Jesus is coming back! How this affects you today?

But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. (‭II Thessalonians‬ ‭2‬:‭13-15‬ NKJV)

Paul has just elaborating on end time events! Which was enough to I still fear in any heart! But this was not his intention. The intent was to raise their attention to the return of Christ & have in the foremost part of their thinking!

When we think about the coming of the Lord, it should make a strong impact in our lives.
It should affect the way we live, the way we think, the way we carry on in our relationships, and the way we invest our money into the Kingdom of God.

It is simply a fact that Jesus is coming for His Church, and we should constantly live in the light of His coming.

When we live with the awareness that Jesus is coming again, it changes our conduct and behavior.

So when is He coming?? I don't know but I know it is soon! Meanwhile listen to words of Peter!

But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (‭II Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭8-9‬ NKJV)

It may be sooner then you think!

Paul is communicating to his readers that they have a responsibility to respond to his message about Jesus’ soon return. They are to live in a godly, upright, and holy manner as they wait for “the coming of our Lord.”

3 things to remember!
1. We always have his coming at the foremost of our thinking.
2. This creates the need to live & righteous lives!
3. There is an urgency in evangelism...tell somebody!

Surrendering Your Words

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. (Colossians 4:6 NKJV)

We are talking about the Power of Words. Words are so very powerful… accuse or encourage… Words make us laugh or make us cry. Words bring healing or hurt. Words teach truth or teach lies. Words bless or curse. Words create gossip or stop gossip. Your words will bring you victory in life or defeat.

-Researchers tell us we spend up to 20 per cent of our entire lives talking! With that in mind!

-The Bible gives much instruction about our words.

-(Amplified) Proverbs 18:20 A man's self shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; and with the consequence of his words he must be satisfied [whether good or evil].

Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of its fruit.

-So it is also true that we r known by the words we speak...

-It’s interesting to note that if u ever want to know where someone is at just take time to listen to their words…

-Jesus said, For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks…

EG: Aesops Fable…Once upon a time, a donkey found a lion's skin. He tried it on, strutted around, and frightened many animals. Soon a fox came along, and the donkey tried to scare him, too. But the fox, hearing the donkey's voice, said, "If you want to terrify me, you'll have to disguise your bray." Aesop's moral: Clothes may disguise a fool, but his words will give him away.

WORDS EXPOSE U!

EG; Years ago disciple asked what he thought of the paint colour…IT SUCKS!

The Pastor later said, That’s a man who will not go far in ministry…

Didn’t u/stand at the time…but his words were exposing someone inside of him…that I didn’t see!

Too often I talk without thinking, never considering the one receiving my words. It's easy to blurt out words when we're under pressure.

Although we may have no intention of hurting others, our words can inflict great damage.

Much like a burned forest, the damage can take years to restore…

James 3:5-6, "So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire..."

Even one thoughtless word has consequences.

Perhaps you heard such destructive words as a child... words you've never been able to forget.

Even though you know today that those words weren't true, they still hurt deeply. You can still hear them ring in your heart:

EG: Your'e dumb. You won't amount to anything. I wish you'd never been born… 

We can't control the words that are spoken to us. but we can focus on the words that we say to others.

Sometimes it's easy for me to say careless or destructive words without thinking when I'm with those I know best.

EG: It's when I'm with my family, a close friend, or a dear colleague that I often let down my guard and say discouraging, impatient words--words that wound rather than heal. 

Many times we are blinded concerning how our words offend. We need to ask the Lord to open our eyes to ways that our words are hurtful or damaging.

May our words give grace, blessing, & hope to those around us. 

So when you pray over your food & fellowship pray for grace!

Lord bless the food & the hands that prepared it & Lord bless our conversation!

Praying for workers

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, (‭II Thessalonians‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ NKJV)

Have you ever wondered how you should pray for missionaries or for people who are preaching the Word on the front lines where it is more difficult? Well, today I’m going to give you the answer. And please—while you’re praying for people on the front lines, be sure to remember to pray for me too!

The apostle Paul did what I call “front-line ministry work.” As noted earlier, Paul’s ministry took him places where the Church was nonexistent. He dealt with hostile governments; he faced opposition from false religions; he pushed the evil forces of the demonic realm out of the way; he brought converts from the bleakness of paganism and turned them into living, breathing members of the Body of Christ. This task is never for the light-hearted, but only for the extremely committed.

-Then Paul makes his request: “Finally, brethren, pray for us….” The Greek word... As it is used in this verse, this word means to pray continually or to pray without stopping. 

-Paul is sincerely asking for committed prayer partners who will pray nonstop for his team, his ministry, and for himself. When he says, “Pray for us,” the word “for” is the Greek word peri, which means around or about. Paul is specifically requesting prayer for those things that are around or about them—hence, the things that concern them and their ministry.

Next, Paul gets more specific about how to pray. He says, “Pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course….” The Greek could be better translated, “Pray for us, that the Lord’s word may have free course….” 

In all his years of ministry, Paul was always mindful that the message he carried was given to him by the Lord.
Furthermore, Paul knew that his responsibility was to preach that message. Therefore, he asked the Thessalonians to join him in praying that the Lord’s message might have “free course.” These words “free course” come from the Greek word trecho, which means to run.

Before we go any further, let’s stop and look deeper into the meaning of the word trecho. 

1. This word often referred to runners who ran a foot race in a huge stadium before adoring crowds of fans. In order for the runner to run successfully and finish triumphantly, every ounce of his strength and his complete attention was required.
There is no doubt that Paul had this picture in his mind as he wrote this verse, for he was in a race to preach the Gospel to as many souls as possible before he came to the end of his life. He was in a spiritual race, a real competition. Racing urgently and with all his might against the enemy who wants to eternally destroy and damn souls, Paul put forth his best efforts to save as many souls as possible.

2. However, there is another powerful image that applies to this word. This word was also used to describe the swift-running messengers who dashed between enemy lines to carry vital messages of instruction to those who waited on the other side of the battle. 

These especially brave and courageous messengers were essential if battles were to be won.

You can clearly see why Paul would have chosen to use this illustration, for he was indeed a God-sent messenger running back and forth through enemy territory, delivering the message of the Cross, as well as instructions to the churches that looked to him for apostolic leadership. Paul was God’s special, swift-running messenger!

Finally, Paul makes one last prayer request. He asks for prayer that the word of May be glorified..

These powerful words used by Paul in Second Thessalonians 3:1 convey the following ideas:

“Finally, brothers, pray for us and for those things that concern us. Pray that the word of the Lord will spread quickly and without resistance. Pray that we will be able to keep up the pace that is required for us to get this message out!

“To fulfill this task, we have to be like runners whose eyes are fixed on the goal before us! We must be like brave, bold, daring, and courageous messengers, whose job is to carry vital information across enemy lines. We have to move promptly and swiftly to get the message of the Gospel to the other side where people are desperately waiting.

So now you have an idea of how to pray for missionaries, preachers, or people who are ministering the Word and planting churches in new, unreached regions—the difficult front lines where the Word has never or rarely been preached.

Here is a wrap-up of Paul’s prayer request for you to use as you pray for people you know who are working in difficult parts of the world:
Pray for the missionaries and preachers themselves.
Pray for the things that concern them, i.e., their families, their finances, their health, etc.
Pray for the Lord’s message to spread without hindrance from hostile forces.
Pray for the missionaries and preachers to win the race for souls.
Pray for them to be protected as they dash through enemy territory.
Pray constantly, around the clock, for those who are laboring on the front lines!

Now that you know how the apostle Paul wanted people to pray for him, you can use this as a guide to pray for missionaries and preachers in other parts of the world. Why don’t you take a few minutes to start praying for them today? 

Dispossessing the Enemy!

“If you should say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I; how can I dispossess them?’— (Deuteronomy 7:17 NKJV) 

When your life to Jesus...the battle intensifies... 

The enemy does not want to give you up...there are areas of dominion he has in your life! 

The battle is all about Dispossessing the enemy...it's about taking the land & claiming the promise of God.... Areas of addiction...relationships... Attitudes... Money... Guilt & shame... 
ALL Strongholds of the enemy! 

Evicting the enemy from your life! And the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you little by little; you will be unable to destroy them at once, lest the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. (Deuteronomy 7:22 NKJV) 

Salvation is not an event! It's a process...yes you are saved from the moment of decision but redemption is a process of God continually working in your life! 
So how does that happen? 
1. Trusting the Lordship of Jesus with your life! He will drive the enemy out if your life! 
2. This happens little by little... It's a process...takes time... 
3. It also means giving the resolve to stand strong... And He will deliver their kings into your hand, and you will destroy their name from under heaven; no one shall be able to stand against you until you have destroyed them. (Deuteronomy 7:24 NKJV)

Prayer for the end of the road!

Prayer- When you come to the end of the road!
It doesn't too long to be busy moving along, changing lanes, heading in the direction you need to go & then hit a dead end!

Dead end in your Marriage...finances... Health & ministry! It's when you feel like come to the end of the road & you don't know what to do...

You've pushed every button & pulled every lever...now what...it's you ally then you throw your GPS out the window frustration.

Paul himself knew what it was to come to a dead end!
Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many. (II Corinthians 1:9-11 NKJV)

The word sentence is a word picture of a court passing verdict!

Paul felt he couldn't go any further...it was the end of the word! 

Bug then he lifts himself out of that dead end & speaks of the God who rose from the dead! You may think it's the end of the road but we serve who breathes life into dead situations.

What to do when you come yuo the end of the road!
1) refuse to except the verdict of death...
2) look to God who raises the dead...
3) get others involved in prayer with you!
OMS, when u come to the end of ur rope tie a knot at the end of it & hang!