(Part 4 – continued from same day; part 3 here) (Navigation forward and backward to other posts also at bottom of screen)
We continue to be in such a critical time in the church and nation with the Lord calling His people to repentance to avert destruction and bring in the final harvest of the lost. Though much hidden has been exposed in answer to many prayers, this is only the exposure of the tip of the iceberg that threatens to sink this nation. We pray the nation is taking warning and beginning to change course, and that as much will be exposed as necessary to bring about the full change of course needed for us to return to our Christian foundations. Yet we know through the Word, that eventually the lawless, tyrannical kingdom of the enemy will be fully unleashed for its short season. As more and more sins have been embraced as acceptable by the world, and even within some churches, and the Truth and authority of God’s Word has been increasingly challenged and cast off by many, we pray that all will remember Jesus’ warnings that deception would be so great in the last days as lawlessness increases that even the elect could be deceived if possible (Matthew 
24). Even more concerning is the idea that He would give people over to the deception of lawlessness who do not love and hold to His Truth (Romans 1, II Thessalonians 2). As mentioned in previous notes, through this we will see the final separation of the wheat and tares, the sheep and goats.
Tragically, the combination of allowing the enemy to put a politically correct muzzle over Christians’ mouths and lulling the church into the comfort and complacency of lukewarmness, has resulted in many becoming more conformed to the world than the Word. Even if we feel our roots are deep enough and foundation strong enough to prayerfully, with the help of God, withstand the deception Jesus and Paul spoke of in the last days, what about many others in the church? What about the next generation? What about those who are still lost? The Lord has reminded us that part of being salt and light to our society involves bringing His Word to bear on every situation and issue of our day ~ whether or not it is politically correct or popular.
I charge [you] in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, Who is to judge the living and the dead, and by (in the light of) His coming and His kingdom: Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching. For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold, And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions. As for you, be calm and cool and steady, accept and suffer unflinchingly every hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fully perform all the duties of your ministry. II Timothy 4:1-5
If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Deliver those who are drawn away to death, and those who totter to the slaughter, hold them back [from their doom]. If you [profess ignorance and] say, Behold, we did not know this, does not He Who weighs and ponders the heart perceive and consider it? And He Who guards your life, does not He know it? And shall not He re
nder to [you and] every man according to his works? Proverbs 24:10-12
In order to fulfill God’s call, it’s not only vital that we have an unbiased love for the Truth and continue to hold to Him and His Word, but that we also lay down our lives to contend for the faith so that others can have a fighting chance to not be (or not remain) deceived, always remembering this must be done in humility, with compassion, and love, knowing the people are not the enemy – they are God’s object of desire that He longs to set free from the deception and bondage of satan (II Timothy 2:24-26).
Since this note refers to the important role that God desires His supernatural gifts of the Spirit to play in evangelism and ministry, it is important to mention again what He began emphasizing to us at the start of 2011 ~ that true miracles, signs, and wonders will confirm both His grace and His Truth. We are not to be led by miracles, signs, and wonders, but by God’s Holy Spirit of Truth. If the message being confirmed is lawlessness and not Lordship, it doesn’t matter what kind of power may be displayed, the source is not from God. As God “cleans house,” other spirits that have crept into the church, masquerading as the Holy Spirit, are now beginning to be exposed in greater measure. The Lord warns of these things and exposes them to the Light because of His great love for us and His desire that we overcome the intense deception of the last days. We pray for all of us to increasingly understand the anatomy of deception, to have razor-sharp discernment through God’s Word and Spirit (thoroughly knowing the Truth ~ the Person and His Word), and to engage in the spiritual warfare necessary to overcome and overthrow the enemy in every area of our lives.
Blessings and Prayers!
© Laura Jewell Tyree
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Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7
Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]. Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God, And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace. Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one]. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God. Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people). Ephesians 6:11-18
I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. Romans 12:1-2
So, since Christ suffered in the flesh for us, for you, arm yourselves with the same thought and purpose [patiently to suffer rather than fail to please God]. For whoever has suffered in the flesh [having the mind of Christ] is done with [intentional] sin [has stopped pleasing himself and the world, and pleases God], So that he can no longer spend the rest of his natural life living by [his] human appetites and desires, but [he lives] for what God wills. I Peter 4:1-2
Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset—rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the dominion (power, authority, rule) forever and ever. Amen (so be it). I Peter 5:6-11
