But understand this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear]. 2 For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters. They will be abusive (blasphemous, scoffing), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane. 3 [They will be] without natural [human] affection (callous and inhuman), relentless (admitting of no truce or appeasement); [they will be] slanderers (false accusers, troublemakers), intemperate and loose in morals and conduct, uncontrolled and fierce, haters of good. 4 [They will be] treacherous [betrayers], rash, [and] inflated with self-conceit. [They will be] lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than and rather than lovers of God. 5 For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them].  2 Timothy 3:1-5 AMP

This segment of scripture talks about four things that people love. Three of them are unhealthy and detrimental to your spiritual, physical and emotional well-being; and only one of them is healthy, good, productive and blessed. There are people who are lovers of self, lovers of money and lovers of sensual pleasures; and then there are those who are lovers of God. If you truly love God, you can’t love these other things. If you love these things, then you are not a lover of God!

Lovers of self:

Lovers of self are selfish and self-centered. The Bible says that they are disobedient to parents, abusive, blasphemous, scoffing, ungrateful, unholy, and profane. They are without natural, human affection, callous and inhuman, relentless (admitting of no truce or appeasement), slanderers, false accusers and troublemakers, treacherous betrayers, rash, and inflated with self-conceit. They are self-willed, arrogant and presumptuous. Because they are so selfish and self-centered, they do not care for others – for their feelings, their well-being, or even their life. Selfishness brings strife and division and also cruelty and cruel acts.

But by your callous stubbornness and impenitence of heart you are storing up wrath and indignation for yourself on the day of wrath and indignation, when God’s righteous judgment (just doom) will be revealed. 6 For He will render to every man according to his works [justly, as his deeds deserve]:  7 To those who by patient persistence in well-doing [springing from piety] seek [unseen but sure] glory and honor and [the eternal blessedness of] immortality, He will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and self-willed and disobedient to the Truth but responsive to wickedness, there will be indignation and wrath. Romans 2:5-8 AMP

Lovers of money:

Lovers of money are covetous and greedy. They are aroused by an inordinate, greedy desire for wealth, and are proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:24 that we have to make a choice between God and mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in). You cannot serve both.

For the love of money is a root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have been led astray and have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves through with many acute [mental] pangs.  1 Timothy 6:10AMP

The love of money will harm and destroy the one who loves it and other people as well. The Pharisees were all pious on the outside, but they were covetous and lovers of money on the inside. They opposed Jesus, not because He was wrong, but because their hearts were turned away from God because of greed and arrogance (Luke 16:14-15). Hebrews 13:5 AMP tells us: “Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]” – because God will never fail you nor let you down!

Lovers of sensual pleasures:

Lovers of sensual pleasures are addicted to pleasure. The more they get, the more they want and yet, they are never satisfied! The Bible describes them as intemperate and loose in morals and conduct, uncontrolled and fierce, haters of good. They are lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than and rather than lovers of God.

In James 5:1-5, James rebukes the people who are rich and trust only in their riches and he tells them in verse 5 (AMP); “Here on earth you have abandoned yourselves to soft (prodigal) living and to [the pleasures of] self-indulgence and self-gratification. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.”  And Jesus warned us in Luke 21:34 NKJV: “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.” 

[Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures. 4 You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world’s friend is being God’s enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God.  James 4:3-4 AMP

Lovers of God:

Lovers of God submit to Him – His Word and His Spirit – and they walk in newness of life and in obedience to Him in every aspect of their lives.

So kill (deaden, deprive of power) the evil desire lurking in your members [those animal impulses and all that is earthly in you that is employed in sin]: sexual vice, impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, and all greed and covetousness, for that is idolatry (the deifying of self and other created things instead of God). Colossians 3:5 AMP

For the grace of God (His unmerited favor and blessing) has come forward (appeared) for the deliverance from sin and the eternal salvation for all mankind. 12 It has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world, 13 Awaiting and looking for the [fulfillment, the realization of our] blessed hope, even the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).  Titus 2:11-13 AMP

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord… Psalms 33:12a

The nation who honors God as their God – God of that nation – is a blessed and happy nation. Conversely, the nation who will not recognize God, and who dishonors Him, is a nation who has a curse on it and its people. God made us – He created the universe and all that’s in it. Out of His benevolent love He created us and out of this love, He sustains us. He laid out principles, that if we obey and follow, we will prosper.

Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. 2 Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. 3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.  Psalms 33:1-3 KJV

This Psalm starts out with a command for those who are righteous – those in right-standing with God – to rejoice in the Lord, to praise Him, give thanks, play instruments, and sing – with a loud and joyful sound! He also follows up, in this Psalm, with the reasons we should praise Him. Praise and worship is an acknowledgement of authority. Praise and worship could be singing or it could be speaking. When we talk highly of someone or something, we are praising that person or thing. You worship that which you love, respect and submit to. When you praise God, you are acknowledging His Lordship and the fact that HE is your Master and that HE is in control and that you are dependent on Him in and for ALL things.

For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth. 5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.  Psalms 33:4-5

We can and should praise God for His justice, faithfulness, loving-kindness, goodness, and truth that appear in His word and also in His works. When you praise Him for all these things, you also become a recipient of them. The more you praise Him, the more you open yourself to receive from Him, and the more you receive.

The Word of the Lord is right; therefore when we deviate from it, we are in the wrong. We are right when we agree with it. The Father watches over all men. He made us and He knows us and nothing is hidden from His eyes. We can hide nothing from Him, neither can we pull the wool over His eyes, so we might as well speak the truth to Him – and to others.

God’s word is true and reliable. All the words God speaks are right and true. Everything He does is done in truth. He loves the truth and, unlike men, He never lies. That is why His word can be trusted and relied upon. God never moves the goalposts – He doesn’t change His words – He is constant and consistent. He doesn’t forget or leave His promises unfulfilled. We can trust the Scriptures because they contain the words of a holy, trustworthy, and unchangeable God.

If God’s word is true and right, and if we want to have and live in truth, then we must conform to His word. The problem is that people want to sin and do their own thing. If you are going to sin, but you really want the truth and you want to be right with God, then you’ll need to repent and change what you are doing to line up with God’s word. Or if you don’t want to stop sinning and you don’t want to repent, change and be right with God, then in your own mind you’d have to negate God’s word and cast it out as irrelevant or untrue in order to validate your sin and make it acceptable. So what was once called sin is now called merely a “lifestyle” or a “choice”. Many people have utterly rejected the word of the Lord, all because they refuse to quit sinning and change their ungodly lifestyle.

By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. 7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. 8 Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.  9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.  Psalms 33:6-9 KJV

We can and should praise God for His creative power – for the fact that He created us and all that we see – the universe – the heavens and the earth! He spoke and it was done. He commanded and it stood fast. What a great God! He deserves to be revered and worshiped by ALL the inhabitants of the earth! Only a fool would not recognize His handiwork or that He IS the Almighty God.

The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. 11 The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.  Psalms 33:10-11 KJV

There is no government of man that will succeed without respect for the ultimate authority of God in their lives and without the acknowledgement that He alone is the author of their blessing and the source of their supply. God’s plan is always a good plan and the best plan. Isaiah 9:6 says that the government is on Jesus’ shoulders. Man’s standards, values and plans are temporal and inconsistent, but God’s counsel and plans stand strong and steady through successive generations. Man and his plans come and go and fade and fail, but God and His word stand through it all and above it all. If a nation is to succeed – there is only one way – make God number One in that nation and acknowledge that the nation and the government and the people are totally and utterly dependent on Him!

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord: and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. Psalms 33:12 KJV

God’s peculiar favor is on His people. His people are not merely some small, exclusive group of people whom He has arbitrarily chosen – for He is no respecter of persons. No. God’s people – the ones He has chosen and blessed are those from any and every nation and people, who have chosen to respond to His love. Through and because of Jesus, every nation may receive the favor and blessing of the Father simply by bowing to His Lordship!

3. A person called by God to be a pastor/minister must have pure and consecrated motives.
4. A pastor/minister must desire God’s will and glory; not their own. Jesus is the Good Shepherd and He calls certain people as under-shepherds. Pastoring is a call. Pastors represent Jesus on earth and should care for the Church – the Body of Christ – as much as Jesus does. A pastor cannot have selfish motives – they cannot pastor because of a natural reward; whether money or fame or any other selfish reason. In God’s Kingdom, ministry is about serving, not being served. It’s about giving your life: caring for the sheep and protecting them from the wolves – not running away. A pastor/minister must love people like Jesus loves them.

John 10:9-13 AMP – I am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live). He will come in and he will go out [freely], and will find pasture. 10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). 11 I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd risks and lays down His [own] life for the sheep.  12 But the hired servant (he who merely serves for wages) who is neither the shepherd nor the owner of the sheep, when he sees the wolf coming, deserts the flock and runs away. And the wolf chases and snatches them and scatters [the flock]. 13 Now the hireling flees because he merely serves for wages and is not himself concerned about the sheep [cares nothing for them].

1. A pastor/minister must make salvation of lost souls a priority.

Luke 19:10 AMP – For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.

Acts 10:28 AMP – And he said to them, You yourselves are aware how it is not lawful or permissible for a Jew to keep company with or to visit or [even] to come near or to speak first to anyone of another nationality, but God has shown and taught me by words that I should not call any human being common or unhallowed or [ceremonially] unclean.

1. Like Jesus, a pastor/minister must do good, heal and deliver people by the power of God.

Acts 10:38 AMP – How God anointed and consecrated Jesus of Nazareth with the [Holy] Spirit and with strength and ability and power; how He went about doing good and, in particular, curing all who were harassed and oppressed by [the power of] the devil, for God was with Him.

1. A pastor/minister must have the best interests of the church, and all men, at heart. The purpose of the ministry gifts is to equip the saints (believers) for ministry work, to spiritually build up the Body of Christ, to accurately communicate the truths of God’s word, resulting in unity among, and maturity in, God’s people.

Ephesians 4:11-13 NKJV – And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

1. A pastor/minister must see people as God sees them – through eyes of love and faith – as a new creation, growing in righteousness. His/her responsibility is to teach the Body of Christ who and what they are in Christ and to encourage them in their walk with God.

2 Corinthians 5:14-21 AMP – For the love of Christ controls and urges and impels us, because we are of the opinion and conviction that [if] One died for all, then all died; 15 And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake. 16 Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a [purely] human point of view [in terms of natural standards of value]. [No] even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a man, yet now [we have such knowledge of Him that] we know Him no longer [in terms of the flesh]. 17 Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! 18 But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him]. 19 It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor). 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We [as Christ’s personal representatives] beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor [now offered you] and be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].

For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  2 Corinthians 5:14-21 NKJV

 

He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves:

 

Jesus died for us – all of us. He saved us and made us brand new creations in Christ. The love of God is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Now that we belong to Jesus, His love doesn’t allow us to be selfish – we don’t live for ourselves any more, but now we live for Him and we live to serve others. We live no longer for ourselves, but for Him who rose again for us.

 

From now on, we regard no one according to the flesh:

 

We don’t regard Jesus Christ after the flesh and we don’t regard one another after the flesh either. Jesus is not a mere man, but He is God in the flesh – He died and rose again and is seated at the right hand of God. It doesn’t matter who you were before you met Jesus; it doesn’t matter who anyone says you are; it doesn’t matter what you’ve done; it doesn’t matter what you think of yourself or what anyone else thinks of you; it doesn’t matter what anyone says about you. If you are born again then the only thing that matters is what Jesus thinks and says about you – YOU ARE WHO HE SAYS YOU ARE!

 

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away and all things have become new:

 

The old you has passed away! Your old life has passed away! Your old ways of thinking and doing have passed away! Now your heart is new and your life is new. Your future is changed! Eternal life is in your heart and heaven is in your future.

 

Your new life is the opposite of your old life. In your old life, sin dominated every aspect of it, but in your new life, sin has no more power over you. The more you come to understand the greatness of the love and forgiveness that has been poured out on you, the more you live to please God and serve righteousness. The more you yield to the righteousness of God and allow it to work in you, the less power sin has over you.

 

Now all things are of God:

 

All things are of God in your new life. His presence and His blessing fill every aspect of His life. If you are truly saved, you won’t allow anything in your life that is ungodly or un-Christlike, because you have experienced true life and you know that your old life has nothing to offer compared to your new life. Your new life revolves around your new family – Father, Son and Holy Spirit and also your brothers and sisters in Christ. You live to please Him, because you have experienced the true liberty of the presence of God in your life.

 

God, the Father, reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ:

 

The word reconciliation means “to restore to favor”, or for those to make friends again who were once enemies. We were once enemies of God, but we have been reconciled to Him and restored to favor.

 

He has given us the ministry of reconciliation:

 

Since we have been reconciled to God, he has put us in the ministry of introducing others to Him, so that they too can be reconciled to Him!

 

He has committed to us the word of reconciliation:

 

The Father has committed to us a message that will bring reconciliation between Him and the world. The message is that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them. Jesus took the full brunt of the punishment for sin so that we could be fully forgiven and stand boldly in the presence of God.

 

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us:

 

When we preach the good news of the Gospel, God Himself is speaking through us, pleading with those who need His love and forgiveness. You are His ambassador – you speak for Him and you stand for Him. You have the most wonderful, powerful, precious message for the world that they have ever heard. You implore them on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!”

 

We have all these blessings because:

 

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

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 preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”  12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”  17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  Romans 10:8-17 NKJV

 

The Gospel came through Jesus Christ.

 

Jesus was the first to preach the Gospel. He preached it and He died and rose again to fulfill it.

 

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.  Matthew 9:35 NKJV

 

The Gospel must be preached.

 

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.  Luke 4:18-19 KJV

 

Jesus was anointed to PREACH the Gospel – and He faithfully fulfilled that call and commission. Now He, Himself, calls and commissions all believers – you and me – to pick up where He left off and PREACH the Gospel to EVERY creature.

 

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.  Mark 16:15-16 KJV

 

In order for the Gospel to be preached, a preacher is required.

 

Nowhere in the Bible does it tell us to just sit back and do nothing while God does all the saving He wants to do. People are not predestined for salvation or not at the whim of God. God says that He is unwilling that any soul should perish. In other words, if it were all up to Him, alone, everyone would have no choice, but to get saved. The fact is that He created us with a free will to choose our own eternal destiny. People will have the opportunity to be saved once they hear the Gospel preached. That is why it is so vital that preachers preach the Gospel – with faith and boldness – so that all are able to hear. Not only five-fold preachers preaching, but every believer, everywhere. 

 

The preacher must be sent.

 

The preacher of the Gospel must be sent – by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Sent, ideally, from both God and the Church – the body of Christ. Ministry is not something you do on your own – you must be anointed for the task and sent out with faith, prayer, and direction from the Holy Spirit.

 

And He sent them out to announce and preach the kingdom of God and to bring healing.  Luke 9:2 AMP

 

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”  John 4:34 NKJV

 

As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.  John 17:18 NKJV

 

So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”  22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”  John 20:21-22 NKJV

 

The Gospel must be heard.

 

How can they call on Him if they don’t believe? How can they believe if they have not heard? Faith comes by hearing the word.

 

With many such parables [Jesus] spoke the Word to them, as they were able to hear and to comprehend and understand.  Mark 4:33 AMP

 

The Gospel must be believed.

 

And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.  Acts 5:14 NKJV

 

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:13-14 NKJV

 

The Gospel must be obeyed.

 

And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.  Hebrews 5:9 NKJV

 

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  James 1:22 NKJV

 

Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.  1 John 3:24 NKJV

 

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.  1 John 5:2 NKJV

Foundation scripture:

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Hosea 4:6 KJV

 

1. People Suffer Because of Lack of Knowledge: 

 

1. People need to be teachable, humble themselves, and learn.

 

1. 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing  the word of truth.”

 

1. God’s word is freely available to us. There is no reason to be ignorant. We have access to books, CDs, DVDs, the Internet, etc.

 

2. Not Acting on the Word of God:

 

1. Matthew 7:24-27 KJV – “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man,  which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that  house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every  one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall  be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the  sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great  was the fall of it.”

 

1. James 1:22 KJV – “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

 

3. Opposing the Truth:

 

1. 2 Kings 5:9-14 KJV – Naaman, the Syrian, wanted to be healed of leprosy, but he didn’t want to dip himself in the Jordan as Elisha commanded him, because he thought the Jordan was not as good as his rivers back home. Although it was a simple  enough assignment, he thought it was beneath him. It was only  when he swallowed his pride and  dipped where he was told to dip,  that he received his healing.

 

1. Some people call themselves Christians, but have no respect for the Word of God. They don’t think that it applies to them.

 

1. Some people are in outright rebellion toward the Word of God. They are going to do it their way no matter what the word says.

 

1. Humble yourself and obey.

 

4. Living in Sin:

 

1. Galatians 6:7-8 KJV – “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that  soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

 

1. If you sow to the flesh – rebellion; self-will; carnality – you will reap corruption. The wages of sin is still death.

 

1. Isaiah 1:19-20 KJV – “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.”

 

5. Not Discerning the Lord’s Body:

 

1. 1 Corinthians 11:17-30 KJV

 

1. Verses 29-30 KJV – “For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.”

 

1. Discern the Lord’s body – beaten and broken for you – His stripes for your healing.

 

1. Discern the Lord’s body – love your brothers and sisters – walk in love toward the Body of Christ.

 

6. Unforgiveness:

 

1. Mark 11:22-26 KJV

 

1. Verse 25-26 KJV – “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven  may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither  will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

 

7. Envy, Strife, and Pride:

 

1. James 3:14-16 KJV – “But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom  descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For  where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”

 

1. Proverbs 16:18 KJV – “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”

 

8. Murmuring and Complaining:

 

1. 1 Corinthians 10:10 KJV – “Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.”

 

1. Deuteronomy 28:45-48 KJV

 

1. Verse 47 KJV – You are cursed with a curse: “Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things”

 

9. Persecution:

 

1. It is scriptural to suffer persecution for preaching the Gospel, and nothing to be ashamed of. God will grace you to handle it and deal with your enemies on your behalf.

 

1. 2 Timothy 3:12 KJV – “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

 

1. Mark 10:29-30 KJV – “And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or  sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my  sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in  this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and  children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come  eternal life.”

 

1. If you suffer as a result of your own foolishness or wrongdoing, then you must also suffer the consequences – this suffering is your  fault, not God’s. Bear it without complaining.

 

1. 1 Peter 4:15-16 KJV – “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s  matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be  ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.”

 

1. The suffering that is NOT God’s plan for you is sickness, disease, poverty, lack, torment, misery, fear, curses, etc.

Foundation Scripture: 

Psalm 2:8 (Amplified) – “Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations as Your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth as Your possession.”

God has put each of us here; we are here by His divine purpose and choice. You are not here by accident.
Obeying the Spirit of God will have a repercussion; it will impact other lives.
We are believing God to see the nations shaken – to see a harvest of souls come in!
This is why we are here.
This is why this church is here.
This is why our Bible schools are here.
Future nation shakers are sitting here today!
God is about to transform your life!
Jesus is coming back very soon.
Each of us must play an active role towards bringing in a harvest of SOULS.

This message is about activating each one of you.

Haggai 2:6-9 (Amplified) – ”For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake and make tremble the [starry] heavens, the earth, the sea, and the dry land; 7 And I will shake all nations and the desire and the precious things of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with splendor, says the Lord of hosts. 8 The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine, says the Lord of hosts. 9 The latter glory of this house [with its successor, to which Jesus came] shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts; and in this place will I give peace and prosperity, says the Lord of hosts.”

God, in these verses, is referring to the glorious end-time church – the church that He is raising up. God is raising you up – that His glory will be made manifest through your life. The Bible tells us, very plainly, that Jesus is coming back real soon for a glorious church – a church that He is going to use to send on heavenly assignments!

What is God going to do with you?

How many of you believe that God is going to use you in this final hour?

We are to occupy till He comes. This means that our life has to speak! Our life has to be used by God, this hour, to bring in the end-time harvest!

Every voice must be heard.
He wants to empower you.
He wants to use you.
He wants to grace you.He wants to equip you.
That’s what this place is all about.

I believe that we stand on the brink of the greatest move of God that will ever grace these shores.
I believe that it will overshadow the first Great Awakening of the 1700s
I believe that it will overshadow the second Great Awakening in the 1800s.
I believe that it will overshadow all other moves of God, because God reserves the best for last.
I believe that you are a chosen generation. You are a royal priesthood. You are a holy nation. You were brought into the kingdom for such a time as this.

Extraordinary things are to be manifested through your life.
Ephesians 3:14-20 (Amplified) – “For this reason [seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ], I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name]. 16 May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. 17 May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, 18 That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; 19 [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]! 20 Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams].”

God wants to raise you up to be an oasis in a dry and thirsty land!

We will see whole nations shaken by the mighty hand of God.

Habakkuk 2:14 (Amplified) – “But [the time is coming when] the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

Joshua 1:3 (KJV) – “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.”

Acts 2:17 (KJV) – “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh.”

God is moving in the earth today. Will you let the LORD come and move through you? Will you give Him total control? Will you consecrate your all to Him? It’s time to step over into the supernatural. Consecrate your all to Him. It’s time to see this land shaken with the power of God and to bring in a mighty harvest of souls!

This is the greatest hour to be alive.
It’s time to see Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater shaken!
Allow the LORD to use you to shake the nations!
Each one reach one – Each one teach one – Make disciples –
Multiply – Win the lost at any cost.

Foundation Scripture:
Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own. 13 I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.  Philippians 3:12-14 AMPC

Even though the Apostle Paul wrote nearly two-thirds of the New Testament, he was humble, teachable, and knew that there was more to receive from the Lord.
Paul once was one of the greatest persecutors of the early church. He declared, “But one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.
Paul understood that he was forgiven and was crucified with Christ. The enemy always tries to get you to look to your past to hold you in bondage. Paul knew to look forward with excitement towards the goal to win the heavenly prize. God does not consult your past to determine your future.
Twice, within three verses, Paul said, “I press on.
Definition of press on: to continue moving forward in a forceful or steady way.

1. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Hebrews 10:38-39 KJV
Without faith, it is impossible to please God.
The scripture tells us that if we draw back, the Lord has no pleasure in us.  Drawing back is giving up, quitting, or yielding to a lie of the devil.
What are some things that cause Christians to draw back? Sin, offense, fear, persecution, compromise, wrong associations, money, etc.
Some may say, “I’m just putting up with this; there’s no sense in trying.” NO! Don’t draw back. Say, “I press on!
Jesus said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” One way to stay in the fire of God and to not draw back is to use your faith and continually win souls. Everyone needs to hear the Gospel. Will you tell them?

2. Blind Bartimaeus did not draw back. He pressed on. And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.Mark 10:46 KJV
Bartimaeus was doing what he always did. He was begging for money.
A great crowd of people suddenly showed up. What are the chances that a blind person, with no one to help him, would ever get noticed?
Have you ever felt like him? Do you feel that you don’t fit in or belong? Are you not sure how you will get ahead? People will always let you down, but Jesus will never let you down. Do not draw back. Say, “I press on.”

3. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. Mark 10:47 KJV
People were talking about Jesus. He heard of the miracles, signs, and wonders. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
He had no one to introduce him to Jesus.
He began to cry out. He was hungry and desperate for a miracle.
If you hunger and thirst after righteousness, you shall be filled.

4. And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. Mark 10:48 KJV
Hold your peace? A spirit of religion says to sit down and shut up. Religion says that you’re not important. Religion and tradition are only interested in promoting themselves.
Religion always puts things off to the future.
A spirit of religion and tradition will stop the flow of the anointing.
Why did no one help him get to Jesus? Would you have?
Bartimaeus could have been offended. He could have withdrawn himself and given up when rebuked.
What would you have done? What are you currently yielding to? Situations and circumstances? The evening news? Friends and family? Opinions of others? Doubt and unbelief? Faith or fear? What are you yielding to? The Word of God or? The answer to that question is exactly what you are making room for in your own life.
Bartimaeus did not give up; he did not draw back. He cried louder, “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” He chose to press on!

5. And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. Mark 10:49 KJV
Jesus saw his faith in action. Bartimaeus was hungry and desperate for Jesus and would not draw back. He pressed on! It’s amazing what happened next – Jesus stood still.
Everything that you need from Jesus can be received now as long as you stay hungry, thirsty, and desperate for Jesus. Press on.
If you look at religion and Jesus, you see two totally different pictures. Religion is rigid, argumentative, self-seeking, and judgmental. Jesus is loving, caring, and compassionate. He has His arms open wide. He is ready to accept you just as you are, and He will change you from the inside out.
Keep your eyes on Jesus.  Do not draw back. Say, “I press on.

6. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. Mark 10:50 KJV
His garment represented blindness. Today, people use a red-tipped cane.
Casting away his garment was an act of faith. Ultimately, he was casting his cares upon the Lord and trusting that he would receive his miracle immediately.
You need to cast away everything that is holding you back. Some examples could be fear, doubt, insecurity, sickness, and lack.
Cast all your cares on the One Who can help you. His name is Jesus.
Rise up, walk in faith, and receive your miracle today.

7. And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. Mark 10:51 KJV
Jesus asked, “What do you want Me to do for you?” How would you like Jesus to ask you that?
It was Bartimaeus’ continuous, fervent, bold, faith, faith that did not draw back, that caused him to press on to receive his miracle!

8. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way. Mark 10:52 KJV
Bartimaeus is not blind anymore because he did not draw back. He pressed in to Jesus. Against all odds, he experienced his own personal miracle and followed Jesus. That’s revival.
A spirit of revival activated in your heart will cause you to fall in love with Jesus all over again and will make you what you’re meant to be!
As you run your heavenly race, the ultimate and supreme prize is hearing our Lord and Savior say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…

Say, “I press on; I press on.”