| Vol. V Number 14 | June 17, 2001 |
In the times that we live in there is growing concern for the violence and sin that proliferates our land. We are living in an era that is comparable to the days of the Roman Empire, the Babylonian Empire, the Grecian Empire, or any other previous fallen empire. All of the former empires became eventually filled with sin and debauchery. This is the path that the United States has chosen for itself. We live in a land where honor and discipline have given way to the lies and deceits of the Devil. Some have been asking me where it is all going to end. Many Christians need to be be reminded that Jesus is the first and the last, the beginning and the end. While the times seem bad, it is prudent to remember that the heavens and the earth are stilled controlled by the Lord God.
Revelation 1:8-11
8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.Revelation 21:1-6
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.Revelation 22:13-21
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
So though the times may look gloomy and dim, we have to remember who is in control of the universe. Also many Christians believe that they can pray for the weather of their desires. They take a scripture out of context that stipulates whatever you ask in the Lord's name the Lord is obligated to do it.
John 14:7
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
When they pray for their own selfish reasons, and the creator of the Universe does not comply with their wishes, they lose their faith. Also the Christian needs the mind of Christ concerning their prayers. When the Christian prays amiss and doesn't receive, it is time to evaluate what you were praying for. Was it something for the Lord's glory, or was it just something you wanted.
James 4:1-3
1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
How many Christians who at the hands of the Roman Government were put to death in the Colosseum? Didn't they pray? And the Apostle Peter who was instrumental in the institution of the Christian Church, didn't he pray not to be executed? When you pray for rain, sun, or whatever weather condition that you want, there are other Christians in the area praying for the adverse. Which one is praying the will of God? Are either of them praying the will of God? When Elijah prayed that the all rain will cease for three years, now that was praying the will of God. He prayed against his own benefit and desires. There have been droughts and floods throughout the history of the world, but only a few time have the weather conditions been drastically altered by prayer.
These instances are examples of praying God's will. Elijah and Noah didn't want to see their families destroyed by the drought and the flood, but they knew that following the will of God was best. Both saw their families die from their righteous prayer. The choice that has to be made is whether to follow Christ, or to follow your own lusts. Many Christians treat the Lord as a source for fulfilling their lusts. Some pray for the weather, some pray for wealth, and others pray for their hearts desire. The true Christian prays for the Lord's direction and what the Lord wants them to pray. This kind of prayer will lead you into a deeper relationship with the Lord who is the Alpha and the Omega!
Is is time for the Christian community to seek the will of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now is the time to acknowledge that the Lord is truly the Lord and Saviour. It is the Lord who reigns supreme. Would you go to the President of the United States for your lusts and desires? Then why are you going the the Lord with the same requests? It is time to seek the Lord's will in our prayers. It is time to seek what the Lord wants us to pray. A lot of times we pray in tongues because we don't know what to ask for. The Lord's wisdom is above our own. The Lord's knowledge is far greater than our knowledge. We need to tap that knowledge and wisdom in our prayers seeking the will of God through our prayers.
The times are bad, but the Lord predicted that the end times would be perilous and filled with evil. With the advent of the rise of the antichrist, it is now the time not to pray that the evil ceases, but that Lord's will be accomplished. In reading the Bible we see that the Devil and the Antichrist are allowed to come on the scene so that the unrighteous can fill up their unrighteousness.
3014 E Street Philadelphia, PA 19134 Church Office Phone: (215) 634-3637 Published by: Rev. LeRoy D. Cressy (215) 535-4037
Services:
Sunday School . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11:30 AM
Sunday Morning Worship . . . . . . . . . . 12 NOON
Sunday Evening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:30 PM
Wednesday Evening . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:30 PM
Copyright © 2001 LeRoy D. Cressy
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