Getting Close

COVID has really made more people aware of the mark of the beast. Type in on Google or Youtube, “Is the vaccine the mark of the beast?” and you will get millions of hits. There are so many wacky prophets out there just trying to get clicks by perpetuating this myth. Granted, the vaccine shows us how easy people will take the mark, but it isn’t it. Revelation tells us that when the Antichrist comes, he will make the people get his mark on them. We are getting close.

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭13:16-17

“And it makes everyone — small and great, rich and poor, free and slave — to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark: the beast’s name or the number of its name.”

As the tribulation goes on and the judgments of God get more severe, the Antichrist, Satan’s puppet, will turn his wrath against the church. He will make life miserable and even murder millions. One of his tactics will be to squeeze them out of everyday life by getting a mark of the beast. This will be a visible mark or chip that will allow people to buy and sell goods. It will be challenging to survive without the mark. Going off the grid will work for a while, but eventually, they will track those down. It’s all an attempt to get back at God for what He is doing.

What is Your Testimony?

A little old lady in her eighties was attending a Sunday school conference. She had faithfully taught at her church for over fifty years. When the leaders of the conference heard about it, they asked her on stage. She received a thunderous ovation from all in attendance. The leader asked her what the key to…

Words of Instruction

Most Christians around the world would be considered charismatic. They believe in and operate in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is not uncommon to hear a word from the Lord or a message in tongues. While these are valuable in encouraging the church body, they always take a back seat to the teaching of the Word of God. Words of Instruction build up the believer.

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭14:19

“yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than ten thousand words in another tongue.”

The church in Corinth was really into the spiritual gifts like speaking into tongues and prophesy. Paul had to give them instructions on using those gifts in the services because they spoke over one another and interrupted the services. Paul also makes it clear that while those gifts are significant, teaching was of utmost importance. He would instead teach five words of instruction over thousands of words spoken in tongues.

Consumed With the End of the World

Some people are consumed with a coming apocalypse. That is why shows like “The Walking Dead” are so popular. Whether it be a zombie apocalypse or a meteor cratering towards earth, people are consumed with the end of the world. The Bible talks about the end times, and it describes two characters that will hold the world’s attention.

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭11:5

“If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and consumes their enemies; if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way.”

During the Tribulation, there will be two men who are called witnesses. They will be in Jerusalem, and they will preach non-stop the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the coming wrath of God. Those who have hardened their heart towards God will hate them and will try to kill them. If someone tries to harm them, fire will come from the witnesses’ mouths and consume them. Pretty scary scene, huh? It shows us that God means business. He doesn’t want anyone to perish, but they will be judged if they reject the Gospel.

Three Key Ingredients

A pastor of a small country church asked one of the deacons to pray. The deacon was a farmer, and he said this, “Lord, I don’t like flour, and I don’t care much for milk or lard…” The pastor peered out at the deacon, wondering where he was going with this prayer. The deacon continued, “but if you combine the three, it makes biscuits, and I love biscuits.” Three key ingredients make biscuits, and three key ingredients make a good Christian.

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:13

“Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love — but the greatest of these is love.”

First Corinthians chapter thirteen is known as the love chapter. It gives us the best definition of what Agape love looks like. At the end of the chapter, Paul tells us that three key ingredients need to remain faith, hope, and love. These makeup what every believer needs to navigate the treacherous waters of this world. You need faith because you have to trust the Lord for everything. Hope is what we look forward to, and our destination is most glorious. The greatest of these is love. You need the love of the Lord in order to love others.

Baptized Into One Body

Racism is real, but it shouldn’t be evident in the church. The color of one person’s skin or ethnic background has caused cruelty and wars since the beginning. Unfortunately, it made its way into the church, and people have been abused and mistreated. When you came to Christ, you were changed. You are no longer classified by your race but by your identity in Christ. We are all baptized into one body.

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:13‬

“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”

The symbolism of baptism is essential to understand. When you are laid back in the water, it is symbolic of you dying and being buried. As you are raised up, it symbolizes how you were resurrected from the dead by the mercy of Jesus Christ. When you come out of the water is shows that you are a new person and that your old life is dead. Your identity in Christ is above every other characteristic about you. You’ve been baptized into one body. Love is the predominant trait that comes out of your heart. You see people as God sees them, and you understand that everyone is a sinner in need of grace, no matter their background.

Living in the Increase

There is an old proverb that goes something like this, “If you heap manure into a pile, it only causes a stink, but if you spread it out, it causes things to grow.” There is an important principle underlying this proverb. Hold tightly to things, and you will always be wanting more. Give things away, and you will never have any needs. Solomon shows that living in the increase takes a person who freely gives.

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭11:24

“There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want.”

This proverb goes against all common sense. How can you possibly increase what you have by scattering? One would think that you increase your wealth by saving, but Solomon tells us that if we want to increase what we have, we need to scatter, or give away, what we possess right now. Think about it. No farmer harvests a crop he doesn’t plant. He must scatter the seed and allow it to grow to produce the bounty he needs to make money. When we freely give of what we have, it has a way of coming back to us.

Who’s In Charge?

Have you ever walked into a store where no workers are found, and the shelves are complete chaos? I bet one of the first things you thought was, “Who’s in Charge?” The same can be said of many households because they have neglected God’s ordained order. Paul lays out who’s in charge when it comes to leading the family.

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭11:3

“But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.”

First, we must understand that at the top is God overseeing His Son, Jesus. Jesus has been given all authority over humanity, and that extends to the household. Jesus is the head of every man, and the man is the head of the woman. This pertains only to married households. Men are not over every woman, and their authority over others stops at the threshold of their front door. God established order in the family so that it would function properly.

Walk With Confidence

Criminals rarely walk around in broad daylight. They stay in dark places and avoid authorities at all cost. Now, this is a generalization propagated by Hollywood movies. There are many criminals that operate in broad daylight. One thing that makes a person feel secure is their conscience. If a person walks in integrity they will walk with confidence.

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭10:9

“He who walks in integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will be found out.”

You can always tells something is wrong with someone when they are walking funny. By that I mean if a person is limping or favoring one leg. They are obviously in pain and can’t hide it. There is another way you can tell when something isn’t right, when a person is depressed or under a lot of stress. Their shoulders slump and their head hangs low. This is what Solomon is talking about in this verse. A person who walks in integrity walks with confidence and a bounce in their step while a person who prevents his ways is always looking over their shoulder.

Remember the Needy

During the early Covid days, our church was an outlet for the local food pantry. We would hand out meals to hundreds of families. During one period, we got special shipments of fresh produce that farmers had donated. It didn’t last long, but the people were blessed. We must remember the needy. God laid out plans for Israel to do the same.

‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭19:9-10‬

“‘Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the needy and the stranger. I am the LORD your God.”

Moses is reminding the Israelites as they prepare to enter the promised land to remember the needy. Israel would be given houses they didn’t build and fields they didn’t plant, so God wanted them to act the same way to those in need. They were to leave the corners of their wheat fields unharvested so that hungry could come and harvest for themselves. Interestingly, God told them to leave the corners because it was easy for them to access. God didn’t want the poor to be humiliated by walking to the middle of the field.