Tag Archives: end times

THE 5 KEYS to DISCERNMENT by Andrew Strom

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This is an important article for end-times believers around the world. There is a great deception coming and we must be prepared for even what errors have come towards us. You can read the full article here on SermonIndex.

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Practical tips for the End-time church.

Some people say that knowing Scripture is the only real key to
discernment that we need. And yes – Scripture is very important -
especially in exposing false doctrine. But it is not only doctrines
or teachings that are the greatest danger today. It is just as likely
to be false `anointings´ or spirits – perhaps even “lying signs and
wonders”. And we may need more than just a good understanding
of Scripture to spot these things. Remember, a lot of the people
caught up in today’s “manifestations mania” actually know their
Bible quite well. And yet they could still be deceived. So what
are the things that can help us avoid deception in similar situations?

Some of the most basic keys to discernment that God has shown
me are as follows:
(1) Know your HOLY GOD intimately. (-When you have seen His
glory, His holiness and His love – by drawing close to Him in prayer -
then you can usually see through any “counterfeits” because you
know the ‘real thing’ so well).
(2) Know your Bible. It is very important to be able to spot teachings
that are either extra-biblical or directly opposed to what the Scriptures
teach. However, it is important to remember that the Scribes and
Pharisees were extremely learned in the Scriptures and yet they
missed the very Messiah that was prophesied! So knowing the
Bible is important – especially for doctrinal issues – but we need
to be able to “discern the spirits” also.
(3) Be a “lover of truth”. This is very crucial. Are you someone who
will actually stand up for TRUTH – even against the crowd? Or do
you remain silent even when you feel something is very wrong?
(4) Purity of heart and Humility. Many deceptions only appeal to
us because there is something inside us that “wants” to believe
them. They are seductive because of darkness and wrong motives
in our own lives. We must search our hearts and root these out.
(5) The ‘inner witness’ of the Holy Spirit. We must learn to NEVER
over-ride this “still small voice”, as it will save us from deception
again and again. (-More on this below).

Did you know that even an unbeliever can often spot a ‘con-man’
or a snake-oil salesman? They get a kind-of “gut feeling” about
such things. And they are often right! In fact, they are often less
gullible than the Christians! (-Because we are told in the church-
“Do not judge”, ‘Touch not the Lord’s anointed’, “You have a critical
spirit if you do not join in”, etc, etc. This is the very reason why
Christians are often the most gullible and easily deceived). We
need to realize that the Bible says to “Test the spirits” and warns
very strongly that the Last Days will be a time of “seducing spirits”
and great deception. So how can we become more alert to these things?

I believe that God has placed within every human being at least a
measure of an inner “warning system” to protect us from being
easily deceived – just as He has given us all a conscience. It is
something that He has built into every one of us, in His mercy. (I
guess a lot of it is simply `common sense´). However, Christians
should have an even greater advantage in this area, because we
have the “inner witness” of the Holy Spirit, and the `still small
voice´ of the Lord speaking to us every day.

But what I have found again and again with people who give
themselves over to some form of deception is that they often
“override” these alarm bells. They go against their ‘better
judgement’. They ignore the little voice deep inside them that is
telling them that there is something wrong. Christians do this all
the time. That is how they get themselves involved in such foolish
deceptions.

This may all sound very obvious, but I am telling you, this one
basic area alone could wipe out half the deception in the church
right now. If only people would listen to these internal ‘alarm bells’
and act with common sense, half of it would be gone overnight.

The Bible is very clear that the Last Days are a time of such
widespread deception that it would “deceive if possible the very
elect”. It also shows that much of this deception will arise from
WITHIN the church – luring believers with “itching ears”. Do we see
evidence of this kind of thing taking place today? Certainly! In fact,
some of it is at a level that is truly shocking. And yet it is all
accepted as perfectly “normal” by many Christians.

Principles Book almost ready to be released nearing end of the editing process

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Principles Book

Saints, we are excited to announce that we are nearing the competition and release of this volume: Principles For The Gathering Of Believers Under the Headship of Jesus Christ. The Lord has multiple brethren involved and nearly 100 brothers and sisters that had a part in the book by edit, suggestion, change etc. We also have tried to quote from multiple brethren from many denominations to truly give the book a sense of being of the body of Christ and not one group or slant of truth.

Currently there is a sister editing the volume and after this is done we should be able to with small changes submit it as a free ebook to many services such as Kindle, Barnes and Noble, Google Play, etc.   We also are going to release the book on a print on demand service with Amazon at 100% cost value so you get the book literally at the cost it takes for amazon to print and ship it  to you.   We are blessed to be able to offer the book freely this way to saints world-wide.

Please continue to pray for the volume and its release. May the Lord use it not as something to be lifted up but rather something to encourage people further on the road to gathering as the body of Christ in these end-times.

A Clear Call To the End Times Remnant Believers To Gather

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What does it mean to be an end-times remnant believer? Are all true believers remnant believers?  These are important questions to know am I involved in a work of God that is eternal, am I actively building the body of Christ (the kingdom God) by my participation in churches.

There is a clear call going out from the Lord and the Holy Spirit to many believers across North America (Canada and America) and around the world to start to gather with those who you know are believers. To those that when you are with them you are spiritually encouraged and edified in the Lord. To those you have a witness of the Spirit with. God has a bride He is preparing and though you can be in His bride it is possible to not be prepared and ready for His coming (Matthew 25:1-13).  Part of this preparing is being a part of God’s physical gathering of saints in local areas under the headship of Jesus Christ.  To be in small bodies of believers where all are true believers and are remembering the Lord’s Supper and having fellowship with one another.

Christianity at times demands a lonely road where just you follow the Lord Jesus alone but these times lead to times of great joy being involved with others in the body of Christ in local areas.

Jesus Christ is gathering saints together who agree that there is a cross to bear for each disciple but also agree upon the shed blood of Christ as precious and redeeming us. Remnant believers are those who suffer outside the camp and follow their precious Lord while the world and religious system heaps shame and abuse on them.

The below article is by brother Frank Mceleny from his website, please read it carefully and slowly and be encouraged to be a part of what God is doing in these last days:

 

“Now I want you to see three paradoxes. To be happily forgiven, and yet wounded with perpetual contrition. To be correct in the finished work of another and yet feel so sympathetic and compassionate as though the burden lay on you heart. And finding God and yet pursuing God, of having Him, yet always wanting Him.” (Tozer)
The above quote describes the Remnant church of God. Who are these Remnant souls? Well, they are those who are genuinely saved and have a hunger and thirst for God Himself. They are scattered to the four winds and the Lord knows who the hungry hearts are. The question is , have you been wounded by Christ? The remnant saint knows the pain of having been wounded at the very core of His heart. Its the pain of being in love. If you had a child or a husband who went off to war, would not your heart long with the deepest pain, to see your loved one return? Its that kind of longing only its more than that. Its the very seat of our affections.
This love, by virtue of having it, will compel you to walk a lonely path. Most will never understand you. You will see things that those around you do not see. Eze 9:4  And Jehovah said to him, Go through in the midst of the city, in the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark on the foreheads of the men who are groaning and are mourning because of all the abominations that are done in her midst.
The people of God that were marked were the remnant. Judgment was coming but the remnant were marked on their foreheads. They groaned and were in mourning for the condition of Jerusalem. Do you groan, are you in mourning for the state of the church? Will you heart be satisfied with anything less than to walk in the presence of the Living God? Have you tasted of the heavenly food and drunk from the waters of life? Has it ruined you for everything? If not, do you desire to? Have you left your first love? If you have answered yes to any of these questions then you belong to the Remnant church of God. This church has been known by many names down through the centuries, the Waldenses, Albigenses, Lollards and Hussites and Brethren. Anabaptists and Moravians, the list goes on. God has always had a witness in the land, He has always had His Remnant that would not ”bow the knee to Baal.” In answer to Elijah’s remarks that he alone was left, God replied

Romans 11:4-5

New King James Version (NKJV)

4 But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”[a] 5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

The Remant man or woman carries their cross. Carrying a cross is a lonely business. Its their very lonliness that compels them to seek an even closer walk with the Lord. The trials of the cross, the narrowness of the path, the desert and wilderness that often stretches out before you, a lack of fitting in, no ackowledgement of anything that you do, what you do you do in secret, you only seek to see the Lord high and lifted up. You often despair at your own walk even although people tell you what a man or woman of God you are, you hear that and it makes you cringe because you know how far you fall short of a God that you have seen high and lifted up. You continually seek Him, you live for the next encounter with Him. You know that it is only a moment but there will come a time when it will be an eternity. You long for everyone to radically encounter the Living God for themselves. You hear people say that they would like your anointing and you wonder. You wonder if they could walk through the refining fires of the living God. Would they really want their whole lives dismatled piece by piece? Would they like to find themselves in a place of total despair? Would they like the bread of adversity and the waters of afflictions to be their teachers? God’s Remnant people walk this path.
The remnant know that just as the world hated their Lord and crucified Him, they too will be hated and killed all the day long for His names sake. And just as He arose, they know that they too will arise. As they draw nearer to “the one who was pierced,” and He pours out His Spirit on them and they become more like Him, then the same forces that came against their Jesus, hell and all its fury, will come against them. They know that “unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it abides alone, but if it dies it brings forth much fruit.

Crazy Christians by Steve Gallagher (audio sermon message)

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Dear Saints,

This is a powerful exhoration and prophetic word to the Church in these end times. Hear the burden of brother Steven Gallagher as he shares the urgency we must have to be in the Word of God daily, immersing ourselves in its truths as the day grows darker (1 Thessalonians 5)

Listen to this powerful message today:

Crazy Christians by Steve Gallagher (mp3)

Topic: End Times       Scripture(s): 2 Thessalonians 2 

Description: It began when Pastor Steve felt the Lord impress a message into his heart which he in turn translated into his own vernacular: “Christians are crazy if they don’t immerse themselves in My Word while they still can.” The world is becoming increasingly darker. Random murders and bizarre weather patterns are becoming commonplace. But the “perilous times” of the last days are not physical but spiritual. Satan’s power to deceive and seduce are growing every day. It is critical that we spiritually prepare ourselves.

excerpt from the message:

“Christians are crazy if they don’t immerse themselves in My Word while they still can.” – Steve Gallagher

Hated by All Nations For The Testimony of Christ by Greg Gordon

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There is a coming great persecution upon Christianity in the west and other protected pockets in the world.

In places where the has been a protected Gospel witness, there will come such a sweeping persecution that even if it were told before of what would happen no one would believe it. You might ask how do you know that this is going to happen? I do not claim to have a vision, revelation or any special spiritual knowledge to say these things rather as I have read through Matthew 24 and other clear prophetic passages in the bible, it is very clear there will be a world-wide hatred of Christians in the end times.

Our Lords words are painfully clear and poignant as they were written 2000 years ago:

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.

At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.” (Matthew 24:9-11)

As we read the Scriptures carefully and slowly we will be shocked to find truths that modern preachers, ignore and with dispensational theologies confuse the masses by stating these words do not apply to us as Christians.

Yet the truth is that these words do apply to Christians of all ages and they more readily apply to us whom these Scriptures could see their fulfilment.

The one particular phrase sheds light into the awful occurrences that will prevail in the end times:

“…you will be hated by all nations because of me.” (Matthew 24:9)

Notice our Lord Jesus states “all nations”, not some nations or not even America and Israel will be exempt.

They will all be haters of those who follow Jesus Christ and will put to death these out of hatred of all that true Christianity stands for. America persecuting and hating those who name the name of Christ? Yes, it will surely happen.

Yet our Lord further speaks of something even ore controversial with our modern evangelical mind:

“many will turn away from the faith…” ( (Matthew 24:10)

In the earlier ministry of Jesus Christ at one point in John 6 there is a very large crowd following Him. Perhaps even the largest crowd that followed the master in those days. It is very interesting to see Jesus’s repines to such interest in His claims and power. His response was to preach a hard saying, ” Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.’” (John 6:53).

He basically said “its all in or nothing” either you are fully committed to me or you have no part with me.

Such a radical Gospel and discipleship was not in their plans of incorporating Jesus into their lives. And the sad response John gives in his Gospel:

“From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.” (John 6:66)

They stopped following Him.

They gave up on the road to discipleship and went back to fashioning a god of their own making in their own likeness. And such is what the Lord says: “many” (more then just a few), will “turn away.” They will deny the Lord that bought them and go back to an life of living for self.

Do you believe this is possible for yourself?

When the pressures of persecution for the Name of Christ and an unwarranted hatred comes against you simply because you adore and worship Jesus Christ. Will you be able to stand in that day?

It will be easy to follow the multitudes, the “many” who will be turning away from the faith. Yet our Lord desires we stay true to His calling and Name by His grace. He states to the church of Philadelphia: “I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” (Revelation 3:8) Also in the city of Pergamum: “Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.” (Revelation 2;13).

May God find us with these faithful churches that happily and with hope endured much for the kingdom of God and do not allow compromise and lukewarmness to allow them to drift away from being bold for the Lord.

This falling away is shown in (2 Thessalonians 2:3) “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.”

May God preserve us in that day and allow us to ruthlessly cling to Jesus Christ as our hope and salvation and be willing to bear the lose of all things for His name sake.

Our great security in Christ is never at jeopardy as we continue to abide with Him daily.

Sitting at His feet and learning of Him, the great Shepard of the sheep will keep them. Let us stay close to our Master and none of these things will befall us. But let these words bring fear to our souls also to pray for strength for these coming days and to do the will of the Father and live.

“Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.” (1 John 3:13)

Now 2000 years later let us not either be surprised that the entire world system will hate us who call ourselves after the Name of Christ. Be valiant for His testimony, suffering and martyrdom will soon be not abstract theology but practical reality. May we learn of the Lord now how to endure for that time ahead. His “grace is sufficient” (2 Corinthians 12:9). And He will bear us up in that day for His glory sake. Amen.