God is consuming fire
As 2012 had closed and 2013 is well on its way to closing the first quarter, the watchman sees more signs more clearly. Looking through old notes he noted many prophetic words, signs, dreams, and visions from the Lord had indeed come to pass. Reading the Bible as a whole, he realized that this Book speaks more to spiritually discerning Christians than those who continue to walk in the flesh (not discerning spiritual things).
The latest message is: Revelation time is here. Even the world has described significant extreme weather related events and phenomena as ‘almost Biblical’ or simply ‘Biblical’. People round the globe are asking what all these signs mean. Do churches have an answer? What churches (or individuals rather) should now ask is, as questioned by Apostle Peter: “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness”? (2 Peter 3:11)
“Holiness” and ‘Godliness” are the two things that God looks for. Are end times churches and Christians who attend church ready in these two characteristics? How may one attain such divine qualities?
2 Peter 3:10-13
English Standard Version (ESV)
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God,because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
HOLINESS: SANCTIFIED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
1 Peter 1:2
English Standard Version (ESV)
2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:
May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
1 Peter 1:13-16
English Standard Version (ESV)
Called to Be Holy
13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
1 Peter 2:9, 11
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
GODLINESS: GIVEN BY GOD; OBTAINED BY FAITH
2 Peter 1:1
Greeting
1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
2 Peter 1:3-4
Confirm Your Calling and Election
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, throughthe knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
2 Peter 1:10-11
English Standard Version (ESV)
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.
THE LORD JESUS HAS THUS COMMANDED US
Luke 21:32-36
English Standard Version (ESV)
32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Watch Yourselves
34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
OUR PART IS TO PAY ATTENTION AND OBEY, JOINED TO THE LORD, BE OF ONE SPIRIT WITH THE LORD, MADE HOLY BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
Hebrews 2:1, 4
Warning Against Neglecting Salvation
2 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.
4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Hebrews 3:12-13
English Standard Version (ESV)
12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
1 Corinthians 6:11
New Living Translation (NLT)
11 Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you weremade right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:17
New Living Translation (NLT)
17 But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.
PAUL’S ADVICE TO TIMOTHY: AVOID AND FLEE FROM UNHOLINESS AND UNGODLINESS! DRAW NEAR TO THOSE WHO CALL ON THE LORD FROM A PURE HEART.
2 Timothy 3:1,2, 5
English Standard Version (ESV)
Godlessness in the Last Days
3 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.
2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
2 Timothy 2:22
English Standard Version (ESV)
22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
