Prepping For Eternity

Have You Even Considered This?

"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." -2 Cor 4:18 (NASB)

[dropcap]These[/dropcap] days we hear much about the preppers in the world how they are gathering and storing up provisions for the eventual collapse of society, cultures, nations and world. But how many of us are preparing for entry into eternity? Now some - those real Christians - will enter into God's rest while the rest will enter the gates of hell. There are no other options for once you pass from this life, you will face your destiny - decisions you've made in this life with no negotiation, no committee that reviews your life or no trial where a jury determines your destination.

So what do we do?

We prepare for eternity in the here and now. There are no material things that will help us get there or see us through once we arrive. (I'm thinking about a YouTube prepper, I often watch, who spends ridiculous amounts of money, time and energy ensuring his "bunker" is stocked to the rim with food, gizmos, gadgets, tools, etc). But this same person says notta about eternity, about Christ, about salvation and about what he is doing to prepare for eternity. You see, all his stuff and others that have stored up similarly fail to consider that eternity, for all of us, is but a heartbeat away. People must realize that our lives are but a vapor, here one minute and gone the next. -James 4:14.

"For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6- and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7- and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8- For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9- For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10- Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11- For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." -2 Pet 1:5-11 (ESV)

The verses above (and many more) describe things that should be a part of our lives daily and these also could be categorized as things that prepare us for eternity. Please take some time and review these instructions for living a Godly life and see if they are a part of your life. Then dwell and mediate (Psa 19:14) on verse 11. Wow! Here's a verse that actually describes specific attributes for entrance into the Lord's eternal kingdom. How many of these am I doing ... are you doing? Are we all preparing in like fashion? Below are some other Scripture-taught ways that we can prep for eternity in the Lord. I would say that if you are not preparing, then one day you may find yourself in a very difficult place. Realize that we don't' work our way into heaven but we do have to live a holy life adherent to Scripture.

How do you live your life daily?

What do you allow through your soul gates - eyes and ears?,

Do you believe on the Lord Jesus as your Lord and Savior?,

Do you daily confess and repent of your sin?,

Do you spread the Gospel to others?,

Do you have faith in God - faith in words that promote action?,

Love your neighbor?,

Love God with all your might, mind and soul?,

Read His word daily?,

Pray?,

Seek His face?

These are but a few of the things I prep for regarding eternity. Now, granted, I need to "stock" up on more of these items in quality, time, meditation but they are a structure that I have deemed necessary to ensure that I am ready to meet the Lord and stand before His face.

[dropcap]What[/dropcap] about you today ... have you considered these things? Will you now?.

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P.S. Some would challenge this and say these are but works and man does not have to work his way into heaven. I would reply based on Scripture. Faith promotes and dictates actions and actions inspire and direct works. See the verses below and see what you think...

"You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25- And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26- For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead." -James 4:24-26 (ESV)

 

-BPWatcher, Internet Preacher and Bible Prophecy Watchman

"Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?" -2 Peter 3:11-12

GLORY TO GOD!

 

Powerless People in Powerless Churches - Where's the Combat Prayer and the Faith?

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." -Acts 4:13 (KJV)

[dropcap]W[/dropcap]hen we read the Book of Acts we discover a whole different church than we have in our culture today. In the first churches we read about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and how that manifested itself - in tongues of fire. In the early churches we have people being healed from their infirmities. We find men of God preaching and teaching with boldness and power. Men taught with the authority of the word of God casting out demons, raising the dead. Some of the Apostles were imprisoned and through their faith even in their chains others came to the knowledge of Christ. God's hand was moving and it was clearly evident as the men of God preached the truth of the full council of His word. Sin was addressed and confronted. The Apostles were zealous and fired-up and lives were changed around them. Yes they suffered but that was a part of their calling and in their obedience to Almighty God. Could we even do this today?

"But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention." - 1 Th 2:2 (KJV)

Today, in Christianity around the world, we have powerless people sitting in powerless churches. People that come to church to get their weekly scorecard punched and get a warm fuzzy for their attendance. The majority of churches are in name only - they have a religion but not a relationship with Jesus Christ. We are missing a distinct oneness with the Lord in worship; in knowledge of Him and in the fear of the Lord. Most Christians have one foot in the world and the other in a religion. Most rationalize God's truth with their own wisdom.

Pitiful at Least

I have attended many churches that have little knowledge of the Lord but a lot of programs, skits, dances, [rock] music, and "entertainment"; one being discipleship or the promoting of a 'transformational' church. Lots of fancy names, concepts, titles, words, pretty charts but what's missing is a real substantial relationship with Christ. Sin is rarely mentioned, repentance almost an extinct term, and enthusiastic invitations for salvation maybe once a year. How pathetic! Let's recall how Jesus confronted people during His ministry:

• Samaritan woman - Jn 4:15-19;
• Woman caught in adultery - Jn 8:1-11 ;
• Moneychangers in the Temple - Matt 21:12;
• Rich young ruler - Mar 10:17-27.

 

All done in ultimate love, grace, mercy, and truth, and yet He didn't go after becoming their trusted friend first or invite them to next Wed night's Bible Study, small group, or service. He ministered directly to their soul first, right then and there - and this should be our primary concern for the lost now. So who thinks about this and does this in today's Christendom?

Churches Have Lost Their Way

And this is the course many Christian churches have charted. They get wrapped up in the wisdom, purposes, and traditions of men and forget the basic purpose of the church. And what is that, you may ask? It's a love and devotion to Jesus our Lord and Savior. It's living a holy life before the Lord. It's reading and studying His word - for that's how we learn and know Him. It's telling others about Him, proclaiming the Gospel to all men. And it's about sincere repentance of one's sins - this is a must, an absolute to any church calling themselves "followers of Christ".

Scrap the rock music, get rid of the drama, lose the "prettyness" of the service, throw out the traditional agenda ... come on, we come to worship the Lord!

Many denominations of men practice rituals that define them and their church but they're missing the real presence of God in their midst. When you rarely hear or see people being saved or healed or delivered or prayed over, then the church takes on the identity of a social club and not a House of Worship of the Living God.

"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned." -Mark 16:15-16 (KJV)

[dropcap]I[/dropcap] don't mean to belittle anyone but I do mean to be a watchman on the wall and warn our churches that they have become defenseless, broken down bastions misrepresenting the Living God. I don't mean to think myself better than anyone but I do mean to say that as you immerse yourself in God's word you will find out just exactly who He is and what He thinks about sin and repentance, rejection and rebellion and the profaning of His name. And the defiling of His Temple within each Christian - 1 Cor 6:9. You will come to know what He thinks about Godlessness and idolatry which are prevalent in our nation and our Christian churches. Here should be our clarion call for all pastors, elders and leaders in our churches:

"But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God." - 1 Cor 2:22-23 (KJV)

Here in America we have churches that our powerless and lack the authority of the living God.Yes, we have gutless pastors and elders who don't lead others to Christ for fear of offending them with the real truth of the Gospel.  Franklin Graham said in a speech given at the Family Research Council's Watchmen on the Wall conference on May 22. 2014. Yes it's an old speech but oh so relevant for today's Christians and churches:

"God hates cowards. And the cowards that the Lord is referring to are the men and women who know the truth but refuse to speak it."

 

You see many Christian church leaders fail to take a stand against the controversial and unBiblical issues that plague our society today - abortion, homosexuality, gay marriage, sexuality impurity, etc. And in a column published in the July-August edition of Decision Magazine (pg 4) Franklin Graham writes,

"Christians cannot ignore parts of God's Word because they are unpopular or cause division. Our commission is to proclaim Christ and all He stands for."

 

And this is exactly what is happening behind the doors of our churches. No involvement in the affairs of men! Graham goes on to say,

"We are soldiers in God's army, and we cannot stand down on biblical issues out of fear of being labeled a homophobe or judge."  (Read more on Mr Graham's comments)

 

We even have pastors that fail to pray for our nation and Israel and the turmoil that the rest of our world is in right now. How sad!

Conclusion

[dropcap]S[/dropcap]o the bottom line - we have many, many Christians that don't know where they stand in the Lord. Few fear the Lord or tremble at His word - Psa 119:120; Isa 66:2. They have been caught up in Western Christianity which softens God's word into warm and cuddly concepts, slogans, entertainment, and words. Most don't know about the spiritual warfare going on around them and don't know how to combat it through our power and authority in Christ. Read Eph 6.

As these last days get darker and darker (make no mistake - they will) the spiritual attacks will grow more intense and fierce and according to Bible Prophecy many will fall away from the faith - 1 Tim 4:1. Christians that are not taught how to be warriors in Christ and wield the sword of the word of God will be crushed and defeated. Most Christian churches today are clueless on how to train people to be spiritual warriors; how to put on the full armor of God - Eph 6 and fight back at Satan's army with the word of God! People who don't pray today will grow weaker and any spiritual armor they did have will melt like wax. Folks, the church must speak with the power and authority of the living God; we must know how to kick the Devil in the teeth and make him to flee (pound sand or take a hike) through the effective use of God's word -James 4:7. In these last days, we must have people and churches on fire for the Lord and ready to proclaim His word boldly to all men at any time.

-BPWatcher, Internet Preacher, and Bible Prophecy Watchman

"For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3- heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4- treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people." - 2 Tim 3:2-5 (ESV)

GIVE ALMIGHTY GOD ALL THE GLORY FOR HE IS KING and HE IS LORD!

Bold, Persistent Faith Can Move God's Hand in Your Time of Need

Be Bold, Be Persistant, Don't Give Up and Stay the Course!

"What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15- If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16- and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17- Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18- But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19- You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! " -James 1:14-19 (NKJV)

[dropcap]W[/dropcap]e have some awesome examples of faith in the Bible, today I will present just two. These should rock your faith (and mine) to be resemble them at all times. Mere belief in God is only half the answer - see Scripture above. 

Jesus says in His word that our faith must have works. Now He's not talking about salvation by works for salvation is a free gift, He is talking about our faith once we are saved and walking in that salvation. Did you read what James wrote above, the demons believe in God and tremble so faith by itself is missing the action found in putting feet to your faith.

Let me explain this with Scripture. Turn to Matt 15 and take a few moments to read it. "And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.”" -Matt 15:22 (NASB). We read further that she persisted in her asking in faith until He seeing her bold, persistent faith, granted her request saying she had "great faith". He was reluctant at first be she continued to follow and ask Him and I'm sure she believed He could heal her daughter. And the most intriguing thing here is she wasn't even a Jew but a Gentile. Kinda reminds me of the Centurion's great faith in Matt 8. Now what does this account tell of her faith? Did she put her faith into action? Did she get results even though she had to follow Jesus around for who knows how long?

Are you getting what I'm trying to relate here? Just faith in a solitude belief form only does not make it. We must put action into the equation as well. i.e. remember the thief on the cross in the moments before he died? He believed and confessed his belief - that's an example of action - he spoke it and believed it!

Ok, now for the second example of faith that results in action or moving God's hand in your direction.

Turn to Luke 8:45-48 (NLT).

“Who touched me?” Jesus asked.

Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you.” 46- But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.” 47- When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed. 48- “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

[dropcap]N[/dropcap]ow His disciples were telling Him you're in a crowd and lot's of people are touching you. What's up? But examine His reply .... (truly awesome!). He knew someone with faith touched Him. In a throng of folks bumping Him, pressed against Him, He took notice of just one person that believed enough that His healing touched her. Truly amazing! Someone who knew beyond a shadow of doubt He could heal them and meet their need right where they were. Her belief was realized in her faith which manifested in action and then tremendous humility. Who does this today? Who is like this today? Who believes like this? Who would be recognized like this, in a crowd of people  touching Jesus garments, by the Son of the Living God? Who?

Our faith is most of the time is lazy and just waits for someone to ring the doorbell with the requested answer. Nope! In most cases this will not happen. Many times our prayers are based on our needs to justify our pride or for our greed. Wrong song here friends! Can we not be bold and persistent in our sincere and real faith and take the action from touching His garment to speaking it to continually asking and believing until He answers? Don't give up after a certain period of time. Stay the course until He answers you for however long it takes (1 John 5:14-15). But continue to show the Lord that you believe and have God-moving faith. This is what Jesus desires of us in our faith with works of action. 

If you've been praying for God's hand to move in your situation and it hasn't so far then KEEP PRAYING! Keep believing, speak your faith out loud, anoint your need in action faith. Be bold in asking as the Canaanite woman above. Don't give up until He turns your way, recognizes your faith and provides the answer. Too many of Western Christians are soft, weak and sickly in this area, hence, their prayers remain unanswered for their lack of action-based faith. Walk in your faith, believing and speaking it. Don't give up for the enemy of your soul would then get the victory. Stand firm in the power and the might of the Lord! Put "feet" to your faith.

[dropcap]B[/dropcap]e bold, and be persistent to move God's hand in your life. Read His word, seek His face. Pray without ceasing! And never give up.

Amen.

 "“Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” -Luke 8:48 (NLT)

 

-BPWatcher, Internet Preacher and Bible Prophecy Watchman

"Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?" -2 Peter 3:11-12

GLORY TO GOD!