31
December 2009
Jesus said men’s hearts would fail in the end times
because of the terrible things that would come over the earth. We are living in
those times. Paul gave three reasons why we live in pernicious and terrible
times: men are lovers of self, lovers of money and lovers of pleasure rather
than lovers of God.
As we look back over the last decade, specifically over
the past year, we have very little to encourage us. We face the 21st
Century with great uncertainty. In Australia they
termed a phrase ‘The One-ders’ to refer to people who live in the 21st
Century.
I have good news for all who are prepared to believe in
Jesus Christ: if He knew what we would face, would he not have given us all we
require to live a godly life in these terrible times? He has given us keys to
spiritual fortification in His Word.
God who gave us His own son also gave us all we need to
face life in the 21st Century. He has held nothing back. But we have
to come to Him on His terms and learn to walk in His ways. We have to apply the
spiritual re-enforcement.
God’s ways are not our ways and God’s thoughts are not our
thoughts. They are higher than our ways and our thoughts. But as the rain comes
down and waters the earth and causes it to bud and bring forth fruit, so the
Word of God shall not return void but accomplish the thing to which it was
sent.
In the world, Jesus said, you will have tribulation, but
do not be afraid I have overcome the world. John the apostle of love tells us
that it is our faith in Jesus Christ that helps us to overcome the world. We
can have peace in our hearts and minds, in spite of the condition of the world
we live in, because of our faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God.
Baghdad is
being bombed non-stop but finally Iraq is
going to have its first general election since Saddam Hussein was deposed in
2003. This also infers that Iraq will
use its own currency instead of the American dollar.
In Tehran in Iran the
re-election of Mahmoujd Ahmadinejad was vehemently opposed by unauthorized
political rallies supported by young and old. The atmosphere was more of a
street party than a political rally.
The Guinea
dictator Moussa Dadis Camara survived an assassination attempt. He is still in
power.
US
president Barack Obama has finally signed the deal to repay Native American
Indians what has been owed to them for use of tribal lands – close to $3.4
billion. The pact still needs to be approved by a federal court and authorized
by congress.
In Rio de Janeiro streets
kids and vagrants have been killed by police since 2003. These injustices
simply go unpunished.
Remote control unmanned airplanes will patrol the coasts
of America for
surveillance to keep a watch out for smugglers and illegal immigrants off Florida’s
coast. One aircraft costs $13 million.
Romania’s
political stalemate continues due to infighting and accusations of fraud during
the election. The government in Romania has
collapsed.
On the other hand Bolivia that is
notorious for coups and has had five Presidents in five years has been
stabilized by the re-election of Evo Morales, the first Native American
President in Bolivia’s
history.
Vladimir Putkin intends to run for re-election in his bid
for presidency in Russia in
2010. When asked if he had plans to retire, he said, ‘Don’t hold your breath.’
Al Quada boss Osama bin Laden’s whereabouts is always
guessed at and yet much of the suicide bombing in the world is directly related
to this extreme Muslim sect.
The war in Afghanistan is
increasing. 60 000 US Marines were deployed towards the end of 2009 to
strengthen the presence of American soldiers in that desolate area. The
soldiers march sometimes for 6 days in 57 degrees Celsius with 54 kilogram
packs on their backs. At night they dig shallow firing holes to sleep in. One
soldier remarked: ‘It feels like sleeping in a narrow grave, but you do feel
safer.’
Michael Jackson passed away but lives on in his on screen
presence the Thriller dance parties that were performed in no less than 14
difference cities.
Edward Kennedy was buried in the dark in Arlington
National Cemetery, Virginia. The
Secret Service brought in a light to help the funeral goers to see where they
were going.
China is
going to build one of the largest solar power stations in the world at Crescent Moon Lake, in the
desert of Dunhuang.
Pasig City in the Philippines was
almost destroyed by Typhoon Parma and a sports arena near Manila turned
into an evacuation center housing 1000 destitute families. Because there was no
toilet facilities and people couldn’t bath it was like the smell of a dump
site.
Saturn’s equinox revealed a third dimension to the planted
that was never seen before.
Old quarters in big cities have been revamped to become
the playground of the rich and famous. For instance, Woolloomooloo in
Sydney-East, is now the home of many famous and rich Australians. Russell Crow
lives in an $8, 5 million penthouse.
The Copenhagen Summit for world weather changes delivered
precious little answers and showed man’s inability to control the changes in
nature patterns.
Here are several keys for spiritual reinforcement.
Ephesians 3:14-19
1.
Pray for a reason, not a ritual.
2.
Pray that God may grant you to be
strengthened with might in the inner man. This happens through the Spirit of
God working in us.
3.
Pray that Christ may dwell in your heart
by faith
4.
Pray that you be rooted and grounded in
love
5.
Pray to comprehend the size of Christ’s
love in all its dimensions
6.
Pray that God will fill you with the
fullness of God
7.
Pray to know and believe the love of
Christ that surpasses knowledge
Remember that God is able to do exceeding abundantly above
all that we think or ask. The word, ‘to know’ in this passage is ‘epiginowsko’
which speaks of experiential knowledge. We need to experience God’s love.
The width of God’s love
I Chronicles 23:17 the
grandson of Moses was called Rehabiah meaning God is wide. He had many sons.
Once someone understands the width of God’s love it can be passed on from
generation to generation. This is also spiritual technology to reinforce our
faith.
Christ’s patience, kindness and goodness, his forgiveness
and his sustaining power are all proof of his love. He loves you until you
learn to love Him.
The depth of God’s love
There is no shallow end to the deep, deep love of God.
Shakespeare wrote, love is not love which alters when it alteration finds, oh
no, it is an ever fixed mark that looks upon tempest and is never shaken, it is
the North Star to every wandering bark…
The length of God’s love
To what length will love go to save a soul? God’s longsuffering
towards us is proof of the length of Christ’s love – He just never gives up on
anyone!
The height of God’s love
T he upward dimension of God’s love is as high as the
heavens above. It speaks of the fullness of god. He supplies all our needs
according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
As we increase in the knowledge of God we are strengthened
with all might in the inner man according to His glorious power. This helps us
to endure, to be patient and to maintain our joy in believing with long suffering.
Spiritual re-enforcement is required to keep Kingdom
values alive when we go through trials and tribulations of our faith.
We are strengthened (dunamis, inherent power giving us
ability) with all might (dunamis) according to his glorious (doxa, weightiness,
power and strength, wealth and magnificence) power (kratos, god’s manifested
power revealed in the earth). God’s power is manifested relevant to our need.
He has translated us from the power of darkness into the Kingdom
of the Son of His love. He drew us to Himself with cords of love – away from
lawless deeds. We have moved location; we have changed address!
He paid the ransom for our redemption in full, through his
blood. Our sins are fully forgiven! (Colossians 1:11-14)
We ask and pray that we would be filled with the knowledge
of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
Here lies a great secret of the church and the blessing of
belonging to the body of Christ: when our hearts are knit together in love we
attain to all the riches of the full assurance of understanding to the
knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ in whom are
hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:2, 3).
When you are spiritually reinforced, your love will be
grounded in Christ and your faith will be steadfast and not shaken or stirred.
You will be established in the faith and abound in thanksgiving.
(Colossians 1:23 and
2:6, 7)
For this purpose I suffer all the things I do, because I
am a minister of the mysteries of God. For this reason I labor and strive and
face all the conflicts and temptations I have to face. For this reason I bow my
knees to pray – for you. Pray for me also. I am your servant in the Lord.