Because He is Coming:

Don't be shaken - II Thess 2:2
Don't be troubled - 2
Don't be deceived - 3-4
Don't forget - 5
Don't falter - 15

2Th 2:1  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2Th 2:2  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
2Th 2:5  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2Th 2:6  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2Th 2:9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
2Th 2:13  But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
2Th 2:14  Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Th 2:15  Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
2Th 2:16  Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
2Th 2:17  Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

Paul's Care for the Thessalonians

1Th 1:1  Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2  We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; 3  Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

Grace for you – 1   Grace be unto you

Peace for you – 1   …and peace

Thanks for you – 2    We give thanks to God always for you all

Prayers for you -2      making mention of you in our prayers

Thinking of you – 3   Remembering without ceasing your work..patience…love

God’s New Covenant with the Jews

Ezek 36:26  A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27  And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. 28  And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. 29  I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you. 30  And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen.

These new things are available to every believer today!

*A New Heart - 26   From stone to flesh.

*A New Spirit - 26-27   God’s Spirit – Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is love, power and liberty.

*A New Walk - 27  a 180 change of direction.

*New Judgments - 27 – Thinking with a renewed mind.

*A New Home - 28 – Wherein is love and holiness

*A New Relationship with God - 28  - Wherein is closeness, fellowship and joy.

*New Blessings - 29-30  The open, generous and gracious hand of the Lord.

The Nature of our Enemy

We are in a battle and the spoils are great. The unseen world around us is tremendously active. As it was in the days of Noah and the days of Lot, so will it be in these last days. One of the chief characteristics of those ancient troublesome times was the heightened occurrence and intensity of demonic activity.

Here are some things you must know about the character of the enemy.

1) Self-aggrandizement

Eze 28:2  Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:

a. He has a god complex.

b. His pride is of the worst degree.

c. His penchant it to over estimate himself.

d. His Achilles heel - "You are not God!"

Can we relate to this fallen angel?

a. Do we not also try to act as lord sovereign of our lives?

b. Aren't we also lifted up with pride?

c. Don't we also bite off more than we can chew and in the end we are also cast down?

d. In the end, we abruptly realize how fallible we are!

2) Extremely wise

Eze 28:3  Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee:

a. You must "give the devil his due." We have to concede that he was specially created with tremendous talent and wisdom.

b. He has been at it a long time. His tools are effective, his observation powers are well honed, his stalking abilities are legendary, his arrows are sharp and deadly. He knows how to hunt and is highly effective as the roaring lion at getting his game.

What can we do against such a foe?

*Know your enemy! Do not be ignorant of his devices.

*Stay on guard.

*Beware of success, he loves to attack on the heels of our victories.

*In your low times, he subtly speaks to your ego, suggesting very unwise decisions.

*Remember, it is not a game you are in, but a battle for your soul, your holiness, your witness.

*Quit you like men (put on the holy armor!) and wage your warfare in the power of the Spirit of God.

Bless you in your battle today!

The Spirit entered into Ezekiel

Be prepared for a whole new ball game when the Spirit falls upon you!  For Ezekiel (and for us), the Spirit:

1. Stood him up - He places us where we need to be and puts us in a position to be used mightily.

2. Spoke to him - it is no longer man's words, but the Lord's. God's Spirit imbues us with utterance, fills us with wisdom and grants us power above and beyond human capability.

3. Sent him - the Spirit-filled servant is sent as an ambassador to do the bidding of the King.

Imagine Ezekiel taking on this task dependent on his own strength, in the power of his flesh. Jonah comes to mind! "The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own."

Whatever job and ministry you are tasked with today, be sure to be filled with the Holy Spirit, you will be successful, blessed, and thankful for His filling.

7 Keys to Better Preaching

1.      More Bible.

2.      More Jesus.

3.      More prayer.

4.      More real talk.

5.      More gospel.

6.      More hope.

7.      More joy.

What is the Will of the Lord?

Ephesians 5:17  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

God's express will for all of His children is to walk appropriately as a child of God.

1. Walk after God, Follow God as children - 5:1

2. Walk in love - 2

3. Walk in the light, live a clean life,  - 3-13

4. Walk circumspectly (straight) - 15

5. Walk in the Spirit - 18-19

6. Walk thankfully - 20

7. Walk submissively – 21

Watch your walk today, that it may be befitting of a child of the King.