Do You Think You Have Your Act Together?
Scripture: Matthew 26:35Devotional Series: Preparing for Persecution
Teaching: Preparing For Persecution pt. 7 (WED 2021-05-05) by Pastor Star R Scott
We’ve been talking about preparing ourselves for persecution. We know that the Scripture is clear on the fact that we, as a people, will endure persecution in these last hours. For all that live godly in Christ Jesus shall… Amen? Not might, shall. We know that we are a people that are going to be “the godly.” We’re the ones that are going to be living in a godly manner in these last days. Why? Because every man that has this hope in Him purifies himself, even as He is pure. We’re a people that are looking for the coming of Jesus. We’re a people that are doing all we can to prepare ourselves for that hour; amen? If we are those people, we will suffer persecution.
We’re going to be hated of all men, especially professed religious people. Professed Christians will be the greatest enemies that we’ll have in these last days. For many of us, it’s hard to comprehend that, but there’s a lot going on right now that has been hard to comprehend; amen? There’s an insanity that’s going on in our nation, around the world. It’s preparatory for the introduction of the man of sin. This stuff we’re going through, instead of wringing your hands and worrying about it, we need to understand this is part of the program. We’re exactly where God wants us today. Let’s make sure we don’t try to run out ahead of God and try to work our own program of how we think things should be for our lives in these last days. If these days were not shortened, even the very elect would not stand, the Scripture says. We know that’s talking about the tribulation and that aspect, but it’s talking about the principle of endurance.
We see that this hour is coming upon us. We have an admonition that says take heed when you think you stand; amen? Be very careful to make sure that you don’t come into that Peter syndrome of, “Though everybody else will forsake You, Lord, don’t worry, man! I’ve got my act together.” (Matthew 26:35) In this great play that we’re participants in, we don’t have a clue what act we’re in; amen? So, you don’t have your act together. We’re sitting here, and God is working out His mysterious plan, a plan that we couldn’t comprehend if He gave it to us. Since God’s not going to give you the plan, sufficient to the day is the evil thereof; amen? Take no thought for the morrow, the Scripture says.
So, that’s what we need to discipline ourselves to be doing at this hour. Remember we don’t study eschatology to try to find out what’s going to happen, but how we have to live now; amen? That’s what the book of Revelation is all about as it relates to the church, because the church isn’t mentioned after the admonition to the churches. Those admonitions are about us looking at where we’ve been, taking a survey of our lives, and hearing what the Spirit has to say to the church. So, here we are in that hour.
We’re going to be hated of all men, especially professed religious people. Professed Christians will be the greatest enemies that we’ll have in these last days. For many of us, it’s hard to comprehend that, but there’s a lot going on right now that has been hard to comprehend; amen? There’s an insanity that’s going on in our nation, around the world. It’s preparatory for the introduction of the man of sin. This stuff we’re going through, instead of wringing your hands and worrying about it, we need to understand this is part of the program. We’re exactly where God wants us today. Let’s make sure we don’t try to run out ahead of God and try to work our own program of how we think things should be for our lives in these last days. If these days were not shortened, even the very elect would not stand, the Scripture says. We know that’s talking about the tribulation and that aspect, but it’s talking about the principle of endurance.
We see that this hour is coming upon us. We have an admonition that says take heed when you think you stand; amen? Be very careful to make sure that you don’t come into that Peter syndrome of, “Though everybody else will forsake You, Lord, don’t worry, man! I’ve got my act together.” (Matthew 26:35) In this great play that we’re participants in, we don’t have a clue what act we’re in; amen? So, you don’t have your act together. We’re sitting here, and God is working out His mysterious plan, a plan that we couldn’t comprehend if He gave it to us. Since God’s not going to give you the plan, sufficient to the day is the evil thereof; amen? Take no thought for the morrow, the Scripture says.
So, that’s what we need to discipline ourselves to be doing at this hour. Remember we don’t study eschatology to try to find out what’s going to happen, but how we have to live now; amen? That’s what the book of Revelation is all about as it relates to the church, because the church isn’t mentioned after the admonition to the churches. Those admonitions are about us looking at where we’ve been, taking a survey of our lives, and hearing what the Spirit has to say to the church. So, here we are in that hour.