Help is on the Way

We live in days that require each of us to live in the Spirit. Living in the flesh will certainly end in disaster. In 2 Timothy 3, Paul described the last days as perilous (difficult & distressing). Jesus in addition to Paul made predictions about the last days.

To summarize Jesus and Paul these days will be marked by great deception to such the extent that some Christ followers will abandon their faith. This is a day of fear—from the news and threats of war and conflict. Fear will result from natural disasters and economic uncertainty. Christians have and will be persecuted for their faith. Families will be filled with strife and hatred. People mostly will be interested in themselves, as their love for others grows cold.

People will love pleasure more than God. They will desire theirs ears to be tickled by preachers, much more than desiring truth that hurts the flesh. Many will have a form of godliness, but deny the power of God. The day will be filled with those who mock God. Paul wrote about people who will constantly seek knowledge, but who will never be able to find it. These are always latching on to some new teaching, but never understand truth.

What shall we do? In 1 Corinthians 9:27 Paul wrote this about himself, “I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.” We can and must train ourselves to live in the Spirit and to keep our flesh under control. We must learn to lean on the Holy Spirit living in us.

Jesus told this to His closest followers in John 16:7, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you." This Holy Spirit must be awesome, if it is better to have Him than to have Jesus. In John 14 Jesus told us that the Holy Spirit would be with us AND live inside of us. What a powerful promise, that God would live inside of us.

In this troubling day, we need this kind of help. The Helper (Counselor, Intercessor, Strengthener & Standby) will advise us. He will make us stronger. He is our personal trainer to help us physically, financially, relationally, emotionally, spiritually, etc. He is always with us and in us standing by in our time of need.

Peace,

Stan