Keeping Faith Strong Until the End

Scripture:  Matthew 24:1–14

 

Observation:  God’s timing is never our timing.  The disciples thought the end was very near based on what they observed and heard Yeshua speaking of.  We too might look around and think “it HAS to be near!” 

 

One day, Yeshua will return to this earth.  He wants us to be ready all the time for this great event.  Yeshua says there will be hard times (vs. 9-13).  It’s during these times I really want His return to be NOW!  No one likes hard times, but the idea of heaven and being free of hard times, that is an idea we can all get around.  What little girl doesn’t dream of her knight in shining armor coming on his white horse to rescue her from all her troubles?  This is why stories like Cinderella and others are so popular even long after we have grown up.

 

These verses tell us the troubles we will face may even lead to physical death, but worse than that would be those who will fall away and lose faith.  We want to be those who stay strong until the end.

 

Application:    Think about the fact that Jesus Christ will return to this earth.  Comment on how this makes you feel.  Are there things you would want to do differently if you knew His coming was today or tomorrow or this week or month?  None of know how many days we have.  Whether He comes sooner rather than later or the last chapter in your book is being written we must be a people who choose “faith to the end” and to “remain strong”.

 

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, too often we can get our perspective all wrong.  Help us to keep our eyes on You no matter what storms are going on around us.  Help us to remain strong and keep and continue to grow our faith until the end.  Through Christ, our Knight, I pray, Amen & Amen

 

Come Lord Jesus Come!

 

One last encouraging word from a devotional that came up in my news feed memories from 2013:  "There are many last days in our lives: the last day of school, the last day before graduation ... Many last days! Then there is a last day in all our lives that we can't skip over. We won't know until that moment when that last day is for us. So, we need to make preparations to be ready when it arrives. We need to make ourselves ready for that approaching day by surrendering ourselves to God and staying in the Word. The Word gives us power to overcome so we can make it through to the LAST DAY, when we will be with Him."

Fearing the Unknown

 

Read:  Leviticus 25:17-19; Psalm 25; and Acts 22

 

“We fear what we do not know.” ~ Unknown

 

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer

 

S:  The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.  Look upon my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.  Look upon my enemies, for they are many, And they hate me with violent hatred.  Guard my soul and deliver me; do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in You.  Psalms 25:17-20

 

O:  I imagine the above Scripture passage was a prayer Paul might have prayed often.  The Psalms are a great prayer prompter for the things we are facing in our lives!

 

As I read through the Leviticus passage I was impressed with the fact that God’s got a plan and He has it all under control!  (See Leviticus 25:17-19)  All we have to do is follow His plan!

 

A man by the name of Dan Brown writes in The Lost Symbol this quote, "What we don't understand, we fear. What we fear, we judge as evil. What we judge as evil, we attempt to control. And what we cannot control...we attack." UNKNOWN

 

I think that quote sums up Paul’s life after his conversion.  The religious Jewish leaders did not understand Paul’s conversion.  They were fearful of him and what he was teaching.  They judged him harshly and as “not religious” and therefore evil.  When he tried to explain and give his testimony they listened up to the point he began telling them about the Gentiles; then they began to attack him.  Their prejudices and jealousy kept them from understanding and it kept them bound to fear.

 

When we deal with people who do not understand our conversion stories do not be surprised when instead of being received we are attacked.  Partly it is from a lack of understanding and fear on their part and partly from reading Psalm 25 I think it is because the enemy of God uses people to afflict us and to tear us down, not because of you and I, but because of the One who lives in us. 

 

The enemy was doing everything in his weak power to thwart the message of Paul, but time and time again God won through Paul and used him mightily to further His Kingdom.  We must do as Psalm 25 says and WAIT ON THE LORD!  We must be patient.  God is at work and He does have everything in control and HE HAS A PLAN!

 

A:  Wait on the LORD.  Walk in the ways He shows me and to trust in Him.

 

P:  To You O LORD do I lift up my soul.  It is in You God that I trust.  Do not let me be ashamed or let the enemy exult himself over me.  LORD I pray for good understanding.  I pray that You would teach me Your ways and truth.  Thank you for being my Salvation!  I will wait on You all the days of my life.  Through Christ I pray, Amen & Amen.

 

 

 

Sanctification

□ Ex. 29:44-46; Acts 7

Theme:  Sanctification and in Acts - Stephen's defense. (1-50) Stephen reproves the Jews for the death of Christ. (51-53) The martyrdom of Stephen. (54-60)

S:  ⁴⁶ They shall know [from personal experience] and acknowledge that I am the Lord their God who brought them out …

But they didn’t according to Acts 7:43 “You also took along the tabernacle (portable temple) of Moloch and the star of the god Rompha …”  They thought they could have God + Moloch, but God is a jealous God.  He is not going to share the center stage (or backstage for that matter) with any other person or thing in your life.  It is Christ alone!

Stephen calls them out on it in verse ⁵¹ “You stiff-necked and stubborn people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are always actively resisting the Holy Spirit. You are doing just as your fathers did.”

O:  I find it interesting that Stephen spent several minutes recounting the history of Israel to these well learned men of the council.  Matthew Henry points out that one of Stephen’s points in doing this was to reflect back on their very poor beginnings.  They took a lot of pride in being Jewish and Stephen points out that it was all God and had nothing to do with them.

Matthew Henry writes this in reflection of Verses 17-29 “Let us not be discouraged at the slowness of the fulfilling of God's promises. Suffering times often are growing times …”  I was discussing this with my children yesterday about Moses.  He was preserved from infancy for a special plan and purpose.  God takes care of his servants.  But it did take EIGHTY YEARS!  for Moses to be prepared and for God’s timing to be perfect. 

In regards to the temple Matthew Henry points this out, “… none of our services can profit Him who made all things. Next to the human nature of Christ, the broken and spiritual heart is his most valued temple.”  The leaders of that day (and even in to this day) loved the idea of the temple and the ordinances.  One of my prayers is that “doing” church would not become more important to us then “being” a church body and Christ’s servant.

“Stephen died as much in a hurry as ever any man did, yet, when he died, the words used are, he fell asleep; he applied himself to his dying work with as much composure as if he had been going to sleep. He shall awake again in the morning of the resurrection, to be received into the presence of the Lord, where is fullness of joy, and to share the pleasures that are at his right hand, for evermore.” ~ Matthew Henry Concise Commentary on Acts 7

A:  Application #1) to submit daily to the Holy Spirit, 2) to know from personal experience the LORD who brings me out and sanctifies me daily, 3) to not mix other “gods” with my service to Jesus, 4) to be patient to wait on God’s perfect timing and to prepare me fully for the works He has for me to do (Ephesians 2:10) and lastly 5) to be careful not to put church and “doing” above God, who is the head of the church.

P:  Dear Jesus, I know You are my Deliverer; the One who has redeemed me.  May I remember on a daily basis that You are the One who is in the process of making me more like Christ each day.  It is nothing I can do on my own except to be willing to listen and obey You.  May I not resist the Holy Spirit’s work in my life, but to become a daily sacrifice willing to do the things that You ask me to do.  May I be careful to not bring along my own “gods” as I seek to worship You each day, but to always remember it is Christ Alone!  Thank You for the good works that You have prepared for me to do according to Ephesians 2:10; some I feel I have already accomplished and some I look forward to doing and being used of You.  Thank You for being present in my life.  In Jesus’ Saving Name I pray, Amen & Amen.

 

Love & Blessings,

  Michelle L. Kirkbride

Join me in studying God's Word

 Show Me Your Face Bible Study Group

Just click to join!