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Christ's Kingdom and the End Times

Category: God and You (Page 1 of 3)

Blog posts about God and you.

The Great and Wonderful Love of God

February 14, 2024 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #297 ~

If you are a child of God, if God is your heavenly Father, then you are greatly, personally, and forever loved by Him. God wants you to know and experience His love every day of the week and every year of your life. “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life” (Ps. 23:6). “Satisfy me in the morning with Your unfailing love that I may sing for joy and be glad all my days.” Psalm 90:14

If you are not satisfied by God’s love, then you will look to people or things in the world. That will not be good for you and will not bring glory to God. So go after God, seek Him, and make it your goal for your soul to know and be satisfied by His love. Then you will love God and love others and be able to joyfully carry out His plans for your life. Then you can make it through the tough times and these end-times. And then you will greatly glorify your God and Father.

I have written up a long list of Bible verses on God’s love. They are in my most recent article on this blog site. I cannot stress enough the importance of knowing these truths about love, thinking about them, and seeing them impact your life on earth. Listed below are several thoughts about love from these verses.

1. The greatest demonstration of God’s love for you is seen in Christ’s death on the cross, in that He was punished to pay the penalty for all your sins, and that God the Father was perfectly and forever satisfied by what His Son did for you.
2. The love of God is based on the truth of God.
3. God’s word gives you a great amount of information about God’s love.
4. God’s love for you began in eternity past and will continue into eternity future.

5. There is never a gap, a break in God’s love – it is constant and continual.
6. Ask God to show you His love so you can know His love.
7. Never expect or depend on a person to love you, but do expect and depend on God to love you.
8. God’s love is seen in many ways: it is good, kind, gentle, forgiving, patient, and compassionate.
9. Keep thanking God for His amazing and incredible love for you.

10. God’s love is shown in that He thinks about you, speaks to you, and works for you.
11. Knowing God’s love is one of the most important keys to loving people.
12. Singing about God’s love is good for your soul.
13. Being filled with God’s love is necessary to be fruitful and blessed.
14. You need to rely on and be satisfied by God’s love every day of your life. You may start the day with a cup of coffee but you must start the day with God’s love.

15. You see God’s love dimly during this life, but you will see it much more clearly and fully after your life on earth, when you are with Him in heaven.
16. God expresses His love to you in many ways. He loves you by giving you His Spirit, by being with you, by never leaving you, by providing for you, by leading you, by protecting you, by spiritually blessing you, by physically blessing you, by speaking to you through His word, by using you for His purposes, by giving you Christian fellowship, and by giving you hope.

17. Its vitally important to keep yourself in God’s love (Jude 21). You do this by: spending time with God, and for more than just a few minutes a day; meditating on verses about love; remembering what Christ did for you on the cross; loving God; obeying God; being filled with the Spirit; believing the truth of God’s love; having communion with Christians; confessing  your sins to God; being thankful; sharing God’s love with others; and having fellowship with Christians.

18. Remember how God loved you in the past; focus on His love for you today; and think about how He will love you in the future, especially when you are in heaven.
19. A key to perseverance, to not giving up, is thinking about the personal and never-stopping, never-ending love of God.
20. God loves you even when you do not feel like He loves you. Never gauge His love for you by how you feel, by your emotional state, or by the kind of day you are having.

21. That God made you and then made you His child is a good and powerful sign of His love for you.
22. God’s love is true, unfathomable, incomprehensible, infinite, and eternal.
23. You cannot love God and love the world – they do not mix. If you love God, you are not loving the world, and if you love the world, you are not loving God.
24. Disobeying God means you are not being led by and filled up with His love.

25. One way to know God’s love is seeing how He is sovereign over your life.
26. God’s caring and compassionate love is really needed when you are going through troublesome and trying times.
27. The more you know God loves you, the more you will work and fight for Him.
28. Great tribulation, great persecution, is coming upon this earth. But during this time, nothing will keep you from God’s encouraging and comforting love.

29. Many of the verses I have listed in Article 52 are about David. I believe he is our best human example in the Bible of one who knew the love of God. Learn about God’s love by reading the Psalms and learning from David’s life.
30. The more you know and walk in God’s love, the more you will glorify God.

P.S. This is Valentine’s Day, a day that focuses on human love. But as Christians, we must focus on God’s love. I strongly encourage you to read and print out the verses on God’s love that are in my recent article, “The Love of God”, and then take the time to think about them. And pass them on to family and friends.

To Live is Christ, Now and Forever!!!

May 13, 2023 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #276 ~

If you are a true Christian, if you have repented of your sins and have believed that Jesus Christ died to pay for your sins, and was raised from the dead, then you are a child of God, forgiven of your sins, and have eternal life. And God has planned out many great things for you in this life, and many, many, many great and glorious things for you in the future, in the ages to come.

After your life on earth, you will have a perfect body, you will be in your heavenly home, you will be with other believers, and you will be richly rewarded. What is vastly more important than any of these things is that you will be with Jesus Christ, the One who saved you from sin and death, who loves you far more than anyone else, and who can’t wait to see you. Your entire and eternal future is centered on Jesus Christ! To live is Christ! What, specifically, does this mean for you? 

* You will be with Christ. “I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may also be” (John 14:3). You will physically, joyfully, and forever be with Jesus Christ, your Lord, Savior, Husband, and best Friend. 1 Thessalonians 4:17

* You will live together with Christ. “… obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him” (1 Thess. 5:10). You will not be far away from Christ but will live together with Him in the holy city, the new Jerusalem, your heavenly home. Revelation 21:1-2

* You will see Jesus Christ. “I know that my redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth… from my flesh I shall see God: whom I myself shall behold, and whom my eyes will see and not another. My heart faints within Me” (Job 19:24-27). What will it be like when you first see Jesus Christ, when you gaze upon the face of God? You will be thrilled to see Him, you will be filled with joy, you will see His love for you, and you will love Him like never before. 1 Corinthians 13:12

* You will see Christ’s glory. “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory, which You have given Me.” (John 17:24). When we say Christ’s glory, we are talking about His character – His love, power, holiness, goodness, mercy, truth, wisdom, splendor, majesty, etc. You will be in awe and so amazed when you witness the glorious character and person of Christ. John 17:3-5

* You will be seen with Christ. “When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with Him in glory” (Col. 3:4). You will personally be with Christ, but also publicly be seen with Him. Christ wants the whole world to know that you are part of His family, that you are royalty, and that you are loved by Him. John 14:9

* You will be perfectly holy in the presence of Christ. “God chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him” (Eph. 1:4). You will always be holy in the presence of Christ, and it’s all because He died for you on the cross, thereby, perfectly satisfying God’s justice. To God be all the glory! Jude 24-25

* You will witness the reign of Christ. “God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a skillful Psalm. God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne” (Psalm 47:7-8). We live in a world with many evil and terrible leaders, but you will soon see Christ the King righteously ruling over the world. You will observe His justice and mercy in people’s lives, and hear praise coming from their lips. Psalm 67

* You will reign with Christ. “They will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years” (Rev. 20:6). As believers, we are a kingdom of priests, we are royalty, and thus, we will have the position and power to reign with Christ, to assist Him in His rule over the world, and to bring great glory to Him. Revelation 1:6, 5:10

* You will be like Christ. “We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is” (1 John 3:2). You will receive a new body, one like Christ’s, one that is powerful, immortal, spiritual, and glorious. This will enable you to fully experience and enjoy eternal life, to have intimate fellowship with Him and many others, and to perfectly love and serve Him. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44

* You will personally worship Christ. “I will extol You, my God, O King, and I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You (Psalm 145:1-2). You worship Christ now, but not perfectly so. In the future you will excitedly, continually, and wholeheartedly be worshiping and praising the Lord Jesus Christ. Psalm 72:18-19

* You will be perfectly loved by Christ. “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love” (John 15:9). None of us experience Christ’s marvelous love like we should. But in the future, you will abide, you will remain in the fulness of His love which, unbelievably, is the same love that God the Father has for Him. Psalm 86:12-13

* You will perfectly love Christ. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). You don’t always and fully love Christ, but when you get to heaven you will, and perfectly so. You will greatly, joyfully, and excitedly love your Savior. Psalm 9:1-2

* You will always obey Christ. “I will always obey Your law forever and ever” (Psalm 119:44). Jesus Christ is your Lord and you are His servant, and you obey Him now but not all the time. In the future, you will enthusiastically, continually, and completely obey all His commands. How satisfying and God-glorifying that will be! Psalm 119:1-8

* You will be taught by Christ. “Let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we can walk in His paths” (Isaiah 2:3). Think how encouraging it will be to listen to Jesus Christ, the greatest teacher of all time, for you will learn the ways of God and more clearly understand the word of God. Psalm 119:12

You will see Christ always exalted in your life. “To live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21). Jesus Christ is the heart of your life, but because of sin that doesn’t always happen. But in the future, Christ will always be the center of your life. Day after day and forever and ever Christ will be seen and exalted in and through your life. Every thing you do or say, every place you go, every person you are with, will directly relate to Christ, to His life, purpose, and glory. Philippians 1:20-24

* You will be married to Christ. “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage supper of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready” (Rev. 19:7). You are married to Jesus Christ. But at the beginning of the next age, not long from now, Christ will prepare for you the most magnificent marriage supper ever. All dressed up in fine linen and looking gloriously beautiful, you will have the time of your life with your most loving, caring, and devoted Husband. Ephesians 5:23-27

Your life as a Christian is completely centered on the person of Jesus Christ, now and forever. And your life as a Christian is a love story. Jesus has always loved you but now you know His love, and you love Him. But when you are in heaven, you will fully know His love, and you will fully love Him. Just think, you have eternal life – Christ knows you and you know Him, and He loves you and you love Him, now and forever. “To the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” Jude 25

P.S. The most important thing in life is your relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “Only a few things are necessary, really only one” (Luke 10:42). Here is a post and an article on this most relevant subject – “The Rapture, a Love Story” and “Thinking of Jesus Christ”.

I CAN’T WAIT TO BE WITH JESUS CHRIST

MY FUTURE IS ALL ABOUT CHRIST, MY LOVER

TO LIVE IS CHRIST – NOW AND FOREVER

I Am Looking Forward To…….

January 1, 2022 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #234 ~

As Christians, we must look ahead and look forward to what God will do for us, what we are to do for Him, and what He will be doing in the future. It is this faith and hope in God and obedience to Him that energizes and directs our lives – otherwise, we will get stuck and stagnate, unable to spiritually move ahead in the way He desires. So what does God have in store for your life on this earth? What has He planned out for the world, the church, the Jews, and the unbelievers in the last years of this age and in the ages to come? In the following two sections, I will share with you what I and all Christians should be looking forward to.

In 2022 and in the years ahead, I am looking forward to …
* … experiencing and being satisfied by God’s love! Psalm 90:14
* … loving God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength! Mark 12:30
* … keeping God’s commands and fulfilling His will day after day! Psalm 119:1-8
* … seeing God fulfill His promises and plans for me and others I know! 2 Cor. 1:20
* … God teaching me from His word! Psalm 119:33-34
* … God causing all things to work together for good! Rom. 8:28-30
* … seeing progress and joy in my life and the lives of others! Phil. 1:25
* … growing in the true knowledge of God! 2 Peter 3:18
* … having good, quality times with God on a daily basis! Psalm 63:1-5

* … walking and being led by the Spirit, and bearing fruit for God! Gal. 5:16-18, 22-23
* … using the gifts I’ve been given for the good of others and the glory of God! 1 Pet. 4:10-11
* … open doors and opportunities for the gospel and godly service! Col. 4:3-6
* … being fitted and built together with believers into a dwelling of God! Eph. 2:21-22
* … hearing that Christ is building His church all over the world! Matt. 16:18
* … seeing God supernaturally save people from sin, death, and the devil! Col. 3:13-14
* … being strengthened by the power of God when I’m weak, sick, or worn out! 2 Cor. 12:9-10
* … having warm and refreshing fellowship with Christians! Romans 12:10

* … God giving me all the grace and peace that I need! Eph. 1:2
* … saying no to sin and becoming more holy and Christ-like! 1 Peter 1:14-16 
* … resisting and standing firm against the schemes of the devil! Eph. 6:10-11
* … God delivering me out of trials and trouble! Psalm 18:1-3
* … God protecting me from the enemy, and rescuing me from every evil deed! 2 Tim. 4:18
* … seeing God do amazing, marvelous, and brand-new things! Isaiah 43:19
* … needing the Lord and trusting Him as I go through life and hard times! 1 Peter 1:6-9
* … carrying out and completing the work God wants me to do! John 17:4

In the last years of this age and / or in the ages to come, I am looking forward to …
* … the gospel being preached all over the world! Matt. 24:14
* … the 70th week of Daniel, and all that God will be doing during that time! Daniel 9:27
* … prophesied events being fulfilled for Christians, Jews, and unbelievers! Matt. 24:3-33
* … cosmic disturbances and the great earthquake, the end of the age! Rev. 6:12-14
* … Christ’s coming and the gathering of believers to Himself! Matt. 24:30-31
* … physically dying or being raptured, and forever being with Christ! 1 Thess. 4:13-17
* … receiving a brand-new, immortal, powerful, and glorified body! 1 Cor. 15:40-42
* … that time when we will fully, always, and perfectly love the Lord! Mark 12:30
* … being with believing friends in heaven and in our heavenly homes! Heb. 12:22-24

* … when God will justly punish wicked sinners and evildoers! Psalm 37:12-15
* … seeing the salvation of a large remnant of Jews! Rom. 11:25-27
* … watching Jesus Christ rule and reign as King over the whole earth! Psalm 47:6-8
* … reigning with Jesus Christ during the millennial kingdom! Rev. 5:10
* … seeing God spiritually and physically bless Israel during the millennial kingdom! Psalm 67
* … the rivers clapping their hands and the mountains singing together for joy! Psalm 98:8
* … seeing Christ enact perfect justice during the millennial kingdom! Psalm 72:8-14
* … all the nations worshiping and glorifying the Lord! Psalm 86:9

* … the whole world being full of God’s glory! Isaiah 6:3
* … the entire earth being filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord! Hab. 2:14
* … every tongue confessing that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father! Phil. 2:11
* … the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and on the earth! Eph. 1:9-11
* … the devil being cast into the lake of fire and being punished forever and ever! Rev. 20:10
* … when there is no more death, mourning, crying, or pain! Rev. 21:4
* … being with Jesus and fulfilling our glorious and eternal purpose! Eph. 2:10
* … being with all the angels and saints and praising God forever and ever! Psalm 145:1-2

As Christians we should never say we don’t know what is going to happen. We don’t know all the details, but we know in general what will be taking place. Indeed, the purposes, plans, and prophecies of God will most certainly be carried out. This should encourage you and fill you with hope, for it means a future filled with blessings, and the satisfaction of knowing that God will be greatly glorified. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

Be looking ahead, and be looking forward to 2022, to all the years of your life, and to the ages to come. And be like Paul who said, “I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14

P.S. As we start this new year, here is an article that should motivate you to use the time God has given you – “The Time of My Life.” Here is another post that tells us that God has predicted the future, and told us what needs to happen before Christ’s return and the rapture of the church – “Bible Prophecy Enables Us To See the Future.”

The Believer’s Brand-New Body – Amen!

February 19, 2021 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #207 ~

The hope of all believers is that they will receive a brand-new body, one that will be truly remarkable, powerful, glorious, and immortal. This is incredibly great news, and what will definitely take place in the future, when Jesus Christ returns at the end of this age.

Our human body, created in God’s image, was fearfully and wonderfully made. Though it’s the most amazing and complex of all God’s creations, it’s still very weak and frail, and that’s because of our sin. Yes, we are able to fulfill the plans God has for us in this present age. But we are also in this downward-spiraling, aging process, one that can be especially difficult. Now that I am 67, I am daily feeling the debilitating effects of being older – I get more tired, feel weaker, and have more aches and pains. What Paul said is so true, “We ourselves groan within ourselves” (Rom. 8:23). “We groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven” (2 Cor. 5:2-4). This groaning is physical, but also spiritual, for we continually struggle against our sinful flesh and unseen enemies. More than ever before, I am looking forward to that time when “there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain.” Rev. 21:4, Phil. 1:23

This “looking forward” is what we call hope. As Rom. 8:23 goes on to say, we are to be “waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved.” I am sure you know that your salvation is not yet complete, that as a Christian living on earth, you were justified, you are being sanctified, and you will be glorified – you will be given a new body that’s absolutely amazing. It’s vitally important that you see the entirety of your salvation, for as Rom. 8:30 sums up, “These whom He justified, He also glorified.”

What does God want you to know about your glorified body?
* 1 John 3:2 tells us, “We know that when He appears, we will be like Him.” Wow! Can you imagine this, that you will be like Jesus? Of course, you will be recognizably different in appearance than Him and other believers. But you will have the same kind of body as Jesus, a human body with perfect arms, hands, legs, feet, eyes, ears, nose, mouth and hair. Everything about you will be glorious, and yes, stunning. And having a body like Jesus’ body is essential for eternal life, for eternal relationships, and so you can fulfill God’s eternal plans.

* Rom. 8:29 tells us the same thing, that we will be “conformed to the image of His Son.” Again, we are told that we will be like Jesus, we will have a form, a body like His. As 1 Cor. 15:39 explains, “all flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another of birds, and another of fish.” We are not beasts, birds, or fish, we are humans, and we will have the same kind of flesh as that of Jesus, our Lord, Savior and King.

* Phil. 3:20-21 further confirms this – “We eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory.” No matter what you look like or how good of shape you are in, your body is still in a humble and lowly state. But the time will come when you will be transformed, fashioned, changed, and be like Jesus, possessing the same form, and having a magnificent and awesome body. 

Luke 20:35-36 tells us more, that believers will attain to the resurrection of the dead, but “will neither marry nor are given in marriage” – none of us will be husbands, wives, or have children. It goes on to say, “they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.” We are now sons of God and soon enough we will look like sons of God, which means we will also look like the angels. God’s plans for you are perfect which means you will have a perfect body so you can live in your wonderfully perfect home, so you can have all these perfectly enjoyable and encouraging relationships, and so you can carry out your perfect and God-glorifying purpose.

1 Cor. 15, the Bible chapter that best describes the believer’s new resurrection body, is most enlightening, especially vss. 40-42. We learn that our present bodies are perishable, are being corrupted, are growing worse with age, are mortal, and eventually will die. But your new body will be imperishable, eternally durable, and last forever. As vs. 54 says, “this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and then this mortal will have put on immortality.” God also wants you to know that your present body is dishonorable. Yes, you are made in His image, but being contaminated by sin often results in being shameful, disgraceful, and even ugly, both inside and out. But thankfully, you will be given a Christ-like body, one that is honorable, perfect, awesome, magnificent, altogether beautiful, one fit for the King.

Then we discover that your body will never again be weak. No longer will you be tired, feeble, sick, diseased, but rather you will be strong and powerful. We all know about the superheroes in comic books and movies, a primary feature being their strength. In the future, you will have a super-strong body, one that is always vigorous, energetic, and tireless. Finally, you won’t possess a natural body, a body suited just for this earth, but rather one that’s spiritual, suited for heaven and the restored earth (Acts 3:21), and for the new heaven and new earth too (Rev. 21:1). Yes, it will be a physical body, but it will also be spiritual, a supernatural and heavenly body. That you will have a body like Jesus’ is a God-promised and glorious truth, and why? So you can be with Jesus wherever He is – “we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:17

I get excited thinking about this aspect of our hope, that we will have brand-new bodies, ones that are imperishable, glorious, powerful, and spiritual. Designed and made by God, this body will be perfectly and wonderfully suited so you can be and do all that He has planned for you:
* You will grow in your knowledge of the Lord, and your relationship with Him. “Now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.” 1 Cor. 13:12
* You will fully know and feel the richness and warmth of God’s great love for you. Psalm 136
* You will wholeheartedly be worshiping and loving the Lord, and with a beautiful voice, you will be singing to Him too. Psalm 47:6, 145:1-2; Mark 12:30
* You will have stimulating, loving, and Christ-centered fellowship with all believers. Heb. 3:12
* You will perfectly serve the Lord, rule righteously with Him over this earth, do exactly what He wants you to do, and go everywhere He wants you to go. Rev. 5:10
* You will always be filled with the Spirit, and therefore be filled with love, joy, peace, and goodness. You will be happy and satisfied all the time. Your new body will be able to enjoy and experience all the blessings and pleasures God has in store for you. Psalm 16:11

When will believers receive this brand-new body? It is not when a person physically dies and goes to heaven. It’s when the church on earth is raptured. 1 Cor. 15:23 tells us, “… in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that, those who are Christ’s at His coming.” You will be glorified, be made alive at the coming of Christ. 1 Cor. 15:51-52 says that it’s at the last trumpet – “In a moment, at the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” 1 John 3:2 gives you more information – “When He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” It’s at Christ’s coming and when you first see Him that you will be glorified and be like Him. Job 19:25-27

Imagine what it will be like to have a Christ-like body, a perfect body? Think about being in a new body and being in heaven and being with Jesus. We live in a world that spends way too much time and money on our physical bodies, whether that relates to health care, cosmetics, clothes, or exercise (Is. 3:16-24, 1 Tim. 4:8a). Yes, you should take care of your body, stay in shape, and look nice, but don’t overdo it. Remember that you are a child of God living in a sinful world, and you need to focus on loving and serving the Lord. And since it’s the end-times, you need to be looking forward to Christ’s coming and the next major part of your life, when you will look like Christ, be with Christ, and live like Christ wants you to live. “I know that My redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin (old body) has been destroyed, yet in my flesh (new body) I will see God, I myself will see Him with my own eyes – I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me.” Job 19:25-27

P.S. When you are sick or tired or feeling old, then you need to remember what God has in store for you, a brand-new body. I really encourage you to read these two articles for they also talk about this hope of receiving a new body – “You Have to Have Hope,” and “Being in Heaven with Jesus, and the Believers, and in a New Glorified Body.”

What Keeps Me Going To The End

September 11, 2020 /

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By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #187 ~

How do you keep going for the Lord? How do you persevere? What enables you to get through the tough times of life? If you are one of the raptured saints, how will you make it through the great tribulation? These are extremely important questions, and the answer is simple – by having a close relationship with God. I became a Christian in the early 1970’s, and I give God all the credit for keeping me going since that time, for those 48 plus years. Today I want to tell you how God has helped me to stay close to Him and keep living for Christ.

* Getting time alone with God. Every morning, after I get up and get awake, I go to a quiet place and read something from the Psalms, the Old Testament, and the New Testament, and then I pray. “She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word… only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part.” Luke 10:39-42

* Being in God’s word. My main priority in life is God’s word – I couldn’t make it without Him teaching me from His word, whether it’s truths I need to know, promises I need to believe, or commands I need to obey. “O how I love Your law!” (Ps. 119:97). “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4

* Crying out to God. To me this means being open with God and telling Him when I am sad, tired, anxious, confused, or discouraged. It also means asking God to meet my needs or the needs of others. I am so glad I can go to God for all the grace, wisdom, and peace that I need. “I will cry to God Most High, to God who accomplishes all things for me.” Psalms 57:2, 62:8

* Walking by faith. I have learned not to live by feelings, circumstances, relationships, or how our church is doing, but to rely and depend on God, on His word and strength. “Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock” (Isaiah 26:4). “We walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Cor. 5:7, Proverbs 3:5-6, Hebrews 11:6

* Being satisfied by God. Only by seeking and seeing God have I been truly satisfied. Food, pleasures, games, people, and possessions have not satisfied me, but Christ has, for He is the bread of life. “Whom have I in heaven but You, and besides You, I desire nothing on earth?” (Ps. 73:25). “The Lord is my portion” (Ps. 119:57). “To live is Christ.” Phil. 1:21

* Being satisfied by God’s love. I don’t look for the love of people, but the love of God. His love has been wonderful, continual, and perfect, and has satisfied me like nothing else. “Your love is better than life” (Ps. 63:3). “Satisfy me in the morning with Your unfailing love” (Ps. 90:14). “We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us.” 1 John 4:16

* Knowing the living God. When I say knowing God, I mean knowing in my mind and believing in my heart that He is my Creator, Lord, Savior, and King, and that He is holy, wise, loving, good, patient, forgiving, powerful, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, and sovereign. What a tremendous blessing to actually know God! “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God” (John 17:3). “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior.” 2 Peter 3:18

* Staying away from sin. By no means am I perfect, but God has helped me to say no to sin, to not listen to or give in to worldly and fleshly temptations. I know that I can’t be close to sin and close to God at the same time. “Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity” (Ps. 119:37). “Like the Holy One who called you, be holy in all your behavior.” 1 Peter 1:15

* Loving, worshiping, and thanking God. I love God, and that’s because He first loved me (1 John 4:19). His Son Jesus died and paid for my sins and now I’m righteous, forgiven, a child of God, and will be forever with Christ and all the angels and saints. Loving God is heart-satisfying and soul-warming, the most important thing I do. “Praise the Lord… for it is pleasant and praise is becoming” (Ps. 147:1). “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits.” Psalm 103:2

* Obeying God. Obeying God’s commands is how I have carried out His plans, how I have fulfilled His purpose for my life. When I obey God, I usually feel close to Him, and know His love in a much fuller way. “I obey Your statutes for I love them greatly” (Ps. 119:167). “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me, and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and disclose Myself to Him…” John 14:21, 23

* Going through trials. Trials are not fun, are not enjoyable. But in these times, God has revealed Himself to me in a special way, showed me His love, and comforted me with His word. Here’s my favorite trial passage – “Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to You all day long. Bring joy to Your servant… In the day of my trouble, I call to You, for You will answer me.” Psalm 86:3-7

* Seeking Him. By this I mean getting extra time with God, usually once a month. For many years now, I’ve been going to a camp or motel room with my Bible, a few books, and some pen and paper. Getting away from the world and from people, and having this special, alone time with God is one of the best things He has helped me to do. “I love those who love Me and those who seek Me will find Me” (Prov. 8:16). “Come with Me by yourself to a quiet place.” Mark 6:31

* Being shepherded by the Lord. The Lord is my shepherd, and He knows me perfectly, and through the years He has made me lie down in green pastures, led me besides still waters, restored my soul, guided me in paths of righteousness, has always been with me, and has loved me every single day. That my Shepherd does these things keeps me strong and keeps me going for Him. “I am the good shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know me.” John 10:14, Psalm 23:1

* Drawing near to God. God wants me to be close to Him, and I want to be close to Him. As I seek Him, as I go after Him, as I spend time with Him, He draws near to me, and is close to me, and loves me all the more, and He teaches me, encourages me, and makes Himself known to me. “My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.” Psalm 63:8, James 4:8

* Learning from the Psalms. My favorite book in the Bible is the Psalms. It has helped me immensely in my relationship with God, and I believe will greatly help you in your relationship with God. The following verses I have memorized, personalized, and say often to the Lord, for they help me to think rightly, stay strong, and be close to Him – Psalms 9:2, 20:7, 23:1, 23:6, 26:3, 27:14, 31:19, 40:8, 46:10, 56:3, 57:5, 63:2-3, 86:11, 90:14, 105:4, 115:1, 118:14, 119:32, 119:67, 119:76, 119:92, 119:112, 139:23-24, 143:10, 145:1-2.

May God help you to stay close to Him. Without question, your relationship with God is the single most important thing in your life, for it affects you and everything you do. Being close to the Lord is the only way you can truly love the Lord and live for Him, in these days, and in times of tribulation, and let me add, in times of great tribulation. “I love You, O Lord, my strength.” Psalm 18:1 

P.S. I cannot stress enough the importance of your relationship with God. As you keep loving and seeking Him, you will stay close to Him, and know that He is not only your Lord, but your best friend. Here are two posts that tell you a little more about my life and my relationship with Him: “The Rapture, A Love Story”, and “God’s Time Frame For Your Life.”

Becoming Spiritually and Emotionally Strong

May 8, 2020 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #169 ~

Our subject is emotions, feelings of fear, joy, anger, peace, sadness, hope, courage, etc. It’s a vitally important subject, one that relates directly to our effectiveness for God. But the emotional part of a person is a bit mysterious. Where do emotions come from? How do they relate to our spirit, mind and soul? How are they affected by our personality, background, experiences, and relationships? I must admit, I don’t have all the answers. What I do know is that God is an emotional being and He made us in His image, and so we are emotional beings. We have this emotional component that’s part of our personhood, our humanness. But how can we be godly and have godly emotions? It’s by having a relationship with God. John 17:3

When I was 18, by God’s grace, I was born again, I became a Christian. I experienced the most amazing miracle and transformation – I became a child of God, a new person in Christ, a temple of the Spirit. Life for me was now different, dramatically, wonderfully, and eternally so. Without Christ, there was fear, guilt, loneliness, sadness, selfishness, emptiness, and emotions that went along with them, emotions that affected my mood and were heard in my words and seen in my actions. Knowing the truth about Christ and what He did for me, that I was saved, forgiven, and loved, greatly affected me. I began to know and experience the love, joy, peace, mercy, and presence of Christ. I had a personal relationship with God that influenced my relationships with people. By no means was I perfect, but I was changing and growing, with a love for God and people, new thoughts, new desires, and new emotions. John 10:10, 2 Corinthians 5:17

The key to all this is the truth and Spirit of God. Jesus tells us, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). Before being saved, I was a sad, lonely, quiet, and unfeeling kind of a person. But knowing the truth, that is, knowing Jesus Christ and the truth of the gospel, set me free from sin, and changed me, spiritually and emotionally so. Proverbs 23:7 says, “As a man thinks, so he is.” I began to see that the key to not being led by circumstances and emotions was to be filled up and led by God’s truth and God’s Spirit. John 14:16-17

Here are some examples. Let’s say a Christian is sad. Now I’m not saying he can’t ever be sad, but if that’s how he feels every day, if he’s continually sad, then something’s wrong, and he’s not experiencing God’s truth and power in his life. What he needs to do is think about the truth, that God is loving, kind, forgiving, sovereign, and has good plans for him – and knowing these truths will help take away his sadness. Let’s say a person is lonely and feels lonely, and severely so. He needs to think about the truth that God is with Him, the Spirit is in Him, and that he knows God and can talk to God. And so, if there’s sadness, there can be joy; if loneliness, then fellowship; if hate, then love; if anger, then forgiveness; if fear, then courage; if worries, then peace; if grief, then hope. This spiritual transformation, being godly and having these Christ-like emotions, only happens by God’s word and Spirit. Galatians 2:20

The truth in the book of Psalms is one way God wants to help you be a strong Christian. More than any other book, it talks about having a close relationship with God, and being spiritually and emotionally encouraged by Him. It’s filled with stories about godly saints, their problems and emotions, and how God helped them when life was hard. Here are some examples:

Psalm 13 – “Will you forget me forever?” David felt like God had forsaken him, had left him, had hid His face from him. David felt all alone and had sorrow in his heart. But he trusted God, remembered his salvation, and believed God would show His love to him. Not only that, but David remembered how God had blessed him, and was determined to sing to Him. Psalm 9

Psalm 37 – “Do not fret because of evildoers, be not envious…” David was thinking about the enemies’ success, and how they were against him, and he was fretting, envious and angry. What he needed to do was trust in the Lord, do good, delight in the Lord, rest in the Lord, be humble, have God’s law in his heart, believe that the enemy would be defeated, and believe the promise, that he would “inherit the land,” a promise for Christians too. Psalm 67

Psalm 42 – “Why are you in despair, O my soul?” David was in despair, his soul was troubled and disturbed, and he was “mourning because of the oppression of the enemy.” David knew God was his only answer, his only hope, and so he says, “My soul pants for You.” He prayed to God, hoped in God, believing that He would once again show him His love. And he was going to praise God, for he says to himself, “Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him.” Psalm 43

Psalm 73 – “I was envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” Asaph was a godly man, but he still had troubles. Then he saw the wicked and proud, those who seemed “successful” and were “at ease,” and he became envious and bitter. But Asaph came into the “sanctuary of God” and realized that God was with him, would keep Him safe, guide him, and bring him to heaven, whereas the wicked would not be blessed, but would perish forever. Psalm 1

Psalm 88 – “My soul has had enough troubles… darkness is my closest friend.” This is a very dark Psalm, for the writer has no friends, and feels forsaken, afflicted, rejected and cut off from God, like he’s “about to die.” And the only answer given is that he cried out to God. Sometimes praying and waiting on God is all we can do, knowing that only He can help us. Psalm 100

The Psalms is such an important book, one that we need now, one that is particularly helpful to Christians in the end-times. Times will get tougher, for birth pains will continue, the Antichrist will come, and there will be great tribulation. Read and study the Psalms, for in the difficult days ahead, they will bring comfort, peace, hope, and strength to your soul. Psalm 23

In all this, I am not telling you to focus on how you feel, on your emotions, but I am saying you should focus on loving and obeying God, on being filled with His Word and Spirit, for then you will be spiritually and emotionally strong, and will be what God wants you to be, with the result that great glory will be given to Him. “I will extol You, my God, O King, and I will bless Your name forever and ever… And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.” Psalm 145

P.S. When we talk about our emotions, we need to think of God’s love for us, and here’s an article that speaks about that – “The Father’s Love for His Children.” And here’s a previous post that talks about our love for Jesus – “The Rapture, A Love Story.”

Looking Ahead

January 24, 2020 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Special Post ~

I am thankful that God has given me a love for His word and wants me to share it with others. What people need more than anything else is God’s word, His truth; and now that we are in the end times, it’s critical that we also learn His prophetic word, what God tells us about the end-times, the return of Christ, and the ages to come. There’s no doubt that God’s plans for the church and for this world will surely and soon come to pass. “I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.’” Isaiah 46:9-10

Here are a few thoughts to think about:
* Jesus Christ is coming soon. We don’t know exactly when, that is, the day or hour, but we do know the general time, and that’s because God’s word tells us many events that will occur before Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church. (Matthew 24:32-36). In fact, the timing of the rapture is the subject of next week’s post, entitled, “When Is Christ Returning to Rapture the Church?”

* My purpose in writing these blog posts is to help people prepare for the future. Down in Florida, where I live, we have hurricanes. In recent years, meteorologists’ forecasts have become more accurate, usually giving us many days notice as to when and where a hurricane will be coming; and they do this because they want us to prepare. Most people take heed, not waiting until they hear the wind howling and the rain pouring down, for then it would be too late. And so too, in the calm before the “storm,” you need to be prepared and ready. Don’t wait, don’t procrastinate. Now’s the time to know what God says about His plans for you, this world, and the return of His Son. Learn from these posts, and from others who have studied this important and relevant subject. I personally believe Christ’s coming is quite a few years away, and whether that’s 10, 20, 30 years or more, I don’t know. I encourage you, while the “world’s weather” is not too stormy, to read and study prophecy, for you need to be ready. “You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.” Luke 12:35-40

* When you read these posts you may think all I do is teach on prophecy, but that is far from the truth. As a pastor in a local church, my main job is caring for the church, and feeding her the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). I teach God’s word every Sunday, sometimes topically, but usually from a book. And teaching on prophecy is a part of that, what I do in two different ways. First, I teach God’s word Sunday after Sunday in the context of Christ’s coming. This is what God tells all pastors to do: “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and kingdom, I solemnly charge you, preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:1-2). In fact, this Sunday I am teaching 1 Peter 1, which is all about how to live in the present in view of the future. God’s word is not to be taught void of prophetic truth but in view of it. Second, once a month on a Wednesday evening, I teach on prophecy, covering passages like Matthew 24, Luke 21, Revelation, and other related end-time’s subjects.

* When you look at Christianity today, you realize that most people rarely think about prophecy, let alone study it. But don’t be negatively affected by their neglect, lack of interest or unbelief. Do what God wants you to do, not what man is doing, for you will give an account to Him of how you handled His prophetic word at this time in history. Learn about Christ’s coming for your own life, but also for your family, friends and fellow church members. “Take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance.” Mark 13:23 

* Everything on this blog site is for you to read, give to others, and use in your church or Bible study. Remember, you can download the posts, articles and charts, and print them out, or put them on a flash drive. And don’t wait, for there may come a time when, for whatever reason, they may not be available on the internet.

* You have probably seen that the posts are also in Spanish, thanks to a good friend who has faithfully been translating them. Tell your Spanish friends, near and far, about this site. It’s interesting and encouraging to note that a recent analysis of the blog post data revealed that about 70% of all viewers are from Spanish-speaking countries. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations… teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). Keep praying!

I am very thankful to be alive at this time in history, in the last years leading up to Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church. It won’t be long before, one way or another, we will have all left this planet and are up in heaven with Jesus. But for now, let’s be loving Him, living for Him, and looking for His soon return. “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20

P.S. I mentioned learning from others. I encourage you to check out Eschatos Ministries (Alan Kurschner). Alan is a godly scholar, one who has a good understanding of the end times and the coming of Christ.

God is Faithful

January 17, 2020 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Special Post ~

Indeed, God is good, faithful, and full of truth. I am very thankful for God helping me these past three years to make this blog site available to you. I am also thankful for the many people who have had the opportunity to view the posts and articles. In fact, just two weeks ago there were English and Spanish readers from 68 countries and territories!

If you have recently started looking at this blog site, I want to encourage you to take the time to read all the blog posts. I suggest starting with the first ones, for they contain a great deal of basic, foundational truths about Christ’s coming and related events. I also recommend reading the Prophecy Terms and studying the charts.

If you are a regular reader, you may have noticed that the subjects don’t always follow the same theme from week to week. One reason I do this is so that you learn where to place specific subjects / posts in the big scheme of things. There are posts about Jesus Christ and His 1st coming. There are posts about the Jews, and about the Christians. There are posts about what occurs before Christ’s 2nd coming, what happens at His 2nd coming, what occurs right after His 2nd coming, and what will be taking place in the kingdom ages to come. In all this, God wants you to know when, in light of the big picture, prophetic events occur, whether it’s in the past, present, near future, or far future.

My plan in the coming year, as God wills, is to continue to write blog posts, with an emphasis on specific prophecy passages. I want to share from Luke 17, Romans 8, Romans 11, Romans 15, Revelation 4-5, Revelation 13, Psalm 2, Psalm 22, Daniel 7 and others. If you have other suggestions, whether it be topics or Bible passages, just email me and let me know.

Do tell your family, friends and fellow church members about the blog site. I do have blog promo cards that I can send you that you can then give to others. If you want any, just email me your address, and I will get them to you as soon as I can.

May the Lord continue to encourage you, use you, and teach you about this important subject. Think about what Jesus told His disciples, which is applicable to us: “He said to them, ‘These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:44-45). Might we pray, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law.” Psalm 119:18

P.S. As you may know, I am a pastor, and have been regularly teaching from the Bible for over 25 years. If you are interested in listening to any of my Sunday messages, I would direct you to my Sermon Audio home page, where you can listen to the messages, and download my detailed sermon outlines. May God bless you in your learning, believing and applying His word to your life.

God is in Charge of Your Life

November 1, 2019 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #142 ~

From Iowa to Arizona to Nevada to Iowa to Maryland to Florida – geographically speaking, this sums up my life for the past 66 years. Much has happened through all that time – growing up in a family of 8, my father dying when I was 7, going to Catholic schools for 13 years, becoming a Christian in college, serving in the church, finding an excellent wife, helping raise 4 children, teaching God’s word, and having many good friends. There have been personal struggles, spiritual battles, many victories, untold blessings, and with that, God-given patience, perseverance, grace and mercy. In all this, the foundational factor and force has been my relationship with God, and consistently experiencing His unconditional love. Without God, I wouldn’t have made it, which leads to the main point of this blogpost, God’s sovereignty in my life.

That God is sovereign is an absolute truth, but to see it be true in my own life has been miraculous and encouraging. Since I am older, I have the advantage of being able to look back over all the years, and see a great many examples of His divine working in my life. In many ways, situations and relationships, God has been purposely and strategically sovereign – when I was born, where I lived, what people I was with, being born again, and so much more. Knowing that God has been lovingly, wisely, and faithfully sovereign, has been extremely humbling and comforting. Now more than ever, it’s obvious to me that God is God, and I am but a man, and that all the credit goes to Him for all the good and wonderful things that have happened in my life.   

That God is sovereign has come to mean many things to me:
* God is in charge of my life, and I am glad that I am not. Daniel 4:35
* I am still responsible for my actions, which means my sin is all my fault. Yet, God has been working it all out for my growth, my good, and for His glory. Ephesians 1:9-14
* I can’t do whatever I want, for God is my Lord and He is in charge. James 4:13-15
* There have been no accidents in my life, even when I broke my arm. Lamentations 3:38
* God is working in me and through me so as to fulfill His purposes. Acts 13:22, 36
* That God has work for me to do motivates me to pray and look for His leading, confident that He will show me what He wants me to do. Ephesians 2:10
* I am not going to sit still and watch God do the work. I will make plans every day, knowing that He can change them, and then redirect my steps. Proverbs 16:9
* Sometimes, life is confusing to me, but not to God, for being sovereign means He knows exactly what He is doing, and why He is doing it. Proverbs 20:24
* My life is a puzzle piece. All the people in the world make up the puzzle pieces, and God is purposefully and wisely fitting us together in just the way that He wants. As a puzzle piece, my life is closely connected, interlocking with a few other puzzle pieces, a few other people. This puzzle will be fully put together and finished when Jesus Christ returns to rapture the church. Only then will we be able to see the big picture, what our holy God has been doing throughout HisStory. “The whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord.” Ephesians 2:19-22

Here’s one way I refresh myself with the truth of God’s sovereignty: about every month, I take 20-30 minutes to mentally and spiritually review my life, going over all the decades from the 1950’s to the present. As I think about some of the big things God has done for me, I get very encouraged and thankful, and am even more fired up to live for Him. I strongly recommend that you do the same, that you regularly take the time to look back over your years, or even your past week or month. “I will meditate on all your work and muse on all your deeds. Your way, O God, is holy” (Psalm 77:11-13). When you see God’s work in your life, then you will see God’s ways (sovereignty and holiness) in your life (Psalm 103:7). The truth of God’s sovereignty needs to be real to you, embedded in your heart. I cannot stress enough how necessary it is for you to know and believe that God is sovereign in your life, especially at this time in history.

That the Jews are back in their land means we’re getting close to the end of this age and the coming of Christ. But Christ can only come back if God continues to be completely sovereign over everyone and everything in this world. And yes, God is faithfully putting every puzzle piece in its proper place. He is personally working in all the people, cities and countries in this world. He will be sovereign over all the wars, famines, diseases, earthquakes, and the coming Antichrist, too. At times, you may think this world is off course, but from God’s point of view and by His providence, it is racing in a straight line to the finish line, to the return of Christ and the rapture of the church. Matthew 24:4-32

I get excited knowing that my time to live is in these end-times, and I hope you feel the same. God has important work for you to do, work that is directly related to what He needs to accomplish in the years leading up to Christ’s coming. I encourage you to read God’s word, be praying, and be doing your part, remembering that God is sovereignly working all things together for your good and for His glory (Romans 8:28-30). I pray that you continue to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13

P.S. I have a new article, and it is about this subject, The Sovereignty of God. There are a great number of verses listed, ones that I believe will be very helpful to you in learning more about this most important topic.

Don’t Worry – God’s in Control

October 25, 2019 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #141 ~

You look out at the world and, at times, it seems like a big mess. You may wonder what is going on, and what God is up to. But do not wonder or worry or fear, for our God is in complete control. He is sovereign over every person, every activity, every accident, every calamity, every fish, bird, animal and plant, every speck of dust, every drop of water, and every single atom in the entire universe. That’s the way it has been, and that’s the way it will always be. We see God’s sovereignty from Adam to Noah to Abraham to Moses to David to Esther to Mary to Jesus to Peter to Paul, during this church age, now at this present hour, and to the end of this age, and in the ages to come. Without question, God is sovereign over everyone, everything, and every event.

Here are some examples from the Bible: God is sovereign over the earth (Psalm 93:1-2), over the nations (Psalm 33:10-11), over rulers (Isaiah 40:23), over childbirth (Genesis 18:14), over animals (Isaiah 34:11-17), over the weather (Psalm 135:6), over prosperity and disaster (Isaiah 45:7), over war (Psalm 46:9-10), over sin (2 Samuel 24:1, 1 Chronicles 21:1), over Israel (Deuteronomy 7:6-7), over Joseph (Genesis 50:19-20), over Cyrus (Isaiah 45:1-13), over Jonah (Jonah 1:4, 4:6-7), over Christ’s birth (Matthew 1:1-25), over Christ’s death (Acts 2:23, 4:27-28), over Paul (Acts 9:15), over angels and people (Daniel 4:34-35), over His word (Isaiah 55:11), over judgment (Isaiah 14:24-27), over evangelism (Acts 18:9-10), over a person’s salvation (Acts 13:48, Ephesians 1:4), over your time and place of birth (Acts 17:26), over the length of your life (Psalm 139:16), over your plans, (Proverbs 16:9, 20:24), over your job (James 4:13-15), over your spiritual growth (Philippians 1:6, 2:12-13), over your spiritual work (Ephesians 2:10), and over physical death (Acts 12:21-23, 13:36). This is amazing, and impossible for the human mind to comprehend how God can be sovereign over all these things, and much more besides.    

The fact that God is sovereign means He is God, and that He reigns, He rules, He plans, He decrees, He chooses, He ordains, He predicts, He predestines, He commands, He leads, He initiates, He decides, He directs, He controls, He governs, He works, He acts, He manages, He guides, He constrains, and He restrains. Amen!

God’s sovereignty is personal for it affects every aspect, every day of our lives. Not only that, it’s one of the most heart-changing, peace-giving, joy-producing, and God-glorifying truths there is. I think I’d go crazy if I knew I had to be in control, that life was completely up to me, but thankfully I am not. “The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice.” Psalm 97:1

In all this, I’m not saying we are not responsible for our actions, that we are to sit around and watch God do all the work. Philippians 2:12-13 tells us, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you to will and to work for your good pleasure.” Yes, we are to work, but God is also working, and how His sovereignty influences our desires and efforts is truly a mystery way beyond us. We cannot figure out how God works in our lives, our families, our churches, in countries, and all over the world, but He does, and He is doing it all the time.

Now that we live in the end-times, we must realize that this world is not sitting still, but that it’s on a God-given course, traveling towards a God-planned destination. Every single day there is God-inspired direction, activity, and movement, all leading to that one point in time when Christ will appear in the clouds above us, take us to heaven, and then take over the world. Every single day is part of God’s predetermined plan to bring about the return of His Son, and not one single second, not one single minute is wasted, for it is all part of His eternal, end-time plans.

Always remember that God is sovereignly working. You need to know that –
* God’s work is global in scope, involving every person in the world, saved and unsaved.
* You are part of God’s work, and your work is a small but important part of His work.
* God’s work is described in the Bible, and specifically, that Jesus Christ is building His church. And in these end times, it directly relates to Christ’s return to rapture the church.
* The devil has a great and evil influence in the world, but God is still sovereign over him.

Don’t get discouraged by the devil’s work, for no devil or demon will ever hinder or thwart God’s work, for what He has planned to do will surely come to pass. Always be encouraged for God is faithfully working out all the details, leading this particular world to that time when it will reach its final destination. Each day brings us one day closer to that divinely-ordained time when Christ will come to take us home to heaven. How glorious that will be, to be perfect, to forever be with Christ, and to be with loved ones, as well as with other believers from all time, and from all over the world.

I pray that you know that God is purposely and wonderfully sovereign, “that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28), and that “He made known to us the mystery of His will… with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.” Ephesians 1:9-11

P.S. This subject of God’s sovereignty is so important for you to understand, which is why this is not the first time I have written on this subject. To really get this truth in your heart, I would encourage you to read the first one I wrote – God Is In Charge of Everything.

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