TROUBLING TIMES: Concerns for things such as COVID, earthquakes, flooding, hurricanes, tornadoes, economic uncertainties, racial tension, political strife, and conflicts around the world have significant impacts on us, our communities, and our world. They produce a sense of uncertainty and anxiety. Are we in the great time of troubled times?
We have been looking at how to successfully manage our money and the resources God has given us. We have determined that successfully managing money and possessions involves putting God first in everything we do.
When times get hard, we need to trust God. We have been looking at biblical counseling on managing during hard times.
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Seeking God’s Guidance
God Almighty, we have been warned that in the world, we will have tribulation, but Jesus has promised us peace amid trouble because he has overcome the world. Please keep this thought ever before us in times of trouble. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Yes, our world is facing some ongoing global concerns that create a sense of uncertainty and anxiety. But for those that are students of the Bible, this comes as no surprise, for the Bible depicts a painful picture of the world before Jesus returns.
It tells us in Daniel 12:1 that there will be a time of trouble on this earth before Jesus comes back that is worst than we have ever seen before.
1 “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Everyone who is found written in the book. (Daniel 12:1)
Considering the troubling times that have happened in the past, the troubling times ahead just before Jesus returns must be pretty bad.
However, the Bible also lets us know that the people of God will be delivered.
Revelation 13:11-17 tells us that there will be a time when some, because of their faith, will not be able to buy or sell.
It reveals that Satan, by the hands of men, will pose economic pressure on the people who are loyal to God.
Revelation 13:11-17
11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.
12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.
14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.
15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,
17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (Revelation 13:11-17)
Those who refuse to receive the mark will not be able to buy or sell. Now, how troubling is that?
This means those who choose to obey God rather than men who are used as instruments of Satan will not be able to buy or sell.
How much of our lives today involves buying and selling?
Most of our work today revolves around buying others’ goods or services and selling our goods or services. Not being able to buy or sell will mean we will not have the ability to function in society.
This type of pressure will be orchestrated by Satan. It is designed to force the people of God to worship Satan. The pressure on those who are determined to remain faithful to God will be great!
Will money be safe? The concern for money and possessions will place people in a greater position to worship the beast.
Furthermore, the more money we have, the more stakes we will have in this world, at least in terms of material possessions, and so, surely, the pressure to conform will be even greater.
So, what can we do to prepare for this awful test?
It goes back to the previous lesson; we must prioritize now. We need to decide what is most important to us. Our top priority must be as Jesus expressed in Mathew 22:37
37 “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ (Mathew 22:37)
How do we prepare for this time of trouble?
We prepare now by making sure we aren’t slaves to our money and our possessions. This we do by making God our top priority.
We can then be sure that by His grace, we are freed from being slaves to money and things now. Nor will we be slaves to money and things later when we are under pressure to decide between worshipping God and worshipping Satan.
This is why it is so vital for us to do now as God instructed the People of Israel in Deuteronomy 14:22, 23.
22 “You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year.
23 And you shall eat before the Lord your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always. (14:22-23)
God commanded the Israelites to enjoy the gifts of food that He gave them from the land. He wanted His people to eat this offering of food Because by doing so, the people would learn to love God and be thankful for all He gave them.
Moreover, their thankfulness would be displayed by their willing obedience to obey God with all their hearts.
He wanted his people then and his people today to know that man shall not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. (Deuteronomy 8:3; Mathew 4:4)
God wants us to enjoy the gifts He gives us. And He wants us to Love Him with all our hearts. We demonstrate our love by obeying his commandments. Why not surrender your whole heart to Him today?
If you wish to return the tithe or give an offering, consider giving online,
@ Adventistgiving.org
My Local Church:
Hebron Seventh-day Adventist Church
7902 Wheatly Street
Houston, TX 77088
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