There is A War Going On, Reality

You are on one side or the other.

 

It is a beautiful spring morning. Summer beginning. Kiddos are out from school. A lazy morning. You go downtown. You smell Mr. Bear's Bakery cooking the day's treats. There is a war going on. You see kids playing in the play area. Swinging and laughing. There is a war going on. People coming and going, to and fro. There is a war going on. You should look up.

The Word declares this.

"Jesus left the temple and was going away when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”" Matthew 24:1-2

There is a war going on. A little later we read this. Again, this is Jesus talking.

"But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left." Matthew 24:36-39

Those kids you saw swinging and laughing? One swing will come back empty. People going to and fro? Some will simply disappear. Mr. Bear's Bakeshop? May catch fire and burn to the ground. Planes may fall from the sky. Why? Mr. Bear is a child of God. The Pilot is a child of God. There is no one left to mind the store, or fly the plane. There is a war going on.

This beautiful early Summer morning is the last day as humans know it, ever. There is a war going on, and you ARE on one side or the other.

Today we start a new series that is almost never discussed in today's churches. Even some of those mega-churches have stopped teaching about the war. They do not talk about it. They do not tell you about the enemy. They do not tell you that hell is a very real place. They do not tell you that you may very well be on your way there. You see. The person in the story I started to tell you is not a child of God. He is witnessing the end of the age. Or the "Day of the Lord." He is standing here watching it take place because he is on the wrong side. He did not even know.

This is a failure of some of our "churches." People today love to hear what they love to hear and some mainstream pastors have started to simply tell people what they want to hear. This is even predicted in the Bible.

"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." 2 Timothy 4:3-5

"Name it and Claim it." "The Prosperity Gospel." "There is no hell." "There is no devil." "Any god you choose is ok." "Jesus is only one way. There are many." These are lies straight out of the very pits of hell. These are lies being whispered by the devil himself. These lies will result in the utter annihilation of many "good" people. The total and utter destruction of some people who truly believe that they are doing the right things. There is a war going on.

Why is it so easy for the enemy to win many of these battles in the war? Many times, people cannot see it until it is too late.

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12

If you are not told about the war, chances are you will not recognize a battle until you witness the destruction. The aftermath. Then you wonder, "What happened?" However, then is too late.

Why? Why have so many churches fallen away from the Truth? Why do so many simply fail to teach about the war, hell, and even the devil? The answer is both sad and simple. No devil means no evil. No hell means no consequences for your acts. No war? No end time destruction. Just joy and jubilee. Live as you will. Live laugh love, all will be ok.

The sad truth is, this is what the devil WANTS you to do. Do not worry about all this other stuff. Do not worry about some teacher that lived thousands of years ago, or if you do, then just take the good news He told you, and do not worry about anything else. Sin? Says who? Is it not a sin to judge others? Just love people, no matter what. Live and let die, huh, I mean to live and let live.

We are going to spend a great deal of time next time on the enemy himself. He is real, make no mistake about it. But there is a war going on. Turn to Revelation 12:7-9

"Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him." Revelation 12:7-9

Wait? A war in heaven? Isn't heaven suppose to be a place of peace and love and harmony? If a war breaks out in heaven, what chance do we have here on earth? But as we will learn more in-depth next time, the war comes to earth. The enemy turns this paradise into a world of sin, hate, and death. He arranged it so that you do not have to do anything to sign up, if you will, for his side. All you have to do is be born, fail to accept Jesus, and you are all his. Like it or not. Believe it or not.

This is why it is so important for you to learn about the truth. Why it is so important for you to understand the reality of the fact there IS a war going on. Paul is warning Timothy of this. Turn to Ephesians 6:10-20

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak." Ephesians 6:10-20

Remember, just as in the days of Noah, just a normal average everyday day, people going about their business. eating and drinking, working and living, hoping and dreaming, planning and executing, then it began to rain. Jesus also compared the end time to that of Sodom and Gomorrah.

"Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed." Luke 17:28-30

There is a war going on. One day will be "The Day of the Lord" and all that you know will be gone. Which side are you on. Are you sure? When the swing comes back empty, and planes fall out of the sky, it will be too late. There is a war going on. The Enemy is real. and Hell is a very real place waiting to consume all sent there for an eternity. Are you sure you are on the winning side?

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He raised from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!