REALITY CHECK
Is the TRIBULATION of the current social and political unrest, chaos and uncertainty getting to you? Having trouble getting things done? It could be a problem with your ability to focus, or it could be an early warning sign of a deeper problem.
IMPORTANT NOTE: DO NOT BE DECEIVED. All things which you can see and touch on this earth, originate and are emanating from the “Unseen world” of the Heavens. This includes this Time of TRIBULATION we are currently experiencing.
2 Corinthians 4:18 “while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen. 2For by it the people of old gained approval.
3 By faith we understand that the world has been created by the Word of God so that what is seen has not been made out of things that are visible.
1 Timothy 1:17 “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. “
Romans 1:20 “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood by what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”
Colossians 1:15 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation: 16 for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.”
John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being.”
A GREAT DELUSION
There is both A Great Delusion and A Great Deception at work.
2 Thessalonians 2:9 “That is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not accept the love of the truth so as to be saved.”
11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.”
Do not trust your natural mind or your natural abilities to struggle against the things of this age, that is, things of this increasing time of the TRIBULATION.
THE BATTLE WITHIN AND WITHOUT
Galatians 5:17 tells us that the desires of our “Flesh” (i.e., or mind, will and emotions – our psyche, or our ‘soulfulness’) work against the Spirit of God, and the Spirit of God, Who dwells within us works against our natural mind, our will and emotions; the Bible tells us that our “Flesh” and the Spirit of God, which would dwell in you as a Christian, are in opposition to one another, and this unseen conflict keeps you from doing whatever you want. Galatians 5:17
So, ask yourself, “Do I constantly struggle with or am I prone to participate in”
sexual immorality, carousing, impurity, indecent behavior, whether it is physically or a constant mental obsession
idolatry, obsession with luck, witchcraft, horoscopes, charms
hostility, strife, outbursts of anger, dissensions, factions
jealousy, selfish ambition, envy,
drunkenness, excessive drinking or drug use
and things like these? The Bible forewarns us of this. I am taking notice for myself, and I am telling you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (inherit: Will not take part in, will not inhabit, will not have any right to)
The Bible goes on to teach that if you are “led by the Spirit of God”, you are not under “the Law”, that is external controls and condemnation for past actions.
You see, the manifestation or “the fruit” of the Spirit of God, when He is actually dwelling in a person, is manifest through an attitude and a behavior which demonstrates
love,
joy,
peace,
patience,
kindness,
goodness,
faithfulness,
gentleness,
self-control;
Again, the Bible teaches that these manifest actions are the results of the Spirit of God dwelling in and controlling your “Flesh” (your mind, your will, your emotions, i.e., your psyche) and effectively abrogate any and all effects of “the Law”, that is the external controls and condemnation for past actions.
You see, and odd as it may sound, those who actually belong to Christ Jesus “are crucifying and continue to crucify the passions and desires of their Flesh”. (This takes the hard work of prayer and seeking and appropriating the freedom Christ has given us.)
This ‘crucifixion’ results in what the Bible calls FREEDOM. Free to think and act and to submit ourselves to the decisive and effective power of God which would emanate from Him through our lives.
So – How do these things I have discussed, connect? What do they have to do with one another?
1. What we see (the visible things) come from what we cannot see (the invisible things).
2. The Great Deceit and the Great Delusion
3. Evidence which reveal whether you are “Controlled in the Spirit of God” or you are “Controlled by the Flesh”.
The visible political and social war of Conservative ideals which are based on the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Bible VERSUS the reemergence of Marxism/Communism and a One World Government, is the product of a Spiritual War that has been raging since the beginning of time. This war is being waged by the great dragon, Satan, by means of deceit and lies and God has sent a great delusion upon those who do not believe in the Savior, Jesus Christ. Whether you are part of the problem and are being deceived or whether you are part of the solution of God’s Plan can be determined by your attitude and behavior – no matter what you say, what you do speak the truth.
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
(PS: This was hard to write, because I am convicted of these things. Please, pray for me and I will pray for you)
2 Corinthians 10:3 “The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses
“4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
“5 We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
“6 and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.
“7 Do you look on things on the outward appearance? If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, have him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so too are we.”