Bible Prophecy and Inspiration

1Thessalonians 1:6 –⁶ You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.

We see many falling away from Truth in these last days.

The passage above reminds me of how grateful we need to be that believers did hold onto the Holy Spirit so the Gospel could continue to be passed on.  During severe suffering so many held onto the faith.

We need to continue to seek the Lord and His Word as it strengthens us and our faith.  We never know when the suffering could kick in.  We know this though, it won’t go unnoticed by our Lord.

God is preparing His heroes. And when the opportunity comes, He can fit them into their places in a moment. And the world will wonder where they came from.

A. B. Simpson

That is why we all need to prepare everyday.  So our Lord can use us when He needs to.  Seek Him daily. 

Revelation 22:10-13- ¹⁰ Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near. ¹¹ Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy.”

¹² “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. ¹³ I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

Now it has been 2,000 years and he told John not to seal up the book.  He told Daniel to seal up his book, but not John.  Why do you think that is?  I can tell you I believe it’s because it’s healthy for all of the Church to be looking for Jesus everyday and living like He will appear.

Those that were in the first century and looked for Him, those in the second, third, etc., all were doing what our Lord asked.  Everyone that loves the idea of His appearing will all be rewarded.

2 Timothy 4:8-⁸ Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day —and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Now if there is a crown for longing, yearning for His appearing, do you think it’s important?

I’ve heard people say, it will never happen in my lifetime or I don’t think it will.  Do you think they are longing for His appearing?

If you feel like He could show up at anytime is their more urgency?

There should be.

The signs are present, countries are lining up against Israel and the world is ripe for a one world currency as everyone is broke.  There is something else that is very important.  The world’s most powerful and wealthiest people have been pushing us towards a one world order and are closer than ever.

Will it happen?  The Bible is not a predictor, its history written ahead of time of what’s already happened in the future.  God is outside of time.  He told John and the other prophets of what was going to happen.  That’s when we know the prophecy comes from the Lord.  It’s a hundred percent accurate.

Live for Him.  He’s coming soon with His reward.

Proverbs 28:10- ¹⁰ He who leads the upright along an evil path
will fall into his own trap,
but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.

Back to the old adage I continue to bring up.  “It matters.”  It all matters to God.

When I read the first half of that verse, here is the other one that popped into my head immediately.

Matthew 18:6-7-⁶ But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

⁷ “Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!

It’s one thing to be a sinner, but another to lead people astray.  Accountability, credit, one’s due.  God is going to hold us accountable for everything, good or bad.  Those who are against God and try to drag others down and tear them away from Him are not going to like their earnings.

We have one lifetime on this earth and some have chosen to be adverse or pick a fight with the Creator of not only themselves, but the whole universe.  Is it me or does that really not sound wise?

People don’t understand that everything is spiritual going on around them.  The content they read, the movies and television they watch, and the music they listen to.  It’s all spiritual.  It’s all part of the big spiritual battlefield.

Here is another set of verses I’m reminded of when reading Proverbs 28:10.

Luke 19:11-27 – ¹¹ While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. ¹² He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. ¹³ So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’

¹⁴ “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’

¹⁵ “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

¹⁶ “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’

¹⁷ “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’

¹⁸ “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’

¹⁹ “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’

²⁰ “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. ²¹ I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’

²² “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? ²³ Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’

²⁴ “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’

²⁵ “‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’

²⁶ “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. ²⁷ But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”

The parable was told to make it clear.  The Lord wants those who love Him to obey and serve Him.  There are rewards for those who do, and a bad end for those that choose to not love and serve Him.  Being in the middle is dangerous if you’re on a road, in a lake, or river.  It’s not a safe haven in the battle we are all facing either.  Choose to serve the King!

Proverbs 28:6 – ⁶ Better a poor man whose walk is blameless
    than a rich man whose ways are perverse.

Is Solomon talking about present day or after one’s last breath?  As always the Bible warns us about our earthly actions when it is all said and done. 

The perverse rich man doesn’t care while he is still alive.  The tyrant doesn’t care how he treats others, while he is still on this earth.  That’s because they don’t allow themselves to think about repercussions after they done on this earth.  That’s a major force of blindness.

Each of us needs to live our lives to please our Lord.  If not there are repercussions.  I’ve had people tell me that repercussions or consequences don’t motivate them.  Consequences coupled with love should motivate them.  The biggest reason consequences doesn’t motivate people is because ultimately it’s about them.  They’re not being sold the goods they want when they hear about negativity. 

It doesn’t change reality and when the repercussions or rewards are happening, everyone will care.  Don’t be blinded, serve the Lord every day.   Do your best to walk blamelessly even though we know it’s impossible to achieve.  The Lord knows your heart.

Proverbs 28:5-⁵ Evil men do not understand justice,
    but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.

In studying God’s Word we see that our Lord is both loving and just.  We are extremely fortunate that he is forgiving.  If those who didn’t seek Him saw the end result they would understand it fully.

Our God however wants a loving creation that seeks Him out of love.  He wants those who he created with a free will to choose Him.  Those who only do it out of fear with no love or desire to be with Him will ever have the right heart.  They will always be self centered and selfish.

We need to repent and accept Him as Lord.

The more we seek the Lord, the more wonderful we discover He is.  Seek Him every day.  He is more than worthy.

I was inspired by good friend Shane to look over Proverbs chapter 28.

Some of the verses jumped out at me more than others.  I think for the next couple of couple of weeks I’ll insert those that did jump out at me.

The first is verses 4.

Proverbs 28:4- ⁴ Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
    but those who keep the law resist them.

Which law?  As we know the law of the land can be wicked and go against the law of the Lord.  Our laws are geared more today for those who go against God’s Word than just a few decades ago.  The criminals have more rights than those who obey the law.  Lawsuits and the courts encouraging of it’s off the charts. 

The law Solomon is referring to is our Lords.  The law is the 10 commandments.  Watch most movies today PG or higher and even the tame ones break 5 of the 10.  By today’s standards we all are so calloused we don’t think that’s so bad.

Those who forsake the law praise the wicked.  The Lord makes the law and states please don’t break it.  It’s not good for you and I hate it when you do.  The other deceiver who wants to be like the most high is happily encouraging you to do whatever you want.

Who do you want to please?  Whose side do you want to be on?

Those who keep the law resist them.  It’s taking a stand.  When the world says something’s right and goes against God’s Word and you take a stand against it and don’t participate, the Lord knows you are doing that for Him.

The Lord wants you to choose the right side.  He doesn’t want you walking on the fence, or playing in the playground of the gray area.  He certainly doesn’t want you to be buddying up next to the enemy.

Choose correctly.  Choose Love.  Choose you God and Creator and not yourself.