Category: It is Time

He looked at the crowd and said, “Friends, what I have to say is painful but it needs to be said. We have been following the wrong path.”

“What! After all this time you’re telling us it was all in vain?” someone said.

“No, never in vain, but it could have been so much better had we followed the correct way.”

“We know that Jesus is Lord! All our sins are forgiven. We know we are righteous.”

“Ever since we’ve become Christians, we’re living a new life. However, our life has become somewhat self-centred. We expect Jesus to answer our every need in order to satisfy our selfish desires.”

“Is a Christian supposed to be sad, poor and ill all the time?” Someone asked.

“No, but we are supposed to enjoy every second just because we are alive! We need to take every breath of air with a smile on our face.”

“God created us to experience this great and awesome world. He wants us to enjoy this experience and not rush through life the way we do.”

“When we appreciate life, we will savour every moment and praise Him constantly.”

“Our lives ought to be a constant song of joy and praise to God. Life is a feast and He is our Host.”

“We have enemies but Jesus wants us to bless those who persecute us, rejoice with those who rejoice and when it is needed, weep with those who weep.” (Rom 12:14, 15).

“The problem is that we have followed the wrong path of setting one goal for ourselves and that is to retire and enjoy the rest of our life on earth until we die.”

“Our goal should rather be to enter into heaven with a CV titled ‘My time of joy on earth!’ Something that would beg to be read out loud.”

“We should enter into heaven with a song we started singing just before we passed away, praising God for the privilege of experiencing life on earth!”

“People, I believe when an angel wants to speak to Jesus, he would have to go through the proper channels. Wherever we are, Jesus is with us.”

“To live on this side of heaven with the Holy Spirit is something that angels desire to experience!”(1 Peter 1:12)

Cornelius had his eyes fixed on his computer screen. He was listening to a post of Ben Davidson, a well-known scientist, who among other things, observed and studied daily activities of spots and flares on the surface of the sun.
(http://www.suspicious0bservers.org/)

What Cornelius learned made his hair stand on end. Ben said that the sun is preparing to move into a sleeping phase! This has happened before. Between 1650 and 1700 a mini ice age appeared, causing millions to die due to famine.

Cornelius recollected the articles he read about the blood moons some time before and as memory served him right, the next blood moon was due to appear shortly, he thought.

“Lord Jesus, is this the final hour before the end of the earth?” he asked.

“I’ve read in Joel 2:31 that the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. On that day everyone who calls on the Name of Jesus, shall be saved.”

“Is this the beginning of the end, Jesus? Are these events the truth of Biblical prophesies?”

Jesus answered him, “Yes, are you afraid?”

“No, or well yes, in a way I am. I know the truth but I also know there will be hardship accompanied by that truth.”

“Cornelius, in Psalm 85:10 it is written that mercy and truth have met together. My mercy will be in abundance for My people.”

“The world will be in turmoil but for My children it will be a time of peace because righteousness and peace have kissed.” (Psalm 85:10)

“It does not necessarily mean it is the end of this world yet and I will still give you what is good and your land will yield its increase.”

“Remember that during this time, righteousness will go before Me and My footsteps will be your pathway.” (Psalm 85:13)

“You are righteous! Follow Me and live in love. This is the time when righteousness and peace truly will kiss!”

Looking up into the night sky we sometimes experience a lonely feeling of floating somewhere in a vast universe.

According to the laws of our universe, nothing comes out of nothing. Unless, of course if God says, “Let there be…” and in an instant something will be there out of nothing.

Under the African skies we find our Big 5. The most visible is the spiral galaxy called the Milky Way, one of 200 thousand million galaxies in the Universe.

The sun and our solar system orbits around the centre of the Milky Way at 250 km/sec (900,000 km/hour) and even at that speed take 240 million years making one orbit.

Another member of the Big 5 is Omega Centauri, a dense cluster of 10 million stars with the luminosity of 800,000 suns.

Number 3 is the bright Southern Pleiades which contains a very “young” cluster of bright blue-white stars. It is 14 light years in diameter.

Number 4 is eta Carinae Nebula with a size of 300 light years across. It is 7500 light years from us and it has a luminosity of 1 million suns.

Number 5 is a huge pocket of very cold, dense gas and dust, enough material to make 3500 suns. Because it has no stars, it is called the Coal Sack.

Everything out there is so huge and vast. Our sun is so big that if we compare it to the size of a tennis ball, our earth would be the size of a small peppercorn. On this small “peppercorn” we are making our mark in this universe.

How much power does God have to create a Universe of this magnitude!

His love however, is even bigger. His eyes are constantly on us. He sent His Son to us in the form of a bondservant (Phil 2:7). We killed Him but God allowed this to have our sins pardoned.

God’s love for us is so great that because of what Jesus did, He highly exalted Him and declared that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth (Phil 2:10).

Through Jesus, the power of God is personally experienced when He heals a broken spirit, lifts it up to shine in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation in the 21st century (Phil 2:15).

We are God’s most precious stars.

Thom woke up at around 3am. It was winter and very cold. Lying on his back with only his head protruding above the blankets, he started praying.

“Lord, let Your Name be hallowed, Your kingdom come and let Your will be done all over the whole world.”

“Jesus, help me to experience and enjoy Your presence, to such an extent that I would be able to feel it.”

He prayed more but soon fell asleep again and later in the day, he prayed again.

“Lord Jesus, I prayed earlier and I told You that I want to experience You more closely. I am serious, Lord. I know I have the Holy Spirit but I want to be in Your presence, talking to You personally.”

Jesus immediately answered him, “take up your Bible and start reading.”

He asked Jesus where He wanted him to read but before he got an answer, he started reading where the Bible opened in front of him in Romans 14. When he reached verse 17 he got the answer. The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Thom understood the verse as telling him that everything happens through the Holy Spirit.

“Read the next verse too,” Jesus said.

“For he who serves Christ this way is acceptable to God…”

“Thank You, Jesus for reminding me that the Holy Spirit is very important. I should pray for the kingdom of God to come in order for the Holy Spirit to be available for people all over the world. When that happens, Your Name will be hallowed and Your will be done.”

“Thom, you said that you desire to be close to Me and to touch Me and feel Me touching you. You have forgotten something. Remember the time when you and Sally prayed and you both saw Me.” (Message about “We saw Jesus!”)

“I, the Father and the Spirit are one. Now, I want you to see the Spirit as My Spirit. Every time you call out to me in a crisis, I respond immediately because I am in you. I have filled you when the Spirit filled you because We are one.” (Ephes 1:23)

“Take My hand, Thom, and walk with Me.”

“Spirit of Jesus. Speak, for I am listening. Thank You for being always with me!”

“I’m experiencing so many problems lately, Lord and I don’t understand why.” Brian said.

“Some time ago You told me that the eye is the lamp of the body, describing the way we understand. In that case my lamp is burning very low, Lord, flickering as if it is going out.”

“All I have that is growing, is debt. I cannot afford many things any more. What do I have to do to have it turned around?”

After a few seconds, Jesus answered him. “It is because you don’t understand, Brian.”

“Indeed, Lord, but what do I have to understand?”

“Read Psalm 47:7.” For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding.

“Who is King of the world, Brian?”

“You are, Lord!”

“If someone would sing to Me, praising Me as King of the world but doesn’t understand what it really means, his voice becomes a sounding brass or clinging cymbal.” (1 Cor 13:1, Psalm 49:20)

“But, Lord, that is true when there is no love and I do love You!”

“Yes I know, but do you understand how I love you?”

“If you did, you would have understood everything. I appointed angels to watch over you. Yet, personally, I keep My eyes on you too. I died for your mistakes. I did that because I love you!”

“Understand that I willingly became King of your world because I love you.”

“Take a good look at yourself because you are the object of My love. I know everything in your life that hurts you… And I love you so much! It hurts Me more.”

“I know your every little secret and mistake and because you don’t try to hide it from Me, I love you even more.”

“Understand that I Am. Understand that I am omnipresent. I am with you! I will not stop loving you!”

“Understand that I am standing next to you.”

“When you understand that, and you are singing and praising Me, you are actually physically standing in My presence and in My love!”

“Understand also that the moment you believe in My loving, overshadowing presence, you will have what you are believing for.”

“Faith starts in believing in My ever present love for you!”

Kevin was driving home after work when Jesus spoke to him, “Keep justice and do righteousness, for My salvation is about to come and My righteousness to be revealed.” (Is 56:1)

“Lord, but Your righteousness has been revealed and Your salvation has come already.”

“Yes, My child. For you and all the people in My church. You are My sons and daughters who already have a place in My house.”

“See that man in the rear view mirror whom you have passed just now. He and his wife were Muslims. They were led to accept Me as their Lord but they dare not tell any of their family or friends about it.”

“When they pray with their friends, none of them are aware of the fact that they are actually praying to Me.”

“Your neighbour whom you got to know as an atheist, is not an atheist any more. He came to his senses and has faith in Me now.”

“But, Lord, why don’t they come out into the open and worship with us in church?”

“In the first place, Kevin, there is a xenophobic spirit towards those people. They believe they will not be accepted in your community. Besides, they find themselves very high up on the most hated list of many.”

“Secondly, they are afraid of their own people for retribution. You know how Muslims treat those who don’t share their faith. Many will face total rejection and even death.”

“I know what their followers do is unacceptable. However, realise that behind many of your enemies, stands the evil one. Pray that they will receive wisdom. Change the spirit of xenophobia into love.”

“I am telling you this because time to reach out is running out.”

“Tell them they have a place in My home within My walls and they have a name better than that of sons and daughters. If only they would accept Me as their Lord and Saviour.” (Is 56:5)

“Remember the parable I told you about the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). You are part of My family, the apple of My eye, but you still have potential brothers and sisters far away from home.”

“Open your heart to them. Pray for them and bless them. I told you to love your enemies and bless those who curse you (Luke 6:27, 28). The time to do that is now. I love you.”

“Lord Jesus, here I am again, sitting in Your lap in the spirit.”

“You told me to believe as a small child should. You said I must make my needs known to You in the words of a child. I don’t know how to do that and presently, I have so many needs.”

“My thoughts are grown up. My way of thinking is wrapped around my concerns. What I see and experience, colours the images of my prayers. How do you translate that into child language?”

“I know I am with You. I believe I am in Your rest and yet, my heart is still restless because of my circumstances. Why, Lord?”

“You see, Lisa, the difference is, I am in your world because you are there. You step into Mine when you need something.”

“Remember My Name, I AM (Exodus 3:14).When you want Me to be close to you … I AM.”

“You want Me to listen to you… I AM. You want Me to speak to you… I AM, just listen.”

“You want Me to help you… I AM. Believe that I AM!”

“Now, understand this; I want to be close to you. You are close to Me but I also want you to want to be close to Me too.”

“Your children seek your presence every day. After you have fed or clothed them, they keep on seeking you. They want to remain sitting in your lap or in your arms.”

“When you put them in someone else’s care, they are fine but they are only truly happy the moment you return. Then they laugh and play joyfully around you.”

“You’ve experienced the agony of taking your child to school for the first time. He did not cry because he needed anything. He just didn’t want to leave your presence.”

“That is what I long for, Lisa. That is why I want you to become as a little child.”

“Know this – Seek first My kingdom and all things shall be added to you.” (Mat 6:33)

“Come now, I love you too much to watch you crying. Dry those tears. I am with you because I love you.”

Lisa and her family moved to a complete different place, far away from the familiar, know-it-all world they grew up in.

Suddenly fear made his acquaintance. Uncertainty became the recipe for long weary days and short sleepless nights.

“Lord, why did we have to leave?” she asked. “We didn’t have much but You looked after us. This new place is foreign territory.”

“Remember, Lisa, when you were reborn, I told you to become as a little child. I was very glad when you became part of My family but when you humbled yourself as a little child, you and your family became the greatest in My Kingdom.” (Mat 18:3,4)

“The reason for that is because in your world you have to operate as a mature parent but when you believe in Me, you need to operate as a small child, even to the level of infancy. When you did that, I was able use you.”

“Wow, Lord, I always thought we have to develop to a place of spiritual maturity and knowledge in Your Word.”

“True, but in your trust and faith in Me, you need to become a small child. An infant trusts completely that his needs will be met. He never thinks about money, clothes or cars. An infant never suffers sleepless nights due to stress.”

“A baby never doubts his parents. He surrenders completely into the safety of his mother’s arms. When he awakens due to some need, he knows his mother will provide.”

“The moment a baby opens his mouth, his parents listen. When he asks, even in his immature style, they provide.”

“Have you ever prayed to Me with the mouth of a baby or infant? You should try it, Lisa.”

“Out of the mouths of babes and nursing infants, strength is ordained, enemies and avengers silenced.” (Psalm 8:2)

“Lord, help me to be that dependent infant in Your arms! You are our only Father!”

A few days ago while praying, I saw a picture of Jesus in a way that I’ve never experienced before. I saw Him coming down and looking at me from above.

I was astonished and did not know what to make of it. Initially I thought He is telling me that my time on earth was over. Regardless of the fact that going to heaven is a wonderful prospect, it was a disturbing thought because somehow I felt my life hasn’t even started yet.

Soon afterwards, I prayed again, asking Jesus to explain to me why I saw Him like that. He gave me Daniel 7:13: I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. (NKJV)

Suddenly I felt so ashamed to have thought that He would personally come to fetch me. He uses angels to do that.

He is on His way here to the Ancient of Days! In the Book of Daniel, the Ancient of Days refers to God.

Something did not add up. God is in heaven. Why would Jesus come down to earth to meet the Ancient of Days here?

While I was thinking about this, He gave me the answer – The Ancient of Days in this instance is the Holy Spirit!

Before Jesus left the disciples, He told them they shall receive the Holy Spirit and power and shall be witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was sent down to indwell the believers on earth (Acts 2).

Jesus was actually telling me that the time for Him to return is near. Secondly, He is coming to meet the Holy Spirit, the Ancient of Days!

I always thought of Jesus returning to come and fetch us. However, we tend to forget that the Ancient of Days is outside of heaven for more than 2000 years! He is still patiently waiting, willing to stay with us, until Jesus comes again!

Praise the Spirit of God! Praise and worship Him! Surrender completely into His arms and commit into His love and presence! He deserves it!

Make most of it because our time to be with Him in this way is running out fast.

Brian sank back into the sofa with a sigh, “what a week it was,” he said.

His wife asked, “are you complaining about something?”

“Oh no, well yes, I had some sad moments but most of the week was very positive.”

“I must confess though, without Jesus guiding me, I wouldn’t have made it. His wisdom was a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

Then Jesus spoke to him, “The lamp of the body is the eye, Brian.” (Math 6:22)

“Is it because I use my eyes when I read the Bible, Lord?” Brian asked.

“No,” said Jesus as he smiled at him, “If it was that, I would have said the lamps of the body are the eyes.”

“At the time when I said those words in the Bible, everybody understood the expression.”

“I see,” Brian said, “but sorry, I still don’t understand.”

“Well, in a way you’ve just explained it. The lamp of the body is your understanding. When you understand the meaning of the Gospel, you have the light. When you understand, you see.”

“Wow,” Brian said.

“Yes, Brian, and when you see, you are shining too.”

“Do all the people have lamps, Lord?”

“Yes, however, only those who take the Gospel, have oil to keep their lamps burning.”

“Time for the Bridegroom to come is very close. The people like you who have lamps also have a task to pray and shine their lamps like never before!” (Math 25:1-13)

“Does that involve preaching, Lord?”

“Sometimes, but just live joyfully and let your whole life preach. Never cover your eye!”

“As you continue your relationship with Me next week, let your eye see My wisdom, listen and your understanding of the truth will provide a fresh oil-filled lamp every day.”