As a student and teacher of Bible prophecy for 35 years, it is my belief that the next event on the prophetic calendar will be the Rapture of the church, as I mentioned last week. The Rapture is the event when we will be "caught up to meet the Lord in the air" (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
The teaching of Christ's return is a real litmus test of where you are spiritually. For the person who is right with God, it motivates and purifies them. For the person who is not right with God, it frightens and alarms them.
For the believer who is watching and waiting, Christ's return is welcomed. For the person who is not where they need be spiritually, He will come as a thief.
So, in light of this hope of Christ's return, how are we to live? What are we to do as we await His return? Three things come to mind: We need to wake up, sober up, and suit up.
Paul tell us, "Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation" (1 Thessalonians 5:6�8).
We need to wake up. The Encyclopedia Britannica defines sleep as "a state of inactivity, with a loss of consciousness and a decrease in responsiveness to events taking place." There are people in the church today who have gone to sleep. They are not watching the signs of the times, nor are they observing the "times and seasons." There is a lethargy and passiveness, even a laziness. There seems to be a disconnect between their so-called "spiritual life" and real life. Instead of "walking in the Spirit," they are sleepwalking.
What Paul is saying in this verse is "Wake up and be ready for the Lord's return!"
Remember when you were a little kid and it was so hard to fall asleep on Christmas Eve? Maybe it was the excitement of opening your presents the next day. Or perhaps it was the hope of seeing Santa Claus. But it was a joyful anticipation that kept you awake, not some kind of dread or fear.
In the same way, looking for Christ's return is not a miserable, repressive, or confining way to live. It's a happy, joyful, purposeful way to live.
Let me close with the words of C.H. Spurgeon, who said, "It is a very blessed thing to be on the watch for Christ, it is a blessing to us now. How it detaches you from the world! You can be poor without murmuring. You can be rich without worldliness. You can be sick without sorrowing. You can be healthy without presumption. If you are always waiting for Christ's coming, untold blessings are wrapped up in that glorious hope."
I believe Christ will definitely come during our generation. I think our economy for example is a sign of things to come. With that being said, my breastplate & helmet fit nicely :dancingp:
In the same way, looking for Christ's return is not a miserable, repressive, or confining way to live. It's a happy, joyful, purposeful way to live.
*** :applause:...This is so true Sister...thank you...and Thank you Genuine for being...well...Genuine about your Helmet & Brestplate fitting nicely...Praise GOD !!!...xo
Bah; Let me get this straight! :dunce: You have been a student and teacher of Bible prophecy for 35 years and you are 34 years old! Started before you were conceived? Amazing! :excited:
Grand article Bahira, thank you for sharing. Yes, SoGenuine and Jude, what a great day that will be when we see Jesus...all we will be able to say is AMEN!... He is the hope of our glory!:applause::dancingp::yay:
chevy, I don't recall seeing where Bahira states that she is the author of this writing, in fact I don't recall where she has even listed the author's name.
So how or should I say, where does she state that SHE has been a student of the Bible and prophecy for over 35 years... since there is no author's name... there's much you have assumed isn't there without KNOWING the authorship of this piece?
Regardless, of the author, you must admit and rejoice in knowing that Christ is going to return soon and very soon, and the article its self is beautiful and full of God's truth.
She just used another person's words and posted as her own! Quite deceptive! :devil: bahri, who wrote this? I'd like to give credit where credit is due.:dancingp::yay::dancingp:
This article was written by Greg Laurie for The Christian Post.com and it is copyrighted.
"Copyright � 2011 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright � 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000" - taken from their website.
chevy, then you should have asked her and rather than assumed it was written by her., and trying to compare it to her age... you still don't know who the suthor is nor have you ever heard of him, so what;'s your point of edification? walking away shaking my head...:purpleangel:
browneyes, yes you posted the copyright information which also applies to everything that you, I, and anyone else has posted or quoted on this site without permission... but do you know if this is the case with this article that Bahira? Do you personally know that most spiritual writings are and can be used without such permission, since she is not selling nor has she stated this was her article, and this is for a christian form, an i doubt that Pastor Greg whouldl even mind. Do you knwo for a fact whetehr or not Bahira knowns him personally? NO YOU DON"T KNOW ONE DOGGONE THING! ... so what your prupose of posting copyright information? Do you know if she has permission to do such, or are you continue to sins by being presumptuous,a nd causign strife, and being vindictive and reviling?... these are sins you know, and you're very close to being a false accuser of your sistern in matters you know nothing about. Is this meant to be vindictive and what fruit of the spirit are you displaying?... Maybe I should check out your threads and posting history and see what quotes and stuff you have posted without author's copyright permission... so what did you profit and prove by posting the copyright information to the article?... you little childish :devil:...you also need to learn how to stop being a tag-along...
I see why you guys can't find the right mates. first the girls or guys who WOULD be interested in you, after they read your posts and watch your behavior through your responses get turned off. Secondly, YOU YOURSELVES must be right before you can find anyone right. You must think God is crazzzee to send you somebody special when you show yoursleves are probing to be unworthy of anyone outside of your own behavior that you're displaying on this forum... wonder what you will have to say about your behavior when Jesus does return...He knows your hearts and keep perfect records!
