The world is increasingly getting unstable and chaotic. There are wars going on here and there, as people are getting more and more rebellious.
Nations are beginning to face uncertainties about the future. Many of them are being demographically, socially and politically transformed, with uncertainties about the future.
In the midst of all these, the love of many believers is waning instead of getting stronger.
The only thing that has not changed, and will always remain constant, is the faithfulness and the steadfast love of the Lord God Almighty (Hebrews 13:8).
Get ready! Jesus is Coming back!
Jesus warned us about this dangerous trend in the world, as we see it today when He said:
“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
Matthew 24:12-14 NIV
In other words, these changes and uncertainties, that the world is experiencing right now, are all due to “the increase of wickedness”.
But in the midst of all that is going on, we need to be paying particular attention to what Jesus said in verse 14. He said:
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
Matthew 24:14 NIV
In order words, there may be an “increase of wickedness” around the world; but Jesus is here reassuring us that there will eventually be an end to all of it.
The key to stopping the increase of wickedness, is in our proclamation of the gospel. We’ve been called to declare Jesus as Lord, all over the world as a testimony that He is Lord and that He is coming back again.
Jesus never said that all will be saved; but He said that the whole world will hear the testimony about Him as we go, just as He has sent us.
The testimony of Jesus is all that the world needs as we are preaching of His gospel.
It’s not everyone who will be saved as we proclaim Him as Lord; but everyone will have the opportunity to hear about Him.
Whether we believe it or not, Jesus is coming back again to reign here on this earth. And only those who do believe in Him will reign with Him. The evil one may try to delay His return, but he can never derail it.
The testimony of Jesus is our key into the Kingdom of God. And the key belongs to every born-again child of God. Every time we testify of Jesus, we are prophesying that He is coming back again.
As the scripture says:
… “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
Revelation 19:10b
Get Stronger and Bolder!
For this reason, we are now living at the period of time, when our love for God needs to be getting stronger and bolder, and not weaker, cold or even lukewarm.
This is the Christian response to the wickedness that’s going on in the world today.
You can’t make it to the very end without a stronger love for God with a bolder proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the end.
You can’t afford to be following the wicked crowd either. You can’t afford to get lukewarm either. Only a bolder proclamation of your testimony about Jesus will save you from this wicked world.
Remember these words of Jesus to the lukewarm Church:
“So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore, be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’”
Revelation 3:16-22 NKJV
It is very dangerous for any child of God to be mirroring the world around him, instead of mirroring Jesus in the midst of a perverse and wicked world.
The evil one is seeking as many Christians as possible to drag along with him into hell. You don’t need to be one of them.
You do not belong to the world. You belong to God, and His Kingdom is a spiritual one. It’s not a geopolitical Kingdom.
The bottom line as Jesus puts it, is that we have to keep on preaching His gospel, to the very end of the earth.
A bolder and stronger proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ by every believer, is heaven’s answer to the world’s problems.
You are not even supposed to be associating yourself with the world’s problems. You are supposed to be more focused as you’re rejoicing, in the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the end of the earth.
This is the key to keeping the fire of God inside of you stronger, bolder and fresher.
If you as a believer in Christ Jesus are not focusing on witnessing for Christ in the midst of this wicked world, you will eventually become lukewarm or cold, towards the works of wickedness around you.
And many are being defeated daily by the enemy of their faith, who is using his tactics to get them into depression and eventually total destruction, because they are not walking in obedience to the command of Jesus, to be proclaiming His gospel to the end of the earth.
That is why keeping the joy of your salvation stronger and bolder is very important in the midst of a wicked world.
Pray always in the Spirit!
But how can you make your love for God stronger, without being complacent in an ever-changing world?
The secret is in your daily ability to stir up yourself in the spirit, while remaining centered and focused on the very words of Jesus in Matthew 24:12-14 (above).
The Apostle Jude also said:
“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
Jude 1:20-21 NKJV
Yes, you are to be praying always in the Holy Ghost, because godly wisdom comes to you as you’re praying in this way in overcoming the wickedness around you.
And it is only in His wisdom, that you can overcome the increases in the wickedness that’s going on around the world today.
Walk in His wisdom at all times!
As a believer in Christ Jesus, you have the knowledge and understanding, about the situation around you right now from the word of God.
But without the wisdom of God to guide you into victory, there is nothing that you can do about it.
The Holy Spirit works always with the knowledge and understanding from the word of God, that’s inside of you to bring His wisdom to you, so that you may know exactly what to do in every situation.
That’s why it is important for you to be studying the Bible as you’re praying daily. If a believer is not committed to studying the word of God and prayer, that believer will have no knowledge and understanding of God concerning the issues of life.
He may be praying in his natural language, but without praying in the spirit or other tongues.
That’s why there is no knowledge and understanding about what to do, in becoming more effective to tackle the situation of his world from God’s word is not coming to him.
And many have become helpless or restless, while others are trying to resist the evil around them by carrying placards, instead of recognizing that spiritual warfare can only be won in the spirit and by the Spirit only.
As the Apostle Paul said:
“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”
2 Corinthians 10:4-6 NKJV
And apparently there is no way wisdom that will ever come to the believer in Christ, who is consumed with the works of his flesh. The Holy Spirit will have nothing in that believer’s life to work with at all.
Commitment to the studying of the Bible with prayer is also a way for you as a Christian, to show God that you do have faith in Him.
By devoting yourself to these activities daily, you are reminding Him of your faith in Him.
So:
“Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore, get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.”
Proverbs 4:7 NKJV
Wisdom is the crucial thing to get in getting yourself stronger and bolder, in a world that is increasingly wicked.
Wisdom is not one of the main things; but it is the main thing in the time that you’re living right now.
Don’t ever forget those words of wisdom from God as you are receiving them. You are to be applying those words of wisdom in transforming the situations around you as you are praying daily.
So, as a believer in Christ Jesus, you’ve got to stir up yourself on the inside, by praying in the spirit until the wisdom of God comes to you.
Darkness and light don’t walk together.
Do not ever let the enemy beat you to his game; by making you go slothfully into sleeping, while worrying about what is going on in the world around you. That is a trick of the enemy to get you depressed and to defeat you.
The scriptures say:
“It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.”
Psalms 127:2 NKJV
You do not need to go sleepless nights, thinking about the problems of the world. The Bible compares that to “eating the bread of sorrows”.
The Lord God will keep you at peace, when you get yourself doing what Jesus said in Matthew 24:14.
He will give you perfect peace and rest, in the midst of the world’s problems; as you give yourself to praying in the spirit, instead of eating the bread of sorrows with the wicked.
Keep On Rejoicing!
Being complacent will impede your ability, to keep the joy of your salvation intact and alive within you.
Joy is a very powerful and essential spiritual force in these chaotic times. Do not ever let the enemy deprive you of the joy of your salvation. It is what differentiates us from the unsaved world.
While others are sad or being hopeless and restless, the joy of your salvation will keep you stronger and focused on the promises of God for your life.
The scriptures say:
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
James 1:2-4 NKJV
The joy of the Lord will keep your faith stronger and bolder, in the midst of the uncertainties and the wickedness around you.
It is joy and the works of your patience, that opens you up for the wisdom of God. You will never lack anything when wisdom comes up in overcoming the situation.
So, keep that attitude of faith, rejoicing in the Lord always.
Peace and stability will give you inner strength as you’re rejoicing in the midst of trouble.
It may make the people around you uncomfortable, that you are rejoicing in the midst of what’s going on. But that is exactly what differentiates you from them.
Your love for God must get stronger and bolder each day. His joy works in you to deepen that love.
And because you know that Jesus is not only alive, but that He is coming back for you; this is why your joy in the Holy Ghost is important in getting ready to meet Him.
Delight yourself in God’s Word!
One other way to deepen your love for God in an unstable world, is by heeding this advice from King David. He said:
“Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law, he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.”
Psalms 1:1-3 NKJV
The difference between the wicked and the righteous as David pointed out here, is that the righteous delights himself in the Lord.
The wicked on the other hand delights himself in “eating the bread of sorrow”. They love to meditate on evil (bread of sorrows), until it consumes them with anger and bitterness of heart.
The wicked loves to play the pitying game, while the righteous delights in declaring Jesus as Lord in the joy of the Holy Ghost.
The righteous is never moved by anything that the evil one is doing. He knows that those things are distractions away from the main issues.
As the righteousness of God, you are victorious in Christ Jesus.
You therefore prosper in everything that you’re doing. By delighting yourself in the Lord, God will grant the desires of our hearts (Psalms 37:4).
This is God’s pathway into your prosperity.
You cannot bring a solution to the problems of the world, while you’re living like the ones who are having the problems.
God’s wisdom will come to you as you keep the fire of God burning inside of you.
You need a burning desire for God to be the solution to a stressful and troubled world. A burning desire for God in your life will birth a strong relationship with God in you.
Paul once wrote to the Romans about the burning desire for God inside him:
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
Romans 1:16 NKJV
How is the fire of God burning inside of you?
When you begin to delight and take pleasure in the things of God; God will satisfy your desires.
So, stand in the freedom that Christ had given to you and don’t ever give a foothold to the devil around you (Ephesians 4:27).
Stand strong and tall as a soldier in the Army of Christ. You are victorious!
