All Things Continue*

Monday evening begins the Feast of Tabernacles, followed by Simchat Torah (Rejoicing in the Torah). The seven days of Tabernacles is related to the marriage supper of the Lamb, when the Bride is shut up with the Messiah for seven days as practiced by wedding couples. In the natural, a bride puts much preparation into her wedding dress, and the wedding plans. However, it is troubling to see that the Bride of Christ is not paying attention to the approaching wedding date, and the preparation that should accompany it. Revelation 19:7 tells us that the bride has made herself ready, but if all things remain the same, then we're missing something. Why are we not preparing? The apostle Peter wrote that there would be scoffers, though they are willfully ignorant, who know the Word of God, and recognize that there was a creation. These scoffers, walking in their own lusts, make the observation, "Where is the promise of his (Christ's) coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." (2 Pet. 3:4). These scoffers, who have knowledge of God, deliberately overlook that fact that not all things have indeed continued the same since creation, but the world was subject at one point to the judgment of God by the flood. This time, Peter wrote, the judgment against ungodly men will not be by flood, but by fire. (v. 5-7). The Lord does not rush into judgment, causing some to relax and go back to life as usual: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all (Jesus told us to take the Gospel to all nations) should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night..." (v.9-10). In this event, Peter wrote, the heavens will pass away, the elements, the earth and its works will be melted and burnt. Considering these things, Peter asked the church a question: "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation (behavior, manner of life) and godliness, looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." (v. 11-13). This is the weaving and preparing of our wedding garment - knowing the truth of the prophecy of God concerning these coming events, and showing this knowledge in our behavior and manner: our lifestyle. We show our faith by our works, as James wrote. When the Pharisees demanded of Jesus to tell them when the kingdom of God would come, He answered that the kingdom was not in any physical place, but "the kingdom of God is within you." (Lk. 17:21). Jesus pointed out that up until the moment when Lot was removed from Sodom, and the door of the ark shut Noah in, life went on as it normally did: the people married, they ate and drank. Life seemed unchanging, as the scoffers of Peter had said. However, sudden catastrophe came: "Even thus it shall be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." (v. 26-30). Again, Peter pointed out how God's people should not be behaving with the same indifferenace: "...be sober...as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation (behavior, manner); Because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy." (1 Pet. 1:13-16). Our lifestyle is a witness to unbelievers, saving some as we will see. Our lifestyle is to reflect our calling in Christ as a "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light..." (1 Pet. 2:9). Peter explained that even as others may not believe, or may speak against us, even treating us as evil-doers, "...they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." (v. 11-12). Our manner of life as a result of our preparation in faith can have a great impact on the unbeliever and the scorner (see also 1 Pet. 3:14-16). The divine power of God has given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, that we may be partakers of the divine nature, escaping the lust and corruption of the world. (see 2 Pet. 1:3-4). Becoming partakers of the divine nature is a progressive walk, that we determine to begin and to continue:"...giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (v. 5-8). Paul also wrote concerning these same things: "...the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off conserning the former conversation (behavior, manner of life) the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness...Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." (Eph. 4:21-32). Our manner, behavior, and godly lifestyle, based upon our belief in the promises of God, not only affect our own wedding preparation for the day of Christ and the marriage supper, but also have an effect on a world that wrongly believes that "all things continue as they were". *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 9/19/21 message to the church. To contact, request prayer, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimeschool.com.

A Thanksgiving Lifestyle

 

As a nation, we have just celebrated a day of Thanksgiving. For Christians, however, rather than being limited to a day, thanksgiving should be a continual lifestyle:

"By Him (Jesus) therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name. But to do good and to communicate, forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."   Heb. 13:15-16

God considers our continual thanksgiving, above, to be a pleasing sacrifice. Thanksgiving becomes a sacrifice because not all of our natural circumstances are conducive to offering thanks. These challenging occasions especially, however, are the most important occasions through which to give our thanks. This is when our thanksgiving to God becomes that much more precious to Him, as we recognize beforehand His promises to us of His merciful deliverance and provision.

As those who are living in the End Times, our lifestyle of thanksgiving to God becomes even more important:

"But of the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night...But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief...ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit."   1 Thess. 5:1-2, 5b, 16-19

In the believer's lifestyle taught in the whole chapter of 1 Thess. 5, thanksgiving plays an important role.

Another very important aspect of a lifestyle of thanksgiving, although it is often a neglected one, is thanksgiving for those who have been given to us by God to have spiritual authority over us:

"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you....And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves." 

                                                                                            Heb. 13:17, 1 Thess. 5:12-13

Our prayer and thanksgiving in this regard, for those in spiritual authority over us, can have a direct impact not only on our own lives, but also on the course of their ministry, as Paul states in Heb. 13:18-19:

"Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner."

A lifestyle of thanksgiving to God involves not only an attitude of prayer, but also one of declaration to others as David exemplified:

"I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together....Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the people. Sing unto Him, sing psalms unto Him, talk you of all His wondrous works. Glory ye in His holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. Seek the LORD, and His strength, seek His face continually. Remember His marvelous works that He hath done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth...Be ye mindful always of His covenant; the word which He commanded to a thousand generations."   Ps. 34:1-3, I Chron. 16:8-12, 15

Not only should the LORD's wonderful works be surrounded with our thanksgiving, but also His name, His word, and His covenant given to us. Our lifestyle of declarations of thanksgiving are not only profitable to us, but give joy and strength to the humble who hear them.

On the other hand, failure to give thanks to God, though He has shown Himself as Creator to all men (Rom. 1:19-20), can have a catastrophic effect upon the soul:

"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened...And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient..."   Rom. 1:21, 28

A long list of evil thoughts and behaviors grow out of the lack in a person's life of thankfulness towards God (v. 29-32). God's people, who know His word, and His works, should not be among those who refuse to thank Him. God has made precious promises to those who do think of Him, and are thankful to Him:

Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name. "And they shall be Mine", saith the LORD of hosts, "in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God, and him that serveth Him not."   Mal. 3:18-18

Again, as prophesied to Malachi, above, these things are especially important in these Last Days (see Mal. 4:1).

Thanksgiving is not just a day, but a lifestyle.

 

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Periscope: A Thanksgiving Lifestyle