August 1, 2002(26)
THE MINISTRY OF OUR LORD AND HIS CHURCH. The presence of the Spirit of the Lord enlivens the preaching of the Word. Lacking the Spirit will bring forth a substitute that does not satisfy. The wisdom of man, however intellectual may be pleasant to the ears, but leaves the heart empty. The ministry of the Word under the anointing of the Spirit will reach into the heart of the hearer and meet their needs. The anointing of the Spirit empowered the Lord Jesus to declare the Good News. Luke 4:18-21 Dare we try to fulfill His call to the church, to proclaim glad tidings, without the Holy Spirit anointing our lives? The meek, the humble in heart gladly hear and receive the message. Hearts and lives that are shattered are reclaimed and reestablished. Those bound by sin are released into the glorious liberty that is in Christ Jesus.
THE YEAR OF THE CHURCH. The time when the desires of the heart of the church to see Him and be with Him, will be met. The Lord has a time schedule and will not deviate from it. Jesus came at the time predetermined of His Father. <When the time had fully come>. He who established times and seasons works according to His set plan. Gal. 4:4 The prophecies of the Word of God given pertaining to the last days will all be fulfilled, in His time. < In the dispensation of the fullness of the times>. Eph. 1:10 The Lord is in complete control and will accomplish the fulfillment of His plan. That which is acceptable unto the Lord is to manifest His good pleasure in His Zion, the City of the Living God. Ps. 51:18 The Lord has appointed a time, a set time to show forth His favor and majesty to His Zion. Ps. 102:13 The church is really the key to the time of the end and the final judgments that are to be loosed on this earth. Isa. 61:2
THE DAY OF VENGEANCE. A day that most would like to overlook and ignore. As certain as the sun has risen today, so certain is the day of the retribution of our God. That is a day that had been appointed. Acts 17:31 That day is stated to be the <day of His appearing and His kingdom>. 2 Tim. 4:1The day of His is the day when He is made manifest, when He appears {Gr. Epiphaneia} in the brightness of the glory of the Lord. It is the day when all shall see Him, from those who are dead and were responsible for His death, to those living at that particular moment. Rev. 1:7 It is very apparent from the scriptures that the appearing {Christ seen by all} and His coming are one and the same. The antichrist is destined to be destroyed by the brightness, the shining forth of the Epiphany or appearing at the time of the coming {parousia or rapture} of the Lord Jesus. There are not two events spoken of here, relating to His second coming. They are one and the same moment of time. The wicked one will be destroyed after having done his dirty work. Unfortunately the antichrist must appear before Christ. Otherwise, he would not be in a position to be destroyed by the Coming of Christ the second time. 2 Thes. 2:8