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End Times
Three Basics to
Prepare for the End Times
Rick Joyner
In
the last two weeks of this year, we will take a break from our study of the
book of Revelation to briefly re-examine some basics that will help prepare us
for the times.
The
world is careening toward the final clash of ultimate issues - a major part of
biblical prophecy and the book of Revelation.
There
has never been more excitement, or the potential for adventure, like we have
right now. So we need to occasionally look back on the basics that will keep us
on track.
Knowing
what will happen is not as important as being prepared for what will happen.
The
most important thing we can do to prepare is to abide in the Lord. There is no
safer place we could ever be than in His will.
We
can know all prophecies accurately, but if we are not abiding in Him and doing
His will, we can be in as much trouble as those who know nothing.
The
Lord gave us basic instructions regarding how to do this.
After
reciting to His disciples the signs of the end of the age, He gave three things
to do to be ready:
1)
stand up
2)
look up
3)
rejoice
Stand Up
We must stand up for the truth. We
must accept that doing this will offend many people, but to not do this offends
the Lord.
He
said in Luke 6:26:
"Woe
to you, when all men speak well of you, for so their fathers spoke of the
false prophets."
He
added in Luke 16:15:
"You
are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For
that which is highly esteemed before men is an abomination before God."
He
asserts here that if we want to do what is acceptable to men, we will be doing
what is detestable to God.
The
reverse is also true: If we do what is acceptable to God, we will be doing what
is detestable to men.
Someone
is going to detest what we're doing. Who do we want it to be?
If
we are trying to win men by doing what they approve, they will never respect us
enough to hear us anyway, and we will lose God in the process.
Look Up
To "look up" is to keep our attention on the
One who sits above all rule and authority and dominion, rather than keeping our
attention on the troubles.
Peter
could walk on the troubled water as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus. When he
took his eyes off Jesus and began to look at the troubles, he sank, and so will
we.
Rejoice
Do not ever let anything steal your joy in the Lord,
because the joy of the Lord is our strength.
If we have built our lives on the kingdom and are
abiding in the kingdom, then we are told that the kingdom of God is "righteousness
and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17).
If
we abide in His righteousness, we will have peace such as the world cannot
comprehend. This leads to a joy that is not dependent on the conditions on the
earth. Never lose your joy.
So
why not make a resolution for the new year that we will excel in doing these
three things? What could be more profitable in our life?
If
we do these, we will also be growing in faith, love and patience.
Rick Joyner is the founder and executive director of
MorningStar Ministries and Heritage International Ministries and is the senior
pastor of MorningStar Fellowship Church. He is the author of more than 40
books, including The Final Quest, A
Prophetic History and Church History. He
is also the president of The OAK Initiative, an interdenominational movement
that is mobilizing thousands of Christians to be engaged in the great issues of
our times, being the salt and light that they are called to be.
This article originally appeared at morningstarministries.org.
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