Don't be troubled

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places (Matthew 24:6-7 KJV).

Wars
Famines
Pestilences
Earthquakes

It is amazing to note that these tragedies (signs of end time) are stated in plural. They are not one time event but events that will happen severally and in divers places.

While we can avert troubles through prayers, these signs of end time cannot be averted. They are signs that must happen: they precede the Lord's coming. Just like the night precedes the day.

The Lord also talked about nation rising against nation and kingdom against kingdom. So when you see black nation for instance, rising against white nation, or vice versa, note they are part of the signs.

We must be careful enough or pay close attention enough to know that these events are end times signs, otherwise different meaning could be given to them, which is already the case.

Following the great unhappiness that these events will cause, people will interpret them differently. They could call nation against nation, racism: they could call pestilence, pandemic: famine as recession: and earthquake as natural disaster...

But if we accept them as what they are - the end time signs, our approach will be different. We will better prepare ourselves to handle them when they come, and better align ourselves with the plan and strategy of heaven.

For instance, war could destroy businesses, places of worship, homes, etc. How do we keep on living and maintain our kingdom assignment in such situations and avoid being carried away by the sorrows that such war bring?

God has strategies that makes his people resilient during such time... Strategies that can survive wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, and their accompanied sorrows. And not only survive but keep advancing the kingdom even in the midst of the troubles.

Finally, note that the opening scripture is not saying it is the end of the world yet, it says "for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet." So keep living, be optimistic, avoid being troubled, instead focus on the work at hand -  your kingdom assignment here on earth.

Take heed

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many (Matthew 24: 4-5 KJV).

The first thing that Jesus addressed in His end time message in Matthew 24 was deception.

Sometimes the gospel (good news) is not just about news that sound good, but news that speak the truth.

We should not just summarize good news as news that is pleasing to the ear. We will be setting ourselves up for deception if we do so.

If someone else comes to tell us that many will be deceived, a lot of us will say "God forbid." However, Jesus Himself said so that many will be deceived.

Many will deceive many... It doesn't sound good, right. But that statement is not a suggestion but a reality we will confront.

To make it worse, those that will deceive many are not coming in the name of an idol but in the of Jesus. And when they come, they will introduce themselves as Christ.

It is only when one has a thriving relationship with THE Christ, that it will be impossible to be deceived by these people that call themselves Christ.

"The Christ" is different from "Christ"... Just like someone saying I am almighty, but the person is not THE Almighty. So those who deceive, come with the identity of who they are not.

These things must happen. Solution? Jesus says "Take heed that no man deceive you." Simple instruction, yet potent if applied properly. If you know the Christ closely, it will be possible to point out the impostor.

Just imagine someone disguising like your only wife whom you love and care for. Busted, right?. But someone like Jacob was deceived to marry the woman he did not love... He had not previously lived intimately with the one he loved. (Genesis 29:16-25).

When we know "the Christ" intimately, we will not be deceived by those who say they are "Christ."

The son of peace

And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again (Luke 10:5-6).

"...your peace shall rest upon it..."

There were many homes in Israel but Jesus decided to come through the home of Joseph the husband of Mary.

Joseph was a man who always wanted to do what was right, which reflected in his actions towards Mary for being with a child (Matthew 1:18-25).

And Jesus stayed in their home increasing in stature and wisdom (Luke 2:51-52) until he was about 30 years of age ready for public ministration (Luke 3:22-23).

In the opening scripture above, Jesus told His disciples that if the son of peace is not in the house they enter, they should leave together with the peace already pronounced upon the house.

If we do not seek to establish the type of home that God expects of us, chances are that we keep missing the visitation of the Lord to settle in our homes and establish the peace we seek within.

Do you want peace? Everyone will say yes. It is refelcted in the acceptance of the Lord's presence in your home.

The Lord says, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20).

God is everywhere, yet shows His presence in the gathering of people who earnestly welcome Him.

Are you a son of peace? It will reflect in your home and the quality of fellowship you have with God and the people He sends to you.

The church is not closed

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching (Hebrews 10:25 KJV)

Before the pandemic which necessitated the lockdown of churches, the scripture above had a certain interpretation.

While churches are closed, people found another meaning to it or beginning to revert to the original meaning.

Churches (the buildings) can be locked down but the true church of God cannot be locked down. The early churches first started meeting at their homes.

In fact, it is possible that reverse has been the case for years. While church buildings were open, many churches at home were locked down.

From the beginning, the fellowship that was had between man and God was at home - at the garden of Eden.

When Jesus was coming to the world, He could appear in the temple, but instead came through a home.

If we have big churches with broken homes, the society will not change. But if we have godly homes, the impact will be felt in the society as everyone comes from a home.

Every husband should see himself as pastor of his home. God gave Adam instructions on how his family should live. Abraham was also taught by God to teach his family:

For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him (Genesis 18:19 KJV).

When Jesus first sent out 72 disciples to preach, He instructed them to settled down at worthy homes, and reach out to people from there (Luke 10:5-7).

The pattern of homes being the focal point has been there all along. And it has to be so, if we must see transformation that we yearn for in our bigger churches and in our society at large.

Truth changes us inside out

You have purified your souls by obeying the truth in order to show sincere mutual love. So love one another earnestly from a pure heart. (1 Peter 1:22 NET)

"You have purified your souls..."

"...by obeying the truth..."

"...in order to show sincere mutual love."

Pilate asked Jesus "What is truth?" (John 18:38)

Prior to this time (4 chapters back), Jesus had earlier taught His disciples that He is the truth... (John 14:6)

To truly know the truth, it is not just a question of "what" but the fundamental question of "who"

The importance of exemplary leader cannot be over emphasized in knowing the truth. Who you listen to is very important in knowing the truth.

If someone surrounds himself with the wrong company, leaders and mentors, chances are that the person will be devoid of the truth. And the result is opposite of not knowing the truth - defiled souls.

And from defiled souls to defiled homes, communities, countries and the world. And as a result, the world will be full of people who cannot express sincere love to their fellow humans.

For one to express sincere love, his soul has to be purified with the truth. And that's what happens when one studies the truth and obeys the truth. The person begins to change inside out for good.

Diverse men of God

Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: Mat 23:34 KJV

I send unto you
1. Prophets
2. Wise men
3. Scribes

It is not only prophets that God prepares and sends out. There are wise men also sent by Him. And there are also scribes (experts in the law or scriptures) sent by Him.

Who is more superior among them? They are all servants before God, and need to work together to achieve the common course of the kingdom.

A prophet should know it is not only about the prophetic, there are also wise men and also experts in scriptures.

The problem sometimes is not lack of people sent by God but lack of synergy and respect for other people also sent by God.

They all have to recognize themselves.

In doing the will of God, it is not only about the prophetic, we also have to engage wisdom and also properly interpret the scriptures.

Also note that we might all exhibit the ability to prophesy, act wisely and interpret the scriptures, but there are people called specially and are experts in these areas.

When we realize this in true sense of it, we will have richer fellowship, serve one another better and in all achieve more for the kingdom

Lastly, we hear more about the meetings of  the prophets, it's high time we heard about the meetings of the wise men and also the meetings of the scribes.

A message to the rich

Come now, you rich! Weep and cry aloud over the miseries that are coming on you (James 5:1).

Marveling words!

What is this problem with the rich or what is it that confront the rich that makes it hard for them to enter the kingdom of heaven?

Looking at James chapter 5, we could extract some of the things that confront the rich or some of the things that these type of rich people do:

1. They hold back more than necessary.
Your riches have rotted and your clothing has become moth-eaten (James 5:2).

2. Part of what they call their income is the wages of their workers they don't pay or underpaid.
Look, the pay you have held back from the workers who mowed your fields cries out against you, and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts (James 5:4).

3. They get involved in self indulgence and showoff.
You have lived indulgently and luxuriously on the earth. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter (James 5:5)

4. They get into judging people wrongly.
You have condemned and murdered the righteous person, although he does not resist you (James 5:6)

While it is good to be rich, those who desire it fall into temptation, those who have it battle with vanity, and those who don't have it are confronted with poverty. The solution? Have it but be very mindful of the pitfalls.

Many rich people are out there, but Jesus remains the perfect example to learn from. He was rich but humble and lowly.

Discipline

God sends out His armies to deal with His enemies. And He sends His servants to maintain discipline in the assembly of His people.

The problem in the assembly most of the time is not due to the enemies (otherwise God and His armies will be failing in their duty), but the problem is usually due to lack of discipline on the part of God's people.

While the armies of God are holding back the enemies, God's servants need to work with God to get their people disciplined - know how to study, pray, fast, give, save, invest, do night watch, evangelize, etc. These things seem like big obstacles.

Take for instance Moses and the Israelites at the red sea. While God was holding back the Egyptians, Moses has to divide the red sea with his rod and the people need to go through it by themselves.

Just imagine Moses and people standing there crying to God for help, when God had already held back the enemies and expecting Moses to act and the people to follow...

This is a very interesting dilemma of the leaders and their followers... They have all they need to succeed yet acting as if something is amiss or as if the enemies are the problem.

How will the enemies stop you from studying, praying, fasting, giving, saving, investing, doing night watch, evangelizing, etc? The enemies can't; they are being held back by God. It takes discipline to do what you need to do on your part and expect result.