The Coming of the Lord Draws Near

James 5:7-8

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

Jesus Christ sowed His life on earth as a seed, that He would be the firstborn among many brethren. When a farmer plants his crops he knows that, with the right conditions of soil and water, patience will bring him the harvest according to the seed sown. God Almighty knows that He will reap many sons from the redemptive sacrifice that his Son made on the cross. He also is looking to us, the children that He has drawn to Him, to patiently cultivate and establish our hearts in the knowledge of His coming. Now more than ever before, we should be looking to that blessed hope moment by moment, and maturing into our position in the body of Christ. The glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ draws near.

See also Fallen Corn of Wheat; Firstborn From the Dead; Working In the Day

Related Scriptures: John 12:23-36; Romans 8:28-39; Colossians 2:6-15; 2Thessalonians 2:13-17; Titus 2:1-15

The Mystery of the Gospel

Ephesians 6:18-20

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

By praying in the Spirit we can truly access the throne of God, where Jesus sits at His right hand interceding for the saints. His intercessory ministry began at the cross, and will conclude with the eternal defeat of all forms of rebellion against God. Like the first coming, He will be preceded by the spirit and power of Elijah, already rising up in the saints who are boldly crying out for repentance. When He returns, the full mystery of the gospel will be revealed in the heavens with Him, as He catches up His saints. Then Elijah himself will preach the gospel with boldness again to the Jews in the streets of Jerusalem. When Christ sets foot on the Mount of Olives His everlasting kingdom will come to the earth.

See also The Two Anointed Ones; In Power and In the Holy Ghost; God Poured Out

Related Scriptures: Hebrews 12:2; Romans 8:26-27; Revelation 20:1-15; Matthew 11:1-30; Malachi 4:5-6; Zechariah 14:1-11

Withstand in the Evil Day

Ephesians 6:12-13

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

The flesh and blood battle is about taking up the cross and walking in the Spirit. But when we are in the spirit and the conflict becomes heated, the battle is now against dark spiritual forces. This is when the enemy directly engages us, and we must always have on the full armor and be ready to respond. These conflicts are accelerating in pace and severity as the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ approaches, just as He prophesied in Matthew 24. Events around the world and especially in the Middle East, while they are of deep concern, are merely the beginning of sorrows. We can take hope in all of this, however, for the LORD has promised that believers are not appointed to wrath, and He also gave us His Word that He would never leave us, nor forsake us.

See also Tower of Salvation; The Power of God’s Might; Gimel: Bountiful Life in God’s Word

Related Scriptures: Luke 9:18-27; Galatians 5:16-26; Matthew 24:1-14; 1Thessalonians 5:1-25; Hebrews 13:5-21

It Shall Stand Forever

Daniel 2:44

And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

What the Lord GOD purposed through Jesus on the cross will soon be consummated for all mankind. Salvation AND strength. The kingdom of our God AND the power of His anointing (Christ). The power of His anointing will restore all things to His plan and purpose, and purge humanity and the earth of all separation and rebellion. The accuser of the brethren will first be cast out of heaven into the earth, and thereafter cast into the lake of fire forever. The Kingdom of Heaven will remain, and all who enter in will glorify God. Jesus is the door. He alone is the entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven.

See also To Build and To Plant; In Him That Is True; Jericho Mindset

Related Scriptures: Revelation 12:7-12; Isaiah 10:20-27; Matthew 3:1-12; Hebrews 9:1-28; Malachi 3:1-6; Revelation 20:7-15; John 10:7-18

In Him That Is True

1 John 5:20

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little. The ultimate revelation of God’s love toward man is His gift of Christ crucified on the cross, the sacrifice of His beloved Son to buy us back from total separation and spiritual death. Throughout the Bible the LORD speaks to this mystery, referring to the Messiah to come in hundreds of different ways. The single most important purpose of Scripture is to reveal the Lord Jesus Christ.

See also Did Not Our Heart Burn?; The LORD of the Vineyard; Living Stones

Related Scriptures: John 14:6; 1 Peter 2:1-10; Isaiah 28:10; Genesis 3:15; Job 19:25; Zechariah 3:8; Malachi 4:2; John 1:51; Galatians 3:13-14; 1 John 5:6; Revelation 19:16 (And so many, many more.)

The Coming of the Lord Draws Near

James 5:7-8

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

Jesus Christ sowed His life on earth as a seed, that He would be the firstborn among many brethren. When a farmer plants his crops he knows that, with the right conditions of soil and water, patience will bring him the harvest according to the seed sown. God Almighty knows that He will reap many sons from the redemptive sacrifice that his Son made on the cross. He also is looking to us, the children that He has drawn to Him, to patiently cultivate and establish our hearts in the knowledge of His coming. Now more than ever before, we should be looking to that blessed hope moment by moment, and maturing into our position in the body of Christ. The glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ draws near.

See also Fallen Corn of Wheat; Firstborn From the Dead

Related Scriptures: John 12:23-36; Romans 8:28-39; Colossians 2:6-15; 2Thessalonians 2:13-17; Titus 2:1-15

A Nail in a Sure Place

Isaiah 22:23

And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house.

The only sure place to dwell is the secret place of the most high God, and His is the only place that is sure and certain. We are fastened there by Jesus Christ. When the Roman soldiers fastened Him to His cross they used three nails, a constant reminder of our triune God who is One LORD. It is only through the cross that we can approach the throne of God and rest in surety, knowing that no man can pluck us out of His hand. We cannot even come to the Father but by the blood of Jesus Christ, for He is the nail in the sure place.

See also Pluck Out; The Lord and Harpazo

Related Scriptures: Isaiah 22:1-25; Psalm 91:1-16; Hebrews 4:1-16