We are living in the most momentous days in the history of the world. Every seed that has been sown by men since the beginning of time is maturing in this season, both good and evil. We shouldn’t be surprised as Jesus prophesied this in scriptures; Matthew 24:9-13 (ESV)
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”
It's in this condition that the Lord calls us to endure. In another verse, Jesus said it would be like living in the times of Noah once again. In those days, all men’s hearts were intent on doing was evil. Times of intense hatred for one another and complete lawlessness.
I heard an incredible testimony from a gentleman named Howard Pittman yesterday. In 1979, he had died because of an aneurysm in the main artery behind his stomach. His testimony is amazing. He met the Lord who told him his life of service for the Lord was an abomination because it was all about “self”. He had not learned to die to self and love others. He said that he observed the many approaching Heaven’s gates to gain entrance, only about 2-3% were allowed through. That reminded me of what Bob Jones had told Don Potter of what the Lord had shown him.
Certainly, it appears that everything is being shaken right now. In talking to other Christian leaders, I believe that we have only seen the beginning of the shaking in the church. God will be exposing the “American Gospel” for what it is, a complete sham. Paul said this about teaching another gospel in Galatians 6:6-9 (ESV)
“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”
Jesus promised that everything will be shaken; Hebrews 12:25-29 (ESV)
“See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.”
Shaking can be disconcerting, especially when only a remnant remains. Don’t allow this shaking to discourage you but hold on to Jesus and one another as this shaking continues. Ministry that is built on giftings and anointings will not last. The only ministries that endure through this shaking will be based on love. Love for Jesus first, then love for one another. If you just love one another without loving Jesus first, your ministry and relationships will become incestuous as you try to draw from each other which you should only draw from the Lord. This is why much of the church is being sucked into the LGBT lie. We think God is only love. However, true love rests on His holiness and purity. Impure love lacks the fear of the Lord as its foundation. Love based upon the fear of the Lord is they only solution for purity in ministry. King Solomon said this in Proverbs 9:10 (ESV)
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”
The fear of the Lord is the only way to endure with patience. I fear Jesus but I love Him at the same time. Fear of the Lord causes me to sacrifice relationships that would cause me to lesson that fear. As this shaking continues and many well-known ministers and ministries are exposed, allow the fear and love for the Lord to stay humble and on your face before Him. Spiritual pride is an indication that we don’t fear Him enough. The church that endures in this season is the one that learns to abide in love. The first church mention amongst the seven churches in Revelation is the “Church of Ephesus”. They were a great victorious church who had lost its first love, love for Jesus; Revelation 2:2-7 (ESV)
“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
Ephesus characterizes the church today that have might have all the gifts and anointings, all the bells and whistles but is lacking in love. The Spirit of God commands the church to repent.
Spiritual pride will lead to deception and destruction. As you see others get tested and fail, like 97-98%, don’t gloat and well up in false spiritual pride. Stay low and pray for those that they may repent and be restored where possible.
Finally, the overcoming, enduring church of this age will be the church that not only has learned to love Jesus but also loves one another. Paul defines love this way, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (ESV)
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
The church that endures to the end will flow in such love. It will have the aroma of Jesus. The fragrance of His life at its core.
I close with this exhortation from Paul from his letter to the Ephesians in 5:1;
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
I encourage you to join with like-minded followers of Jesus and join arms with us so that we can endure to the end. Those of us who do will reap a great harvest.