the value of the currency. So the currency was backed by the hard asset gold. However this has not been the case for many years now. When money is printed it is just paper it has no literal value. What has real value is hard assets such as land, buildings, and precious metals, and even these hard assets can lose their value, for instance when large numbers of homes are repossessed by the banks due to default on loans, the value of these assets drops because the market is flooded with them and the banks sell them off for whatever they can get for them.. During the last great depression land in Australia was selling for less than 50 cents an acre. We are slowly heading towards an even more devastating depressing and those who are cashed up with cash readily available will be in a position to acquire many assets for the Kingdom of God. The wealth of the wicket (especially the banks) will be transferred to the righteous. Sowing in Famine You may not be in a position where you do not have a lot of cash available; however you can help secure your future in these dark days by sowing in times of famine. Genesis 26:1 And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar. 12  Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him. Isaac sowed in the land during famine and received a hundredfold. Christians during times of financial hardship often decrease their giving to the Kingdom when in fact they should be increasing their giving. Sowing in famine is a biblical principle of increase. In time of financial hardship you cannot afford not to give, even increasing your giving. 2 Corinthians 8:1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 3  For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; The church and people in Macedonia gave to the church in Jerusalem out of their deep poverty.  In the context of this sacrificial giving that the Apostle Paul said this 2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: If we sow now while we still have money God will take care of us when the time comes when money will no longer exists. Revelation 13:17. Sowing in times of financial famine is a biblical principle which serves to secure our future in God. We are admonished in Ecclesiastes 11. to sow bountifully in order to secure our future. Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. 2  Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. As the economies of this world decline the economy of Gods Kingdom will Increase The issue is can God trust you with a totally different kind of economy? God’s word tells us that it is God who gives us power to get wealth Deut 8:18 but we must realize this wealth that God has the power to give us is for the building of His Kingdom. Gods economy is based on giving not receiving, this is totally opposite to that of this world’s economy. God does not need your money, he does however want you to be blessed and secure your future by having you learn the principles of Gods economy. It is all a matter of trust; can God trust you with wealth? Set your standard of Living There is no end to acquiring more goods, better houses etc we all need to set our standard of living and be content with it, if we don’t God will not be able to trust us with HIS Money. God is looking for a people whom He can trust to handle His finances, those who can discern what He wants to do, those who will give to the building of His kingdom. Blessings Neville Johnson  9 April 2009