THe URGENCY of the Hour - It is time to arise!

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M

machew

Guest
#1
I think that it is important that we always have a sense of urgency that Jesus could return at any moment. However it is not okay in my opinion to sit and wait for Christ to return. Unfortunately many Christians are sitting not doing anything, waiting for Jesus to return because of the darkness arising on the Earth. But Isaiah 60 tells us this:

Isaiah 60:1-3(NASB)
1"Arise, shine; for your light has come,
And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
2"For behold, darkness will cover the earth
And deep darkness the peoples;
But the LORD will rise upon you
And His glory will appear upon you.
3"Nations will come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising.
Paul tells us in Ephesians:

Ephesians 5:14(NASB)

14For this reason it says,
"Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you."


Jesus
gave us this command:
Matthew 5:16(NASB)
16Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
What does it look like to have our light shine before men in such a way that they glorify God? I encourage everyone to come before God in humility and find out. This world needs more people who are willing to humble themselves to reach the lost with the power of God, not more knowledge about the end times, not more debates about free-will vs. pre-destination, and not more theological battles over non-essential doctrines.

Here is a real testimony that happened to me that I believe God is wanting to do through all of His church:
The last I went to In N Out Burger, I was sitting with my friend Alex. We were having a normal dinner conversation, when I felt the urge in me that God wanted me to talk to people. I looked around and saw that God was highlighting someone specific to me. I got up and noticed that I pain in my shoulder, to which the Holy Spirit revealed to me that this person had shoulder pain. I introduced myself and talked to him telling him that God told me that he had shoulder pain. He agreed to receive prayer for his shoulder injury. I prayed 3 times and the shoulder completely healed. He asked me if I was Christian, I told him yes. He said he was Christian too, and never had seen God heal anyone before. I told him that God always desires to heal, it's whether we are willing to humble ourselves to be a surrendered vessel.

I soon started getting Words of Knowledge(divine insight into people's lives around me). My friend Alex soon started getting words of knowledge as well. We looked over at the table next to us and were "conveniently" interrupted by them. As soon as they asked if we were Christian, we found out that the group next to us were also Christians. They told us that they don't see God heal people like what just happened. When I started telling these people I just met about their lives, they start hungrily asking us more. Soon we prayed for them and in about ten minutes they were getting prophesies and words of knowledge for the people around them. The Holy Spirit broke out in In N Out! God's focus that night seemed not to be on the lost in the restaurant, but on His children that felt ill-equipped for what God has called them to do. They came to In N Out only expecting to fill their stomachs, but received much more.

The Holy Spirit is longing to move in His church! But have you readied your heart? Are you willing to say Yes to God, knowing that you may not be comfortable with what He wants you to do, knowing that you may not understand everything He tells you to do? Are you willing to humble yourself before the Lord and give up your right to hold Him hostage to your understanding of Him?

When we approach the throne room of God, do you think He is going to care more that you had your theology correct, or that you abided in Him enough to touch other people's lives and bring them Jesus, their eternal hope and salvation? Do you spend more of your time arguing theology, or more of your time impacting other people's lives, discipling others, and reaching the lost? I think the church needs a sober reality check of where we are, and where our priorities need to be. What right do we have to limit the Holy Spirit to do what we are comfortable with? He wants to do so much more through His church, and the time has come for us to get on our faces in humility until His Presences comes to transform us to desire nothing but Him and what He wants.

So I ask you again: What would it look like to have the light shining on us in such a way, that people glorify God when they see us? (Jesus said it not me)

This is the question I believe God is asking His church today.

By His Grace Alone,

Machew







 
C

charisenexcelcis

Guest
#2
Or perhaps another way to say this: when you approach the throne of God will He care whether you used the proper theological vocabulary and understood every minute detail of doctrine or that you placed your faith and trust in Jesus and allowed him to live in you and to use you for His glory.
 
M

machew

Guest
#3
Or perhaps another way to say this: when you approach the throne of God will He care whether you used the proper theological vocabulary and understood every minute detail of doctrine or that you placed your faith and trust in Jesus and allowed him to live in you and to use you for His glory.

Well said! :)
 
C

charisenexcelcis

Guest
#4
The way that the Bible uses the word "light" is a wondrous thing to me. I appreciate your post.