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There is a storm coming, and we must make ready!

By:  Janel Sain

In Ezekiel 14:3-6, the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel as he was sitting with certain elders (those possessing authority) of the city.  The Lord said to Ezekiel, these men have set up idols in their hearts and have become estranged (alienated) from Me through their idols.  Say unto the house of Israel (His people), Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols (anything that holds a higher place in our lives than God) and all of your abominations.  God is always faithful and desires that none should perish!  Therefore, He raises up the voice of His servants and gives the people warning, in order that they might repent of their evil doings and be reunited with Him.

In the New Testament, John the Baptist, Jesus, and Peter heralded the message of Repentance.  God’s message is the same yesterday, today, and forever!  Repentance is turning away from your sin, turning away from your idols, to serve the living God!  As chapter 14 continues, God tells Ezekiel, when the land sins against Me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out My hand upon it.  He goes on to describe what it looks like when the people have turned their backs on Him and He removes His hand of protection, for example, famine, the sword, and pestilence.  All of which are also signs of the last days.  Matthew 24 paints a pretty descriptive picture of a time referred to as “the beginning of sorrows”…there will be wars and rumors of wars, great deception, famines, earthquakes, and pestilences.  I am sure that you would agree with me when I say, I think we are seeing the beginning of the fulfillment of this prophecy.  Jesus told us to take heed that no one deceives us!  He also told us to see to it that we are not troubled (afraid), for these things must come to pass.

We should be aware of and watching the signs of the times.  We are living in intriguing days, where we are seeing Bible prophecy unfold before us! Across the globe, there are wars and rumors of wars, terrorist attacks, earthquakes, hurricanes, and widespread persecution. It seems as if the world has gone mad!  BUT GOD!  

These things are fulfilling what our Lord Jesus told us would happen, before the great and terrible day of the Lord.  Remember, in Matthew 24:22 Jesus said, And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.  (Yes, we will still be on the earth at this time.)

I write all of this to say, there is a storm coming upon the land.  I have seen it, ladies that I mentor have seen it, well known men and women of God have seen it.  The word of the Lord is to make ready a people who are prepared for His coming!  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor unto Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife (the bride of Christ) has made herself ready!   Revelation 19:7

How do we prepare?  I am glad that you asked!  We must decrease, so that Christ may increase in us!  Praise God, He has released a strategy, it’s time for INCREASE!  He does not want His people to be unprepared or caught off guard!  Those who know their God, will be strong and do exploits (Daniel 11:32). We must first repent for whatever the Lord is speaking to our hearts, maybe it’s for being distracted, maybe it is sin, maybe it is pride, or a lack of love.  Whatever it is, we need to repent and change our behavior.  Next, we must increase our time in the Word and in worship, these two are great weapons for our warfare!  We must increase our time in prayer, in obedience, and the fear of the Lord!  We must increase in our love, we do not want our love to grow cold!  It is time to press in and dig deep!  If you want different results, you must change what you are doing!  In order to truly change, it takes commitment, it takes discipline, it takes doing things that you have never done before, and ceasing to do that which you have always done!  God is raising up His army, who have ears to hear, and are making ready for the days ahead!  They will not be moved as gross darkness covers the earth, and out of their bellies will flow rivers of living water!

My prayer for you this day…

That you would be filled with wisdom, that you would understand what the will of the Lord is, that you would give thanks in all things, that you would be filled with the Spirit, that faith would arise in your hearts, for discernment, and an INCREASE in all things pertaining to God’s Kingdom, that you would be ignited with a passion and fire that cannot be quenched!  That you would know God, and be strong, and do great exploits for the glory of God!