IS THE BEST YET TO COME?

Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden and were removed from the garden.  Satan thought he had won, but “the best was yet to come.”  Abraham obeyed God and went up to a mountain to slay his son, but God stopped him, because “the best was yet to come.”  Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt but they complained and went around the mountain for 40 years, but “the best was yet to come.” 

Ruth pleaded before the King for her people even at the risk of death, but “the best was yet to come.”  Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den, but “the best was yet to come.”  Jesus was nailed to a cross, suffered and died for our salvation and the devil thought he had won, “but the best was yet to come!”

Are you tired of the bad news that is continually being broadcast from most networks?  Are you tired of hearing this?  Don’t let it get you down because “The best is yet to come!”  Where have we heard these words of encouragement before?  None other than Trump himself.  Could it be that God is using Trump’s voice to speak to us and give us encouragement?  We are at a very low time in our country where the spirit of fear is rampant and the truth is being stifled by many.  The false prophets (most of the people in the media) are “preaching” a message of false hope that a change or re-set in our government will solve all of our problems.

I would say, don’t be so quick.  It isn’t over until God says it is over!!  The best is yet to come.  We, as Christians, can have hope, through Christ, that as long as we keep our minds and hearts fixed on Him, we will get through this time of turmoil and have faith that God will do what only He can do. 

There are many prophets that have said and are still saying that President Trump will have a second term.  Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.  Amos 3:7 (N9V) Does this mean that we need to look to President Trump being the “savior” of the world?  No, I think not, but God is and will be using him as well as other patriots to lead His people out of bondage. 

People are waking up.  We are in probably the greatest awakening in all of history!  This is going to be the biggest and greatest harvest of souls of all time.

No, it’s not over until God says it is over!!  So don’t be disappointed.  You need to keep the faith.  The best IS yet to come.  God still has a plan for this country and the world.  There is going to be a revival, an awakening, coming that will be ushering in the great harvest before the Second Coming of Jesus!   God loves us so much that He wants everyone to join Him at the Banquet Table of the Bridegroom (Jesus) and His Church (The Bride of Christ).

I believe the Lord game me the following words on November 9, 2020:

“God is assembling an army, an army of believers to fight the good fight to be victorious and win the battle.  He is appointing generals, admirals, and sergeants.  He is booting out the chaff.  We are all called to this army.  Be ready, be ready for battle.  Be prepared, the best is yet to come.  There is never a battle without an enemy.  The enemy is the left, the evil one.  Be strong.  Be vigilant.  Be calm. For I give you the sword of My Spirit, My Word which will go before you.  So march on My people.  Be ready for the battle.  Know ye this, there can be no victory without the fight.  March on.  Be calm.  Be strong.  Watch and wait for My directions.”

I believe the Lord gave me the following words on November 29, 2020:

“There will be an avalanche against the enemy.  An avalanche of Biblical proportions.  One in which My power will know, no bounds.  So prepare for this for I will be opening the Red Sea to bring My people across and there will be an avalanche of My power that will overwhelm the enemies camp.  So rejoice and be exceedingly glad My children.  This is the decree of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  Prepare; be My re-enforcers of the Kingdom which is to come and which is within you.  Be a force for the Kingdom of God.  For I AM WHO I AM and no demon in hell will prevent what I am doing now.  My voice has spoken and I will do it so prepare army of God.  PREPARE, PREPARE, PREPARE!!”

Is the best yet to come?  Yes I believe it is and it is in God’s Holy Word.  Evil has an expiration date and I believe we are living in the greatest time in history but it is up to us to stand for God and our freedoms!  Evil has to be constrained so that the Gospel of the Kingdom will be exemplified as well as preached before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.  Matthew 24:14 NIV

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.  No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.  Revelation 22:1-5 NIV

 Marcella Ward October 27, 2021

 

 

                                                                I DON’T KNOW YOU

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’  Matthew 7:21-23 NIV

“Jesus says to them in Matthew 7:23, “I never knew you.” They did not know Jesus and Jesus did not know them. Jesus knew about them and they knew about Jesus, but there was no intimacy of relationship which the word for “know” here indicates. It does not matter how much head knowledge you have about God, if you are not adopted into His kingdom as one of His children, then you are not going to enter because Heaven is not your home.

You say that sounds like I am against the security of the believer in the assurance of salvation. Maybe it sounds that way because I am against a false assurance of salvation. If you think that you are a Christian because you attend church services, pay tithes, made a public profession of faith, prayed a prayer, walked an aisle, raised your hand, were baptized, or anything else similar, or because pastor or evangelist told you that you were now a Christian, then you had better think again. You need to do what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!” because if your salvation is based on any of those things I mentioned, then you have a false assurance of salvation. They are all based on having faith in faith itself or in what you did and not in Christ. That is part of the deceitfulness of self righteousness. Some may think they’re saved because they know a lot of theology, or because they do a lot of things for the church, or because they know the Bible very well, or because of a thousand and one other things, but unless your salvation is based on God’s graciously regenerating you -, i.e., making you who were dead in trespasses and sin alive again through the power of the Holy spirit by His gift of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His atonement, then you are not saved.”  The Deception of Self-Righteousness – Matthew 7:21-23 January 10, 1993 Pastor Scott L. Harris 1/10/93; April 11, 1998)

Jesus looks at our hearts.  It is in our hearts that He can truly know who we are and what our intentions are.  This message from the Lord is a difficult “pill” to swallow.  There are those who preach the Gospel of Grace that says that “once saved always saved.”  Yes, when we accept the Lord Jesus into our heart and confess our sins, we are born into the Kingdom of God but we need to have an intimate relationship with the Lord and follow His will and commandments if we are to enter into heaven.  We also need to make sure that when we sin, we ask for forgiveness. 

Salvation is a daily walk.  It is a life-long commitment.  It is the working out of our sanctification that makes us who God has intended us to be.  It is our true identity.  It is a question of the heart.  Do we really love our Savior or are we doing works for our own gratification? 

Recommitment Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, I want to know the real You in all Your fullness and glory like I never have before. I’ve wandered away from You, and have become lukewarm in my walk of faith. I repent for not giving You total control of my life. Jesus, please fill me anew with Your love and peace that surpasses all understanding. Please renew my strength and faith and restore my hope, so that I may know the real You intimately. Lord, I declare You are my Hope and my Salvation, my Rock and Shelter, my Provider and my Healer, my Everlasting Father, and I want to dwell in Your presence and love all the days of my life. Lord Jesus, I trust in Your love and believe in Your Word. Light the fire of Your Holy Spirit again in me so that I may taste and see each day that You are good! I dedicate my life anew to You, my Lord and Savior! In Jesus Name, AMEN. (God With Us Ministries)

 Marcella Ward October 20, 2021

                                                                 THE MIDNIGHT CRY

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish and five were wise.  The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.  The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.  The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.  Matthew 25:1-13 NIV

THE RAPTURE OF BELIEVERS

 “There are many Christians who believe that the second coming of Jesus Christ will be in two phases. First, He will come for believers, both living and dead, in the “rapture” (read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). In this view, the rapture—which is the transformation and catching up of all Christians, dead or alive, to meet Christ in the air—will be secret, for it will be unknown to the world of unbelievers at the time of its happening.”  (What is The Rapture? Answers Billy Graham Association September 21, 2017)

This parable of the ten virgins, many Bible scholars agree, represents those believers who are ready for the rapture of the Church.  The oil represents the Holy Spirit.  Only those who have been true believers, the faithful, will be the ones that the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, will come for.  We, as believers need to be ready so that we will avoid the wrath that will happen before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

I believe we need to always be prepared just as the wise virgins were prepared to meet their groom.  How do we, as believers, prepare?  We need to always remain in a state of grace, meaning we need to confess our sins asking for forgiveness as well as forgiving others.  We need to prepare our hearts so we can be spotless because of the blood of Jesus.  Jesus is coming for a spotless bride.

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.  Revelation 19:7-8 NIV

There is a movie called, “Before The Wrath.”  The following link is where it is available.  I recommend it.  It describes a Jewish wedding and exemplifies how the bride (the Church) is readied for her Bridegroom (Jesus Christ).   www.beforethewrath.com

 Marcella Ward October 13, 2021

                                                        

                                                             WHAT IS YOUR YES?

The Parable of the Two Sons

 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’

 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.   “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.   “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”

“The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.  Matthew 21:28-32 NIV

The first son was very willing to comply and in my opinion, he said yes because he wanted to impress his father.  The other automatically said no and in my opinion probably thought it over and even though he did not want to go to work, he did it because of his love for his father.

That happens many times in our lives.  I can remember the time when I was asked to do something at a church I was attending and I seemed to be the only one being asked and I was growing tired of being the only other person available but I always said yes.  I remember the Lord reminding me of the parable of the two sons and even though reluctant, I said yes.

I also remember my father saying yes to the needs of his family when he left El Paso because of no prospects of finding a job and moved with his wife and four children to Arizona trusting in God to provide. God came through because someone from the Customs Agency in Nogales, Arizona, came looking for him and he received the best job he ever had and he retired from that agency many years later.

 The Rich and the Kingdom of God

Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”  “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he inquired.  Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”

 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.  Matthew 19:16-22 NIV

I have often wondered what would have happened to this man if he had said “yes” to Jesus. How dramatically would his life have changed?  Would he have become a disciple winning many, many people to Christ?  At that instant, his turning away from the Lord’s invitation, could have made a tremendous impact on his life but that, we will never know.

What about Mary, the Mother of Jesus?  What about her yes?   “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.  Luke 1:38 NIV   What would have happened if she had said, “no”? 

What about the greatest yes since the beginning of time?   For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.  For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.  Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:16-18

What about each individual apostle who said yes to the call of Jesus?  Did Jesus call the perfect?  No, be He equips the called.

What about Peter’s yes?  Did he say yes right away?  No, he denied Jesus three times but later  repented and Jesus restored Peter by anointing and appointing him to lead the flock.  

Abraham said yes when God told him to leave his land. The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.  Genesis 12:1 NIV   Moses said yes when God asked him to go back to Egypt and lead God’s people into the Promised Land.  So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” Exodus 3:10 NIV Ruth said yes to follow her mother-in-law Naomi.   But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Ruth 1:6 NIV

Esther was given a choice to save the Jews from annihilation.  For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:  “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”  Esther 4:14-16

Saul and all the Israelites were afraid of Goliath but David said “yes” to defeating the giant.   David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. ⁴⁶ This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head.  I Samuel 17:45-46 NIV

Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Corrie ten Boom, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and many modern day heroes answered the call to say “yes” to freedom and their God-given rights.

Every “yes” has a ripple effect.  What is your yes?  Yes, I will follow the Word of God.  Yes, I will stand for Christ.  Yes, I will walk in the Spirit of God.  Yes, I will seek the truth at all times.  Yes, I will stand for freedom and my rights that were given to me by my Creator. 

WHAT IS YOUR YES?

If your “yes” is a prayer for Salvation or you want to recommit your life to Jesus, pray this prayer.

Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for dying on the cross for my sin. Please forgive me. Come into my life. I receive You as my Lord and Savior. Now, help me to live for You the rest of my life.
In the name of Jesus, I pray.
Amen. (Learn Religions, Mary Fairchild, July 31, 2019)

 Marcella Ward October 6, 2021