Abiding

“AND THE LORD SHUT HIM IN”….THEN SOON CAME THE END!

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The Fear of the LORD is to Hate Evil: Pride, and Arrogancy #shorts [video]

“AND THE LORD SHUT HIM IN”….THEN SOON CAME THE END!

Mark Owen

Genesis 7: 1, 4, 10, 16

“And the Lord said unto Noah, ‘COME THOU and all thy house INTO THE ARK; for thee have I seen righteous before Me in this generation …For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth…And it came to pass AFTER SEVEN DAYS, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth … And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: AND THE LORD SHUT HIM IN”.

SEVEN DAYS BEFORE the long promised, yet long-delayed WRATH OF GOD was poured out upon the earth, the Lord called Noah INTO THE ARK, along with the clean and unclean animals and birds and beasts which God had assembled.

GOD WAS INSIDE THE ARK, when calling Noah INTO IT! He did NOT say GO into the ark, but “COME”!

They WAITED there in the ark for ONE WEEK, no doubt to allow any other people from the “WORLD” to escape.

The door REMAINED OPEN for one final week. Whosoever would but HEED the call of Noah, could yet be SAVED, but by the time of the last week the people were UTTERLY OBLIVIOUS!

There were TOO MANY OTHER AMUSEMENTS, DISTRACTIONS and ENTERTAINMENTS going on for them, to THINK TOO DEEPLY about the eccentric family with its menagerie of animals, clambering ABOARD the pitch covered ARK!

AFTER SEVEN DAYS of settling and WAITING WITHIN THE ARK, THE DOOR WAS SHUT and the raindrops began to fall.

Jesus said of them that it was BUSINESS AS USUAL for them, “…until the day Noah entered into the Ark, they KNEW NOT UNTIL THE FLOOD CAME AND TOOK THEM ALL AWAY …” (Mat. 24:39).

After seven days, GOD HIMSELF CLOSED THE DOOR!

As long as the DOOR IS OPEN, there remains a CHANCE for men to be SAVED from the COMING WRATH … But there does come a time when GOD CLOSES THE DOOR!

When JUDGMENT came, it came QUICKLY, and WITHOUT WARNING!

THERE WAS NO TIME FOR NOAH TO GIVE THEM ONE FINAL WARNING, AS THE LORD SHUT HIM IN!

THERE IS A TIME FOR EVERYONE PREACHING THE WORD OF GOD … TO STOP WARNING … AND TO BOARD THE ARK, LIKE NOAH!

“BUT AS THE DAYS OF NOAH WERE, SO SHALL ALSO THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN BE. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And KNEW NOT until the flood came, and took them all away; SO SHALL ALSO THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN BE” (Mat. 24:37-39).

The SAME will be true in the last days! There will be NO DRAMATIC INDICATIONS that “THE DAY” or “THE HOUR” (of judgment) has come!

TWO MEN will be in the field, going about their NORMAL DAILY ROUTINE; one will be TAKEN, the other will be LEFT! TWO WOMEN will be grinding grain, just as they NORMALLY WOULD; one will be TAKEN, the other will be LEFT (Mat. 24:40-41).

The APPLICATION is now spelled out in verses 42-44.

Since NO ONE CAN KNOW the day or the hour that the LORD WILL COME, we must be CONSTANTLY in a state of ALERTNESS, READY AT ANY MOMENT!

Have you ever wondered WHY it is that the WISE VIRGINS REFUSE to assist the FOOLISH virgins by SHARING A LITTLE OIL from their own lamps?

It WASN’T that the five wise virgins DIDN’T CARE; it was because there would NOT BE ENOUGH OIL FOR ALL TEN LAMPS!

IF SPENDING TIME, TEACHING OTHERS, IS DRAINING YOUR OIL … IT’S TIME TO STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING … AND TAKE TIME TO FILL UP YOUR OWN OIL LEVELS AT THE MASTER’S FEET, … INSIDE THE ARK, … IN ORDER TO BE RAPTURE READY!

“And while they went to buy, the BRIDEGROOM CAME; and they that were READY went in with him to the marriage: AND THE DOOR WAS SHUT. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, OPEN to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I KNOW YOU NOT” (Mat. 25:10-12).

In our text, the FIVE FOOLISH VIRGINS are NOT given the time to REVERSE their folly, once the GROOM has come!

They had their OPPORTUNITY, and they LOST it. Now it is TOO LATE!

I believe that the five FOOLISH virgins had NO OIL, for the very same reasons people continue to RUN OUT OF GAS, even when the FLASHING MESSAGE on their INSTRUMENT PANEL tells them they are!

First, MEN DON’T BELIEVE THE WARNING SIGNS!

They DON’T think things are as BAD as they are reported to be!

“I must have MORE GAS than that!” Or, “I’ve gotten THIS SAME MESSAGE BEFORE, and I’ve ALWAYS been able to get to the gas station, BEFORE RUNNING OUT”!

Those who RUN OUT OF GAS (or refuse to buy oil), are the people who REFUSE TO HEED THE WARNINGS of God’s Word!

Those who DON’T PURCHASE FUEL are those who DON’T THINK THEY NEED IT, at least at the moment!

Those who RUN OUT OF FUEL, are those who WRONGLY SUPPOSE that they still have PLENTY OF TIME TO GET IT LATER!

WE KNOW when our gas gauge is LOW!

THEY..WE CAN SEE THE FLASHING LIGHTS on the dash, but we LULL OURSELVES into thinking that there is still PLENTY OF TIME TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM!

This FALSE CONFIDENCE has gotten many people into TROUBLE!

The COMING OF OUR LORD will be SUDDEN and UNEXPECTED, and when He comes, all chances of CHANGING our course, have been FORFEITED!

JESUS CONCLUDED ALL HIS MESSAGES to the 7 CHURCHES in the book of Revelation, by saying: “He that hath an ear, LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAITH UNTO THE CHURCHES” .

GOD’S VOICE is heard only by those SHUT UP WITH HIM IN SECRET PRAYER!

God is VERY CAREFUL to whom He speaks. It is only to those who VALUE His voice so much, THEY SHUT OUT THE WHOLE WORLD TO GET ALONE AND WAIT FOR HIM:

God’s voice came to MOSES, when he was shut up ALONE with HIM.
The word came to JOHN THE BAPTIST, ALONE in the WILDERNESS.
The voice of God came to JACOB, in the DESERT of Haran.
God spoke to JOSHUA, when he went OUT of the camp, ALONE, before Jericho.
The voice of God came to PAUL, ALONE in the DESERT.
The voice of the Father came to JESUS, ALONE on the MOUNTAIN in PRAYER.

God says to us, “If you WANT TO HEAR My voice, SHUT yourself up in the SECRET CLOSET of PRAYER”!

BUSYNESS, LUSTS, COVETOUSNESS, and the CARES of life, CHOKE OUT THE VOICE OF GOD!

Jesus gave us a DREADFUL WARNING against becoming TOO BUSY, TO STOP AND HEAR HIS VOICE! In the PARABLE of the SOWER, the WORD is HIS VOICE:

“These are they which are sown among THORNS; such as HEAR THE WORD, and the CARES of this world, and the DECEITFULNESS of riches, and the LUSTS of other things entering in, CHOKE THE WORD, and it becometh UNFRUITFUL” (Mark 4:18-19).

I fear there are SOME READING THIS RIGHT NOW, who have been CHOKING the voice of God!

Choke here, means “TO CROWD” or to DROWN OUT His voice!

God ONCE spoke so CLEARLY to you! It was such a JOY to you. You still LOVE Him, but you have LESS and LESS TIME FOR HIM!

Your BUSYNESS now calls you – your RICHES, your CARES, your PROBLEMS, your FRIENDS ON FACEBOOK, and all the other things CONSUMING YOUR TIME!

The voice of God now GROWS DIM! He is CALLING you, WOOING you; WARNING you:

“KEEP THIS UP, AND YOU WILL TOTALLY CHOKE AND DROWN OUT MY VOICE IN YOU”!!!

It is NOT OF GOD and it is NOT HOLY GHOST DISCERNMENT – unless it was born in the SECRET CLOSET, out of a DEEP COMMUNION, a BROKEN SPIRIT, and MUCH TIME SPENT ALONE IN HIS PRESENCE!

I am convinced that ALL God’s people would be able to HEAR HIS STILL, SMALL VOICE, if they simply would lay down SIN and IDOLS and would get SHUT IN WITH HIM ALONE – and not leave until He speaks!

God is speaking a fresh word every day, TO ALL WHO WILL HEAR; but many CANNOT HEAR IT, because their HEARTS ARE GROWING HARD!

In Hebrews we read, “… TODAY, if ye will hear His voice, HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS …” (Hebrews 3:7-8).

God’s voice is a “TODAY” voice!

“He that hath the BRIDE is the BRIDEGROOM: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and HEARETH HIM, REJOICETH GREATLY because of the BRIDEGROOM’S VOICE: this my JOY therefore is fulfilled” (John 3:29).

OUR GREATEST JOY SHOULD BE: “I HEARD HIS VOICE! I stood alone, waiting, and I heard Him speak to me!”

The Holy Spirit will STRIVE FOR A WHILE, then it CEASED, when GOD SHUT THE DOOR!

The ARK brought Noah from the OLD WORLD to the NEW – from the valley of SORROW to the mountain of REST!

You must ENTER IN, for TODAY the door is OPEN! Soon God shall SHUT THE DOOR!

DON’T WAIT FOR THE TRUMPET TO SOUND!

On that day, it will be TOO LATE for the ones who NEGLECTED TO TAKE TIME TO HEAR WHAT GOD HAS TO SAY, and it will also be TOO LATE for the ones who WERE PREPARED THEMSELVES, to prepare ANYONE ELSE!

“WATCH YE THEREFORE, AND PRAY ALWAYS, that ye may be accounted WORTHY TO ESCAPE ALL these things that shall come to pass, and to STAND before the Son of man” (Luke 21:36).

Written by a whole lot of inspiration and insight, from the Holy Ghost!

The Return of Christ

10 Clues Your Love for God has Waxed Cold [podcast]

Our Sin Should Lay us at His Feet [podcast]

Abiding

The Blessing of Being Born of God, Born Again [podcast]

QUESTION:

“What does it mean to be ‘born again’?”

REPLY:

Great question. I am praying for you now. Born again is the same as regeneration we see in Titus 3:5-7. When the sinner (ALL of us) comes to God humbly, in repentance, turning his life to the LORD, and putting all of his faith now in Jesus Christ alone, God does a miracle in the person’s life—a change on the inside that is unmistakable and transforms that persons nature and life forever. From that moment onward, Christ reigns in that person’s life, filling him with love, joy, peace, etc. (Galatians 5:22-23). The LORD works from the inside out. First He saves, washes our sins away, and then dwells in that newly saved, born again temple (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

To be born again you have to go to God directly…. admitting you have sinned against Him, and receive Jesus into your life. It has to be personal. Religions are designed to keep you from God while claiming to be the way to God. Beware.

“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

“Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again (2nd birth).” John 3:7

“The birth for which Christ contends is from above—by the agency of the Holy Spirit. Every man must have two births, one from heaven, the other from earth—one of his body, the other of his soul: without the first he cannot see nor enjoy this world, without the last he can not see nor enjoy the kingdom of God. As there is an absolute necessity that a child should be born into the world, that he may see its light, contemplate its glories, and enjoy its good, so there is an absolute necessity that the soul should be brought out of its state of darkness and sin, through the light and power of the grace of Christ, that it may be able to see, or to discern, the glories and excellencies of the kingdom of Christ here, and be prepared for the enjoyment of the kingdom of glory hereafter. The Jews had some general notion of the new birth; but, like many among Christians, they put the acts of proselytism, baptism, etc., in the place of the Holy Spirit and his influence: they acknowledged that a man must be born again; but they made that new birth to consist in profession, confession, and external washing.

The new birth which is here spoken of comprehends, not only what is termed justification or pardon, but also sanctification or holiness. Sin must be pardoned, and the impurity of the heart washed away before any soul can possibly enter into the kingdom of God. As this new birth implies the renewing of the whole soul in righteousness and true holiness, it is not a matter that may be dispensed with: heaven is a place of holiness, and nothing but what is like itself can ever enter into it.” Adam Clarke

“I can remember after getting saved my friends and my family immediately saying What happened to her?’ There was an immediate and complete change in me. God cleaned me from the inside out. I was made brand new and people noticed. My family asked ‘What has happened to her?’ Does anyone know? Yes! Jesus happened to me! Alleluia!” Karen Cochran

YOUR PRAYER TO GOD TO BE SAVED, TO BE FORGIVEN

Are You Ready to be Saved? Okay here’s a prayer to be God’s child. You have to admit the obvious, that you have sinned against God and turn to Him fully, turn your life over to Him who made you, and confess Jesus Christ as the new LORD and Savior of your life. Pray this …

Your Prayer to God … You must honestly admit your sins and receive Christ… Apply His holy blood to your life so that you may be saved, forgiven, and live eternally with Him. You must completely turn your life over to Him in repentance and faith. Now, pray the following prayer to God with all that is within you, from your heart and out loud:….

Dear heavenly Father, right now, if never before, I come to You as a broken and sinful person. Thank You for sending Your only begotten Son to die in my place for my sins. Thank You Jesus for coming to this earth to die and rise again to rescue me from sin and eternal hell and to save me for Your eternal glory. Right this moment, if never before, I receive You LORD Jesus. Come in and take over my whole life. I am all Yours and You are all mine. I love You Jesus and I will follow You from this moment forward till I am with You in Heaven forever! Please use me to help others know You dear LORD. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

How do we know someone is “born of God”?

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; … Now then we are ambassadors for Christ…” 2 Corinthians 5:17-18, 20

First off, if you are born again you are changed from the inside out … you desire to do God’s will now…. and are learning the need for the cross, the daily crucified life (Luke 9:23-25).

Let us remember that the biblical words “born again” (John 3:3, 7), “born of God” (1 John 4:7), “regeneration,” and being a “new creature” in Christ go hand in hand or we can say, are synonymous.

“Born of God” appears 6 times in God’s Word and are all found in the book of 1 John:

1 John 3:9
Whosoever is BORN OF GOD doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is BORN OF GOD.

Those who are “born of God” do not live in sin. They repent or return (turn back) to the LORD, confessing all sin. If not they will “fall away” and be outside of Christ (Luke 8:13). See Can a Born Again Man be Un-Born Again? [podcast]

1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is BORN OF GOD, and knoweth God.

Those who are “born of God” walk in His love toward others.

1 John 5:1
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is BORN OF GOD: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

Those who repent and believe upon Christ are “born of God” and they love all other of Christ’s saints.

1 John 5:4
For whatsoever is BORN OF GOD overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Those who are “born of God” overcome this fallen world. By present and perpetual faith, they “overcometh the world.”

1 John 5:18
We know that whosoever is BORN OF GOD sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

Those “born of God” do not live in sin. Rather, they “keepeth” themselves from sin and therefore Satan. This is accomplished by what we read in 1 John 1 and 2—which spells out the walk of the true disciple of Jesus.

MAY GOD bless each disciple of Jesus today to abide in Christ by walking crucified and raised up by Him today (2 Corinthians 4:10-12). May “the fruit of the Spirit”—the “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance” be abundantly produced in the life of every saint of Jesus! May it be 100 fold LORD! Read John 15. If you have been drawn in by Christ (John 6:44; 12:32), have repented (Luke 13:3), have received Christ (John 1:12), and are born again (John 3:3), you are bought by the precious blood of the LORD Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:17-18).

YOUR PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You found and saved me into Your eternal kingdom by way of the precious blood of Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. I stop this life here and now, and I give You praise. I love You LORD Jesus. I am no longer my own but Yours. I am crucified with Christ. Please work in me both to will and to do of Your good pleasure. I am all Yours LORD and I know You are all mine! Please fill this vessel with Your Holy Ghost afresh, and please use me. In Jesus’ name, amen Master Jesus!

Your Life Will Never be the Same [podcast]

The “More Blessed” Life “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35 The “more blessed” life is the cross life our LORD calls us to. “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” Luke 9:23-24 These are the words of the Messiah – who gave His life to purchase His church. And dare we say […]

Born Again: What Does That Mean?

Understanding and Communicating the Born Again Experience No man merits, works, or earns his way into the salvation, the family of God, the body of Christ. The only entrance is to be born into Christ’s kingdom, to be “born again,” to be “born of God,” a work done by God Himself as the sinner is drawn in by Him and bows in repentance and faith (John 3:3, 7; Acts 20:21; Titus 3:5-6; 1 John 5:4, etc.). ATTN: Religion and being good enough are a farce. If you are not born again, you are not in God’s family. But you can […]

Born Again Podcast

Send us a text Order the BORN AGAIN book here or on amazon: https://safeguardyoursoul.com/store/ Support | STORE | Podcasts | H.O.T. Bible Study [podcast] | Divine Blessings | Exhort One Another Daily | The Return of Christ | The Joy of Fulfilling the Great Commission | The Love of Many Shall Wax Cold | Lie of the Ages (book) | Soul Damning Sins (small book) | Why We Need not Fear Death | Revelation Bombshell! HOMEPAGE: https://safeguardyoursoul.com/ MAKE PEACE WITH GOD NOW: https://safeguardyoursoul.com/peace-with-god/ SUPPORT: https://safeguardyoursoul.com/support/ STORE: https://safeguardyoursoul.com/store/ ABOUT: https://safeguardyoursoul.com/about/ email Todd: info@safeguardyoursoul.com Background Music by: Thad Fiscella https://www.thadfiscella.com/ […]

Water Baptism: Understanding It [study guide]

“Repent and be baptized.” Acts 2:38 Water Baptism (PDF) (Duplication encouraged. An open King James Bible should accompany your study of this topic. Carefully, prayerfully study each verse given in order to answer each question correctly. Print this document out and pencil in the answers in the blanks provided. It may be best to cut and paste it to your word processing software and then print it out. Your life in Christ will be enriched forever as you embrace and put into practice His Word.) Water baptism is important. Every believer should understand and be water baptized. Yet water baptism […]

"Buried with Him by Baptism into Death" [podcast]

“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3 Every person “hid with Christ in God” is saved and under divine grace, saved by Christ. Everyone not “hid with Christ in God” is going away in judgment (Colossians 3:3; Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:19-21, 24). When we are “hid with Christ in God,” we are safe, secure, and under the blessings of His divine grace instead of His condemnation. “Of the doctrine of baptisms” Hebrews 6:2 Baptized into Jesus Christ and Baptized into His Death “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were […]

Abiding

“David Encouraged Himself in the LORD his God” [podcast]

“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, … but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” 1 Samuel 30:6

Gathering from several commentaries on this passage, one source notes the following:

“Faced with the devastating loss of Ziklag and a mutinous army threatening to stone him, David found supernatural resilience. Rather than yielding to panic or despair, he actively turned his focus away from the overwhelming crisis and strengthened his faith directly in God.

Key Context and Lessons

- The Crisis: Amalekite raiders had burned the city and captured all the women and children, including David’s own wives.
- The Breaking Point: His loyal men were now grieving and broken, turning their deep anguish into violent anger against their leader.
- The Shift: David did not look to his men, his own strength, or his circumstances for hope. He preached truth to his own soul, drawing on his past history with God’s faithfulness and inquiring of the Lord for his next steps.

Practical Takeaways

- Self-Talk: When no one else is around to lift you up, you must learn to speak God’s promises to your own heart.
- Refocusing: Encouraging yourself in the Lord means anchoring your identity and security in His unchanging character rather than shifting public opinion.
- Actionable Faith: David’s inward strengthening immediately led to outward action—he sought God’s direction and pursued the enemy, resulting in complete victory and restoration.”

“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22

“In the world ye shall have tribulation”

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

During seasons of great stress, this man after God’s own heart sought the LORD. This time only served as a blessing, hastening David to the feet of Christ. Beloved David gave us the most amazing Scriptures concerning seeking God.

“My soul followeth hard after thee.” Psalms 63:8

“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” Psalms 42:1-2

“One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.” Psalms 27:4

“When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.” Psalms 27:8

Prayer: Father in Heaven, in the name of Jesus, please grant me, Your mere servant, to be possessed with a heart after You dear LORD. I love You Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Having a Pure Heart Requires the Cross Life [podcast]

“Great Podcast. Thank you. When I think about Matthew 5:8 I think of Psalm 24:3-4, ‘Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.’ Who is worthy to stand in God’s holy presence? Only those who are living holy and righteous lives! Those disciples who are free from pride and sin and are maintaining inner purity. With no idolatry, hypocrisy and deceit in their hearts! They are hungry and thirst […]

The Importance of Pureness of Heart [podcast]

“He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.” Proverbs 22:11 With pureness of heart, our words shall issue forth with grace and seasoning and be more readily received by those who hear. “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Colossians 4:6 David’s Prayer “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psalms 19:14 “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they […]

Purifying Ourselves even as He is Pure [podcast]

Ready or Not – Jesus is Coming “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” 1 John 3:3 Here’s how you know if you are ready to meet Jesus—whether by dying or His soon return. The context of the Bible verse above is the return of Jesus and being ready for it (1 John 2:24-3:3). Those who live for Christ long to see Him and look expectantly for His soon return. This world is not their home. “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all […]

Abiding

10 Clues Your Love for God has Waxed Cold [podcast]

The wise virgin saints are keeping their lamps full of divine oil, they are taking personal responsibility for their own spiritual state with Christ the great and soon coming Bridegroom. Read Matthew 25:1-13.

“The Love of Many Shall Wax Cold”

“And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:10-14

Did you notice in verse 14 that those who hot for Jesus are participating in the preaching of His Word to the end of the earth (Mark 16:15).

Anyone not devouring God’s Word daily is falling away, is not enduring to the end, is choosing the let their love for Jesus wax cold, and on the wrong, the losing end of this prophecy Jesus gave here on record in Matthew 24:10-14.

“I will spue (vomit, reject) thee out of my mouth”

“So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” Revelation 3:16-17

Praying God will help you love Him more (Matthew 22:37-40). It really all boils down to WHO we love most. THAT is exactly who we are serving (Romans 6:16).

Loving God is everything as far as what’s in our control – because it’s a choice, daily, and will determine if one remains in Christ to the end.

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

“Thou hast left thy first love”

“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” Revelation 2:4-5

1. When you are choosing not to spend quality time with God in prayer each and every morning… When you are choosing not to spend quality time with God in His Word each and every morning (Luke 9:23-24; 1 Chronicles 16:11).

2. When your love for God’s people is being reduced instead of increased (Philippians 2:12-13; 1 John 5:1) Marks of the True Christian …. “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;” (Romans 12:9-11) See John 13:35.

“And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. 21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.” Luke 8:20-21

“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” 1 John 3:14

“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.” 1 John 5:1

Reading 1 Corinthians 13 today will refresh your heart and mind on the divine importance placed upon LOVE.

3. You are not denying self and not taking up the cross daily (Luke 9:23-24; 19:27; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3, etc.).

4. You aren’t communicating the light of truth to others because you no longer seek or fear the LORD and so His divine virtue isn’t teeming in and flowing out of you. Your cup no longer runs over but instead is running empty (Psalms 23). You have a lampshade over the light and are not letting His light shine in and through your life and words… “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” (Isaiah 58:1)

5. You live in fear instead of faith and the joy of being with Jesus (Luke 21:28; 1 John 4:16-18; Proverbs 28:1; Psalms 2:11).

6. You preach promises and not conditions…following the apostate modern church and you don’t preach the cardinal doctrines of the original Gospel which we are commanded to “earnest contend for.” (Jude 3) You begin meditating on and living by trends instead of truth (Jeremiah 9:3; 2 Timothy 4:2-4; Philippians 4:8; Romans 12:1-2).

7. You have little or no true fellowship with other born- again Bible believing disciples of Jesus as is defined in God’s Word and not by the modern church world (Acts 2:42).

The Word of God is to run rich, to be abundant among God’s people … “In all wisdom” and “all in the name of the Lord Jesus” … “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Colossians 3:16-17)

8. You know you are backsliding when your main thrust and identity become politics, not the work of the Gospel. YOU are a blood bought disciple of Jesus, not a conservative. You are a Bible believing follower of Christ (Luke 9:62; Galatians 6:14).

9. When you love this world…..When you spend more time and money on hobbies and the things of this fleeting world than you do on attending to knowing, walking with the LORD and preparing to be used of Him (Mark 4:17-19; 1 John 2:15; James 4:4).

10. When you spend more money on trash and trinkets then helping the work of the One you claim to love and the poor. You know you are backslidden when you are not obeying God with what He’s placing in your temporal possession. He shall bring you into full account for this.

Regrettably, people will give their money to any and every pleasure under the sun but make excuses when the opportunity to support the work of the One they claim to love and serve. The Holy Spirit foretold that in the final days before the return of Jesus, there would be those with a mere “form of godliness”, “men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous,” and “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” (2 Timothy 3:1-7) According to the LORD, one of the main ways to measure our true love for Him or lack thereof, is by peering into our personal stewardship of the resources He’s placed into our temporary possession. Luke 12 and 16 offer a plethora of divine wisdom and warning concerning the judgment to come, the judgment we shall endure in giving account for our stewardship in this life.

The clear proof that God is working in our lives, that we are truly following Jesus, is that we are becoming less and less vested in this fleeting, fallen world (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17). And that we, our good works, our giving are more and more invested in eternity – in the eternal kingdom of Christ, laying up treasures in Heaven, sending them before us, relinquishing the things of this world for the glory of God – putting them to work for the eternal Gospel of Christ – for saints to be fed and equipped and the lost to hear the Word of God (Matt. 6:19-21).

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:19-24

To underscore the importance of stewardship, we should realize that 16 of our LORD’s 38 parables involved stewardship. Those who now do not wish to face and confront this truth, are apparently those who are in the most need of hearing it.

PRAYER: Father I come to You now in the name of Jesus Christ. Please cause my conscience to be super sensitive to Your conviction, Your leading, and to evade all that defiles me in Your holy eyes, sin. Here and now I submit my life afresh to You dear LORD. You must increase but I must decrease. I am crucified with Christ and thank You for conforming me to His holy image. I am all Yours LORD and thank You that You are all mine. I love You Jesus. Please make me one with You and the Father and with Your beloved body. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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