Over the last few years we have watched in disbelief as our nation suffered terrorist attacks, went through the disaster of Hurricane Katrina, which was one of the costliest disasters in history. The Gulf region is still recovering from the devastation. Many of us have watched the upheaval in North Africa and the Middle East. Dictators and monarchs who have reigned for decades have suddenly come under fire and had to step down from office. What is happening? We are witnessing the great shaking the Bible tells us will come in the last days. We are witnessing a realignment of the nations of the earth for God's last day plan.
Some time ago as I was praying the Lord began to deal with me about preaching on God’s Survival Plan for Perilous Times. We are living in perilous times. The word perilous means dangerous. Webster's Dictionary defines perilous as “involving peril, which means exposure to harm or injury, danger or peril.”
Most believers agree that we are living in the last days. How do we know that we are living in the last days? The Bible tells us that there are certain signs that will be fulfilled that will let us know without any doubts that we are close to the coming of the Lord. What are these signs? In Acts 2:17 Peter preached the inaugural sermon of the new born New Testament Church. In this passage of scripture we learn that the last days began with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We are not only living in the last days, but the last of the last days.
Notice some of the Scriptural prophetic signs that are being fulfilled that let us know without any doubt that we are close to the end of the age:
In Matthew 24:8 – we learn that “all these are the beginning of sorrows.” Where are we on God’s prophetic time clock? According to God’s Word we are now living in the beginning of sorrows! What will happen next? I believe that we will continue to hear of wars and rumors of wars and those things will progressively get worse and worse. We are not headed for utopia, but the world scene is now being set up for coming man of sin, the lawless one, or the Antichrist. Matthew 24:12 – “And because lawlessness will abound the love of many will wax cold.”
The Apostle Paul wrote prophetically of our day in II Timothy 3:1, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.” These times are upon us. The western world lives with the daily threat of when and where the next terrorist attack will occur. Our nation has been on a state of high alert, but many in our nation have forgotten the devastation of September 11, 2001 and been lulled into a false sense of security.
Most of us would agree that our lives have changed over the last ten years. Luke 21:25-26 says this, “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.”
We are living in perilous times, but we don’t have to be afraid. God has a plan for His children during perilous times! How do we live in perilous times? We live in victory! We say with the Apostle Paul in Galatians 2:20,“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
How do we survive and thrive in perilous times? There are three important things that we must do:
We are living in perilous times, but we do not have to be afraid. Jeremiah 29:11 reveals that God has a plan for each of our lives. He has a strategy to bless you and keep you safe even in times of uncertainty and difficulty.
Some time ago as I was praying the Lord began to deal with me about preaching on God’s Survival Plan for Perilous Times. We are living in perilous times. The word perilous means dangerous. Webster's Dictionary defines perilous as “involving peril, which means exposure to harm or injury, danger or peril.”
Most believers agree that we are living in the last days. How do we know that we are living in the last days? The Bible tells us that there are certain signs that will be fulfilled that will let us know without any doubts that we are close to the coming of the Lord. What are these signs? In Acts 2:17 Peter preached the inaugural sermon of the new born New Testament Church. In this passage of scripture we learn that the last days began with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We are not only living in the last days, but the last of the last days.
Notice some of the Scriptural prophetic signs that are being fulfilled that let us know without any doubt that we are close to the end of the age:
- The Bible tells us in Zechariah 12:2 – “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness (trembling) to all the surrounding peoples.” Our President and his Secretary of State are putting pressure on Israel to divide Jerusalem and give away East Jerusalem as a capital for a Palestinian State.
- Peter preached in Acts 2:17-21, that we would experience an unprecedented move of God’s Spirit in the last days. There are great revivals that are sweeping around the world, especially on the continents of Africa, South & Central America, and Asia. Isaiah 60:1 – “Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.”
- Jesus told us in Matthew 24:6 that we will hear of wars and rumors of war. He goes on to list the following signs that will point to the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are wars raging in every different region of the world today.
- Matthew 24:7 – “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.”
In Matthew 24:8 – we learn that “all these are the beginning of sorrows.” Where are we on God’s prophetic time clock? According to God’s Word we are now living in the beginning of sorrows! What will happen next? I believe that we will continue to hear of wars and rumors of wars and those things will progressively get worse and worse. We are not headed for utopia, but the world scene is now being set up for coming man of sin, the lawless one, or the Antichrist. Matthew 24:12 – “And because lawlessness will abound the love of many will wax cold.”
The Apostle Paul wrote prophetically of our day in II Timothy 3:1, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.” These times are upon us. The western world lives with the daily threat of when and where the next terrorist attack will occur. Our nation has been on a state of high alert, but many in our nation have forgotten the devastation of September 11, 2001 and been lulled into a false sense of security.
Most of us would agree that our lives have changed over the last ten years. Luke 21:25-26 says this, “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.”
We are living in perilous times, but we don’t have to be afraid. God has a plan for His children during perilous times! How do we live in perilous times? We live in victory! We say with the Apostle Paul in Galatians 2:20,“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
How do we survive and thrive in perilous times? There are three important things that we must do:
- We must live in God's provision. We must learn to live by the promises of God. In these last days we will have to trust Him as our provider. He is looking for a people who will live in His miraculous provision.
- We must trust God for our protection. His protection will come through our relationship with Him. The 91st Psalm is known as the protection Psalm. We must learn to claim this promises as our own and stand together in faith for His protection over our lives.
- We must live in the power of His Spirit through prayer. If we truly believe that we are living in the last days, then we must live in the power of His Spirit. James 5:16 teaches, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."
We are living in perilous times, but we do not have to be afraid. Jeremiah 29:11 reveals that God has a plan for each of our lives. He has a strategy to bless you and keep you safe even in times of uncertainty and difficulty.
Comments
I identify with the scriptures you reference in your writing. I have Gal 2:20,21 over my desk at the office. I have expounded on it in a message God gave me some months ago. God gave me Jer 29:11 during a fast a couple of years ago so I confess it often. I certainly agree with you that things have dramatically changed over the last 10 years. I pray God opens our eyes. Thank you for this message.